Unam Ecclesiam: Early Christian Devotion to the Saints: An Archeological Fact

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Early Christian Devotion to the Saints: An Archeological Fact

According to a CNS Story, devotion to the saints, complete with depicting IMAGES of them, recently thought by radical protestants to be "idolotrous" was actually practiced in the early Church, long before the middle ages and long before the radical protestant rebellion. An excerpt from the article states:

At Rome's Catacombs of St. Thecla, in the burial chamber of a Roman noblewoman, they have discovered what they said are the oldest existing paintings of Sts. Peter, Paul, Andrew and John.

Saint Thecla, according to Catholic Encyclopedia, was a virgin of Iconium who converted to Christianity and led to dedicating a life to perpetual virginity by the preaching of the Apostle Paul. She followed the Apostle Paul to Antioch and then to Myra surviving the persecutions from death at the stake then from death by wild beasts. Modern day Catholic religious orders continue make vows of chastity in line with the tradition that the Apostle Paul inspired and in conformity with the admonitions of our Lord Himself when He said:

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:37-39

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St. Irenaeus (A.D. 180-199) - Against Heresies Book IV, Chap. 26:2 The Treasure Hid in the Scriptures is Christ; the True Exposition of the Scriptures is to be Found in the Church Alone "It is necessary to obey those who are the presbyters in the Church, those who, as we have shown, have succession from the Apostles; those who have received, with the succession of the episcopate, the sure charism of truth according to the good pleasure of the Father. But the rest, who have no part in the primitive succession and assemble wheresoever they will, must be held in suspicion"

St. Irenaeus (A.D. 180-199) - Against Heresies Book III, Chapter 3, 1 A Refutation of the Heretics, From the Fact That, in the Various Churches, a Perpetual Succession of Bishops was Kept Up.: "For if the Apostles had known hidden mysteries which they taught to the elite secretly and apart from the rest, they would have handed them down especially to those very ones to whom they were committing the self-same Churches. For surely they wished all those and their successors to be perfect and without reproach, to whom they handed on their authority"

Unam Ecclesiam

From the Credo - Latin for "I believe" - the Nicene Creed prayed during the Latin Mass.

The Credo

The Nicene Creed—also known as the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed—was composed and refined during the ecumenical Councils of Nicea and Constantinople in the early fourth century; these councils defended the true nature of Jesus against heresies of the time. This Nicene Creed (from the Latin word credo, “I believe”) declares that Jesus was indeed both true God and true man.

All the people join in chanting the Credo in the Gregorian simple tone.

Listen to the Latin: 60 sec. music \| Text not available
CREDO in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.	I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
Et in unum Dominum Iesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum. Et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero. Genitum, non factum, consubstantialem Patri: per quem omnia facta sunt.	And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages; God from God, light of light, true God of true God; begotten, not made; consubstantial with the Father, by Whom all things were made.
Qui propter nos homines, et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine: ET HOMO FACTUS EST. Hic genuflectitur.	Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, *AND WAS MADE MAN. * All genuflect while reciting these words.
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis: sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est. Et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas. Et ascendit in caelum: sedet ad dexteram Patris.	He was crucified also for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried. And the third day he arose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven. He sitteth at the right hand of the Father:
Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, iudicare vivos et mortuos: cujus regni non erit finis.	and He shall come again with glory, to judge the living and the dead: and His kingdom shall have no end.
Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem: qui ex Patre Filioque procedit.	And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son,
Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per prophetas.	Who, together with the Father and the Son, is adored and glorified: Who spoke by the prophets.
Et unam, sanctam, Catholicam et Apostolicam Ecclesiam.	And one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum. Et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.	I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. And I expect the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.