Article - A Better Covenant
“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). One of the main points of the book of Hebrews and the New Testament is the Superiority of Christ and the New Covenant. Notice a couple of ways the Book of Hebrews illustrates the Superiority of Christianity.
A Better Offering
Under the Old Testament system, the priests were commanded to take offerings of animals and grain (Leviticus 1-5). Yet, with these bloody sacrifices, there was the ever-present reminder that they could never take away sin. Of this the Hebrew writer says, “But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:3-4). The great thing about the priesthood of Christ is His offering is once for all. Of Jesus it is said, “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). Imagine what it would have been like to live under the Levitical sacrifice system. If a man sinned (and all did!—Rom. 3:23), he would go out to the field and get a spotless bull from the flock take it to the door of the tabernacle and kill it before the Lord. Then, the priest would slaughter the animal placing its blood on the altar and it’s entrails as a burnt offering for sin (Leviticus 4:1ff). And, if he sinned the next day, the whole process started all over again. How thankful to God we ought to be that Jesus is our once for all sacrifice for sins! Why would anyone want to go back to an inferior system of sacrifice that could never really save?
A Better Priestly Order
It is impossible for Jesus Christ to be a priest on earth today (Hebrews 8:3-4). He does not fit the divine pattern for the Levitical priest. He came from the wrong tribe (Hebrews 7:14). His parents were not of the proper genealogy. His priestly service would have began and ended at a certain age (Hebrews 7:3). Thank God Jesus is High Priest according to a better order. As God Himself said, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4). This order far exceeds the priestly order of Aaron because it is not dependent upon genealogy (7:3), has no beginning or ending point (7:3) and is superior to Levi from its inception (7:1-10). And, since Jesus is of a “new” priestly order the Hebrew writer says, “For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law” (Hebrews 7:12). This idea of a change in the priesthood necessitating a change in the law naturally turns the Hebrew writer’s attention to the “better” covenant.
How wonderful it is to live in the New Testament Age! Friend, have you taken advantage of the great salvation that can only be found in Jesus? If not, you can do so today. You can do so very simply by believing in Jesus as God’s son (John 8:24), repenting of your past sins (Luke 13:1-5), confessing him as Lord (Romans 10:10; Matthew 10:32-33), and being baptized in water for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16).
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Bible Class Curricula - Denominational Doctrines - Lutheran
- History of the Lutheran Religion
- When did this movement start? October 31, 1517
- Where did it start? Wittenberg, Germany
- Where is their official headquarters? The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois; formed in 1988 by the merging of three churches and having about 4 million members, it is the largest and most liberal of all the Lutheran denominations in the United States.123
- Who founded this movement? Martin Luther
Origin of this movement. The history of this movement began with a reformation spirit:
Luther observed that many people in Wittenberg were not coming to him for confession any more. They were going to towns in Brandenburg or Anhalt like Jüterbog or Zerbst to buy Indulgences (primarily the Peter’s Indulgence).
The practice of buying indulgences, which quasi replaced confession and allowed people to buy their salvation, was completely repulsive to Luther. He strongly believed that one lived a life of humility in order to receive God’s grace.
After 1507, trade in Indulgences took a steep climb because both the Papal Court and Bishop Albrecht von Brandenburg, Germany’s representative for the sale of indulgences were in great financial trouble.
In addition, the Dominican monk, Johann Tetzel, sold indulgences in the region around Wittenberg in a very ostentatious manner. Many stories started poping up about him such as, that Tetzel could redeem the sins of the deceased.
Further sayings of Tetzel, such as, "When the money clangs in the box, the souls spring up to heaven," also brought protests from Luther.4
- What is their authority? The Bible is claimed to be the only source. However, one must learn the creeds and catechism of Martin Luther in order to be a Lutheran.
- Reviewing Some of Luther’s 95 Theses
The pope neither desires nor is able to remit any penalties except those imposed by his own authority or that of the canons. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring and showing that it has been remitted by God; or, to be sure, by remitting guilt in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in these cases were disregarded, the guilt would certainly remain unforgiven.5
Those priests act ignorantly and wickedly who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penalties for purgatory. Those tares of changing the canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory were evidently sown while the bishops slept (Matthew 13:25).6
They preach only human doctrines who say that as soon as the money clinks into the money chest, the soul flies out of purgatory. It is certain that when money clinks in the money chest, greed and avarice can be increased; but when the church intercedes, the result is in the hands of God alone.7
Those who believe that they can be certain of their salvation because they have indulgence letters will be eternally damned, together with their teachers. Men must especially be on guard against those who say that the pope’s pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to him.8
To say that the cross emblazoned with the papal coat of arms, and set up by the indulgence preachers, is equal in worth to the cross of Christ is blasphemy. The bishops, curates, and theologians who permit such talk to be spread among the people will have to answer for this.9
Why does not the pope empty purgatory for the sake of holy love and the dire need of the souls that are there if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a church? The former reason would be most just; the latter is most trivial.10
- False Doctrines of the Lutheran Denomination
- Sola Gratia – "God forgives, loves and saves us completely apart from anything we do or do not do."11
- The phrase grace alone never occurs in the Bible – nor does the concept of salvation by grace alone. The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8).
- Sola Fide – "[T]o our ‘sola fide’ (by faith alone) Lutheran ears, the idea that our Lord would draw a line separating the damned from the saved based on works should be troubling."12
- The phrase faith only occurs only one time in the Bible (James 2:24), and it is the exact opposite of what Lutherans teach. Incidentally, don’t sola gratia and sola fide contradict each other? Is it possible to have both?
- Sola Scriptura – "The Bible is the only norm of doctrine and life."13 While this certainly is a correct biblical principle (Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 4:6), it is not one that Lutherans today actually follow.
- Luther has a checkered history in relation to the Canon of the Bible. "Luther was also frustrated by the works-emphasis of the book of James, calling it the Epistle of Straw," and questioning its canonicity. Also irritated with the complex symbolism of the Book of Revelation, he once said that it, too, was not canon, and that it should be thrown into the river!"14
- Lutherans believe in sprinkling babies�a practice that is in violation of both of the mode and meaning of baptism as found within Scripture (Mark 1:9-11; John 3:23; Romans 6:1-4; Acts 8:37ff.).
- Lutherans use instrumental music in their worship even though it is an unscriptural practice (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16-17) and one against which Martin Luther himself cautioned. Luther said, "The organ in the worship is the insignia of Baal. The Roman Catholics borrowed it from the Jews."15
- Reasons Why I Cannot be a Lutheran
- The Lutheran Church has a human founder, Martin Luther, rather than Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18).
- The Lutheran Church began at the wrong time and place to be the Christ’s church (Acts 2).
- Lutherans follow such things as the Augsburg Confession, the Nicene Creed, the Apostles’ Creed, the Athanasian Creed, the Smalcald Articles of Faith, and the Formula of Concord instead of the Bible alone (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
- Members of the Lutheran Church refer to themselves as "Lutherans" rather than "Christians" (Acts 4:12; 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). Luther himself pleaded, "I pray you leave my name alone and do not call yourselves Lutherans, but Christians" (Michelet, Life of Luther, p. 262).
- Lutherans also have the wrong name for the church (see Matthew 16:18; Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 1:2; John 10:30).
- Lutherans hold that the Ten Commandments are binding today, even though those commandments were "nailed to the cross" (Colossians 2:14-17; 2 Corinthians 3:7-11; Galatians 5:1-4; Romans 7:1-4).
- Lutherans teach that Sunday is the “Christian Sabbath” and observe numerous “holy days” such as “Lent,” “Easter,” “Christmas,” etc. (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 22:18-19; Exodus 20:8-11).
Study Questions
- Who founded the Lutheran church? What is wrong with Martin Luther founding a church?
- When was the Lutheran church started? Is that when the New Testament church started?
- Where was the Lutheran church started? Where was the New Testament church started?
- Did Martin Luther have good motives in his reformation movement? Did he go far enough?
- Is salvation available by grace alone (See Titus 2:11-13)? Is salvation attainable by grace alone (see Ephesians 2:8-9)?
- The phrase faith only occurs one time in the Bible. Where is that phrase located in Scripture, and what does the passage actually teach?
- Incidentally, can one have sola gratia (saved by grace alone) and sola fide (saved by faith alone) at the same time? Aren’t these two ideas in conflict?
- How did Martin Luther view the books of James and Revelation? Why did he view them this way?
- Is sprinkling an acceptable mode of baptism? Support your answer from Scripture.
- Did Martin Luther approve of instrumental music?
- Did Martin Luther want people to be called "Lutherans" today?
References
- 1Online: (http://www.elca.org/About/History), retrieved Tuesday, March 25, 2014 .
- 2Online: (http://www.elca.org/en/About/Churchwide), retrieved Tuesday, March 25, 2014 .
- 3Online: (http://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/ELCA-Facts), retrieved Tuesday, March 25, 2014 .
- 4Online: (http://www.luther.de/en/anschlag.html).
- 5Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, (Wittenberg, Germany, 1517), theses 5 and 6.
- 6Ibid., theses 10 and 11.
- 7Ibid., theses 27 and 28.
- 8Ibid., theses 32 and 33.
- 9Ibid., theses 79 and 80.
- 10Ibid., thesis 82.
- 11Online: (http://www.elca.org/en/Living-Lutheran/Ask-a-Pastor/2013/07/~/link.aspx?_id=48C112411847489194AB6ADA0C845F78&_z=z), retrieved Tuesday, March 25, 2014 .
- 12Online: (http://www.elca.org/en/Living-Lutheran/Ask-a-Pastor/2013/11/~/link.aspx?_id=72E3B65A516F4CB89627FE7BEBC56F57&_z=z), retrieved Tuesday, March 25, 2014 .
- 13Online: (http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Confessing_Our_Faith_Together_A_Proposal.pdf.pdf), retrieved Tuesday, March 25, 2014 .
- 14Online: (http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/martin-luther.html), retrieved Tuesday, March 25, 2014 .
- 15Martin Luther, McClintock and Strong’s Encyclopedia, Volume VI, p. 762.
The Gospel of Christ
This material is copyrighted by The Gospel of Christ and its authors. This information is free to use in its entirety without further consent, however, modifications should not be made without contacting mail@thegospelofchrist.com for permission. Any and all images contained herein are believed to be free for all distribution and content.
Bible Class Curricula - Denominational Doctrines (Part 1) - Lesson #1 - The Catholic Religion
- Introduction
- Catholicism is the largest manmade religion today (claiming one billion adherents).
- It is my belief that Catholicism – with its ritualism, formality, and false doctrines – has done more to harm the cause of Christ than any other religion.
- History of the Catholic Religion
- When did the Catholic religion begin? The Catholic religion is officially recognized as starting in A.D. 606 – not in A.D. 30 (Acts 2:47). However, one can easily see the seeds of apostasy in the New Testament that led to Catholicism.
- The concept of placing the teachings of men (both oral and written) above the commandments of God is found even in the times of Jesus (Matthew 15:7-9).
- The practice of forbidding people to marry and to eat certain foods was begun by the Gnostics in the first century (1 Timothy 4:1-4).
- Diotrophes started the seeds of the papacy by his thirst for power and his “chief elder” mentality (3 John 9-11). Ignatius of Antioch (A.D. 100-150) made the first known distinction between bishops and elders. This doctrine was later carried over to the papacy by Origen and others who followed.1
- In the first century, the apostles clearly preached against the seeds of apostasy currently found in the Catholic religion (Acts 20:28-30; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 4:3-4).
- Where did the Catholic religion begin? Rome – not Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1-4; Acts 2).
- Where is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic religion? Rome – not Heaven (Psalm 119: 89).
- Who is the head of the Catholic religion? The pope is considered the head of the Catholic Church and the “vicar of Christ.” Jesus definitely is not the Head of the Catholic Church (Ephesians 1:21-23).
- Who founded Catholicism? Boniface III is officially recognized as the founder, although it was a gradual process of apostasy. It is evident from history that Jesus is not the founder of this religion (1 Corinthians 3:11).
- What is their authority? The Bible, the Catholic Church, papal edicts, and oral tradition. It is likely that, to a devoted Catholic, none of these would outweigh the other in the importance of authority.
- When did the Catholic religion begin? The Catholic religion is officially recognized as starting in A.D. 606 – not in A.D. 30 (Acts 2:47). However, one can easily see the seeds of apostasy in the New Testament that led to Catholicism.
- Catholic Authority Examined
- Catholics are told that they cannot understand the Bible by reading it (see Ephesians 3:4). Concerning this idea, Catholic writer John O’Brien says, From all of which it must be abundantly clear that the Bible alone is not a safe and competent guide because it is not now and has never been accessible to all, because it is not clear and intelligible to all, and because it does not contain all the truths of the Christian religion.2
- The Bible alone, however, is to serve as our sole authority in religious matters (Colossians 3:17; John 17:17; John 16:13; Acts 20:32; James 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 3:4; 2 Peter 1:3; Psalm 119:160).
- The Bible is a book that can be read, understood, and obeyed by all people (Ephesians 3:4; Ephesians 5:17; John 8:32).
- The Catholic Church also is a source for authority. O’Brien illustrates this point when he says, The simple fact is that the Bible, like all dead letters, calls for a living interpreter … . Just as the Supreme Court is the authorized living interpreter of the Constitution, so the Catholic Church is the living authoritative interpreter of the Bible.3 The Pope also has authority in religious matters. Catholics believe, When the Pope in his official capacity … proclaims a doctrine on faith or morals binding on the whole Church, he is preserved from error.4
- The Bible, however, teaches that no man is perfect (Romans 3:23).
- The main answer to the false doctrine of Catholic popes being preserved from error is the Bible’s complete silence on the subject!
- Catholics are told that they cannot understand the Bible by reading it (see Ephesians 3:4). Concerning this idea, Catholic writer John O’Brien says, From all of which it must be abundantly clear that the Bible alone is not a safe and competent guide because it is not now and has never been accessible to all, because it is not clear and intelligible to all, and because it does not contain all the truths of the Christian religion.2
- The Seven Sacraments of Catholicism
- What is a sacrament? Catholics define a sacrament as a visible sign instituted by Christ by which grace is conveyed to our souls. Three things are necessary to constitute a sacrament – a visible sign, invisible grace and the institution by our Lord Jesus Christ.5
- The first of the seven sacraments is that of baptism. Catholics teach, Baptism effects the remission of original sin and actual sins and of all punishment due to sin; it confers sanctifying grace, membership in Christ and in the Church and the obligation to obey the Church’s laws, and give an indelible character.6
- With part of this teaching the New Testament agrees. Baptism is for the remission of actual sins and is essential to enter the church (Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 12:13).
- The problem with the Catholic view of baptism has to do with the erroneous idea of original sin (Matthew 18:1-5; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Ezekiel 28:15) and the Catholic mode of baptism (Mark 1:9-11; John 3:23; Acts 8:38-39; Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 2:12).
- The second sacrament is penance. Catholics believe The Church has the power to forgive all sins. This forgiveness of sins is a true sacrament instituted by Christ, different from baptism, particularly on account of its judicial form. Sins are forgiven only by the sacrament of penance. Sins are forgiven by absolution which can only be given by an authorized priest. It is a real judicial pardon. The Church has the power to reserve certain cases.7
- The problem with this sacrament is the emphasis upon whom forgives sin. Nowhere in the New Testament will you find the church forgiving anyone of sin. The church does not forgive sin; God does! The psalmist stated correctly, Against you and you only have I sinned (Psalm 51:4). God is the One Who forgives sins (Luke 23:34; Acts 2:38; 1 John 1:9).
- In the New Testament, you will never find a Christian confessing his or her sins to a priest (James 5:16-17).
- The third sacrament is confirmation. Catholic doctrine says, Confirmation is a true sacrament instituted by Christ and different from baptism. It is administered by laying-on of hands and anointing with chrism accompanied by prayer. The chrism is blessed by the bishop and the bishop administers the sacrament. All baptized persons can and should be confirmed. The effect of the sacrament of confirmation is to give strength in faith and for the confession of faith and to impress an indelible character.8
- This sacrament often is performed with oil directly after one’s baptism as a confirming sign of membership into the Catholic community. However, the Bible teaches that if a person obeys the Gospel, then God confirms him or her as a member of the kingdom (Acts 2:47).
- How does the anointing with oil strengthen anyone’s faith (Romans 10:17)?
- The fourth sacrament is the Eucharist. The Catholic Eucharist can be understood better as we look at “The Real Presence” and “Transubstantiation.”
- The Real Presence declares that during the partaking of the Lord’s Supper the body and blood of Jesus are actually present. Catholic teaching says In this sacrament are present the living body and blood of Christ; therefore also his soul which gives them life, therefore also his divine nature which is indissolubly united with his sacred humanity.9
- To explain how Jesus is literally and physically a part of the Lord’s Supper, Catholics have developed the doctrine of Transubstantiation. The Council of Trent said, By the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation.10
- The Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Jesus’ death. The context of the institution of the Lord’s Supper teaches the elements are figures of the blood and body (Matthew 26: 28-29; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25; John 6:63, 68).
- For transubstantiation to exist, we would still have to be in the age of miracles. However, passages such as 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 teach that we are not still in the age of miracles.
- The fifth sacrament is the sacrament of ordination. This is the sacrament by which men become a part of the priesthood of the Catholic religion. Concerning this sacrament Catholic author McSorley says, The hierarchal organization of the Church is in three grades – the episcopate, the priesthood, and the diaconate – although of divine origin, is not clearly described in the New Testament. Nor does the Gospel say that our Lord indicated the precise way in which He intended His Church to be governed and administered.11
- The main problem with this teaching lies in a “separation of terms” that the Bible does not make. For example, all Christians have been called by the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14-15). In the New Testament, there is no clergy/laity system.
- The episcopate comes from the Greek word episkopos, meaning overseer or bishop. This word is one of the three synonymous terms used in Acts 20:28-32 to describe the eldership.
- In the New Testament, every Christian is a part of the priesthood (Revelation 1:6; 1 Peter 2:9).
- The diaconate comes from the Greek word diakonos, meaning deacon or servant. There is a clear distinction made in the New Testament between the qualifications and duties of elders and deacons.
The sixth sacrament of Catholicism is marriage. While marriage is indeed a God-ordained union, nowhere do we find it to be sacramental in nature. Concerning this sacrament, the Catholic Church says:
The sacrament of matrimony consist of the marriage contract, so that for Christians the contract and the sacrament are inseparable. Therefore marriage comes into the legal competence of the Church. The Church may establish impediments, including diriment impediments which invalidate a marriage and forbidding impediments which make marriage illegal. She may determine the form and rite to be observed. Matrimonial causes fall to ecclesiastical courts.12
- While Catholics should be commended for their view of the sanctity of marriage, the church is not the decision-maker of whom can and cannot marry.
- God gave the principles of marriage in Genesis 2, and Jesus further illustrates these in Matthew 19:1-10. The church should only follow that which the Bible teaches – not make laws or impediments to annul marriages.
The final sacrament is extreme unction. This sacrament is also known as the “last rites” and is performed by the anointing of oil upon sickness or death to help ensure eternal life. The proof text that Catholics use for this teaching is James 5:14-15. Concerning this rite, Catholics teach:
Extreme Unction is a sacrament in which the sick, by the anointing with holy oil and the prayers of the Priests, receive spiritual succor and even corporal strength when such is conducive to salvation. This unction is called extreme, because it is usually the last of the holy unction administered by the Church.13
- There are several things that Catholics overlook in James 5:14-15. First, the elders – not priests – are to perform this action.
- Second, James says this is done to heal – while Catholics usually perform it right before death.
- Third, the emphasis in the text is placed upon the prayers of the faithful that save – not the oil.
- Finally, one must determine if this is a spiritual or physical sickness. Some evidence suggests that the healing is spiritual – not physical.
- 7 Reasons Why a Christian Cannot Be a Catholic
- Catholics exalt people such as Mary, Peter, “Mother” Theresa, and others. The Bible, however, says that we should not worship people (Psalm 111:9; Matthew 4:10; Revelation 19: 10; Acts 10:26).
- The Catholic hierarchy or clergy/laity system is not found within the Scriptures (Matthew 23:9; Philippians 1:1; 2:3-4; Romans 12:3-4; 1 Peter 5:1-5).
- Infant baptism is foreign to the teachings of the New Testament (Mark 1:9-10; John 3:23; Acts 8:38; Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 2:12).
- Catholicism is too complicated (Mark 12:37; John 8:32; Ephesians 4:3; 5:17).
- Catholics do not believe that the Bible is suitable to serve as our only guide; rather, tradition must come into play as well (Matthew 15:7-9; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3).
- Cold formalities replace heartfelt worship and fruitful service (Mark 12:32-37; Revelation 2:4).
- A sinner would have to seek forgiveness from men – not God (Psalm 51:4; 86:5; 1 John 1:7-10).
- How to Convert a Catholic
- Help the person to understand when the church began (Acts 2:47), Who founded the church (Matthew 16:18), where the church began (Isaiah 2:1-2; Acts 2), and how the church began (Acts 20:28).
- Help the person to understand that God’s Word must serve as man’s sole source for religious authority (Proverbs 30:61; Corinthians 4:6; Revelation 22:18-19; Leviticus 10:1-2).
- Help the person see the fallacious nature of such statements as We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.14 Papal edicts (e.g., papal bulls, ex cathedra statements, etc.) are nothing more than mere human assertions, and as such they are not authoritative.
- Help the person see how human traditions have always led to people being lost (Matthew 15:7-9; 2 Kings 5).
Study Questions
- Discuss the “Who, When, & Where” of this denomination’s origin. Does their origin match the divine blueprint in the New Testament?
- What seeds of apostasy were present in the New Testament era that led to the beginning of Catholicism?
- Catholic scholar John O’Brien states that the Bible is not clear, intelligible, and sufficient to all people. What verses in the Bible prove this claim to be false?
- How do we know that original sin is not a biblical teaching?
- Can the church or any human being alive today forgive sins? Support your answer from Scripture.
- How is a person “confirmed” into God’s church? (See Acts 2:38-47).
- Catholic scholar McSorley says the hierarchal organization of the Catholic religion is of divine origin although not clearly described in the New Testament. Can a teaching or doctrine of the church be of “divine origin” and not be found in Scripture?
- Can the church make laws prohibiting, allowing, or annulling marriage? Explain your answer.
- Does James 5:14-15 teach extreme unction? What is wrong with this type of death bed salvation?
- List some Scriptures that teach us not to exalt other human beings.
- Give Scriptural proof that infant baptism is not a biblical teaching.
- Discuss the relationship between the destructive teachings of the Pharisees in Mt. 15:7-9 and the damnable teachings of the Catholic religion today.
References
- Ferguson, Everett, Early Christians Speak (ACU Press, Abilene, TX,) p. 168.
- O’Brien, John, The Faith of Millions (Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington, IN, 1938), p. 148.
- Ibid., p. 148.
- Ibid., p. 126.
- Gibbons, James, The Faith of Our Fathers (P.J. Kennedy & Son, New York, 1917), p. 218.
- Online: (http://www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/sacrament.php?id=1), retrieved January 10, 2006.
- Online: (http://www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/sacrament.php?id=4), retrieved January 10, 2006.
- Online: (http://www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/sacrament.php?id=3), retrieved January 10, 2006.
- The Teaching of the Catholic Church, VII, p. 843.
- DS 1642; Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1376.
- Quoted in D’Aubigne, History of the Reformation (Worthington, New York), p. 17.
- Online: (http://www.catholic.org/prayers/sacrament.php?id=7), retrieved January 11, 2006.
- Gibbons, James, History of the Christian Church (Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1913), p. 314.
- Pope Boniface VIII, Papal Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302