“No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother.” — St. Cyprian | |||||||||
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With Christ as its invisible Head, the Catholic Church is a living communion of particular apostolic Churches, each overseen by the successors of the Apostles in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Vicar of Christ and the direct Successor of the Apostle Peter (the Rock), presiding in love as the Church’s visible head and principle of unity. As the Church is Christ’s Body on earth, it is protected by the promise of Jesus Christ to be guided by the Holy Spirit into all truth, protected from all error, and victorious over evil as He says “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).
We cannot speak of fidelity to the Holy Church of God without speaking of our deep love and devotion to Mary, the most holy Mother of God and Queen of Peace, who is that most excellent Icon of the Church herself. We consecrate ourselves to her maternal care, venerate her sacred Image in our friary chapel and in each of our rooms, and implore her help and protection at every Divine Office. May she guide all of us to her Divine Son!
At the beginning of this Third Christian Millennium, we are committed to the New Evangelization proclaimed by our Holy Father of blessed memory, Saint John Paul II, to take advantage of this “springtime” for the Church and the unprecedented opportunity we have in the modern age to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our life as Brothers and our apostolate to the poor and vulnerable is intended to give a tangible, visible witness to Christ and His Church. May Jesus Christ be praised, now and forever!