Why Follow the Catholic Church (And Not Any Other) | LITTLE BY LITTLE | Fr Columba Jordan CFR

There are tens of thousands of Christian churches, so why follow just the Catholic Church? Is it legitimate to follow several churches, or to believe that "the Church" is made of individuals and not an institution? Fr Columba explains why the Catholic Church is Jesus' Church — and why we need her for union with him, and each other.

Episode Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:39 My Proposal
1:19 Better Since Jesus Left
1:46 The Burning Bush
4:18 Rejecting "Two Churches"
6:47 Cannot Run From Authority
8:43 St Ignatius of Antioch
9:59 Degrees of Union
12:00 Like & Subscribe!

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Little by Little | Episode #81

Little by Little is a weekly video series by Called to More in collaboration with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. Our host, Fr Columba Jordan CFR, brings you quality Catholic content with new episodes every Thursday at 6pm GMT. Be sure to subscribe!

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[skittles]

On Sept 24th I will be heading to stay with some Sisters at a monastery for discernment. I have my recommendation letter, and was told that I would most likely leave with an acceptance letter!! I spent an hour talking on the phone with the mother superior and I am very excited to FINALLY be where I have been dreaming to be! Please, Fr. Columba, pray for me and the sisters!!

[Barbaramamato]

Once, while I was running and hiking in the hottest time of the year, going too far for the amount of water that I had brought, I became overheated or hyperthermic. Being il-prepared, this was a metaphor for having been too long away from prayer and the practice of one's faith.
This was not the first time I experienced hyperthermia. I lost my sight the second time in my life. Everything went dark and I saw nothing but blackness.
Being physically blind was the result of being overheated, as if a warning for the effect of not having enough oil in my lamp during that period of time.
I crouched down thinking that the blood pressure was too low and couldn't sufficiently reach the brain. So, shortly I recovered my vision. The act of crouching down could be a work of humility, which leads to renewed vision.
I looked for shade as I was where the ground area was completely exposed. This is like the effect of sin which exposes us to the flames of hell.
I spotted a small bush where I again crouched to cool off in the shade of the bush. The bush could represent Jesus Christ and the shadow like His protection from the effects of my overexposure. Overexposure is like the effect of being too long away from the life of devoted prayer and overexposed to the influence of the evil in the world. My crouching was humbling myself in the shadow of The Lord similar to those who hoped the shadow of Christ would fall on them when He passed by that they might be healed.
Once I felt more confidence that I could walk out, I began making my way out of the heat slowly and to where I might find water.
Not long after, an Angel appears in the person of a City Police Officer driving in my direction in his patrol car on the foot trail. He gave me water from his trunk when I asked if he had any water. By then, I had already started walking slowly out of the recreational area toward my car in the parking lot.
Many of us, at times, are wandering far from a life centered on the Word of God which overshadows evil. The love of God provides the water of life, eternal life giving water. Jesus Himself said, God The Father promised Him that none of the ones given to The Son by The Father would be lost.

[Selahsmum]

I have come to this understanding (I am currently an evangelical protesant) but my husband is adamantly opposed to the Catholic church and as we have two young children, I have taken spiritual direction at this time to wait and pray lest our family become divided. It is hard. I so desire to be part o the church and receive the sacraments, and yet I know that at this time, this is God's plan, and I would so appreciate your prayers for our family, that we might all be received into the Church and be in union with Christ. Thank you for the beautiful encouragement, Father Columba, it is a blessing to me.

[llla_german_ewoklll]

To add to your video, St. Ignatius of Antioch actually was a disciple of John. He truly is the church father that kept me in the church. I highly recommend anyone here to read or listen to his letters.

[jamessilcock]

I'm an Anglican who is very influenced by C.S Lewis' writings on Christianity. I love watching your videos from your Roman Catholic perspective!

[brandonweir]

Father, I really appreciate this teaching. I don't know much about Catholicism, I was raised Baptist. But I dont think Christ cares about denominations or religions. If you accept and experience his love and forgiveness. Breathless..i believe you are a spirit filled person. I love your teaching.

[MrJimmyw]

Thank you Fr for your great way of teaching I've watched so many of your videos in the last few weeks and I'm constantly learning. Go on the Irish. God bless you.

[sunnatrae]

Holy Catholic Church, please pray for the healing of my body and renewal of my mind so I can walk God’s glory. May His kingdom come and will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Thank you Jesus. We love You dearly.

[davidmarshall]

Thanks again for your amazing content. I find this discussion very interesting. I'm a catholic since child hood - fell away from the faith for a period but have then returned due to circumstances in my life leading me back o God and once again practicing in the catholic faith. My return however was largely led by encounters with God\Jesus which came predominantly through non catholic churches. I was kind of "led" to teachings from different priests and pastors. Best I can describe it was when they spoke I felt the holy spirit. The inner heart movements you speak of in other videos. The "consolation" from the ignatian spiritual excercises. So I studied a lot of the teachings of the individuals where I felt this consolation or peace of God on. It felt like I was being lead to do this. Many - actually most of these - were not catholic. Your are actually one of the few catholic priests/speakers I've felt the same Godly peace when listening to and studying. The thing I've found being exposed to teachers from a wide gammut of denominations is none of the churches are "perfect" or seem to have the whole answer.. None have everything perfect and its only kind of when you look broadly and are able to compare through experience you see that each one has a strength and weakness. You can see certain churches are far more proficient in worship. They really bring the presence of God through music in a way i have literally never experienced in a catholic church. We as Catholics just don't do that well. We just really don't (at least in the churches I've attended) and an area we could definitely learn from others. Then other churches have such reverence and focus on the word . Every member has their bible out. They don't just read it - they are studying it intently every service and during the week in between. Again I find that exceedingly rare in the Catholic churches I've attended. Some churches are more bold and proficient in healing ministries - some in evangelization - some in service. But you are right the Catholic and perhaps also orthodox are more "traditional" and they have retained the sacraments and ritual "sign acts" some of the other churches have de emphasized wrongly. It kind of feels like to me each "church" has part of the answer. Like a puzzle where the collection of answers - or truths - have been "separated" and its only through re-union - of all the churches back into a single body that the true church will be fully realized with all gifts truly displayed as God intended. That will require humility and friendship to recognize between all the churches we maybe don't have all the answers - and be willing to teach what others don't do well - but also learn from the other churches the things we don't do well.

[fernandocavalcanti]

This is probably the best i´ve ever seen. God bless you.

[fr.willhoward]

THANKS YOU FR. C You've said it ALL. All that the world needs to hear at this time. ALL that we as followers of the Lamb need to proclaim from the roof tops ALLLL that we celebrate daily in the culminating prayer of the Sacred Mass daily "BLESSED ARE THEY WHO ARE INVITED TO THE "MARRIAGE" SUPPER OF THE LAMB !!!" ( hmm yes ... praying that the Missile is restored to the FULL/ALL sacred text - Rev 19:9)

[Irishherbs]

Thank you Father.I really need these Episodes right now.Thank you brother!

[janecaws]

Thank you Father, God bless you. 🙏🕯🌹🕊❤️

[CadillacBunner]

I think there are genuinely good people in other churches.

[jacintaferyn]

Thank you again for your inspiration and knowledge. At the moment we are taking Fr. Mike Smitts' 'Catechism in a Year' programme. I grew up with the 'Old Catechism' and now feel so blessed to understand the role of bishops etcetera. Bless you.

[RegglarGuy]

Hi, can you do a video on the concept of Mary’s immaculate conception? I am a Protestant, and that’s the main issue I take with Roman Catholicism. But I’d love to hear your perspective because I agree with so much of what you say in your videos and have gained profound wisdom from you. The Bible teaches virginal birth for Christ, but I can’t wrap my head around the Roman Catholic belief that Mary was immaculately conceived, and I have read that this was a point of controversy in Catholic history for hundreds of years (perhaps today some still don’t agree). Thanks! God bless you and may you keep making these enlightening videos.

[marymccannfrancis]

Amen 💯 Beautiful FR Thank you God-bless you

[craiggillies]

Hello Father, thank you for your videos. They’re great for me. All the best legend.

[bredafallon]

Wow !! that was a brilliant break down and explanation of the true Apostolic faith and union with God, the true and only Faith

[TimInman]

Good to hear from you, Fr. Columba. I treasure the degrees of union we have shared! May the Lord bless you.