CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC NATIONAL CHURCH
OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH
We Hereby Make This Statement Of Our Faith And Practice;
We believe Sacred Scripture as interpreted by the Church, together with the Seven Undisputed General Councils of the Whole Church, together with doctrines believed by the Church as a whole prior to the Great Schism of 1054, as defining the belief of the Whole Church. Every person wishing to become a member of this Church must affirm this Faith as contained in the articles below.
We affirm the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as interpreted by the Church, as containing everything that is necessary for salvation, and as being the rule and ultimate statement of the Faith of the Church.
We accept the Canon of Scripture as handed down from of Old.
We affirm the “Nicene Creed” as the principal creed of the Faith of the Church. We also recognize the Western Baptismal Creed, commonly called the “Apostles Creed,” and the hymn commonly called the “Athanasian Creed” as representing statements of the Nicene Faith.
We believe that the Nicene Creed is a literal statement of the belief of the Church and is not subject to interpretation which dismisses as merely allegorical or merely mythological any portion thereof.
We affirm the Seven Sacraments Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Holy Order, Holy Matrimony, Penance and Holy Unction administered with the unfailing use of the traditional outward and visible signs, and the form, matter, ministers and intention received of old.
We affirm the Historic three-fold ministry of Bishops, priests and deacons, and the traditional rights and powers thereof, locally adapted in the methods of its administration according to the needs of the nations in which the Church resides, but historic in form, matter, ministers and intention.
We affirm that, in accordance with Sacred Scripture and ancient Tradition, only males may be ordained to the Diaconate, Priesthood, or Episcopate.
We affirm the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist when the Eucharist is performed by a validly ordained Priest of the Holy Catholic Church, with the elements ordained by Christ, and a valid Canon of the Mass including Christ’s Words of Institution and the Epiklesis.
We affirm that those who receive the Sacraments unworthily do so to their detriment, but do so without effecting the nature or efficacy of the Sacrament itself.
We affirm that the unworthiness of a minister of a Sacrament does not invalidate the Sacrament, but, rather, that a Sacrament performed with the proper matter and form, and with the intention of the Church to make such action a Sacrament, remains valid, whether or not the minister is worthy to administer that Sacrament.
We affirm that marriage, conducted as a Sacrament, with the full understanding and intention of both parties to make a marriage, is indissoluble except by death. However, we believe that the Church may annul “marriages” which have taken place without full understanding and intention of the parties involved, and counsel that error be made on the side of compassion for those seeking to make marriages after divorce.
We affirm an openness to all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including the so-called “Charismata,” but finding it unscriptural to require that anyone exercise any particular Charism to be considered a full, believing member of this body. (I Corinthians 12:21) Those who exercise the Charismata are welcome and encouraged to exercise their gifts to the edification of the Church in an orderly, Biblical manner, subject to the godly discipline of the Pastor of the Parish to which they have allegiance.
We believe in an intermediate state wherein, after death, those who do not die in a state of grace but are destined for salvation, will be purged of the last stains of sin. We deny that this intermediate state is a place of torture and fear, but affirm that any pains endured in this state are gladly embraced, as they are the pains of releasing our earthly bondage and conforming to the Will of God in all things.
We believe that there is a possibility that some will reject grace, no matter how often it is offered, and these people freely choose to remain in a state of separation from God. This state of spirit we call “Hell.” It is a freely chosen state of the damned to be damned. It is not the will of the Father that any be lost.
We believe that humans are truly endowed with free-will and can freely choose Life in Christ Jesus or death through the rejection of grace.
We believe that the Holy Scriptures are inerrant on all matters of faith and morals.
We believe that people are justified by faith, which is demonstrated in good works and obedient practice. Both faith and works are necessary to the living of a Christian life.
We believe that there is a “cloud of witnesses,” the Saints, whom we may ask to pray for us as one would ask any other member of the Church. It is an idolatrous practice, however, to ask Saints to give us any material or physical blessing of their own. For, while the prayer of the righteous is very effective (James 5:16), yet every good thing comes from the Father (James 1:17).
We believe that the “Sacrifice of the Mass” is a “making present” of Jesus’ One Sacrifice, once offered, forever. Jesus’ Sacrifice is made present on the altar, and, as such, the Mass may be spoken of as a Sacrifice. Therefore, it is appropriate that Masses be offered for the living and the dead, making present to the Church now the One Sacrifice once offered, and making very present the benefits of Christ’s Holy Sacrifice to the benefit of those present at the offering.
We believe that Mary, mother of Jesus, was truly the Theotokos, or bearer of the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity. When Mary is called “Mother of God” we truly honor her who gave everything of herself to secure our Salvation. However, the Theotokos is called “Mother of God” in the sense that she bore Jesus, who was and is the Incarnation of the Son, not in the sense that she generated, in any way, the Godhead.
We believe that the prayers of the Blessed Virgin are effective because of her great and unique faith, and because she has a relationship which is unique with God from having been the bearer of the Son. The relationship, which exists between Jesus and His mother, is the same relationship Jesus wants to have with all believers. Mary is unique because of her great faith, and it is this which gives special power to her prayers, and her maternal relationship with the Lord.
We believe that all Bishops who have valid orders and remain in the orthodox faith, are successors of the Apostles, and, while we accord to the Bishop of Rome great respect, and primacy of position, we see him as first among equals, however completely reject the Papal Claims of Universal Jurisdiction and Infallibility.
We believe that faithful Christian Marriage between a male and a female, free of impediments, is the only legitimate state for sexual expression between individuals.
We believe that whatsoever is not repugnant to the Catholic Faith, but which aids in belief and devotion, may be believed as pious opinion, but may not be taught as doctrine of the Church.
We affirm that the Eucharist is the principal service of the Church; that its celebration is commanded by the Lord, and that it shall be the regularly celebrated Sunday Worship whenever possible.
THE APOSTLES CREED
I Believe in God.
Isaiah 44:6, “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”; Isaiah 45:5, “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:”
I Believe In The Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth.
Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1); John 1:3, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1); Acts 14:15, “And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:”
I Believe in Jesus Christ.
Luke 2:11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2); John 20:28, “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” (John 20)
I Believe that Jesus is His only Son. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3); Proverbs 30:4, “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?”
I Believe Jesus is Our Lord.
John 20:28, “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” (John 20)
I Believe in Jesus Who was Conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:35, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1)
I Believe Jesus Who Was Born of the Virgin Mary.
Luke 1:27, “To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.” (Luke 1)
I Believe Jesus Suffered Under Pontius Pilate.
Luke 23:24, “And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.” (Luke 23)
I Believe Jesus Was Crucified.
John 19:20, “This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.” (John 19); Acts 4:10, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.” (Acts 4)
I Believe Jesus Was Dead.
1st Corinthians 15:3, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;” (1st Corinthians 15)
I Believe Jesus Was Buried.
1st Corinthians 15:4, “And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1st Corinthians 15)
I Believe that Jesus on The third day He arose from the dead.
1st Corinthians 15:4, “And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1st Corinthians 15)
I Believe Jesus Ascended into Heaven.
Mark 16:19, “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.” (Mark 16); Luke 24:51, “And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” (Luke 24); Acts 1:11, “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1)
I Believe Jesus Is Seated at the Right Hand of God, the Father Almighty.
Mark 16:19, “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”; Hebrews 1:3, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Hebrews 1)
I Believe Jesus From Thence He Shall Come to Judge the Quick and the Dead.
2nd Timothy 4:1, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;” (2nd Timothy 4); John 5:22, “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:” (John 5)
I Believe in The Holy Spirit.,
John 15:26, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” (John 15); John 16:7-8, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” (John 16); John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16)
I Believe in The Church Universal.
Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3)
I Believe in the Communion of Saints.
Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10); Acts 2:44, “And all that believed were together, and had all things in common.” (Acts 2)
I Believe in The Forgiveness of Sins.
Luke 7:48, “And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7)
I Believe in The Resurrection of the Body.
1st Thessalonians 4:16, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:” (1st Thessalonians 4); Romans 8:23, “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8); 1st Corinthians 15:52-54, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1st Corinthians 15)
I Believe in Life Everlasting.
John 10:28, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10); John 17:2, “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” (John 17)