A Letter from St. Boniface

This letter, dating back to the 8th century, really struck a chord. This is, after all, a blog about Christian unity from the perspective of the Catholic Church. It is not a unity formed as of a federation of independent bodies. It is a unity that was instituted from the beginning, to which several who have been away must return. Not for the sake of tranquility with truth watered down. In His gracious love, God wants us to have it all -- Truth, uncompromised -- so we must strive to cooperate with his will and accept his truths, even when they hurt, even when they're hard to accept, and even when they divide. Being the pillar and foundation of truth, what can justify abandoning the ark of salvation? I am convinced more than ever of this: nothing. For this ship is no earthly vessel, and its crew may be errant humans but her captain is not. At journey's end, the world would see one bride, human, bloodied and triumphant, not several brides who have cause to argue vehemently about who the groom really is. There is one bride, the Church. There is one Spirit that dwells in her and brings Truth, unambiguous. We may never abandon this Church, since it was not we who built her.

A Letter from St. Boniface:

In her voyage across the ocean of this world, the Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life’s different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship but to keep her on her course. The ancient fathers showed us how we should carry out this duty: Clement, Cornelius and many others in the city of Rome, Cyprian at Carthage, Athanasius at Alexandria. They all lived under emperors who were pagans; they all steered Christ’s ship – or rather his most dear spouse, the Church. This they did by teaching and defending her, by their labours and sufferings, even to the shedding of blood. I am terrified when I think of all this. Fear and trembling came upon me and the darkness of my sins almost covered me. I would gladly give up the task of guiding the Church which I have accepted if I could find such an action warranted by the example of the fathers or by holy Scripture. Since this is the case, and since the truth can be assaulted but never defeated or falsified, with our tired mind let us turn to the words of Solomon: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own prudence. Think on him in all your ways, and he will guide your steps. In another place he says: The name of the Lord is an impregnable tower. The just man seeks refuge in it and he will be saved. Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for trial. Let us wait upon God’s strengthening aid and say to him: O Lord, you have been our refuge in all generations. Let us trust in him who has placed this burden upon us. What we ourselves cannot bear let us bear with the help of Christ. For he is all-powerful and he tells us: My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Let us continue the fight on the day of the Lord. The days of anguish and of tribulation have overtaken us; if God so wills, let us die for the holy laws of our fathers, so that we may deserve to obtain an eternal inheritance with them. Let us be neither dogs that do not bark nor silent onlookers nor paid servants who run away before the wolf. Instead let us be careful shepherds watching over Christ’s flock. Let us preach the whole of God’s plan to the powerful and to the humble, to rich and to poor, to men of every rank and age, as far as God gives us the strength, in season and out of season, as Saint Gregory writes in his book of Pastoral Instruction.