The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"22 THE FAITH OF OUK FATHERS.thorn, faith observes them." 1 By the signof thecross we make a profession of our faith in the Trinityand the Incarnation, and perform a most salutaryact of religion.We believe that on Easter Sunday Jesus Christmanifested His divine power by raising Himself tolife, and that having spent forty days on earth, afterHis resurrection, instructing His disciples, He ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives.On the Feast of Pentecost, or Whitsunday, tendays after His Ascension, our Saviour sent, as Hehad promised, His Holy Spirit to His disciples,while they were assembled together in prayer. TheHoly Ghost purified their hearts from sin, and imparted to them a full knowledge of those doctrinesof salvation which they were instructed to preach.On the same Feast of Pentecost the Apostles commenced their sublime mission, from which day, accordingly, we date the active life of the CatholicChurch.Our Redeemer gave the most ample authority tothe Apostles to teach in His name ;commandingthem to preach the Gospel to 3every creature,"and directing all, under the most severe penalties,to hear and obey them: "He that heareth you,bearoth Me; and he that despiseth you, despisethMe. And he that despiseth Me, despiseth Him thatsent Me."*And lest we should be mistaken in distinguishing1 De Corona, C. iii. 2Mark xvi. 15.*Luke x. 16.