Christ calls Himself the Good Shepherd Who loves His sheep so dearly as to give His life for them.

Who are Christ’s sheep?

Everyone.  In other words, not only Jews, but also Gentiles.

The first sheep called into the sheepfold of Christ, which is the Catholic Church, were the Jews.  The “other sheep I have, that are not of this fold” are the Gentiles, namely non-Jews. Although Christ has redeemed everyone, not everyone wills to take advantage of their redemption.

This teaching is clearly taught by the Roman Catholic Council of Trent in its official Catechism.

This is why you read, concerning the Form for the Consecration of the Most Precious Blood during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in the Roman Catechism, a.k.a. the Catechism of the Council of Trent for Parish Priests, this Truth of the Catholic Faith in this text:

“The additional words for you and for many, are taken, some from Matthew, some from Luke, but were joined together by the Catholic Church under the guidance of the Spirit of God. They serve to declare the fruit and advantage of His Passion. For if we look to its value, we must confess that the Redeemer shed His Blood for the salvation of all; but if we look to the fruit which mankind has received from it, we shall easily find that it pertains not unto all, but to many of the human race. When therefore [Our Lord] said: For you, He meant either those who were present, or those chosen from among the Jewish people, such as were, with the exception of Judas, the Disciples with whom He was speaking. When He added, And for many, He wished to be understood to mean the remainder of the elect from among the Jews or Gentiles...”

 “With reason, therefore, were the words for all not used, as in this place the fruits of the Passion are alone spoken of, and to the elect only did His Passion bring the fruit of salvation” (Catechism of the Council of Trent for Parish Priests, The Eucharist, ¶ 64).

This basic Truth also explains why you read in the Apocalypse, Chapter 7:4-8 that a total of only 144,000 Jews will be Saints of Heaven, an even number of 12,000 Jews from each of their 12 tribes.

But, you also read in the Apocalypse, Chapter 7:9 that the number of the Gentiles who will be Saints of Heaven are

“a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands”.

These are they to whom Christ was referring when He says in today’s Gospel that:

“other sheep I have, that are not of this fold:  them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice”.

With these words of today’s Gospel, Christ is telling each and everyone of you that you indeed have heard the voice of the Good Shepherd.  This is WHY each and everyone of you is here today assisting at this Holy Sacrifice of Mass and WHY each of you have received the Holy Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation in the Catholic Church outside of which there is no salvation because it is only the Catholic Church which is truly the “one fold” in which there is Christ Who is the “one shepherd”.

And when the turn of each of you comes to stand before Him seated upon His Throne of blinding white light as the Just Judge, you can in Truth tell Him, stretching forth your arms, that you loved Him this much.  Your heroic love for Him, and for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Seven Sacraments, which all coalesce as the fount of Faith which the Apocalypse describes in its quasi-poetic language where you read in Chapter 22:1 about the

river of the water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb

and in Chapter 22:17:

he that will, let him take the water of life, freely,

that you

may enter in by the gates into the city.

Then it shall be clear to you how, among other things, Catacombs III was instrumental in helping you to become a Saint of Heaven!!!

The sheepfold of Christ, which is to say the Catholic Church, is based upon four marks - one, holy, catholic (universal), Apostolic.

The first mark of the Catholic Church is that it is one. This mark of unity is consistent with today’s Gospel where you read

there shall be one fold

of Christ Who is the one Good Shepherd.

Unfortunately, today, unlike before Synod Vatican 2 [Thursday, October 11, 1962 - Wednesday, December 8, 1965], not everyone has what is now the luxury of learning the one Holy Catholic Faith.  All kinds of "catechisms" and "bibles" are in the public marketplace so that those who really desire to either refresh their memories about, or who have not had much of an opportunity in the past to learn, what the Catholic Church teaches, can be easily confused and misled.

On Monday, April 8, 1546 A.D., the Roman Catholic Council of Trent, in its Decree Concerning the Edition, and the Use, of the Sacred Books, mandated the use of the Latin Vulgate of Saint Jerome. An approved English translation of it was published shortly thereafter.

The Council of Trent also dealt with the need for a uniform Catechism for teaching of Catholic Doctrine.  Historically, it is known by several names such as: The Roman Catechism; and also as: The Catechism of the Council of Trent for Parish Priests.

However, today it seems that although most, and maybe all, adult Catholics who are faithful to Tradition, have a fairly good knowledge and understanding of the basics of what has been primarily taught here in the United States, namely the Baltimore Catechism, their knowledge of other areas of the Catholic Faith are too frequently lacking.

In order to remedy this problem, a Catholic Traditional Catechism, is being revised to include some data on some of the current problems and issues in the Church in order to help the Readers to banish all confusion and contradictions from their minds with the basic, objective truthful facts about these specific contemporaneous problems and issues.

Once this important revision has been completed, you will be informed so that you can consider obtaining a copy of it.  This Catechism will thereby help to unify all Catholics who are faithful to the Authentic Apostolic Tradition of the Catholic Church so that you will no longer be

as sheep going astray but... converted to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls

and thereby be found worthy to be made part of that

great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands  (Apocalypse 7:9)

so that

there shall be one fold and one Shepherd (GOSPEL, John 10:16).

Resolutions

For your Resolutions, right now thank our Dear Lord for the many Graces He has already given to you by which the Good Shepherd has gathered you into His  sheepfold, the Catholic Church.

Thank the Good Shepherd for giving you the opportunity, by the help of His Divine Grace, to become one of the many who constitute the great multitude of the elect to whom His Passion brought forth the fruit of salvation in virtue of the tree of His Holy Cross which itself signifies the supernaturally vivified eternal Paschal Tree of Life that has sprung forth from the tree of His Passion, where you read:

the Tree of Life, bearing twelve fruits” and how “the leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the nations (Apocalypse 22:2).

As a final resolution, in the Holy Name of Jesus, and in an exercise of Catholic Charity, please contribute to the support of the Church - in this case - the Shrine of Saint Jude.    Please help us to save Souls!

Thank you for your thoughtfulness and Charity! Remember, God is never outdone in generosity!!!

Think how happy you will be when, in the next life, God shows you all of the Souls you helped to save by helping our Apostolates, including this Sermon web site, because "he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way, shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:20).

“And in doing good, let us not fail.  For in due time we shall reap, not failing. Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians  6:9-10).

“And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold:  them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd” (GOSPEL, John 10:16). V   In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Blessing

V. Sit X Nomen Domini benedictum. R. Ex hoc nunc, et usque in saeculum.  V. U Adjutorium nostrum in Nomine Domini. R. Qui fecit cœlum et terram. V. Benedicat vos, Omnipotens Deus:  V. Pa X ter, et Fi X lius, et Spiritus XSanctus, descendat super vos, et maneat semper. R. Amen.

V. Blessed X be the Name of the Lord. R. Now and for ever more. V. U Our help is in the Name of the Lord. R. Who made Heaven and earth. V. May Almighty God bless thee: V. The Fa X ther, the S X on, and the Holy X Ghost, descend upon thee, and always remain with thee. R. Amen.

 

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