LIFE IN CHRIST: chap. 2, part 5

Lent with Fr Harton

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CHAPTER 2: MEMBERS OF CHRIST (part 5)

Men look, and look rightly, for fruit on the vine of the Catholic Church and oft-times they seem to find less than they would expect. That is because the branches are not bearing as they should do.

What constitutes a fruitful branch? It is one which is healthy and in which the life-giving sap has free course. If there is any disease or obstruction it may, for a time, produce leaves which give a false impression of health, but it will not bear, of if it does the fruit will be but poor. In the same way, if our souls are diseased by sin, which chokes the channels of grace, we cannot produce the fruit which our Lord would have of us. Fruit is borne on the branches of the tree, and if we, the branches, are sinful the tree of the Church cannot fulfil the purpose for which she has been planted in the garden of the world. Sin must therefore be extirpated that fruit may be produced.