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Tuesday, January 2, 2024

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St. Basil the Great
St. Gregory Nazianzen


1 John 2:22-28
Psalm 98:1-4
John 1:19-28

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anointing, remaining, and growing

“Remain in Him as that anointing taught you.” —1 John 2:27

On the inside front cover of this booklet is the Rescript, the Catholic Church’s Permission to Publish. Before One Bread, One Body is printed, the Church reviews this booklet to ensure it is free of doctrinal or moral error. When the booklet is error-free, “free from any lie” (1 Jn 2:27), the Church grants Permission to Publish. (Until recently, Permission to Publish was called the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur.) At Presentation Ministries, remaining safely under Church authority is how we remain in Jesus, as the anointing of the Holy Spirit taught us (1 Jn 2:27).

St. John says that if the anointing you received from Jesus remains in you, then “you have no need for anyone to teach you” (1 Jn 2:27). Then why read this booklet?

  • We are imperfect vessels and we leak (see Jer 2:13). We need to be constantly re-filled with the Holy Spirit.
  • We must devote ourselves to the teaching of the Church and study the Scriptures daily (Acts 2:42; 17:11), both of which help us grow (Acts 20:32).
  • Faith comes through hearing the Word of God (Rm 10:17). If we don’t increase in faith, how can we be sure we will remain in Him? This booklet proclaims God’s Word to increase our faith.
  • Like the early Church, we must be devoted to spreading God’s Word (Acts 6:7) and feeding His sheep (Jn 21:17).

“Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ” (Catechism, 133). If we’re ignorant of Him, we cannot “remain in Him” (1 Jn 2:28). Read God’s Word daily, and remain in Jesus.

Prayer:  Jesus, keep me faithful to Your teaching and never let me be parted from You.

Promise:  His “promise is no less than this: eternal life.” —1 Jn 2:25

Praise:  By the power of the Holy Spirit, St. Basil protected his diocese from heresy.

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from December 1, 2023, through January 31, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio May 17, 2023"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.