The purpose of the Booklet
The purpose of this booklet is to introduce the reader to the Crusade of Saint Benedict Center. It is our hope that we have collected in it a summary of all of the various aspects of our movement, a summary which will inform interested persons of the nature of our work, its history and importance, as well as how they may come to participate in it. Aside from being an introduction to our work and history, this booklet is intended to serve as a point of contact for those who wish to live their Catholic Faith in a more serious and committed manner, under our banner and faithful to our ideals. This can be done as a religious brother or sister living the vows of evangelical perfection in community life, or as a faithful Catholic of any state sharing in our work as a tertiary (Third Order member). Because of the recruiting aspect of this work, we have chosen to call it not merely an introduction, but an Invitation to a Crusade.
The Mission Statement of Saint Benedict Center
Saint Benedict Center is a Catholic organization dedicated to a two-fold Crusade: the propagation and defense of Catholic dogma — especially extra ecclesiam nulla salus — and the conversion of America to the one, true Church. At the heart of our Crusade is a religious Congregation, the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which consists of First Order Brothers, Second Order Sisters, and Third Order members dedicated to furthering these goals. The religious brothers and sisters in the Congregation work out their salvation by living the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, united with the total Consecration to Jesus through Mary according to the method of St. Louis de Montfort. Third Order members, mostly lay people not bound by vows, live that same Marian Consecration in the world. Although this booklet is not an apologetic for the teaching, “no salvation outside the Church,” we think it necessary, for the benefit of those who may never have heard of it before, to show briefly that this is indeed a dogma of the Catholic Church, binding on all Catholics. Therefore, we append to our mission statement these three solemn papal definitions, which anyone of good will can verify for himself as being authentic:
- “There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved.” (Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.)
- “We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302.)
- “The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church.” (Pope Eugene IV, the Bull Cantate Domino, 1441.)
Further proofs for this teaching and our defense of it are contained in our numerous published works, a list of which is included as an appendix to this booklet. Anyone who does not hold the Faith of the Catholic Church, either on this teaching on salvation or any other Catholic dogma, would not be considered for membership in our First, Second, or Third Orders. It should be added that such a person also forfeits his claim to heaven, since the Catholic Faith is necessary for salvation.
