The inner life of the Catholic Church

[Xeno.of.athens]

The Church's life is pastoral, her priests, her bishops, pastor the faithful, like YHWH promised to pastor his people like a shepherd leads his flock.

Of course, it is not the Catholic Church on earth alone that shepherds the flock; Protestant pastors seek to do the same, as do elders in those denominations that do not have a paid ministry. It is a calling in the context of each body of Christians. As saint Paul wrote. "And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors: For the perfecting of the saints, for the word of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Until we all meet into the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ: That henceforth we be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive."

In the inner life of the Church are those whom the Lord calls to pastor the church, to gently lead, to teach, and to protect.