Church Characteristics and Mission

• The Council of Nicaea denounced Arianism
• Apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith
• Ecumenism is the process of restoring unity among Christian Churches
• St. John Chrysostom defended the Church against Monophysitism
• The Church is one because of its source, founder, and soul
• St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, is the foremost defender of the Church against all heresies
• Nestorianism is a heresy that denies the real unity of the divine and human nature of Christ
• Arianism is a heresy asserting that Christ, as the Son of God, was not fully divine as God the Father
• Schism involves withdrawing submission to the Supreme Pontiff or from communion with Church members subject to him
• Heresy is the obstinate denial or doubt of a truth that must be believed by divine and Catholic faith after receiving baptism

Church Characteristics and Mission

• Unity in the Church is about harmony in diversity
• The Church is universal and extends to all people
• Catholics have communion with each other through the Holy Spirit
• Reconciliation demonstrates the Church's interior catholicity through its universal ministry
• Fulfilling the mission as Catholics involves sharing the love of Christ with others
• Catholicity is both a gift and a task
• The Catholicity of the Church was used to differentiate it from other Christian denominations
• The universality of the Church means all human persons are called to belong to the New People of God
• The Church announces true faith because it possesses the "fullness of the means for salvation"
• St. Paul encourages humility, which is shown through being humble, kind, patient, and loving

Disunity, Holiness, and Obstacles to Unity

• Causes of disunity in the Church can be heresy, apostasy, and schism.
• Ways to become holy involve acknowledging one's sinfulness, prayer, repentance, renewal, and imitating Jesus
• Common struggles and obstacles to unity include jealousy, selfishness, disrespect, anger, factions, and envy

Ash Wednesday

• Study lesson 17-19