Qualities and Marks of the Church

Qualities and Marks of the Church

• Vatican II describes the Church primarily as the People of God.
• The Church is a community united in one faith, in Christ and His Holy Spirit.
• The Spirit guides the Church across all ages and nations.
• The Church is Catholic (universal) and Apostolic in origin, tradition, and doctrine.
• This highlights the nature of the Church as both human and divine.

The Church as Human

• The Church is human due to its people and community.
• The Church exists in time and operates within human means and structures.
• Its human aspect includes mistakes, but not in its faith and morals.
• The Church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum of saints.
• This highlights the Church being in need of God's help towards holiness.

The Church as Divine

• The Church's divine nature derives from its origin, nature, and mission.
• These arise from the Father's creative design, the Son's redemptive mission, and the Spirit's sanctifying work.
• The Church can forgive sins, heal the sick, proclaim truth, and has the authority to bind and loose.
• The Church is like Jesus Christ, the embodiment of God in human form, therefore God's Kingdom on Earth.

Infallibility of the Church

• Infallibility is the foundation of essential matters of faith and morals.
• This makes the Church's teachings free from error.
• Christ promised the church would not stray due to his presence.
• Christ makes His Church infallible.
• Infallibility belongs specially to the Pope, as head of the bishops.
• "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven... whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
• Christ instructed the Church to preach everything he taught, promising the protection of the Holy Spirit to "guide you into all the truth".
• The Church will never fall away from his teachings.

Four Marks of the Church

• The Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.
• It is Christ who, through the Holy Spirit, makes the Church these things.
• These marks of the Church help to strengthen the faith and attract non-believers.
• Believers should treat these marks as gifts, and tasks which challenge the church in its mission.

The Church is One

• The Church is one by Christ's priestly prayer for unity.
• The Church of Jesus Christ is visible with central authority, leadership, administration, and doctrine.
• Catholics share the same Creed, Mass, sacraments, and Moral teachings.
• The need for ecumenical and interfaith dialogue for Filipinos was pointed out by PCP II.

The Church is Holy

• The Church is holy because of its divine origin.
• Jesus Christ is its Founder and Head.
• All Christian churches claim Jesus Christ as the head of their church but only the Catholic Church can claim Jesus Christ as its Founder.
• The Church fosters holiness in its members.
• The Church, traditionally, has tied holiness to certain persons (priests, religious).
• Laity may use this to excuse themselves from striving after holiness.
• Everyone baptised is called to live the full challenge of Christian holiness.
• Being truly human means being holy.

The Church is Catholic

• The term "Catholic" means universal and complete, applicable to the Church in two ways.
• The Church is world-wide, sent to all peoples.
• The Church spreads true faith. This fullness includes the means of salvation.

The Church is Apostolic

• Jesus established His Church under the leadership of Peter.
• Christ assured the apostles that he would be with them until the end.
• Catholic Church leadership can be traced back to the first Christian leaders who were the apostles (Apostolic Succession).
• The Church is apostolic in three ways:
  • Jesus Christ permanently established the Church on the foundation of the apostles
  • It guards and transmits the teachings and witness of the apostles
  • It continues to be guided taught by the apostles through their successors.
• The Church has a living tradition.

Explore the essential qualities and marks of the Church as described in Vatican II. This quiz delves into the human and divine nature of the Church, highlighting its community, tradition, and mission. Test your understanding of its role as both a sanctuary for believers and a divine institution.