Nature of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic PDF

Nature of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic The Church is identified as the Bride of Christ. There are four marks of the Church, and these marks are the distinguishing characteristics that make her different from other churches. The words one, holy, catholic and apostolic are often ca...

Nature of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic The Church is identified as the Bride of Christ. There are four marks of the Church, and these marks are the distinguishing characteristics that make her different from other churches. The words one, holy, catholic and apostolic are often called the four marks of the Church. The Church is One Because of her sources the unity of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Church is one because Jesus founded her and calls us all to live in faith, hope, and charity. One: the Church is one. This means that it is a single, united and global Church which has its basis in Christ Jesus. “There is one body and one Spirit, as you were called to the one hope of your call One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” - Ephesians 4:4-6 As members of the Church, we form one body and one Spirit, and this means that we only have one hope and one mission in our calling. Our oneness is characterized by our baptism into one faith and handed down from the apostles, worshipping only one God. As members of the Church, we are bound together in the following aspects; (1) the profession of faith- we profess one faith rooted from the apostles (2) the celebration of divine worship- we share in the prayers and sacraments (3) The harmony and love of God’s family (4) The apostolic succession through the Sacrament of Holy Orders- we maintain unity in the Church through the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on earth. There is only one Pope in the universal “Catholic” Church. Pope Francis is our present pope. He is the Bishop of Rome, the Vicar of the Church. Our oneness with the Pope is a symbol of our unity and being in communion with the other churches. As Christians, we are called to foster unity of the Church, the people of God. But, it is also a reality that there are divisions inside the Church. Any act and form of dissension that divides, confuses, and breaks the bond of unity among God’s people is against God’s will. Official breaks with Church communion include: a. Heresy- the obstinate denial or doubt by baptized person of a truth which must be believed by divine and Catholic faith b. Apostasy- the total repudiation of the Christian faith c. Schism- the withdrawal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or from communion with the members of the Church subject to him The Church is Holy The Church is holy, because it is the Body of Christ with Jesus as the head. This does not mean that all members of the Church are sin free. It means that the Church and her sacraments help to make the faithful holy. The Church is holy because its founder is holy, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies and empowers us to be holy members of the Church. "The Church... is held, as a matter of faith, to be unfailingly holy. This is because Christ, the Son of God, who with the Father and the Spirit is hailed as 'alone holy,' loved the Church as his Bride, giving himself up for her so as to sanctify her; he joined her to himself as his body and endowed her with the gift of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God."The Church, then, is "the holy People of God," and her members are called "saints.“-CCC 823 As Jesus who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, “Be holy because I am holy.” - Peter 1:15-16  Jesus calls us to live a holy life. A holy person acts in a manner that pleases Jesus. Our self-sacrificing service to others especially to those who are in need is, one way of showing our love for God, and in doing so we attain holiness. Love signifies our acts of holiness in our day-to-day lives. United with Christ, the Church is sanctified by him; through him and with him she becomes sanctifying. "All the activities of the Church are directed, as toward their end, to the sanctification of men in Christ and the glorification of God.“ It is in the Church that "the fullness of the means of salvation“ has been deposited. It is in her that "by the grace of God we acquire holiness.” -CCC 824 In faith, we believe the Church is holy in way that can never fail. First, because Christ loves the Church as the bride and gives up for her, to make her holy. Uniting her to Jesus as His body, Jesus endowed her with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Second, because the Holy Spirit graces her with the fullness of life, the means of salvation and holiness. Such are the preaching of the Gospel, the sacraments, the moral virtues, self-sacrificing service of neighbor, and sharing of charismatic gifts. – CCC1397 The Church is Catholic the word catholic literally means ‘universal.’ The role of the Church is to spread the Word of God universally across the world. Church is Catholic or universal because Christ is present in her. The Church continues to give what Jesus has taught and gives witness to all on what He did. The word “Catholic” means universal, complete, and all embracing. The Church being universal offers everyone to become faithful in her/his relationship with the Risen Christ through grace and spiritual gift, especially the Eucharist. The Church is “Catholic” according to the Church Father because she: Is spread throughout the world (Acts 1:8) Possesses all saving truth (John 16:13) Is sent to all peoples (Mark 16:15) Can heal all kinds of sins (John 20:23); and Abounds in every kind of virtue and spiritual gift (Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures). - CCC 1402 The Church’s “Catholicity” then, is both a gift and a task, which involves mission and inculturation. In its mission, the Church manifest a basic respect for local Churches and cultures. Its “catholicity” is not any monotonous uniformity but reaches out to the cultural wealth of all peoples. “The Church as people of God fosters and takes to herself the abilities, resources, and customs of each people; she purifies, strengthens, and ennoble(give dignity) them” (LG 13). Inculturation is our way of expressing our faith, both personal and communal into Filipino context. Some forms of inculturation that we carry out include translating the Bible into local dialects, using local and indigenous materials for liturgical celebrations, singing Filipino liturgical songs, etc. Inculturation is done in a way that Christian faith is deepened through Filipino values, attitudes, and traditions. The Church is Apostolic the origins and beliefs of the Church started out with the apostles at Pentecost. The Church is Apostolic because Jesus grounded her on the foundation of the apostles. “So then, you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus as the capstone.” - Ephesians 2:19-20 The Church Transmits all the teachings of the apostles, authentically translated and interpreted from one generation to another, through her living tradition. Pope Francis the Bishop of Rome, is the 266th pope of the Apostolic Church. The truth about the Apostolic Church is clearly and simply stated in the Prefaces for Apostles: Father You founded the Church on the Apostles To stand firm forever as the living Gospel For all men and women to hear Through the apostles You watch over us And protect us always You made them shepherds of the flock to share In the work of Your Son Summary: We can contribute to the tasks and challenges of the Church through the following ways: 1. Recognizing and respecting the innate dignity of each person and doing our share in protecting this dignity. 2. Reaching out to others in friendship and love. 3. Avoiding sin and the occasions and people that lead us to it and to letting holiness be the goal of our life. 4. Volunteering in outreach activities of the school and parish 5. Giving witness to the Church in words and deeds. “Do everything you can and stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:18) REFERENCES: Afire with Gratitude: We become a Trinitarian Church pages 94-98 Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)