Jesus and the Church PDF (BGHS24-25)

Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. Jesus and the CHURCH Jesusand the CHURCH One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic ave maria press notre dame, indiana This eText version of Jesus and the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic has been licensed for the use of students at ishop orman High School in Las egas, N for the 202 –25 school year. Additional licenses may be purchased from Ave Maria Press, Inc. by calling 1-800-282-1865. The Subcommittee on the Catechism, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has found that this catechetical high school text, copyright 2014, is in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church and that it fulfills the requirements of Core Course IV of the Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age. Nhil Obstat: Reverend Monsignor Michael Heintz, PhD Censor Librorum Imprimatur: Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades Bishop of Fort Wayne–South Bend Given at Fort Wayne, Indiana on 17 September 2013. The Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur are official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error. No implication is contained therein that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat or Imprimatur agree with its contents, opinions, or statements expressed. Catechetical Consultant: Michael Horan, PhD Professor, Department of Theological Studies Director, Theological Studies Graduate Program Loyola Marymount University Pedagogical Consultant: Michael J. Boyle, PhD Assistant Director, Center for Catholic School Effectiveness Assistant Professor-Research and Psychology in the Schools Loyola University, Chicago Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced without permission in writing from the copyright owner. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America copyright © 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.—Libreria Editrice Vaticana. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica copyright © 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.—Libreria Editrice Vaticana. ____________________________________ © 2015 by Ave Maria Press, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, except in the case of reprints in the context of reviews, without written permission from Ave Maria Press®, Inc., P.O. Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556, 1-800-282-1865. Founded in 1865, Ave Maria Press is a ministry of the United States Province of Holy Cross. Engaging Minds, Hearts, and Hands for Faith® is a trademark of Ave Maria Press, Inc. www.avemariapress.com Paperback: ISBN-13 978-1-59471-212-8 E-book: ISBN-13 978-1-59471-538-9 Project Editor: Michael Amodei, Executive Editor, Adolescent Catechesis. Cover images © W.P. Wittman Photography / superstock.com / NET Ministries, Inc. Cover and text design by Andy Wagoner. Printed and bound in the United States of America. MINDS, ENGAGING HEARTS, AND HANDSFOR FAITH An education that is complete is the one in which hands and heart are engaged as much as the mind. We want to let our students try their learning in the world and so make prayers of their education. Bl. Basil Moreau Founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross In this text you will: learn the four characteristics or marks of the Church—one, holy, catholic, apostolic—and how they are linked together. realize that only through Faith can we recognize that the Church possesses these marks as gifts of God. be encouraged to draw on the marks of the Church to help fulﬁll the Church’s mission of witnessing to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. CONTENTS Chapter 1: Why We Need the Church Chapter 2: The Church Is One Chapter 3: The Church Is Holy Chapter 4: The Church Is Catholic Chapter 5: The Church Is Apostolic 1 45 95 145 181 Chapter 6: The Church in the World 219 Appendix: Catholic Handbook for Faith 254 The Nicene Creed 254 The Apostles’ Creed 254 A Timeline of Church History 255 The Sacraments: Witness through 267 Words and Deeds Epilogue: Why You Need the Church 275 Glossary 276 Subject Index 281 Primary Source Index 299 Scripture Index 301 Catechism of the Catholic 304 Church Index Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. WHY WE NEED THE CHURCH Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. “ I’m Spiritual BUT NOT RELIGIOUS” A recent survey of eighteen- to twenty-nine-year-olds noted that they described themselves as “more spiritual than religious.” One respondent explained: “I don’t need to define myself to any community by putting myself in a box labeled Baptist, or Catholic, or Muslim. When I die, I believe all my accounting will be done to God, and that when I enter the eternal realm, I will not walk through a door with a label on it.” Others said they are “spiritual but not religious” because organized religion denigrates itself with power struggles that often involve ego and money. Religion, they said, was associated with church atten- dance and commitment to orthodox beliefs. Father James Martin, S.J., said the term “SBNR”(spiritual but not religious) may also be associated with something else: egotism. “Being spiritual but not religious can lead to complacency and self-centeredness,” Martin said. “If it’s just you and God in your room, and a religious community makes no demands on you, why help the poor?” 1 Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. FOCUS QUESTION Why do people NEED TO BELONG to the Catholic Church? We Are Meant to Be Together Chapter Overview Introduction Section 1 The Origins of the Church Section 2 The Church Is Instituted by Christ Section 3 The Holy Spirit and the Church Section 4 The Apostolic Foundation and Mission of the Church Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. INTRODUCTION They had a hard time explaining the attraction of We Are Meant to Be Big Bend to their other friends. It was the stark beauty of the place that convinced them to fill their week with Together an arduous hike rather than party with some other college kids at a beach resort. At the end of their first day, the group made it to the top of the south rim of the Chisos before sunset. From there they gazed out MAIN IDEA The Church calls and gathers people together to for miles toward Mexico. They walked to the very edge support them in achieving their fullest sense of of the rim, peered down to a drop of thousands of feet, identity. while also watching the sun disappear on the horizon, creating an exploding backdrop of purplish red hues. They were all silent for several moments, before Terry tried to put it all into words. “You want to talk to me about God? There’s God,” he said pointing to the majestic sunset. “This is my church.” Terry’s remark elicited familiar groans and rolled eyes from his friends. They had heard him make com- ments like this before. Nick and Mike were both prac- ticing Catholics, and Terry once was. All three friends went to Catholic grade school together. But Terry had stopped going to Mass and practicing his faith after that. From time to time he would also bring up “issues” Three childhood friends, now college freshmen, Nick, he had with the Church on some of the core Catho- Terry, and Mike, took advantage of their mutual spring lic beliefs. And, he would always fall back on similar break to go backpacking together at Big Bend National words as he expressed on the south rim of the Chisos: Park. The park is located along the Río Grande River, “I am a spiritual person. I don’t need to go to church to which serves as the border between Mexico and Texas. be with God.” Pointing to his heart, Terry would often say, “My religion is right here.” NOTE Collating Examples. As you read the section, create a chart like this to help you list positive and negative examples of individualism and consum- TAKING erism. Use examples from the text and from your own experience. Positive Examples Negative Examples Individualism Consumerism Chapter 1: Why We Need the Church 3 Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. You may wonder about the sighs and concern coming from Nick and Mike. What was wrong with Individualism and Religion There is nothing wrong with promoting and celebrat- Terry’s perspective? Certainly a tenet of Catholicism ing your individuality. God created you uniquely in his is that God is Creator of the universe and he can be own divine image. God knows and loves each person experienced in the beauty of his handiwork. And, at as distinct and unique. Being made in God’s image, you the center of Catholicism is God’s incarnate Son, Jesus possess “the dignity of a person, who is not just some- Christ, who calls each person to a personal, heartfelt thing, but someone” (CCC, 357). The Book of Psalms relationship with him. Aren’t all Catholics called to be recognizes how God values the individual: “spiritual people”? What bothered Nick and Mike was not Terry’s desire to be spiritual. Rather, they took Terry’s words and actions to mean that he didn’t feel a need any lon- ger to be a member of the Catholic Church, or any Lord, church, for that matter. Nick and Mike understood that you have being part of the Church is essential for an authentic probed me, relationship with God that leads to a Christian life. you know me: Because, as Pope Francis tweeted in September 2013, you know when “We do not become Christians by ourselves. Faith is I sit and stand... above all a gift from God which is given to us in and with all my ways you are familiar. through the Church.” (Ps 139:1–3) Yet Terry’s attitude is a common one today. Vari- ous surveys reveal that a majority of people in devel- Jesus, too, reminds us of the personal interest God oped nations like the United States believe in God, takes in each of us: but fewer than half of them attend a place of worship on a regular basis. More and more people, including Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? those in the eighteen- to twenty-nine-year-old cate- Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of gory now, like Terry, describe themselves as “spiritual God. Even the hairs of your head have all been but not religious.” This group includes those who hold counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more to maintaining only a “private relationship with God” than many sparrows. (Lk 12:6–7) or who may blend writings, beliefs, and practices from Individualism only becomes a problem when it several religions together to form their own strand of drives people apart from one another. When this hap- faith and practice. pens, the individual creates his or her own definition In order to understand more about how this of self and of the world. The person may not be will- “SBNR” phenomenon arose in recent times, it’s help- ing to listen or dialogue with others. Perpetuating the ful to look at two forces in modern life: individualism value of “going it alone,” modern media and culture and consumerism. have sometimes celebrated the more romantic types of individualism. Think about the “heroic loner” you have seen in film or on television who ignores people in authority and institutions, and plays by his own rules. 4 Jesus and the Church Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. In fact, people in modern society today prize per- TEEN Mass sonal freedom and will fight for individual rights (e.g., the right to a free education, the right to own prop- erty). However, they may be slower to embrace com- mon commitments (e.g., voting, paying taxes, assisting the poor). Put it this way: many people believe they have a right to a trial by jury, yet don’t want to serve Attendance on one! This individualist philosophy translates to the vsTEEN experience many people have of religion and Church. They may feel compelled to join with others who Con$umeri$m believe in God to worship, pray, socialize, and serve, 21 but when they find themselves disagreeing with an aspect of the faith, they may retreat back to their autonomous world. Or, alternatively, they may simply % of Catholic high school students attend Mass grow tired or bored with the effort it takes to join in once a week.1 with the others. The bottom line is that many people do not feel that belonging to a church is vital to their 39% maintaining a relationship with God. Consumerism and Religion of teens buy one music album a Along with individualism, consider the far-reach- month.2 ing impact of how consumerism (the practice of an ever-increasing acquisition and consumption of 20% goods) factors into how people participate in religion. God created a good world to sustain us. Consum- of teens eat at a erism turns the goodness that God has provided into fast-food restaurant several times “packaged products” or material goods for personal a week.3 enjoyment, with little or no reminder of the generos- ity of God or the effect on others. Consumerism also 30% fosters an “upgrading mentality.” To understand, just think of the frequent cell phone upgrades many people 30% of teens play seem to require. video games seven What does consumerism have to do with reli- days a week.4 gion? Put simply, from a consumer’s perspective it is easy to think of religion and religious experience as a kind of product to be consumed with little thought of 1. Catholic Polls 2012. its connectedness to its tradition and doctrine or to 2. http://www.stageoflife.com/music.aspx 3. http://www.gallup.com/poll/9349/Schools-Havens-Junk-Food-Junkies.aspx faith. The upgrading mentality comes into play, too. 4. http://www.pewinternet.org/2008/09/16/part-1-1-who-is-playing-games/ Chapter 1: Why We Need the Church 5 Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. Some people search out a church with better music could lead a person to describe himself or herself as or a more glitzy media presentation or a pastor who more “spiritual than religious.” preaches a message more to their liking. The upgrad- Another problem with viewing religion from a ing mentality also leads others to cobble together a consumer perspective is that worship, prayer, and personal spirituality that may combine the Christian community can be subtly transformed into a religious story with myths, symbols, and rituals drawn from product to be consumed and not a communal religious other religious traditions. Such a person might attend practice and system of beliefs that bind people together a contemporary retreat that includes participation in with others in a common commitment to God and a Native American “sweat lodge” ritual. The person’s neighbor. prayer might begin with a meditation on a Buddhist koan, followed by some spiritual reading from a poem Called to Church of the Sufi sage, Rumi. It’s easy to see how this type of In the First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul describes religious consumerism coupled with individualism the Church as the “Body of Christ”: 6 Jesus and the Church Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. As a body is one though it has many parts, and all parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. (1 Cor 12:12) SECTION St. Paul explained that just as the various parts of ASSESSMENT a human body (arms, legs, eyes, ears, etc.) rely on one another to function as a human body, so the members of the Church must rely on one another if they are NOTE TAKING to live as God intended. St. Paul’s understanding of Use some of the examples in your com- the Church stands in stark contrast to the notion of pleted chart to help you answer the following people coming together for a short time to fill up and questions. satisfy their needs, only to return to their solitary lives 1. What are some positive reasons people unchanged. Such a sense of Church would have made may attempt to remain autonomous in their faith life? no sense to St. Paul, who did not believe that individ- 2. What does consumerism have to do with uals define the Church; but that the Church is what religion? gives individuals their fullest sense of identity. In other words, St. Paul believed that individuals participate in the life of the Church because, at the very core of our being, everyone needs the Church. COMPREHENSION 3. What did St. Paul teach about the oneness In fact, the very term church points out the of the members of the Church? individual’s need to be together with oth- 4. What is the meaning of the word church? ers. The word church means a convocation or assembly. The English word for Church translates to the Latin ecclesia and from the CRITICAL THINKING Greek ek-ka-lein, meaning to “call out of.” 5. Provide examples of how the individual- People are literally called from their iso- istic mentality is present in the life of your lation to togetherness. As the Catechism peer group. of the Catholic Church teaches, “[in] the 6. Describe an occasion when you encoun- Church, God is ‘calling together’ his people tered religion as a product rather than a way of life. from all the ends of the earth” (CCC, 751). Chapter 1: Why We Need the Church 7 Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. SECTION 1 think of the Catholic Church, they may be as likely The Origins to think in terms of her institutional structure, and her visible dimension, such as the hierarchy (pope, of the Church bishops, priests), schools, or parish churches, as with the sacraments, Scripture, Mary and the saints, and Jesus himself. Although the Church has a human and visible structure to support her spiritual dimension, MAIN IDEA The Church’s origins lie in the eternal plan of the to understand the Church, one must look past what Holy Trinity that unfolded over time in response is visible and look to her origin in the Blessed Trinity. to sin entering the world. To understand the origins of the Church, you can meditate on the Church “in the Holy Trinity’s plan and her progressive realization in history” (CCC, 758). What does this mean? Simply, the creation of human- kind was always a part of God’s eternal plan. This plan continues to be carried out in history. God created the world with people in mind, intending that everyone live in loving relationship with him and one another. When sin entered the world, God did not abandon humankind. Rather, he gradually formed humans into the family of God, believers in his Son, Jesus Christ, and the Church. This was done so that all people might be saved. Second-century theo- logian Clement of Alexandria (d. 215) wrote: The Catholic Church has more than 1.2 billion mem- bers worldwide. This makes the Church one of the largest institutions in the world. Indeed, when people NOTE TAKING Events 1. Notes Sequencing Events. As you read this sec- tion, create a chart like this one to help you 2. label the following events in chronological 3. order for founding of the Church: Sinai cove- 4. nant, New Covenant, covenant with Abra- 5. ham, Babylonian Exile, Protoevangelium, Prophets, and monarchy. Write brief notes 6. to explain each event’s signiﬁcance. 7. 8 Jesus and the Church Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. Just as God’s will is creation and is called “the Yet, from the chaos created by sin, God began to world,” so his intention is the salvation of men, gather together the Church. After speaking to Adam and it is called “the Church.” and Eve, he said to the serpent: The Second Vatican Council reemphasized the important truth that the Church was foreshadowed or “already present in figure at the beginning of the world” (Lumen Gentium, 2), echoing the words of an ancient Christian writer that “the world was created I will put enmity between you and the woman, for the sake of the Church.” It is the Church that makes and between your offspring and hers; your communion with God possible. He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel. Preparation for the Church (Gn 3:15) in the Old Testament The teaching of the creation accounts in the Book of Genesis is that God created the first humans in his own image, and endowed them with both intellect (an ability to ask questions, to wonder, and to learn) and free will (the power to make choices with the possibility This passage in Genesis is called the Protoevan- that they could love God and one another). God made gelium, or first Gospel. It was the first announcement himself known to Adam and Eve from the time of cre- that God would send a Messiah and a Redeemer, who ation, offering his intimate communion with them and is a descendent of Eve. From then on, God began to clothing them “with resplendent grace and justice” gather those who feared him and did what was right (CCC, 54). and acceptable in his eyes (see Acts 10:35). When the serpent tempted the woman to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree in the garden, it was with Preparing with a Covenant the promise that “your eyes will be opened and you The remote preparation of the Church began when will be like gods who know what is good and what is God called Abraham, a nomadic farmer, and promised bad” (Gn 3:5). Instead of living lives of harmonious that he would be “father of a host of nations” (Gn 17:5). relationship with God and with one another, the first Although Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were advanced man and first woman sinned by believing they might find fulfillment in possessing perfect autonomy and Original Sin The sin of disobedience committed by Adam control over the world, that is, that they could be “like and Eve that resulted in their loss of original holiness and justice and their becoming subject to sin and death. Original gods.” Adam and Eve’s sin, which is called Original Sin also describes the fallen state of human nature into Sin, damaged their relationship with God and with one which all generations of people are born. Jesus Christ came another. It also would affect these same relationships to save all people from Original Sin (and all sin). for all the human family. Protoevangelium A term that means “the ﬁrst gospel,” which is found in Genesis 3:15, when God revealed he would send a Savior to redeem the world. Chapter 1: Why We Need the Church 9 Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. Chosen People bound by a covenant. He told Moses that they were to be a priestly or consecrated People: Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special posses- sion, dearer to me than all other people. (Ex 19:5) The Hebrew word used to describe the special rela- tionship God had with Israel is hesed, which means “steadfast love.” This steady, permanent, and faithful love of God for his people provided the basis for the Israelite’s sense of community. This love was experi- enced concretely by the Law, which Moses received from God on Mount Sinai. From the Law, the Israelites learned not only of a proper relationship they were to forge with God, but how they were to treat one another. For example, they were to show special concern for widows, orphans, and strangers: You shall not oppress an alien; you know well God said: “I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky” (Gn 26:4). how it feels to be an alien, since you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. (Ex 23:9) in years, God promised them a son. They and their While other ancient religions affirmed an obli- descendants were invited to enter with God into a gation to care for the poor and powerless (e.g., the mutually binding covenant. God willingly bound ancient Babylonian Code of Hammurabi demanded himself forever to this group of people and gave them that the kind show concern for the poor), Israel was a unique and pivotal role in his plan for the world. unique in its conviction that the responsibility for the Catholics today are counted among Abraham’s descen- well-being of the vulnerable in the community be dants, whom God promised would be as numerous as shared by all people, and not just those in leadership. the stars in the sky. Israel’s history did not proceed without division The Church’s immediate preparation began with and sinfulness. After a time of unification under one God’s covenant with the Israelites at Mount Sinai. The king, political disputes led to the division of the Cho- origins of Israel’s sense of itself as a community began sen People into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah. The not with any human act, but with God’s initiative. The ensuing years were marked by infidelity to God and Israelites were chosen or elected by God and became his ignorance of the needs of the poor. As a result, both the Southern Kingdom (Judah) and the Northern King- Covenant The open-ended contract of love between God and dom (Israel) were plunged into periods of exile where human beings. Jesus’ Death and Resurrection sealed God’s New Covenant of love for all time. the people were removed from their holy homeland and taken captive by foreign nations. 10 Jesus and the Church Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. The In response to these abuses, God sent prophets to both warn the people of their sinfulness and to announce a new and eternal covenant. In practice, such rededication first translated to a restoration of the “survivors of Israel” in order to make them “a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (Is 49:6). This special vision of Israel’s place among nations had another effect on its understanding of community. In the period after the Babylonian Exile, Israel began to Church separate itself from its neighbors due to the belief that of the the Chosen People had been punished for previously intermingling with Gentile nations. Yet, this was not the only understanding or practice. The Book of Jonah imparts that after the prophet Jonah was charged with bringing judgment on a sinful, The Church is a mystery because her nature can never be grasped by the power of reason alone. pagan people, the Ninevites, he was surprised to find The Church is a visible, tangible, historical reality, his announcement met with their communal penance but she also embodies the spirit of the invisible, for their sins. Accepting the repentance of this pagan intangible God. people, God relented and did not carry out the evil Chapter I of the Second Vatican Council doc- that he had threatened to do to them (see Jonah 3:10). ument Lumen Gentium, or the “Dogmatic Consti- The message of this story is that God’s compassion is tution on the Church,” describes the mystery of not limited to Israel; it extends to all who are open to the Church. Read the chapter. Outline the eight sections of the chapter using three concise sen- the call of repentance. Israel was to be a model of what tences for each section. Two examples (for sec- God intended for all people. tions 1 and 5) are listed below. In the Old Testament, God acts over and over to form a people who are chosen not because of merit, SECTION 1 but simply because of his compassion and love for Christ is the light of the nations and he is present in the Church. them. Though as a people, the Israelites (later called “Jews”) frequently abandoned the demands of a loving SECTION 5 relationship with God, he refused to abandon them. Christ inaugurated the Church by preach- They were a people bound by a promise, a covenant ing the Good News of the coming of the Kingdom of God. that was not of their making. In fact, in spite of their ongoing sinfulness, God Display your report as a graphic organizer. announced through the prophets this new and eternal covenant. He was committed to the Jewish people as the faith community from which his own Son, Jesus, would be born. When the proper time came, God him- self became a member of that community. The only Chapter 1: Why We Need the Church 11 Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. Son of God was entrusted not only to this Chosen New Covenant The climax of Salvation History, the coming People, but to humanity itself. In the Incarnation, the of Jesus Christ, the fullness of God’s Revelation. Second Person of the Trinity came down from Heaven Paschal Mystery Christ’s work of redemption, accomplished and assumed human nature. It was through this great principally by his Passion, Death, Resurrection, and glori- gift that Christ instituted the New Covenant specifi- ous Ascension. This mystery is commemorated and made present through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. cally through his Paschal Mystery: he called a people together made up of Jews and Gentiles which would be one, not accord- ing to flesh, but in the Spirit, and it would be the new people of God. (Lumen Gentium, 9) SECTION ASSESSMENT NOTE TAKING 1. What event began the immediate preparation for the Church? 2. What was the new message from the Book of Jonah regarding the experience of God’s compassion? VOCABULARY ? 3. Define Protoevangelium. 4. Explain how Original Sin put into motion the beginning of the Church. COMPREHENSION 5. Summarize the prophets’ announcement on the nature of the People of God. DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION 6. What can people do today to promote the message of justice found in the Book of Jonah? 7. Meet with a partner. Take turns brainstorming words associated with the Church. Write all of the suggestions. Circle three that are most prominent to you. Write about one of the words. What does it say about the meaning of the Church? 12 Jesus and the Church Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. SECTION 2 In a Catholic high school religion class, a student The Church Is studying the differences in chronology and themes among the four Gospels commented to his teacher: Instituted by Christ “Jesus should have just written his own Gospel and saved us all of this trouble!” The teacher responded succinctly: “Jesus didn’t write a Gospel because he was too busy founding a Church!” MAIN IDEA The Church was born from Christ’s self-giving The point is well taken. Jesus called, taught, and love that was expressed perfectly in the Paschal formed a group of disciples who would carry on his Mystery. mission. In doing so, Jesus instituted the Church by ushering in the Kingdom of God on earth. The Kingdom of God might be thought of as “the world as God would have it to be.” Or, think of it this way: the Kingdom of God is in a state of “already, not yet.” What this means is that in Jesus of Nazareth, the Kingdom of God is already present in a new and disciples Followers of Christ. A disciple is someone who learns from and follows Jesus and who accepts a share of his ministry in the world. Kingdom of God The reign or rule of God. The Kingdom of God has begun with the coming of Jesus Christ. It will exist in its perfect form at the end of time. Identifying Images of the Church. Use a concept web like the NOTE TAKING one below to record several images of the Church mentioned in this section (including the separate feature, “More Biblical Images of the Church” on page 17). Add circles as necessary. Kingdom Images of God of the Church Chapter 1: Why We Need the Church 13 Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. unprecedented way. At the same time, God’s Kingdom radically new understanding of it. Jesus emphasized has not yet transformed all creation; that will not take that in the faithful application of the 613 laws of the place until the end of all history. In the meantime, the Torah, the command that expresses the inseparability Church is the “way to Salvation.” This “already, but not of love of God and love of neighbor must guide all of yet” quality of the Church is evident in many of the the other laws. His preaching and ministry became a parables Jesus told about the Kingdom. For example, threat to many, both for political and religious reasons. in one parable Jesus said that the Kingdom of God The occupying Romans were doubtless concerned that is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in Jesus of Nazareth would destabilize their hold in the the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on region. Some of the Jewish leaders, particularly those the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and associated with the Temple, saw Jesus’ message as a becomes the largest of plants and puts forth threat to their own religious authority. large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade. (Mk 4:31–32) The Church Is Born It is also important to remember the Old Testa- on the Cross ment origins of the Kingdom and the Church. The Another ancient tradition affirms that the Church, in Church’s foundation is in the Chosen People and the a certain sense, was born on the Cross. The concerns Law of Mount Sinai of the Old Testament. Christ and actions of the Romans and some of the Jewish did not come to abolish the Law. But he did preach a leaders led to the events of the Paschal Mystery. The Catholics usually display (and wear) a crucifix with Christ present on the Cross rather than an empty Cross as a reminder of the saving act of his Death. 14 Jesus and the Church Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. Second Vatican Council connected Christ’s Death on the Cross with the founding of the Church: Jesus Remains Present in For it was from the side of Christ as he slept the the Church sleep of death upon the cross that there came Today, Jesus remains truly present in the Church, forth the “wondrous sacrament of the whole though not in flesh and bone. The Church is the Body Church.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 5) of Christ in which Christ himself is the head. “Not only is she gathered around him; she is united in him, in his The Catechism of the Catholic Church adds: body” (CCC, 789). Christ is present in several ways As Eve was formed from the sleeping Adam’s in the Church but “most especially in the Eucharistic side, so the Church was born from the pierced species” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 7). In the Eucha- heart of Christ hanging dead on the cross. rist “the body and blood, together with the soul and (CCC, 766) divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the Jesus freely chose to go to the Cross. In so doing, whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained” he demonstrated the breadth and depth of the Father’s (Council of Trent: DS 1651). This presence of Jesus is love for his people. On the Cross, Jesus’ complete gift is called the Real Presence. dramatically witnessed. Jesus’ entire life was an act of Jesus’ presence in the Church is a great blessing complete self-giving love and it is this perfect expres- and privilege for all Catholics. The Church is where sion of divine love of the Cross that brings about Sal- you are able to be with Jesus and, in turn, be sent out vation of humankind. by him as his his follower. However, the full meaning of Christ’s saving work does not end with the Cross. Jesus was crucified to atone for human sinfulness. A mystery of the Cross is that it finds its fulfillment in the Resurrection of Jesus. It is the Resurrection that reveals that the power of God’s love, incarnate in Christ, triumphs over the power of death. In a world created good by God, sin, evil, and death cannot have the final word. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a God of the living, not of the dead (see Mark 12:26–27). What the Father accom- plished in Jesus, he can accomplish in you through your participation in the life of the Church. Your own resurrection is one of the fruits of Christ’s Death and Resurrection. Catholics sit and pray before the Blessed Sacrament. They bless God because The love of God encountered in the Life, Death, he first blesses them. They adore his Real Presence in the Eucharist as a and Resurrection of Jesus is now present in human reminder that he is God and they are his creations. Blessing and adoration lead to praise. history through the ministry of the Church. Catholics today share in both the struggles and graces of the Real Presence The unique and true presence of Christ in the Eucharist under the species or appearance of bread Cross. They are Christ for the world. and wine. Chapter 1: Why We Need the Church 15 Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. While there are certainly contemporary people continue to know and experience the healing and for- who might imagine themselves as able to be Christian giving love of God. It is in the Church that you believe disciples apart from the Church, this really isn’t pos- and witness to your faith in what Jesus revealed, that is: sible. At some point most people realize that despite he came from God the Father their best intentions and their many gifts and talents, he and the Father are one there is a real limit to anything they can accomplish on he has returned to the Father their own. This is also the case in their search for God you will share in this love himself. When St. Augustine wrote in his Confessions that “our hearts are restless, Lord, until they rest in This is the Good News of Jesus Christ, given to you,” he had already found God in the Church. the Church in Faith. You respond to God’s gift of Through Baptism, Catholics “are incorporated into Faith with free assent to what he has revealed in the Christ and integrated into the People of God” (CCC, Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. Your response, 897). Jesus continues to invite all people into relation- guided and sustained by the Holy Spirit, is offered to ship with God the Father through the Church that he God and shared with the world through the life of the instituted. It is in the Church that people are able to Church. KingDOM The of is GOD like... Create a PowerPoint or video presentation on the Kingdom of God. Create your own metaphors and similes for the Kingdom that can be illustrated with back-to-back slides. For example: Slide A Slide B The Kingdom of God is like Intersperse other descriptions of the Kingdom of God from the Gospels into your presentation. See, for example: Matthew 13:31–32 Matthew 18:23–35 Matthew 13:33 Mark 4:26–29 Matthew 18:1–5 Luke 7:18–23 Choose accompanying background music to use with your presentation. Share the ﬁnal results with your classmates and peers. 16 Jesus and the Church Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. More Biblical Images of the Church The Bible—both the Old and New Testaments—offers several other images of the Church. Each of these images helps us to understand more about our communion with other Catholics and our communion with God in the Persons of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Body of Christ The Church as the Body of Christ is the most com- plete image. The origin of this image comes from Jesus himself who taught that what we do to others we do to him (see Matthew 25:40). St. Paul highlighted this image further when he wrote: “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it” (1 Cor 12:27). To St. Paul, there was no such thing as a solitary Christian. Life with Christ is always a shared life. Though all the parts of the body share a common existence, they could not exist when severed from the whole. For example, a hand is only able to func- tion as a hand when it is part of the rest of the body. He emphasized that Christians are bound together by Faith and Baptism. Paul also believed that the relationship to the Church established in Baptism was further nourished through the celebration of Eucharist. You may have encountered some Christians who describe their faith in individual terms, such as an experience of being “born again” or of “accepting Jesus as my personal Savior.” Although it is important to cherish the value of a personal relationship with Christ, this way of describing the relationship can miss an important point. Christian living is not about “inviting Christ into my life”; rather, it is about being drawn into Christ’s life, principally through initiation into Christ’s Body, the Church. French theologian Yves de Monthceuil explained: “It is not Christians who, in coming together, constitute the Church; it is the Church that makes us Christians.” Chapter 1: Why We Need the Church 17 Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. Vine and Branches Jesus used the image of a vine and branches to describe his relation- ship to each of us and to the Church: I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. (Jn 15:5) As with the image of the Body of Christ, the image of Church as a vine with branches teaches that all are members of the Lord’s Body, each with individual talents and duties, but all united in the Holy Spirit to Jesus. The vine and branches image of Church emphasizes common goals, ideals, and intimate sharing. The Church forms a community with a life, tradition, and story of her own. The Church is responsible for continuing God’s work of building up the com- munity and serving others. Bride of Christ The Old Testament established the image of Christ as the bridegroom and the Church as the bride. For example, the prophet Hosea in remain- ing faithful to his harlot wife, Gomer, represents God’s covenantal fidel- ity to the spiritual philandering of Israel (see Hosea 2:21–25). The bride of Christ image is likewise referred to in the New Testament. John the Baptist named Jesus as the Bridegroom, “the one who has the bride” (Jn 3:29). In Ephesians 5:21–32, St. Paul compared the relationship between Christ and the Church as a husband and wife being of one flesh (quoting Genesis 2:23). In a covenantal marriage two people commit themselves to one another for the rest of their lives. For this reason, Christ instituted the Sacrament of Matrimony. A man and a woman become living symbols of God’s love for his people. Christ has entered a similar covenant with the Church, and has filled her with his grace. Headed by Christ, the bridegroom of the bride, the Church is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. The Church completes the mission of Christ and the Holy Spirit on earth. 18 Jesus and the Church Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. SECTION ASSESSMENT NOTE TAKING 1. What is your favorite image of the Church? 2. What do each of the images of the Church presented in this section have in common? VOCABULARY ? Fill in the blanks of each of the following definitions with a glossary term from this section. 3. _____________ are those who learn from and follow Jesus and who accept a share of his ministry in the world. 4. God’s saving love is most fully revealed in the _____________. 5. The _____________ will exist in its perfect form at the end of time. COMPREHENSION 6. Explain the dimensions of the Kingdom of God as “already, not yet.” 7. What was Jesus’ understanding of the Law of Mount Sinai? 8. What does it mean to say that the Church was born on the Cross of Christ? CRITICAL THINKING 9. How does the life and history of the Church model the Parable of the Mustard Seed? Chapter 1: Why We Need the Church 19 Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. SECTION 3 death. But then the Risen Christ began to appear to The Holy Spirit and them and everything changed. They connected Jesus to their history as a Chosen People. They came to believe the Church that Jesus was the Son of God, with power over sin and death. The four Gospels provide various accounts of what happened, but they agree that Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and a group of women, to Peter and MAIN IDEA On Pentecost, Jesus fulfilled his promise to send James, to all the Apostles, and to two disciples on the the Holy Spirit to direct and guide the work of the road to Emmaus. Church. In the First Letter to the Corinthians, one of the earliest New Testament books, St. Paul wrote that Jesus “appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15:6). The Acts of the Apostles, a companion to the Gos- pel of Luke, chronicles the days after the Resurrec- tion prior to Jesus’ Ascension to Heaven. Some of the disciples, who perhaps had once imagined that the Messiah would be a political ruler who would restore self-rule to the Jews and remove the Roman oppres- sion, asked the Risen Jesus: “Lord, are you at this time NOTE TAKING Reading Extension. When St. Peter’s speech at Pentecost is referenced in this section (page 22), read the entire speech in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:14–41). Answer After the Death of Jesus, the Apostles and other dis- the following questions. ciples were disoriented and confused. The One they 1. What were Peter and the other Apostles had believed to be the Messiah had died a criminal’s accused of? (vs. 15) 2. Which prophet does he quote? (vss. 17–21) Apostles Originally, the term referred to the Twelve whom Jesus chose to help him in his earthly ministry. The succes- 3. How was Jesus different from King sors of the Twelve Apostles are the bishops. In the widest David? (vss. 29–35) sense, the term refers to all of Christ’s disciples whose mis- sion is to preach his Gospel in word and deed. Apostles are 4. What did Peter say those who heard him those sent to be Christ’s ambassadors to continue his work. must do? (vs. 38) 20 Jesus and the Church Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Jesus answered them: The Events of Pentecost Pentecost was a traditional Jewish harvest feast that “It is not for you to know the times or sea- took place fifty days after Passover. The Acts of the sons that the Father has established by his own Apostles records that the Apostles, Mary, Jesus’ Mother, authority. But you will receive power when the and some other disciples were gathered in prayer and holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be waiting in an upper room in Jerusalem. This was the my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea same place where Jesus had shared his Last Supper. and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The room filled with sounds like a violent wind. Acts (Acts 1:8) describes how the Holy Spirit descended on those in Jesus’ earthly life and ministry were over, but his the room in the form of “tongues of fire.” work of Redemption would continue through his fol- Immediately, being “filled with the Holy Spirit” lowers in the Church. Jesus’ promise was to send the (Acts 2:4), the Apostles, and especially Peter, began Holy Spirit to direct and guide their work. He fulfilled speaking about Jesus to all the Jews who were in this promise on Pentecost. the city from many regions of the Roman Empire. Even though the pilgrims spoke in several different Pentecost The day when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and gave them the power to preach with convic- languages, they understood what the Apostles were tion the message that Jesus is risen and is Lord of the saying. Peter recounted for them the entire story of universe. Salvation from their Scripture (read Acts 2:14–41), The Upper Room is the place in Jerusalem where Jesus held the Last Supper. Also known as the Cenacle (Latin for “upper room”), it was also the site of Pentecost. Since the fourth century the Upper Room has been a popular site for pilgrims. A niche on the site is traditionally held to be the burial place of King David. Chapter 1: Why We Need the Church 21 Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. explaining how Jesus Christ was the culmination of their history: The Holy Spirit Remains You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus Present in the Church the Nazorean was a man commended to you The inspired preaching of St. Peter on Pentecost began by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, a flurry of activity and growth in the early Church. which God worked through him in your midst, Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he and the other as you yourselves know. This man, delivered Apostles set out to proclaim the kerygma, or essential up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, teaching about Christ, that is: you killed, using lawless men to crucify him. God loves the world and became incarnate. But God raised him up, releasing him from the Jesus suffered for the sins of humankind, rose from throes of death, because it was impossible for the dead, and is alive. him to be held by it.... Therefore let the whole Jesus is Savior and Redeemer. house of Israel know for certain that God has The Holy Spirit’s presence continues to help the made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus Church fulfill her mission. The human Church is filled whom you crucified. (Acts 2:22–25, 36) with some good people trying their best to live the Peter’s powerful testimony moved his fellow Jews. Good News passed on since the time of the Apos- When they asked him what they should do, Peter tles. But even good people fail and sin. It is the divine replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in energy of the Holy Spirit that empowers the Church the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins; to live as the Body of Christ. The Spirit continues to and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit” (Acts be present in 2:38). Acts also notes that about three thousand people Sacred Scripture; who heard Peter were baptized that day. Sacred Tradition; With the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Trinity was fully revealed. Cer- the Magisterium, which he assists; tainly the Holy Spirit had been at work in the world the liturgy; before this day. But on Pentecost, “the Church was prayer, wherein he intercedes, openly displayed to the crowds and the spread of the gifts and ministries by which the Church is the Gospel among the nations, through preaching, built up; was begun” (Ad Gentes Divinitus, 4). For this reason the signs of apostolic and missionary life; and Pentecost has often been called the “birthday of the the witness of saints through whom he shows Church.” his holiness and continues the work of Salvation. (CCC, 688) Magisterium The ofﬁcial teaching authority of the Church. Jesus bestowed the right and power to teach in his name St. Augustine explained that “[w]hat the soul is on Peter and the Apostles and their successors. The Mag- to the human body, the Holy Spirit is to the Body of isterium is the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the bishop of Rome (pope). Christ, which is the Church” (Sermo 267). It is the Holy Spirit’s role to help you share in the life of the Holy Trinity. Jesus made this his prayer: 22 Jesus and the Church Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. The dove is a symbol of life. In the Old Testament, a dove released by Noah returned to the ark with an olive branch to show the floodwaters were receding. At Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. A dove also signifies gentleness, virtue, and peace—gifts those who are united with the Holy Spirit receive. “I pray not only for them, but also for those image is that the Church is a Temple, home for the who will believe in me through their word, so Holy Spirit (see CCC, 797–801). The Holy Spirit lives that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in in the Church as if in a Temple. The Holy Spirit guides me and I in you, that they also may be in us, the Church and unites her in fellowship and ministry. that the world may believe that you have sent Both of these images foretaste the Church’s intimate me.” (Jn 17:20–21) connection to the Risen Lord. Jesus is the head of the The image of the Church as the Body of Christ Body. As St. Augustine taught, the Holy Spirit is the has been described previously (see page 17). Another soul, giving the body life and sustaining it. The Church Chapter 1: Why We Need the Church 23 Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. is to be united in Christ as a community of love, wor- Good News, the Church must try to live the truth that ship, and service. Jesus came to teach. The Holy Spirit, dwelling in the Catholics believe that their eternal destiny has been Church, facilitates this task. accomplished through Jesus. But in order to accept this SECTION ASSESSMENT NOTE TAKING 1. Write a one-sentence summary of St. Peter’s speech at the first Pentecost. COMPREHENSION 2. What were Jesus’ disciples finally convinced of after his Resurrection? 3. Explain the origins of the feast of Pentecost. 4. What is the Holy Spirit’s role in the Church today? 5. What was Jesus’ Last Supper prayer for the Church? REFLECTION 6. How do you think you would have felt if you had heard St. Peter’s speech at Pentecost? ANALYSIS 7. Think of a current event in the Church. How have you witnessed the Holy Spirit acting in the Church, either locally or universally? 24 Jesus and the Church Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. SECTION 4 specifically called some men to follow. Early in his The Apostolic ministry, when he was walking along the Sea of Gal- ilee, he asked two sets of brothers, all fishermen, to Foundation and abandon their nets, boat, families, and former way of life to follow him. Jesus’ promise to them was a share Mission of the Church in his work: “Come after me, and I will make you fish- ers of men” (Mt 5:19). Brothers Simon (called Peter) and Andrew and brothers James and John (the sons of MAIN IDEA Zebedee) all accepted the invitation. The Church is founded on the Apostles, who were These four joined eight others with Jesus on a charged with preaching the Good News to the ends mountain, where he “summoned those whom he of the earth. wanted and they came to him” (Mk 3:13). He com- missioned the Twelve to be with him and to go out to preach. He also gave them authority, specifically to drive out demons. The Twelve are called the Apos- tles, from a Greek word apostollein, meaning “to send.” After Jesus had risen, he said to them: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (Jn 20:21). There is special meaning in the Great Commis- sioning taking place on a mountain and with Jesus’ choice of exactly Twelve Apostles. Both in the Old Tes- tament and the New Testament, mountains are asso- ciated with solemn events. It was on Mount Sinai that Moses received the Ten Commandments. Matthew’s The growth of the Church and her history through Great Commissioning The instruction given to the Apostles by Jesus in Matthew 28:16–20 to spread the Gospel to the today is tied intimately to the Apostles. world and to baptize all nations in the name of the Father, Though Jesus had many disciples during the years and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. of his public ministry (both men and women), he NOTE TAKING Recognize Main Ideas. Copy a design like the one here that depicts the Church being built on the foundation of Instituted New the Apostles. In the upper ﬂoors, add decisions made Rituals and Worship by the Apostles and their successors (the bishops) that helped form the Church. Add as many “steps” as needed. Apostolic Foundation Chapter 1: Why We Need the Church 25 Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. THE MISSIONARY JOURNEYS OF ST. PAUL THRACE Philippi GALATIA MACEDONIA Thessalonica Antioch Troas Tarsus Rome Berea Antioch ITALY Ephesus SYRIA Patara Damascus Corinth Athens CYPRUS CRETE SICILY Syracuse Jerusalem FIRST Alexandria SECOND THIRD EGYPT JOURNEY TO ROME Gospel records Jesus offering his most important heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. The number be loosed in heaven.” (Mt 16:18–19) Twelve is significant because it represents the twelve Peter’s preaching on Pentecost began a flurry of tribes of Israel. growth in the early Church. Jesus commissioned his Clearly, Jesus gave Peter a special role of leadership Apostles to spread his message. The Acts of the Apos- among the Apostles. Peter’s name is mentioned more tles shows how the Apostles heeded this command. than any other besides Jesus’ in the Gospels. When The first part of Acts (chapters 1–12) focuses on Peter’s Jesus asked his disciples how the crowds were iden- missionary career, which took place in and around tifying him they gave a variety of answers, none of Jerusalem. The later chapters focus on St. Paul, the which were correct. Then Jesus asked Peter, “But who “missionary to the Gentiles,” and how he proclaimed do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “You are the the Gospel to the rest of the Roman Empire, including Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:15, 16). Rome itself. From this response, Jesus established a structure for Both Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome. the Church that will remain in place until the Kingdom But before their deaths, they contributed greatly to is fully achieved: the growth of the early Church and in laying her “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon foundation. this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against martyr Someone who has been killed because of his or her it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of faith. To be martyred is to be killed for one’s faith. 26 Jesus and the Church Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. Growth of the Church The Greek word koinonia describes the life of the early Church. Led by the Holy Spirit, the early Christians lived as one community—working, celebrating, preaching, and worshiping together. The Acts of the Apostles offers this description: The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or Ways to houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and Be Welcoming they were distributed to each according to need. The community life of the Church—koinonia— has always involved welcoming others to join (Acts 4:32–35) with the Church in full membership. Help to be The early Church in Jerusalem was also active in welcoming of others. Try one of the following service (diakonia). The community distributed food ideas. Report on what you did. and other goods to poor widows who lived in the city. Go out to lunch with a peer or younger The Greek-speaking Jews complained that their widows student who is in need of a friend. were not getting their fair share. As a result, the Apostles Form a welcoming committee for teen- appointed seven men of good reputation to look after the agers new to your parish or school. distribution of goods. These ministers were called deacons. Parishes often make a point to wel- These first followers of Christ also thought of them- come new families. Make the task of your committee to speciﬁcally address selves as devout Jews. They continued to worship at the welcoming teenagers. This could mean Temple and follow the Mosaic Law. They viewed them- inviting the new teen to a party you selves as fulfilling their Jewish faith, while at the same time arrange or attending a game or movie belonging to the Church instituted by Christ. It was in the with the new person along with some Church that they began to participate in new rituals that of your other peers. Jesus had also instituted in their presence. The first was a Provide free baby-sitting to a family rite of initiation, Baptism. A second was the “breaking of new to your parish or neighborhood. the bread” and prayers in Jesus’ name. Meeting in private If you are bilingual, volunteer to be a homes, Jesus’ disciples shared a common meal to com- translator to a local agency that serves memorate the Last Supper and Jesus’ Death on the Cross. non-English-speaking people new to your area. They believed that when they shared the blessed bread and drank from the cup the Risen Lord was present in their midst. This was the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. Chapter 1: Why We Need the Church 27 Licensed to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2024–25 school year. crime similar to Stephen’s (see Acts 5:17–42). But they were not killed. The Romans also persecuted the early Church. At first Rome tolerated Christianity as another Jewish sect. The government extended to Christians the same privileges granted to Jews throughout the Empire, such as exemption from serving in the military. As Chris- tians began to move apart from Judaism, Rome began to behave differently, primarily because of what was seen as their lack of loyalty to Rome. Christians refused to worship the Roman emperor as a god. This led to the most severe persecutions of the first century under the emperor Domitian (AD 81–96). Christians who refused to worship the emperor were executed. St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and Sr. Leonella Sgorbati, a Catholic Nevertheless, during these years more and more nun killed by terrorists at a children’s hospital in Mogadishu on September 17, 2006. Her final words were, “I forgive, I forgive.” disciples preached the Gospel outside of Jerusalem. For example, the Apostle Philip began to preach in Samaria. Conﬂict and Persecutions Peter traveled and preached throughout the Roman in the Early Church Empire. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, both Philip and Peter recognized the faith of God-fearing The preaching of the Gospel a

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