The Church Christ in the World Today

1. The ChurchChrist in the World Today Unit 4 Mr. Salter

2. Unit 4 Articles • 16 The First Mark of the Church • 17 Bonds of Unity • 20 Why is the Church Holy? • 21 The Church Makes Us Holy Through God’s Grace • 25 The Meaning of the Word Catholic • 26 Catholicity: The Fullness of Christ in the Church • 27 The Church’s relationship with All People • 28 Universality and Diversity • 29 The Apostles Continue Jesus’ Mission • 30 Apostolic Tradition • 31 The Successors to Peter and the Apostles • 32 The Apostolate of the Laity

3. 16 - The First Mark of the Church • Marks of the Church – essential characteristics of the Church; One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic • One • One Church, One Body of Christ, One Unity • One - as the Trinity is one • Pope the symbol of unity • Diversity • Unity is not uniformity (we do not strive to be the same) • People (race, ethnic, cultures, ages) and Gifts are diverse • Worship is diverse (liturgical rituals are passed down) • Sin threatens the unity of the early Church (and today)

4. 17 - Bonds of Unity • Visible and invisible bonds of unity • Unity of Faith • Creeds (Nicene and Apostles) • Creed is a visible sign of unity • States our core belief in the Trinity and the Church • Unity of Worship • 7 sacraments (centered in the Eucharist) • Eucharist includes: proclamation of Word, thanksgiving, consecration, reception • “Honesty” of non-Catholics receiving communion p.69 • Unity of the Apostolic Succession (passing on of Christ’s authority to Peter’s successors)

5. 20 - Why is the Church Holy? • The Church is Both Human and Divine • Visible (human) • Invisible (divine) • The Church exists for the sole purpose of sanctifying its members • 4-D glasses • The Church is Holy Because She Has God’s Holy Gifts • The Church is God’s instrument of salvation (ship) • The Call to Holiness • Holy but imperfect; perfect holiness will be achieved in heaven • Love is at the heart of holiness (divine love is like God) • We can be holy through prayer, friends, a life filled with holiness

6. 20 - Why is the Church Holy? • The Call to Holiness • We encounter God’s love through Scripture, Sacraments, personal prayer, relationships and knowledge p.82 • St. Therese of Lisieux “Our vocation is simply to love” • Holiness and Sinners • Sinners do not distract form the Church’s holiness • Individuals are called to ongoing renewal and sanctification • Repentance and Conversion (a lifelong “2nd conversion”) • Hospitals are evidence of the Church’s healing ministry

7. 21 - The Church Makes Us Holy Through God’s Grace • It is All about Grace • Grace is a free and undeserved • The holiness of the Church is a result of grace • Grace is supernatural, meaning it transcends the human intellect and will • Grace can only be “known” by faith • Specific Types of Grace • Sanctifying Grace – “state of grace”; habitual grace • Actual Grace – grace provided at a moment • Sacramental Grace – via the 7 sacraments • JP II - Day of Pardon All Christians admitting wrongs and asking for forgiveness, in the year 2000

8. 25 - The Meaning of the Word Catholic • Catholicity: The Church has it All • Small “c” - fullness of Christ and mission to all • Capital “C” – refers to the proper name Catholic Church • She posses the total means of salvation • Catholicity: The Church Call to All • We are all from one Creator; He desires all return to Him • The Church is a sign (sacrament) of that oneness • Thomas Aquinas (13th century) and the Word Catholic • Universal i.e. everywhere in the world, all are accepted, for all time

9. 26 - Catholicity: The Fullness of Christ in the Church • Church – convocation or assembly of people • Three distinct references for Church: • People of God globally • Local Church – diocese (called a particular Church) • Assembly at liturgy (parish) • The Communion of Saints and universal Church is present • Catholicity and the Roman Catholic Church • Apostolic Churches • The Church of Rome took on special authority • Peter and Paul ended their evangelization in Rome • St. Irenaeus stated that Rome held a preeminent authority on all Church maters • College of Bishops recognize the Bishop of Rome as their visible leader • The Fullness of the Sacraments • Provide grace in the totality of life

10. 27 - The Church’s Relationship with All People • The Church and Non-Christian Religions • Ecumenism - Ecumenism takes as it starting point that Christ founded just one Church, not many churches; hence the Roman Catholic Church has as its ultimate hope and objective - that through prayer, study, and dialogue, the historically separated bodies may come again to be reunited with it. • The RCC recognizes all Christian faiths seek God and contain some truths • Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life • Christians, Jews, Muslims are monotheistic • The Church’s Relationship with Jews • God chose to enter into an unconditional covenant with the Jewish people • Many people are anti-Semitic • The Church’s Relationship with Other Religions • Hindus and Buddhists are polytheistic • Individuals can follow a path to God on their own effort

11. 28 - Universality and Diversity • The Church Reconciles & Embraces Diversity • Unity means striving to embrace differences in the name of Jesus • The diversity of canonized saints reveal a wide range of people, backgrounds, races, nationalities • The Eastern Catholic Churches • Eastern Catholics are in full communion with Rome • There are 21 Eastern Catholic Churches (most separated during the schism in the 11th century) • Icons, iconostasis (a wall that separates the alter from people) • Additional Examples of Diverse Catholicity • Pilgrimages, religious dances, dress, music, shrines, icons

12. 29 - The Apostles Continue Jesus’ Mission • The Church is Apostolic in Three Ways • The Church is built on the foundation of the apostles • With the Holy Spirit the Church preserves and hands on the teaching of the apostles • The Church continues to be taught, made holy and led by the successors of the apostles • Who Is an Apostle? • One who is sent • Jesus Sends His Apostles Just as the Father Sent Jesus • “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” to: • Proclaim the Kingdom of God • Heal the sick and cast out devils • Raise the dead • Forgive sins

13. 30 - Apostolic Tradition • Appointing Successors • Jesus is the fulfillment of Divine Revelation • Entrusted the Apostles to herald the mission to all peoples • Bishops are the successors to the apostles • Clement (96) writes that the apostles should send successors • Sacred Tradition refers to the handing on of the truths taught by Jesus • Protestants believe Sola Scriptura (truth from Scripture alone) • The Faith of the Church • The source of faith is the Church; therefore faith is both personal and ecclesial • Passing Down the Apostolic Tradition • Oral Tradition, Written Tradition • Deciding on the canon of Scripture (46 OT, 27 NT) • God as Trinity • Matters of Faith and Morality

14. 31 - The Successors to Peter and the Apostles • The Apostles and the Bishops • Holy Orders – the sacrament of Apostolic Succession • Conferred by the laying on of hands • Episcopal – priest who become bishops • Ordination imprints a sacramental character on deacon, priest and bishop • Peter and the Pope • Pope is the Bishop of Rome • Peter was given the keys to the Kingdom • Peter was weak and very “human”, but still chosen to lead • The Church interprets this as authority to govern the Church, power to absolve sin, make doctrine and disciplinary decision • College of bishops act in communion with the Pope • The Church is not a democracy (Jesus is the head)

15. 32 - The Apostolate of the Laity • We Are Sent • Activities that fulfill the nature of the work of the Church • All members of the Church are sent to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God • Jesus Christ is the source of grace, strength, virtue • Lay people are non-ordained ministers whose apostolate is to “love” • What Does a Lay Apostolate Look Like? • We “live” our apostolate in our everyday life by acting, proclaiming, “being Jesus” • Living the charism of the Basilians