Section 2, Part 1 The Church Is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic (pp ) Articles 16,, 17, 18, 19

Catholics Come Home (website) Searching for Truth? Jesus proclaimed that “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). The search for truth requires courage, patience and openness to overcoming our own prejudices and pre-conceived notions, so you can embrace the truth fully, whenever and wherever it is found. St. Peter pointed this out nearly 2,000 years ago: “There are some things that are hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16). The late popular TV personality Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said, “It is easy to find truth; it is hard to face it, and harder still to follow it.”

Catholics Come Home (website) Where the Catholic Church Comes in… Because God designed us to desire and seek the truth, He provided a special way to help us find it. The Catholic Church, comprised of saints and sinners, has been established by God to show us the way to truth and help us get to heaven. This mission of receiving the truth and then faithfully handing it on to future generations was entrusted to the Church by Jesus Christ. Jesus declared: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Introduction (p. 62) The Four marks of the Church Is this an ‘opinion’? We dill discuss: Source of Unity Reasons Unity has been threatened Evidence of the result of disunity

Article 16: The First Mark of the Church (pp ) Ponder the meaning of “one” What did Paul mean, “We are all baptized into one body…” ? (1Cor12:13) Why is this “oneness” central to our faith? Why can’t the Church lose this gift? How do Christians participate in this gift? The Pope as a symbol of Unity? p.63 Describe the Pope’s visible role “Vicar” – of Christ Servant of Servants… Whom does the Pope represent?

Article 16: The First Mark of the Church (pp ) The Source of the Church’s Unity 1. Holy Trinity - Perfect relationship of unity 2. Jesus – Paschal Mystery, restoring unity of People of God 3. Holy Spirit - soul of the Church Diversity What is the difference - Unity / Uniformity? Different spiritual gifts, but same Spirit…” (1Cor 12:4-6) Pope Paul VI, Lumen Gentium…”many nations, but one people of God….” Diversity has many “faces”…

Article 16: The First Mark of the Church (pp ) Diversity and Unity of Worship How Worship can mirror diversity in the assembly? The essential aspects of the mass are unchanged, but adapt… Language, liturgical music, artwork, architecture, liturgical dance The ritual has been passed down form the apostles Sin and Unity The affect of sin surfaces as disunity The Apostles warned early communities of this We continue to pray for unity of all Christians

Article 17: The Bonds of Unity (pp ) Unity is retained Visible Invisible Unity of Faith Creeds (visible statements, are a sign of unity) Nicene Creed p. 67 Council of Nicaea Council of Constantinople Apostles Creed Origin debated – legend from Apostles Used as a simple “creed” for Christians Catholic Protestant

17 – Bonds of Unity p Unity of Worship p. 68 Worship unites us The seven Sacraments create unity Eucharist – both a sign and instrument of unity Elements of the celebration of the Eucharist 1.Proclamation of the Word 2.Thanksgiving 3.Consecration of bread and wine 4.Communion Article 17

17 – Bonds of Unity p Unity of the Apostolic Succession p. 68 Bishops in union with Pope Roman Pontiff Pope Francis – 266 th Pope (p 69) Apostolic Succession – authority from apostles, through Holy Orders Belief that the truths of faith and sacramental worship are from Jesus and apostles Catholic Wisdom Taize’ community – meditative prayer; youth form around the world participate Article 17

17 – Bonds of Unity p Sharing the Eucharist p. 69 Why can’t all Christians receive the Eucharist? Sign of liturgical oneness Sign of unity with universal (catholic) Church, the Pope and Apostolic Succession What is “communion”? Is it dishonest to act as if – but not in reality? Article 17

18 – Wounds to Unity p Heresy p. 70 Contemporary society values a diversity of opinions (relativism) So how does this affect truth? Heresy – a conscious and deliberate rejection of a dogma of the Church Greek for party or faction Heresies in the early Church led to factions Article 18

18 – Wounds to Unity p Heresy p. 70 ( A person must be baptized to commit heresy. To commit heresy, one must refuse to be corrected. A person who is ready to be corrected or who is unaware that what he has been saying is against Church teaching is not a heretic. The doubt or denial involved in heresy must concern a matter that has been revealed by God and solemnly defined by the Church For example, the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the sacrifice of the Mass, the pope’s infallibility, or the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Mary. Article 18

18 – Wounds to Unity p Heresy p. 70 Circumcisers - Because circumcision had been required in the Old Testament (laws) for membership in God’s covenant, many thought it should also be required for membership in the New Covenant that Christ inaugurated. Gnosticism – Human souls are trapped in bodies; matter is evil; a secret knowledge will free one from this world (Jesus was sent to provide this secret knowledge) Arianism – God is God, never born (Logos was present at creation-Logos was created by God); God created His Son; thus they denied the Holy Trinity. Article 18

18 – Wounds to Unity p Heresy p. 70 Nestorianism – Christ was two people, with two different natures (human and divine). He denied Mary the title of Theotokos (Greek: "God-bearer" or "Mother of God"). Mary only gave birth to Jesus’ human nature - title Christotokos ("Christ- bearer" or "Mother of Christ"). Monophysitism – God is one (divine) nature; Jesus is both God and human in one person (Greek: mono = one; physis = nature). Pelagianism – Original Sin does not affect us (no need for infant baptism); man chooses good/evil and “earns” the consequences good or bad Article 18

18 – Wounds to Unity p Schisms p. 70 Schism does not recognize the authority of the Pope, or remain in communion with the Churc h Often Schisms occur following the results of a Council Roman Empire was divided in half, East and West East - Greek-speaking; Byzantine Empire in Constantinople was ruled by Constantine West - Latin-speaking; followed successors to the Roman Pope The mutual excommunication in 1054 halted relations Many “Orthodox” Churches Russian, Greek, Syrian, Coptic, Romanian Today Orthodox Churches are in close, but not full communion Article 18

18 – Wounds to Unity p The Church of Christ p. 71 Established by Jesus and continues as the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church Catholic Church a continuous line of authority The Kingdom of God is within her Toward the healing of Ancient Schisms p Pope JP II and Patriarch of Antioch head of Syrian Orthodox Church declared differences were due to terminology and culture, rather than central beliefs There was a pledge to work towards full communion Article 18

18 – Wounds to Unity p The Protestant Reformation p th century various breaks to protest Church teachings and practices Martin Luther (priest and scripture scholar) Selling Indulgences Followers known as Lutherans Protestants Theological principles Sola Scriptura – Divine revelation comes through Scripture alone (rather than with Tradition) Sola Gratia – Salvation comes through Grace alone (rather than with any human effort) Bible-centric with invisible unity, vs. both visible and invisible unity of the Catholic Church Article 18

18 – Wounds to Unity p The Protestant Reformation p con’t Other Breaks from the Church Calvinists – John Calvin, (pre-destination) Anglican – The Episcopal Church (hybrid Catholic/Protestant) Presbyterians – (local government of elders) Baptists – (bible-centric, local government, adult baptism) Methodists – (helping the poor, hospitals, orphanages, pantries) Pray It! p.73 Week of Christian Unity held annually Jan (which contain the feast days of Sts. Peter and Paul) Article 18

19 – Ecumenism p Catholics and Other Christians p. 74 Catholics / Christians Share (unity) Church Teaching – all baptized are brought in union as brothers and sisters in Christ, though imperfectly Bible, life of grace, faith, hope love, Gifts of the Holy Spirit Fullness of salvation rests in the fullness of truth Non-Catholic Churches and Ecclesial Communities p 74 Eastern Orthodox Not in full communion, but has apostolic succession Maintains seven sacraments But does not recognize the full authority of the Pope Article 19

19 – Ecumenism p The Ecumenical Movement p Ecumenism is the effort to restore unity to the Church Pope JP II stated the goal to return all Christians to visible unity and full communion Goals To better achieve mutual understanding To cooperate in various theological fields Vatican II Decree on Ecumenism Pope’s continue to be in dialogue to heal past wounds and break new ground toward unity of thought and belief Article 19

19 – Ecumenism p Live it! p. 77 Dialogue with Non-Catholics Know you faith Be open to listening and learning about other faiths Essential Elements of the Movement Toward Unity p 77 Growing in holiness and conversion of the heart Praying for unity with other traditions Deepening knowledge of other traditions Continuing dialogue and meeting of theologians Collaboration on ministries to the service of humanity Article 19

19 – Ecumenism p The Unity of Martyrs p 76 JP II stated the martyrs share in the Communion of Saints by shedding their blood as Jesus did All those who die for their faith (martyr) are not recognized as saints Example – Bishop Oscar Romero who was assassinated in El Salvador while celebrating mass Article 19