1. The Mystery of the Church IN SALVATION HISTORY

2. What does “Church” mean?
in the Germanic languages...
(which is the language English comes from)
related to the German word Kirche
derived from the Greek kyriake
“belonging to the Lord”
in the Romance languages…
translated Greek ekklesia or the Hebrew word q_h_l
“those called out”
(FYI: q_h_l described the Chosen People)
today, we define Church as…
Catholics who come together at the liturgy
the local parish community, a fellowship of believers in Christ
the universal community of believers

3. Images of the Church from the New Testament…
Our Mother
or Holy Mother Church
pilgrim
the Bride of Christ
Christ’s flock
cultivated field
building of God
Christ’s vineyard
from the Vatican Council II…
mystery
Sacrament of Jesus Christ
People of God
Body of Christ
Temple of the Holy Spirit

4. ANY QUESTIONS?

5. “a visible sign of invisible grace”
mystery vs. problem
MYSTERY
PROBLEM
we cannot solve it
draws us in
the more we know about it, the greater it becomes
we can solve it
keeps us out
the more we know about it, the smaller it becomes
Mystery is
“a visible sign of invisible grace”
-St. Augustine
grace: our share in the divine life

6. SACRAMENT Sacrament of Jesus Christ JC gives the Church 4 tasks
sacrament IS what it symbolizes
efficacious symbol
a symbol that causes or is what it symbolizes
makes God’s grace-full love visible in signs that make ready what they signify
Sacrament of Jesus Christ
JC is the starting point of all sacraments
notion of sacrament begins in JC
fundamental nature of sacrament is revealed in JC
JC is what he represents: God-with-us!
JC gives the Church 4 tasks
kerygma
koinonia
diakonia
leitourgia

7. ANY QUESTIONS?

8. The Marks of the Church

9. ONE 3 visible bonds of oneness/unity in the Church
profession of one faith
worship of God celebrated in common
succession of the bishops through Holy Orders
there can be great diversity in the Church, and yet the Church can remain one

10. “God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good”
HOLY
“God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good”
(Genesis 1:31)
everything God made is holy-INCLUDING US!!!
holiness is the Original Blessing

11. CATHOLIC derived from Greek katha holos universal in two ways:
“to include everyone”
universal in two ways:
The Church is catholic because all baptized people are part of the Church and the Church possesses the means of salvation.
The mission of the Church is universal because the Church has been sent to proclaim Christ to the entire human race.

12. APOSTOLIC founded by the Apostles
authorizes the Apostles’ teaching unchanged
continues to be taught, made holy, and sanctified by the bishops
where do we come in?
an Apostle’s role (YOU) is to be a missionary of the Christ’s love for the world

13. ANY QUESTIONS?