1. The Church
“those who have been called together”

2. The Church
A mystery – human and divine

3. The Church The community of those being redeemed
Church history = salvation history
“The church is not a hotel for the righteous, but a hospital for sinners” – Peter Kreeft

4. Three States of the Church – Communion of Saints
Militant/Pilgrim
Suffering/Purified
Triumphant/Glorious

5. The Church
To be ‘church’ is nothing other than making Paradise present in the midst of a broken world

6. “…in one, holy, catholic and apostolic church”
The four “marks of the Church” that endure

7. The Church is one, because her Lord is One

8. One
In Faith
“The church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of truth.” - 1 Tim. 3:15

9. One
In Sacraments and Worship

10. One
In Governance

11. One
In charity
“See how they love one another!”

12. Holy …the Church is holy, because her Lord is Holy
“Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” Leviticus 19:2

13. Holy The Church exists to birth saints “Canonization is the
Church recognizing herself
in history”
– Pope John Paul II

14. Set apart for the service of God: transform the world!
Holy
Set apart for the service of God: transform the world!

15. Catholic
the Church is Catholic, because she is the Body of Him who enjoys the fullness of Truth and Life

16. Catholic Embraces all peoples, cultures, languages
Diversity of charisms working in symphony
Apostles: hierarchy
Laity: all the baptized, faithful of Christ
Religious: those consecrated to God by the evangelical counsels

17. Catholic
Sharing in Christ’s three-fold office of priest-prophet-Shepherd
Priests who lead the world in worship
Prophets who speak and do the Truth in love
Shepherds who use power for service

18. Roman Catholic The place of Rome in universalizing Christianity:
Bishop of the planet

19. Catholic
“Where the bishop is present, there let the people gather, just as where Jesus Christ is, there is the catholic church.”
Ignatius of Antioch, 108 A.D.

20. Apostolic
…the Church is apostolic because her mission in and to the world is a continuation of the work of the first Apostles, itself a holy charge of her Redeemer who alone can guarantee its success.

21. Apostolic Authority “HE WHO HEARS YOU, HEARS ME” Luke 10:16
The Magisterium: WWJD in living color

22. Apostolic Apostolic succession
“For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God bestowed when my hands were laid on you” - 2 Tim 1:6

23. Apostolic
The charism of Truth: the infallible God has joined himself to fallible humanity

24. Apostolic Rock “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build my
church, and the gates
of Hades shall not
prevail against it.”
(Matthew 16:18)

25. Hearing the Church
“I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.”
Faith and Reason

26. Being the Church
Incarnating the Church: becoming a living sign

27. The Church is… The community of disciples of Jesus Christ
The Mystical Body of Christ
The Bride of Christ
The Temple of God
The Light of Christ
Mother and Teacher of the faithful

28. The Church is… The community of divine and human communion
The Sacrament of the unity
The community of charity
The beacon of hope

29. The Church is…
US, joined to Christ

30. Gift & Mystery
“How much I must criticize you, my Church, and yet how much I must love you.
You have made me suffer more than anyone and yet I owe more to you than anyone else.
I should like to see you destroyed and yet I need your presence.
You have given much scandal and yet you alone have made me understand what is holiness.

31. Gift and Mystery
Never in this world have I seen anything more compromised, more false, yet never have I touched anything more pure, more generous or more beautiful!

32. Gift and Mystery
Countless times I have felt like slamming the door in your face, and yet every night, I have prayed that I might die in your loving arms.
No, I cannot be free of you, for I am one with you, even if not completely you.
Then too, where would I go? To build another church?

33. Gift and Mystery But I could not build one without the same defects.
And again, if I were to build another church, it would be my church and not Christ's Church.
No, I am old enough,
I know better”