1. THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH IN SALVATION HISTORY
CHAPTER ONE
THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH IN SALVATION HISTORY

2. WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH?

3. SOURCES Sacred Scripture Catechism of the Catholic Church 748-870
Vatican II, Lumen Gentium

4. The Meaning OF CHURCH
Refers to the people whom God calls and gathers together
They form the assembly of those who through faith and Baptism have become children of God…

5. CHURCH DEFINED…
The word “church” originated with Greek term, ekklesia which means an assembly of those whom God has called forth to be his people and to do his will

6. MISSION OF CHURCH Matthew 28:18-20 Fourfold mission:
1. Share the Message - Evangelization
2. Live in Community
3. Serve Others
4. Worship the Lord

7. BIBLICAL IMAGES
“I am the true vine and my Father is the vinegrower. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who lives in me and I in him, will produce abundantly.” John 15:1, 5

8. “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me in the same way that the Father knows me and I know the Father. For these sheep I will give my life John 10:14-15

9. “You form a building which rises on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the capstone.” Ephesians 2:20

10. “You, my brothers are children of the promise, as Isaac was
“You, my brothers are children of the promise, as Isaac was. We are not children of a slave girl but of a mother who is free.” Galatians 4:28, 31

11. “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church…This is a great foreshadowing: I mean that it refers to Christ and the Church.” Ephesians 5:25, 32

12. MODELS OF THE CHURCH FR. AVERY DULLES, SJ
SIX MODELS THAT HELP US TO UNDERSTAND THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH

13. CHURCH AS BODY OF CHRIST/PEOPLE OF GOD
1 COR 12:12-27; 1 PET 2:9-10
COMMUNITY OF BAPTIZED BELIEVERS
PROFESSING THE SAME CHRISTIAN FAITH
CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER
CELEBRATING THE EUCHARIST TOGETHER

14. CHURCH AS INSTITUTION MT 16:13-19; EPH 2:19-22; 1 COR 12:28- 29
STRUCTURED ORGANIZATION
HIERARCHY OF POPE AND BISHOPS
EMPHASIZES AUTHORITY OF CHURCH LEADERS
THE ROLE OF THE MAGISTERIUM

15. CHURCH AS SACRAMENT
A SACRAMENT IS A VISIBLE SIGN, INSTITUTED BY CHRIST, ENTRUSTED TO THE CHURCH, THAT GIVES GRACE
THE CHURCH IS THE VISIBLE, TANGIBLE SIGN OF GOD’S LOVE AND PRESENCE IN THE WORLD

16. CHURCH AS HERALD OF GOD’S WORD
MK 16:15-16; MT 28:18-20
A HERALD IS AN OFFICIAL MESSENGER, REPRESENTATIVE, AMBASSADOR
THE CHURCH IS THE HERALD OF JESUS CHRIST
CHURCH ACTS AS HERALD THROUGH COMMUNAL PRAYER, PROCLAIMING THE SCRIPTURES, LITURGY, AND MISSIONARY WORK

17. CHURCH AS SERVANT JN 13:1-20; MT 25:31-46
THE CHURCH IS CALLED TO BE A SERVANT TO THE WORLD THROUGH ITS HOSPITALS, CHARITIES, AND PARISH MINISTRIES, ETC.

18. CHURCH AS COMMUNITY OF DISCIPLES
LK 9:21-26; ACTS 2:42-47
CALLED TO LIVE OUT IN COMMUNITY THE CHALLENGE OF DISCIPLESHIP
ALL BAPTIZED CHRISTIANS
EQUALITY BASED ON BAPTISM
CALLED TO GROWTH IN CHRIST
DIFFERENTIATION OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS

19. THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
REFERS TO THE UNITY IN THE CHURCH AMONGST “ALL” OF ITS MEMBERS
THE GATHERING OF ALL THOSE WHO ARE SAINTS BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

20. THIS PHRASE DESCRIBES TWO REALITIES IN CATHOLIC LIFE
1. THE SPIRITUAL PRACTICES THAT REPRESENT AND BRING ABOUT THE UNITY OF BELIEVERS
2. THE ACTUAL COMMUNION THAT TIES TOGETHER ALL BELIEVERS BOTH LIVING AND DEAD
THE CHURCH MILITANT
THE CHURCH SUFFERING
THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT

21. THE FOUR MARKS OF THE CHURCH
ONE
HOLY
CATHOLIC
APOSTOLIC

22. ONE CHURCH Profession of one faith received from the Apostles
Common celebration of divine worship- especially the sacraments
Apostolic succession

23. HOLY CHURCH Called to holiness Imbued with the Spirit
Possesses the life of grace
Christ gave her all the means necessary to sanctify

24. CATHOLIC CHURCH
She is “universal” because Christ is present in her in the fullness of His body
Her mission is to the whole human race

25. APOSTOLIC CHURCH Founded by Apostles
She remains faithful to the teaching of Apostles
Called to continue the ministry and service.

26. MEMBERSHIP All are called to unity of the People of God.
Fully incorporated members of the Church are those who accept all the means of salvation given to the Church.
Other Christians do not profess the entirety of the Catholic faith or have not preserved communion with Rome.

27. “MANY WHOM GOD HAS, THE CHURCH DOES NOT HAVE
“MANY WHOM GOD HAS, THE CHURCH DOES NOT HAVE. MANY WHOM THE CHURCH HAS, GOD DOES NOT HAVE.” St. Augustine