1. The Church Christ 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 Holiness and Sinners
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 The Faith of the Church
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