1. UNIT TWO
The Church is Mystery

2. 2.1 Enduring and Developing

3. What’s Really Catholic?
Father Kelly: Believed in rules, structure and Church hierarchy.
Father Dave: Believed that every person was a necessary part of the body of Christ, the Church.

4. Magisterium
The bishops acting in unison with the pope, by virtue of their ordination.
The teaching authority of the Church.

5. Why the Church is a Mystery
Can never be fully expressed from any single viewpoint
Its nature can never be grasped by the power of reason alone
It holds opposites together.
Human and sinful
Divine and holy
Visible and changeable
Invisible and permanent

6. The Church and God’s Kingdom
The Kingdom of God broke into human history through the incarnation of Jesus.
Church is the focal point of the kingdom’s presence on earth.
Through the Church the will of God may be most reliably known

7. Role of the Holy Spirit in the Church
Dwells in hearts of the faithful
Speaks God’s will to them
Reveals God to us primarily through signs and symbols
Transforms us through the power of those signs and symbols

8. Kingdom of God The reign or rule of God Began with the coming of Jesus
Will exist in its perfect form at the end of time

9. RCIA Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Process through which non-Catholic adults learn about and join in full communion with the Catholic Church by receiving sacraments of Initiation

10. Mystagogia “Unfolding of the mystery”
Period following the Baptism of adults
Newly baptized open themselves more fully to the graces received in Baptism

11. The Church is the culmination of Salvation History
From creation of the world, God has intended human beings to share in divine life.
In the Church, this sharing finally becomes a reality.

12. Salvation History Story of God’s action in human history
Refers to the events through which God makes humanity aware of, and brings humanity into, the kingdom of God
Begins with the creation of the world
Ends with the Second Coming of Christ

13. Covenant
Partnership between God and humanity which God has established out of love
New covenant is offered through Christ
The blood which Christ shed on the cross is a sign of the new covenant

14. Body of Christ on Earth
The depth and breadth of God’s love for humanity and trust in humanity is revealed in the establishment of the Church
On Pentecost a new era in God’s relationship with humanity began

15. God Remains Incarnate in Church
Through the Church, God chooses to be made known present and tangible.
God communicates truth and grace through the Church

16. God Remains Incarnate in Church
Church is the sacrament of salvation
Points people toward God
Makes God an accessible reality for them

17. The Church is Necessary for Salvation
Salvation comes to the world only through Jesus
Jesus remains present in the world through his body, the Church.
The Church is necessary for salvation because Jesus is necessary for salvation

18. Salvation
True, complete, and permanent unity with God and with one another
The end goal of all creation
The fulfillment of the human desire for ultimate truth and goodness
Made possible by Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension.

19. To be Faithful to Christ, the Church Must…
Reach out with compassion to everyone
Challenge its own members to live as Christ lived
Strive for perfection
Offer God’s all-encompassing love

20. What is the true Church?
Shares God’s healing and forgiveness with other.
Places people above rules
Membership in the body of Christ should be evident in a person’s priorities and behaviors
Importance of doing what God would have us do.

21. Church as Bride of Christ
One in will, one in action
Christ surrenders himself to the Church
Allows the Church to express his will to the world
The Church surrenders itself to Christ
Makes Jesus’ will its own.

22. The Church is Unchanging yet Developing
Jesus Christ is the absolute self-communication of God to humanity.
Nothing new will be revealed to us.
Our understanding of Jesus and the truth, which he revealed, is constantly growing and deepening.

23. Role of Church as body of Christ
Continue to reveal the presence of God and to lead all people to unity with the Father just as Jesus did
Interpret what is going on in today’s world in light of the gospel

24. Three things in Church which cannot/will not change:
Constitution
Body of dogma
Ethic

25. Permanent Constitution
Basic form and makeup of Church
Structure makes it possible for church to be church
Elements in the Church’s structure which were established by Jesus
Includes the presence of the hierarchy

26. Apostle “One who is sent” 12 men Jesus chose Given authority by Christ
To teach and baptize in his name

27. Bishops are the successors of the apostles
Jesus will continue to guide those who will succeed the apostles until the end of time
Called to protect the central truths of our faith from ideas and beliefs which are not compatible with the truth revealed by Jesus

28. Bishop “Overseer” Successor to the apostles
Head of a particular church
Together with the pope exercise leadership over the universal church

29. Responsibility of the Magisterium
College of bishops = bishops of the world
Maintain continuity between faith of today and of the past
Authentic teachers of the faith
Hand on the deposit of faith from generation to generation

30. Responsibility of the Magisterium
Ensure that the teachings of Christ are not dissipated or corrupted
Convey messages so they can be understood

31. Pope Bishop of Rome Successor of Peter
Highest office of teaching and governance in the Catholic Church

32. Magisterium Bishops acting in unison with the pope
Teaching authority of the Church
Authentic interpreter of scripture and Tradition
Essential to the Church
Established by Jesus

33. Tradition
Doctrinal, moral teachings which have been passed on from generation to generation

34. Magisterium serves non-Catholic Christians
Ensures that issues such as abortion, justice for the poor will be discussed in relationship to Christian faith
Ensured the preservation of certain beliefs and practices many Protestant Churches had ignored for a time, but are now reclaiming

35. Can an individual disagree with the Magisterium?
Need to make an informed decision
Study, reflection, prayer, consult with others knowledgeable about Church teaching
Must continue to pray for conversion and strive to form conscience in conformity with the teaching of the Church

36. Permanent Ethic
God is unchanging, and therefore there are certain things that have always been and will always be opposed to God
Certain behaviors always undermine our relationship with God and others

37. Permanent Ethic
Moral teachings which are essential corollaries of the Church’s understanding of God revealed in Jesus

38. Responsibilities to the Church’s permanent ethic
Impossible to be a Catholic and reject it
Every Catholic is responsible for learning and embracing this ethic

39. Responsibilities to the Church’s permanent ethic
If knowingly rejects all or part of the moral order revealed by Jesus he/she puts self outside of Catholic Church
May reject interpretation of ethic in regard to specific set of circumstances and not be separated

40. Hierarchy Structural order of leaders within the Church
Refers to all of the ordained ministers in the Church
Pope
Bishops
Priests
Deacons

41. Permanent Dogma Absolute truths revealed by Christ
Essential to Christian faith
Essence can never be changed

42. In Conclusion
Church is a mystery because it is the culmination of Salvation history
Aspects of church which do not change make it possible for Church to be the body of Christ and to function as the body of Christ
Structure (constitution)
Ethic
Dogma