Chapter 1: The mystery of the church in salvation history Lesson 5 Marks of the church

Four marks of the church In the Nicene creed, “We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church”. These words identify the true nature and mission of the church. They are our motto. The marks exist because of jesus and the holy spirit’s work in the church. Paradox. Divine element and imperfect human beings.

Common qualities of successful families What traits make a family successful in your eyes? Is any family capable of living these qualities/traits perfectly? Qualities are present but are also ideals. So are the marks of the church.

one Source of unity is the holy trinity. The church is one , jesus established it and the h.s. gave it life. Charity and love bind the church into one people. visible bonds of oneness and unity in the church: The profession of one faith (creed) The common celebration of worship (sacraments) The succession of bishops from the apostles through the sacrament of holy orders.

one Ephesians 4:4-6  4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

One 1 Corinthians 10:17  17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

One John 17:20-22  20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,

One John 10:16  16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

holy How would you describe someone who is “holy”? Holiness is our birthright. Remember genesis, “God looked at all he had made and he found it very good”. Everything God makes is holy, it is the original blessing.

holy The church is holy because god is holy. He church possesses the means for people to achieve holiness. Saints, sacraments, prayer, etc… Mary, the mother of god and our spiritual mother, is the mother of the church.

holy God is in the church filling it with his divine presence, yet he is not bound to the world. Our holiness as a church should not be bound to the world. Pope john Paul ii said that “the vocation to holiness, that is, the perfection of charity” is our fundamental vocation.

catholic Means “general”or “universal”. It comes from the greek Katha holos => to include everyone. St. Ignatius of Antioch was the first to refer to the church as the catholic church. St. Augustine used the term catholic to mean “to be open to the truth, wherever it can be found”.

catholic The church is catholic because of its universal outreach. All are welcome. The church continues to teach Christ’s message and it is shared by many different people, in different languages in different areas.

apostolic What do you think apostolic means? The c.c. traces her leadership back to st. Peter & the apostles. The c.c. still professes the same creed and way of life taught by the apostles. Led by the pope and bishops, priests and deacons. Apostle means “one who is sent”. We are all called to fulfill the mission of proclaiming in word and deed the good news of god.

St. Ignatius of antioch Theophorus “god bearer”or “god borne” Heroic martyr of early church. Lived at the same time as apostles. Became bishop of Antioch. Emperor Trajan’s regime condemned him to the lion pit. On his trip to rome, made many friends. Taught them to remain strong in faith and loyal to bishops unity & truth in the catholic church.