UNIT ONE What is Church?

I Believe And Profess… All that the Holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God. All that the Holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.

Faith and the Church are Connected Christian faith cannot be separated from a relationship with the Church because Christian faith cannot be separated from a relationship with the Church because –Where the Church is, God is. –We cannot separate our response to God’s call from our relationship to the Church.

Church From Greek word “Ekklesia” From Greek word “Ekklesia” Means “to call out of” Means “to call out of” When used in the New Testament it referred to the community called out of the world by God to live and act in a way that was different from others. When used in the New Testament it referred to the community called out of the world by God to live and act in a way that was different from others.

What is God’s call? Call to be united with Christ, to be part of his body. Call to be united with Christ, to be part of his body. A call to faith, a call to be Church. A call to faith, a call to be Church.

What is faith? Pope John Paul II in his encyclical letter Redemptoris Mater says that faith is “contact with the mystery of God”. Pope John Paul II in his encyclical letter Redemptoris Mater says that faith is “contact with the mystery of God”. A free gift from God A free gift from God

Faith is a human act A response to God’s gift A response to God’s gift A surrendering of ourselves to God A surrendering of ourselves to God

To believe in Christ means To abandon ourselves to Christ To abandon ourselves to Christ To allow ourselves to be shaped by Christ To allow ourselves to be shaped by Christ To let go of those things which keep us from listening to and following him. To let go of those things which keep us from listening to and following him.

How does the gift of faith begin? Many different ways: Many different ways: –Single life-changing event –Commitment of parents to raise their children in way shaped by Jesus –In a moment –Part of a longer process Believing is not something that happens once and for all time. Believing is not something that happens once and for all time.

We can sustain our faith by: Prayer Prayer Study Study Reflection Reflection Regular reception of the sacraments Regular reception of the sacraments Exercising it in loving action. Exercising it in loving action. We must nourish our faith if we are to remain committed to what we believe! We must nourish our faith if we are to remain committed to what we believe!

The need for Community A true disciple of Christ must join with others. A true disciple of Christ must join with others. Our faith must be communal as well as personal. Our faith must be communal as well as personal. It is not easy for the individual or the community to surrender our lives to Christ. It is not easy for the individual or the community to surrender our lives to Christ. –But the Church believes we can be united in faith.

The need for Community It is only in the context of a community that we can really come to know and understand the God who “is love”. It is only in the context of a community that we can really come to know and understand the God who “is love”.

The need for Community God has chosen to make his love and fidelity known to us through one another when we gather in his name. Our faith is deepened and fortified by the community’s faith.

Faith is supported by Formal Structures The Church needs to develop formal structures that help preserve essential truths. The Church needs to develop formal structures that help preserve essential truths. Formal structures include: Formal structures include: –Creeds –Doctrines –Rituals

Formal Structures Help both individuals and communities establish, express, and maintain their identities as believers. Help both individuals and communities establish, express, and maintain their identities as believers. Make our communal relationship with God visible and tangible. Make our communal relationship with God visible and tangible. Are defined and interpreted by the Church’s magisterium. Are defined and interpreted by the Church’s magisterium.

Magisterium Bishops in communion with the pope who is the successor of St. Peter. Bishops in communion with the pope who is the successor of St. Peter.

Ecumenism True ecumenism – the reconciliation of all Christians in the unity of the Church – involves the efforts of all. True ecumenism – the reconciliation of all Christians in the unity of the Church – involves the efforts of all.

The Marks of the Church One, holy, catholic and apostolic One, holy, catholic and apostolic Certain specific characteristics that date back to early Christianity. Certain specific characteristics that date back to early Christianity. In 381 at the first council of Constantinople the words “one, holy, catholic and apostolic church” were officially added to the Nicene creed. In 381 at the first council of Constantinople the words “one, holy, catholic and apostolic church” were officially added to the Nicene creed.

The Marks of the Church Through the Holy Spirit, Christ makes the Church one, holy, catholic and apostolic. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ makes the Church one, holy, catholic and apostolic. The Church manifests these qualities in different ways at different times. The Church manifests these qualities in different ways at different times.

The Church is the first sacrament of Christ The Church is a symbol and instrument of God’s presence on earth and movement through time. The Church is a symbol and instrument of God’s presence on earth and movement through time. The Church makes visible to people and provides a means by which they can come in contact with the Holy One. The Church makes visible to people and provides a means by which they can come in contact with the Holy One.

The Church is One because… 1.) Of the unity in the Trinity of one God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Sprit 2.) Of its founder, Jesus Christ who came to restore unity among all people and between all people and the Father.

3.) Of the Holy Spirit who brings about the communion of the faithful and joins them in Christ.

The true Church of Christ The Church which Christ entrusted to Saint Peter and the other apostles The Church which Christ entrusted to Saint Peter and the other apostles Subsists in the Catholic Church Subsists in the Catholic Church

Formal structures that maintain the unity of the Church Profession of one faith received from the Apostles Profession of one faith received from the Apostles Common celebration of divine worship, especially the sacraments Common celebration of divine worship, especially the sacraments Apostolic succession through the sacrament of Holy Orders. Apostolic succession through the sacrament of Holy Orders.

Unity is not uniformity Within the unity of the Church a multiplicity of people and cultures is gathered together. Within the unity of the Church a multiplicity of people and cultures is gathered together.

Seven non-Roman ecclesial traditions in union with Rome Unity is not uniformity Armenian West Syrian Maronite

Unity is not uniformity Coptic Ethiopian Byzantine East Syrian (Chaldean)

The Church is Holy because It is the body of Christ – The Holy One of God It is the body of Christ – The Holy One of God The Holy Spirit dwells within it The Holy Spirit dwells within it Of its intimate connection to God. Of its intimate connection to God.

Holiness means… To be set apart To be set apart Set apart by God for a special purpose Set apart by God for a special purpose

The Church is the heir of the people of Israel The Catholic Church is set apart to reveal that the One God has became incarnate in Jesus and is present in the Spirit. The Catholic Church is set apart to reveal that the One God has became incarnate in Jesus and is present in the Spirit.

Three ways the Church Supports Holiness 1.) Moral Teachings of the Church Clarifies practical aspects of living Certain attitudes and behaviors are unacceptable 2.) Evangelical Counsels Stand apart from temptation, give witness to love, justice of kingdom 3.) Sacraments Point to essence of life lived in holiness; Give us grace

Evangelical Counsels and their temptation Poverty Material wealth Chastity Physical pleasure ObediencePower CounselsTemptation

The Church is Catholic It is for all people It is for all people It is the “universal sacrament of salvation” It is the “universal sacrament of salvation”

Catholic means Universal Universal In totality In totality In keeping with the whole In keeping with the whole

The Church is necessary for salvation The church is necessary for the transformation of the world into the family of God The church is necessary for the transformation of the world into the family of God All who recognize and understand the necessity of the Church for salvation are obligated to be part of that church All who recognize and understand the necessity of the Church for salvation are obligated to be part of that church

Church teaching is based on the Whole of Revelation All of scripture All of scripture The teachings of all of the apostles The teachings of all of the apostles The understanding and witness of Christians from all times, all places The understanding and witness of Christians from all times, all places

Heresy of Gnosticism Claimed special privileged knowledge of God and of God’s will. (Secret teachings of one of the 12 apostles) Claimed special privileged knowledge of God and of God’s will. (Secret teachings of one of the 12 apostles) Catholic Church says: Catholic Church says: –Teachings are based on the testimony of all of Jesus’ apostles

The Church is Apostolic Apostolic means “having been sent Apostolic means “having been sent The Church has been sent into the world by Christ The Church has been sent into the world by Christ

Apostolic Nature of Church 1. Built upon foundation of apostles appointed by Jesus. 1.Jesus is the source and focal point of all we do. 2. Follows guidance of Holy Spirit 1.Faithfully interprets lives and teaches what apostles taught

Accepts continued guidance of apostles through their successors, Peter’s successor – the Pope, and the bishops. Apostolic Nature of Church

Apostolic Succession in History Important to prove connection with apostles. Important to prove connection with apostles. Local church had to be able to demonstrate the bishop had not broken with fundamental teachings of the apostles. Local church had to be able to demonstrate the bishop had not broken with fundamental teachings of the apostles.

Apostolic Succession Today Successors of apostles, the bishops, in union with pope, are able to guarantee that the teachings of the Church will never be detached from the teachings of Christ. Successors of apostles, the bishops, in union with pope, are able to guarantee that the teachings of the Church will never be detached from the teachings of Christ. The teachings of the Church will never threaten the true Revelation of God made known in Christ. The teachings of the Church will never threaten the true Revelation of God made known in Christ.

Pope: Source and sign of Unity Without the Pope the unity of the Church would be severely threatened by local churches and bishops addressing competing national and cultural issues Without the Pope the unity of the Church would be severely threatened by local churches and bishops addressing competing national and cultural issues

Roles of Pope Gives voice to the universal mission and vocation of the church. Gives voice to the universal mission and vocation of the church. Calls Catholics everywhere to remember their responsibility to all of God’s people. Calls Catholics everywhere to remember their responsibility to all of God’s people.

To remember that there are certain Church teachings which cannot be adapted to suit the local culture. Roles of Pope

In Conclusion Catholic Church offers: Catholic Church offers: –Continuity with the past –Comfort and security in the presence of the papacy. Catholics are called through words and actions to say daily: Catholics are called through words and actions to say daily: –Profess faith in One God –Surrender self to Church that is one, holy, catholic and apostolic.