2. Our Catholic Faith Living What We Believe
CHAPTER 4
The Church: The Body of Christ
 Where Christ Is, There is the Church
 What is Church?
 More Descriptions of the Church
 Membership and Ministries in the Church
 Marks of the Church
 Ecumenism: The Church and Other Religions

3. Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ Where Christ Is, There is the Church
“Basin Theology”: Pilate vs. Jesus
 challenges the followers of Jesus to choose what their role will be in the Church
The Church is Christ’s presence in the world
The Church is our Mother – nurturing and sustaining us through life
Jesus’ presence in the Church by the power of the Holy Spirit guarantees her ultimate success

4. Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ What is Church?
Ways of understanding the word church
 “family of the Lord”
 “those called out, convocation, assembly”
 God’s Chosen People in the Old Testament
 the community of Catholics that assemble to worship
 the local gathering of Catholics in a particular neighborhood
 the worldwide gathering of those who have faith in Jesus Christ

5. Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ What is Church?
The Church as a Mystery of God’s Love
the visible reality
the invisible reality
The Church

6. Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ What is Church?
The Church as a Mystery of God’s Love
The Church is both a means and a goal of the great mystery of God’s love for us
Each Person of the Blessed Trinity had a role in the planning of the Church:
The Holy Spirit came on Pentecost to make the Church holy and lead her in its mission of preaching the Good News to all
Jesus Christ established the Church on Peter and the Twelve Apostles
God the Father created the world which foreshadowed the Church

7. Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ What is Church?
an earthly community blessed with heavenly riches
The Church is:
Christ’s vineyard
pilgrim
organized hierarchically and the mystical body of Christ
God’s family
the flock of Christ
a visible society and spiritual
community
God’s building
and farm
the Bride of Christ
our mother

8. Temple of the Holy Spirit
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ More Descriptions of the Church
Four Images of the Church from the CCC
As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of the one Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
Body of Christ
● A communion of people with
God
● The unity is achieved especially in the holy Eucharist
● Because of Christ we are linked in a special way to the poor, persecuted, and suffering
● Each Catholic is important to the health of the Body of Christ
Temple of the Holy Spirit
● The Holy Spirit dwells in the Church to give it life
● The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church
● The Church is “the sacrament of the Holy Trinity’s communion” with us (CCC; 747)
● The Holy Spirit works through its members to continue the work of Salvation

9. Four Images of the Church from the CCC
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ More Descriptions of the Church
Four Images of the Church from the CCC
Sacrament
● Jesus and his Holy Spirit are present
● A visible sign of Christ in our world
● Unites people from all over the world
● Is a sign of the unity of all humankind
● Is an instrument to bring about Salvation
The People of God
● It is of God
● Membership is by baptism
● Has Jesus as its head
● Has dignity and freedom as children of God
● Obliged to follow the law of love
● Is to be salt of the earth and light to the world
● God’s Kingdom is its destiny

10. What makes a person a member of the Church?
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ Membership and Ministries in the Church
What makes a person a member of the Church?
1. Members of the Catholic Church are baptized Christians who: ● accept Jesus as Lord and Savior ● accept the entire system of Salvation Christ left the Church ● continue Christ’s work of Salvation
2. Catholics minister God in the Church in different ways: ● the hierarchy ● the laity ● the consecrated life
3. Baptism into the Church makes each Catholic a child of God with equal dignity

11. Three categories of membership in the Church
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ Membership and Ministries in the Church
Three categories of membership in the Church
The hierarchy – the order of ministry established by Christ on the Apostles and their successors
The laity – any baptized Catholics who have not received Holy Orders nor belong to a religious state
The consecrated or religious life – can be members of the hierarchy or laypeople and include hermits, consecrated virgins, secular institutes, different apostolic societies, and men and women in religious orders

12. BAPTISM Catholics share in the three ministries of Christ
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ Membership and Ministries in the Church
Catholics share in the three ministries of Christ
PRIESTLY (sanctifying)
Offering yourself with Christ in his sacrifice to the Father
BAPTISM
PROPHETIC (teaching)
Becoming witnesses of Christ’s truth to the world
KINGLY (governing)
Serving those in need

13. Ways the Pope and bishops exercise their prophetic role:
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ Membership and Ministries in the Church
Ways the Pope and bishops exercise their prophetic role:
1. Magisterial teaching – the task of the Magisterium is to proclaim the Gospel, build up Christian love and service, and see the proper administration of the sacraments
2. Ecumenical councils – such councils bring the Pope and bishops together to offer unified teachings
3. Infallibility – when it comes to essential matters of faith and morals, the Church is free from error

14. Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ Marks of the Church
ONE
The profession of one faith which goes back to the time of the Apostles
Divine worship celebrated in common, especially in the Seven Sacraments
The succession of bishops from the time of the Apostles to today
HOLY
Christ is the model for her holiness
The Holy Spirit lives in her
God uses her to bring his life and light into the world, to sanctify her
She has “the fullness of the means of Salvation”
CATHOLIC
Christ’s presence gives her the fullness of the means of Salvation
She follows Jesus’ command to go out to all people
She teaches everything that Christ taught
Each local diocese is in union with the Holy Father
APOSTOLIC
She is the Church Christ founded on the Apostles
She continues to hand on the teachings of the Apostles
She is taught, made holy, sanctified, and led by the College of Bishops, whom Christ appointed as successors of the Apostles

15. Means of holiness outside the Catholic Church: (1) Scripture
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ Ecumenism: The Church and Other Religions
Ecumenism
Unity among Christians is rooted in Baptism, even among those who are not professed Catholics
Means of holiness outside the Catholic Church:
(1) Scripture
(2) the life of grace
(3) faith, hope, and charity

16. Ways to foster ecumenism:
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ Ecumenism: The Church and Other Religions
Ecumenism
The Holy Spirit is working among all Christians today helping them to achieve a closer unity to our Lord and Savior
Ways to foster ecumenism:
(1) pray with our Christian brothers and sisters
(2) study the truths of the Church so they can share with others
(3) learn about other Christian denominations
(4) work with other Christians in service and social justice

17. Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ VOCABULARY
Canon law (110)
Canonization (114)
Catholic (114)
Apostle (115)
Heresy (117)
Apostasy (117)
Schism (117)
Ecumenism (117)
Great Schism (118)
Protestant (118)
Evangelization (96)
Church (96)
Mystery (99)
Sacrament (100)
Efficacious symbol (101)
Laity (102)
Liturgy (102)
Hierarchy (106)
Evangelical counsels (107)
Infallibility (109)
Marks of the Church (112)

18. Prayer for Guidance Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by You,
Always follow Your plans,
And perfectly accomplish your Holy Will.
Grant that in all things, great and small,
today and all the days of my life,
I may do whatever You require of me.
Help me respond to the slightest prompting of Your Grace, so that I may be Your trustworthy instrument for Your honor.
May Your Will be done in time and in eternity – by me, in me, and through me. Amen
St. Teresa of Avila
Prayer for Guidance