Four Marks of the Church Four Marks One

Four Marks of the Church

Four Marks • One – Unity • Holy – Divine • Catholic – Universal • Apostolic – Origin This is the sole Church of Christ, which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic. ” These four characteristics, inseparably linked with each other, indicate essential features of the Church and her mission. The Church does not possess them of herself; it is Christ who, through the Holy Spirit, makes his Church one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, and it is he who calls her to realize each of these qualities. (CCC 811)

• The Church is One: One 1. Her Source I. The highest exemplar and source of this mystery is the unity, in the Trinity of Persons, of one God, the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit 2. Her Founder I. “The Word made flesh, the prince of peace, reconciled all men to God by the cross, … restoring the unity of all in one people and one body (Guadium et Spes 78). ” 3. Her “Soul” I. “It is the Holy Spirit, dwelling in those who believe and pervading and ruling over the entire Church, who brings about that wonderful communion of the faithful and joins them together so intimately in Christ that he is the principle of the church’s unity (Unitatis Redintegratio 2). ”

One “Charity binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Col 3: 14) • There are other visible bonds of unity in the Church: 1. Unity of Belief I. The Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed II. Unity in Code of Morality I. II. Natural Law 10 Commandments 2. Unity of Worship and Liturgy I. One Liturgy II. Unity in Sacraments 3. Unity of Government I. Church Hierarchy, Magisterium (Pope and all the bishops in union with him).

1. The Church is holy in her origin I. Holy Jesus Christ founded the Church and he is the source of all holiness. 2. The Church is holy in her purpose. I. The Sanctification and Salvation of all her members. 3. The Church is holy in those of her members who open themselves to grace. I. The Church has been manifested in the holiness of many men and women who have wholeheartedly accepted Christ and his Church. II. These saints are living proofs that the Church is holy. III. This does not mean that all the members of the Church are holy.

Catholic • Kat’holon—related to the whole. – The Church is Catholic because Christ called her to profess the whole faith, to preserve all the Sacraments, to administer them and proclaim the Good News to all; and he sent her to all nations—the whole of the human race. – Anyone who, in union with the Pope and the bishops, is united to Jesus Christ through the profession of the Catholic faith and reception of the Sacraments is in full communion with the Catholic Church. • God willed one Church for all. – As Christ is the head of the Church, so the Church possesses the fullness of the means of salvation: • Correct and complete confession of faith, full sacramental life, and ordained ministry in apostolic succession

Apostolic • The Church was and remains built on the “foundation of the Apostles, ” the witnesses chosen and sent on a mission by Christ himself. • With the help of the Holy Spirit dwelling in her, the Church keeps and hands on the teaching, the “good deposit, ” the salutary words she has heard from the apostles – a. k. a. Sacred Tradition • She continues to be taught, sanctified, and guided by the apostles until Christ’s return, through their successors in pastoral office: the college of bishops, “assisted by priests, in union with the successor of Peter, the Church’s supreme pastor. ” – The college of bishops has supreme and full authority over the universal Church; but this power cannot be exercised without agreement of the Roman Pontiff (the Pope) – this is called Magisterium • Apostolicity refers to the fact that the Church is still ruled by the legitimate successors to Peter and the apostles—the Pope and the bishops. – Christ’s apostles (apostoloi) are entrusted with the task of continuing his mission—as ministers of the new covenant.

Andrew James John Philip Bartholomew Peter Thomas Matthew James Thaddaeus Simon Judas (who betrayed Jesus)

How is the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church structured? • There are two basic groups (laity and clerics) and both are equal in dignity insofar as they are children of God. They have equally important, yet different tasks. – The mission of the laity is to direct the whole world toward the kingdom of God. – The ordained ministers (clerics) have the duties of ecclesiastical governance, teaching and sanctification. • Every Christian has the duty to bear witness to the Gospel by his own life.