THE  CHURCH

Nature of the Church

1. What is the Church?

Church is the name given to the "convocation" or "assembly" of people whom God has called together from "the ends of the earth." In Christian usage the word "Church" has three inseparable meanings: the People that God gathers in the whole world; the particular or local Church (diocese); and the liturgical (above all Eucharistic) assembly.

[777*, 752, 833].

2. What are some models exhibiting characteristics of the Church?

Some models are: the Church as an Institution - like a secular state; the Church as a Mystical Communion - the body of Christ and the people of God; the Church as a Sacrament - grace realizing itself; the Church as Herald - proclaiming the Good News; the Church as Servant - ministering to the world.

Marks of the Church

3. What are the marks of the Church?

In the Creed the Church of Christ is professed to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic. These four marks characterize the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter, and by the bishops in communion with him. Nevertheless, many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside the visible confines of the Church. [870*, 811-12, 865].

4. How is the Church one?

The Church is one because: she acknowledges one Lord, confesses one faith, is born of one baptism, forms only one Body, and is given life by the one Spirit for the sake of one hope (cf. Eph 4:3-5), at whose fulfillment all divisions will be overcome. From another viewpoint the Church is one because of her source the Trinity of persons in one God; because of her founder Christ the Word made flesh; because of her "soul" the Holy Spirit dwelling in those who believe. [866*, 813-816].

5. How is the unity of the pilgrim Church assured?

The unity of the pilgrim Church is assured by three visible bonds of communion: profession of one faith received from the Apostles, common celebration of divine worship, especially of the sacraments, and apostolic succession through the sacrament of Holy Orders. [815].

6. How is the Church holy?

The Church is holy because the most holy God is her author; Christ gave himself up to make her holy; the spirit of holiness gives her life. Since she includes sinners she is "the sinless one made up of sinners." Her holiness shines in the saints, especially in Mary, the mother of God. [867*, 823-29].

7. What does the word "catholic" mean in general, and when applied to the Church?

The word "catholic" means universal in the sense of "according to the whole". The word applies to the Church in a double sense: because Christ is present in her, and because Christ has sent her on a mission to the whole human race.

[830-31].

8. How is the Church catholic?

The Church is catholic because she proclaims the fullness of the faith. She bears in herself and administers the totality of the means of salvation. She is sent out to and speaks to all peoples. She encompasses all times. She is missionary of her very nature. [868*, 830-35].

9. How is the Church apostolic?

The Church is apostolic because she is built on the lasting foundation of the twelve apostles. She is indestructible (cf. Mt 16:18). She is upheld infallibly in the truth: Christ governs her through Peter and the other apostles, who are present in their successors, the Pope and the college of bishops. [869*, 857-65].

Teaching of the Church

10. What is the Magisterium?

The Magisterium is the living, teaching office of the Church, which has the task of giving us an authentic interpretation of the word of God, whether in its written form (Sacred Scripture), or in the form of Tradition. The Magisterium ensures the Church's fidelity to the teaching of the Apostles in matters of faith and morals. [glossary, 100*, 2049*-51*, 85-87, 889-892, 2032-38].

11. What is infallibility?

Infallibility is the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church whereby the Pope, head of the college of bishops, can definitively proclaim a doctrine of faith or morals for the belief of the faithful. Infallibility is also present in the college of bishops acting in unison with the pope. Doctrines proposed for belief as being divinely revealed, as the teaching of Christ, must be adhered to with the obedience of faith. This gift is related to the inability of the whole body of the faithful to err in matters of faith and morals. [glossary, 891, cf. 91-93].

12. What are authoritative but noninfallible teachings?

Divine assistance is given to the bishops teaching in communion with the pope, and in a particular way to the pope himself, when they propose a teaching that leads to better understanding of Revelation in matters of faith and morals, without arriving at an infallible definition, and without pronouncing in a "definitive manner". The faithful are to adhere to this teaching of the ordinary Magisterium with religious assent which, although distinct from the assent of faith, is nonetheless an extension of it. [892].

Missionary Mandate of the Church

13. What is the Church's missionary mandate?

The Church, in obedience to the command of her founder, strives to preach the Gospel to everyone: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28:19). The ultimate purpose of mission is to make everyone share in the communion between the Father and the Son in their Spirit of love, since God wills the salvation of everyone through knowledge of the truth. [849-51].

14. How does the Church carry out this missionary mandate?

The Church begins with the proclamation of the Gospel to peoples and groups who do not yet believe in Christ. She continues with the establishment of Christian communities and local churches, that are "a sign of God's presence in the world." This must involve a process of inculturation if the Gospel is to take flesh in each people's culture. The Church's mission also stimulates efforts toward Christian unity. [854-5].

15. Is there salvation outside the Church?

We know from scripture and tradition that the Church is necessary for salvation. The one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation, and he himself asserted the necessity of faith and baptism. This, however, is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church. If such individuals seek God with a sincere heart and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience, they too may attain eternal salvation. [846-7].

16. Does the availability of salvation outside the Church put any limit on missionary activity?

Even though salvation is attainable outside the Church, nevertheless the Church has the sacred right, as well as the obligation, to evangelize all peoples. [848].

Rulers of the Church

17. What is apostolic succession?

Apostolic succession is the handing on of the commission of preaching and exercising authority from the

Apostles to their successors the bishops through the laying on of hands, as a permanent office in the Church.

[glossary, 96*, 77-79, 861-62].

18. Who is the Pope?

The Lord made St. Peter the visible foundation of his Church, and entrusted to him the keys of the Church. The Pope, the successor of St. Peter, is bishop of the Church of Rome, head of the college of bishops, Vicar of Christ, and Pastor of the universal Church on earth. As such he enjoys, by divine institution, "supreme, full, immediate, and universal care of souls." [936*-37*; cf. 880-82].

19. Who are the bishops?

The bishops, who succeed the apostles, are the visible source and foundation of unity in their local Churches. Helped by the priests, their coworkers, and by the deacons, they have the duty of authentically teaching the faith, celebrating divine worship, above all the Eucharist, and guiding their Churches as true pastors. The bishops govern their dioceses by their counsels, exhortations, and example, but over and above that, by their authority and sacred power. Their responsibility also includes concern for all the Churches, with and under the Pope. [938*-39*, 883-87, 894-96].

Members of the Church

20. Who belongs to the Catholic Church?

Everyone is called to this catholic unity of the People of God, and to it belong, in different ways: the Catholic faithful, others who believe in Christ, and finally all mankind, called by God's grace to salvation. [836].

21. Who are formal members of the Catholic Church?

Full membership in the Catholic Church involves possessing the spirit of Christ, accepting all the means of salvation given to the Church, together with her entire organization, receiving baptism and assuming bonds flowing from the profession of faith, the sacraments, and the ecclesiastic government under the authority of the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops. Even though incorporated in the Church, one who does not persevere in sanctifying grace is not saved. Such a person remains in the bosom of the Church, but "in body", not "in heart." [837].

22. Who are Christians but not formal members of the Catholic Church?

Those who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety, or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter, have a certain, although incomplete, communion with the Catholic Church. With the Orthodox Church this communion is so profound "that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord's Eucharist." (Paul VI, Discourse, Dec. 14, 1975). [838].

23. What is a diocese?

A diocese, sometimes called a "particular church", is a community of the faithful in communion of faith, whose bishop has been ordained in apostolic succession. Each member of the Church belongs to a diocese. Ordinarily a diocese is a determined geographical area; sometimes it may be constituted as a group of people of the same race or language. In Eastern churches it is called an eparchy. [glossary, 832-35].

24. Who are the laity?

The term laity refers to all the baptized faithful with the exception of those in Holy Orders and those who belong to a religious order or a religious state approved by the Church. The laity participate in their own way in the priestly, prophetic and kingly functions of Christ. [glossary, 897].

25. What is the vocation of lay people?

The special vocation of the laity is to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs, seeking to illuminate and order all temporal things with which they are associated, so that these may always be effected and grow according to the spirit of Christ. The initiative of lay Christians is necessary for permeating social, political, and economic realities with the demands of Christian doctrine and life. They must become a leaven in the world. Lay Christians have the right and duty, individually or grouped in associations, to work so that the divine message of salvation may be known by everyone throughout the world. [940*, 898-900].

26. What is the priestly mission of lay people?

Lay people share in Christ's priesthood when they exhibit the grace of Baptism and Confirmation in all dimensions of their personal, family, social and ecclesial lives. Qualified lay people can be admitted permanently to the formal ministries of lector and acolyte. [941*, cf. 901-3].

27. What is the prophetic mission of lay people?

By virtue of their prophetic mission lay people are called to be witnesses to Christ in all circumstances, and at the very heart of the community of mankind. They have the right, an at times the duty, to express their opinions to their pastors or others on matters which pertain to the good of the Church. [942*, cf. 904-7].

28. What is the kingly mission of lay people?

By virtue of their kingly mission lay people should seek to uproot the rule of sin within themselves and in the world by their self-denial and holiness of life. They can also be called to service in the Church community. [943*, cf. 908-13].

29 What is the consecrated life?

The consecrated life is characterized by the public profession of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience in a stable state of life such as a religious order recognized by the Church. [glossary, 944*].

30. What are some examples of types of consecrated lives?

Hermits (eremetical state) live lives of silence and solitude; consecrated virgins and widows live lives of perpetual chastity; those in religious orders make a public profession of the evangelical counsels and live a fraternal life in common which has a liturgical character; members of secular institutes strive for the perfection of charity while living in the world. [glossary, 914-933].