Church: Nature and Mission

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Created by
margox

Cards (22)

  • God the Father created the world which foreshadowed the Church.
  • The Church - instituted by Christ. - Jesus Christ established the Church on Peter and the Twelve apostles. By all His actions, Christ prepares and builds his Church. The Church is born primarily of Christ's total self - giving for our salvation, anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist, and fulfilled on the cross. As Eve was formed from the sleeping Adam's side, so the Church was born from the pierced heart of Christ hanging dead on the cross.
  • The Church - revealed by the Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit came on Pentecost to make the Church holy and lead her in its mission of preaching the Good News to all. The Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost in order that He might continually sanctify the Church. The Church in her very nature is missionary, sent by Christ to all the nations to make disciples of them.
  • 4 marks of the Church
    • One
    • Holy
    • Catholic
    • Apostolic
  • One - Unity; Holy - Divine; Catholic - Universal; Apostolic - Origin
  • The Church is One
    • Her Source - Holy Trinity
    • Her Founder - Jesus Christ
    • Her "Soul" - Holy Spirit
  • Other visible bonds of unity in the Church:
    • Unity of Belief
    • Unity in Code of Morality
    • Unity of Worship and Liturgy
    • Unity of Government
  • Unity of Belief - The Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed
  • Unity in Code of Morality - Natural Law, 10 Commandments
  • Unity of Worship and Liturgy - One Liturgy, Unity in Sacraments
  • Unity of Government - Church Hierarchy, Magisterium (Pope and all the bishops in union with him).
  • The Church is Holy
    • The Church is holy in her origin
    • The Church is holy in her purpose
    • The Church is holy in those of her members who open themselves to grace
  • The Church is holy in her origin - Jesus Christ founded the Church, and he is the source of all holiness.
  • The Church is holy in her purpose - The sanctification and salvation of all her members
  • The Church is Holy in those of her members who open themselves to grace - The Church has been manifested in the holiness of many men and women who have wholeheartedly accepted Christ and his Church. These saints are living proof that the Church is holy. This does not mean that all the members of the Church are holy.
  • Catholic means universal, in the sense of "according to the totality" or "in keeping with the whole"
  • The Church is Apostolic
    • She was and remains built on "The foundation of the Apostles," The witnesses were chosen and sent on mission by Christ himself.
    • With the help of the Spirit dwelling in her, the Church keeps and hands on the teaching, the "Good Deposit," the salutary words she has heard from the Apostles.
    • 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."
  • Hierarchy in the Catholic Church
    1. Pope
    2. Cardinals
    3. Archbishops
    4. Bishops
    5. Priests
  • Pope - The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church. He is God's representative on Earth.
  • Cardinals - The Cardinals are a team of close advisors to the Pope. When the pope dies or resigns, the next pope is usually chosen from the cardinals.
  • Archbishops and bishops normally oversee several churches in one area.
  • Priests are the people in charge of individual churches.