Our Church
One, Holy, Catholic
and Apostolic
I. What we can learn about the Church
from the Scriptures
The Church is a visible witness to the Gospel
Jesus said his Church would be "the light of the world." He then noted that "a city set on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matt. 5:14). This means his Church is a visible organization. It must have characteristics that clearly identify it and that distinguish it from other churches.
The Church will endure
Even with all of the mistakes, the Church has made it over the centuries. Jesus promised, "I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). This means that his Church will never be destroyed and will never fall away from him. His Church will survive until his return.
The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus and existed from the time of Jesus.
“You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church” Matt. 16:18
Every other Christian church is an offshoot of the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox churches broke away from unity with the pope in 1054. The Protestant churches were established during the Reformation, which began in 1517. (Most of today’s Protestant churches are actually offshoots of the original Protestant offshoots.)
II. What we can learn about the Church
from the Creed
I believe in One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church
The Church Is One
(Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:13, CCC 813–822)
Jesus established only one Church, not a collection of differing churches (Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican, and so on). The Bible says the Church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:23–32). Jesus can have but one spouse, and his spouse is the Catholic Church.
His Church also teaches just one set of doctrines, which must be the same as those taught by the apostles (Jude 3). This is the unity of belief to which Scripture calls us (Phil. 1:27, 2:2).
Although some Catholics dissent from officially-taught doctrines, the Church’s official teachers—the pope and the bishops united with him—have never changed any doctrine. Over the centuries, as doctrines are examined more fully, the Church comes to understand them more deeply (John 16:12–13), but it never understands them to mean the opposite of what they once meant.
By his grace Jesus makes the Church holy, just as he is holy. This doesn’t mean that each member is always holy. Jesus said there would be both good and bad members in the Church (John 6:70), and not all the members would go to heaven (Matt. 7:21–23).
But the Church itself is holy because it is the source of holiness and is the guardian of the special means of grace Jesus established, the sacraments (cf. Eph. 5:26).
Holy in origin
Holy in purpose
The Church Is Catholic (Matt. 28:19–20, Rev. 5:9–10, CCC 830–856)
Jesus’ Church is called catholic ("universal" in Greek) because it is his gift to all people. He told his apostles to go throughout the world and make disciples of "all nations" (Matt. 28:19–20).
For 2,000 years the Catholic Church has carried out this mission, preaching the good news that Christ died for all men and that he wants all of us to be members of his universal family (Gal. 3:28).
Today the Catholic Church is found in every country of the world and is still sending out missionaries to "make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19).
The Church Jesus established was known by its most common title, "the Catholic Church," at least as early as the year 107, when Ignatius of Antioch used that title to describe the one Church Jesus founded. The title apparently was old in Ignatius’ time, which means it probably went all the way back to the time of the apostles.
The Church Jesus founded is apostolic because he appointed the apostles to be the first leaders of the Church, and their successors were to be its future leaders. The apostles were the first bishops, and since the first century, there has been an unbroken line of Catholic bishops faithfully handing on what the apostles taught the first Christians in Scripture and oral Tradition (2 Tim. 2:2).
These beliefs come from the apostles and include the bodily Resurrection of Jesus, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the sacrificial nature of the Mass, the forgiveness of sins through a priest, baptismal regeneration, the existence of purgatory, Mary’s special role, and much more —even the doctrine of apostolic succession itself.
Early Christian writings prove the first Christians were thoroughly Catholic in belief and practice and looked to the successors of the apostles as their leaders. What these first Christians believed is still believed by the Catholic Church. No other Church can make that claim.
III. The Structure or organization of the Church
The Church is organized into the following groups:
Universal Church - Whole Church all over the world
Archdiocese - Located in a special or capital city
Diocese - Located in a city or geographical area and named for the city
Parish - Local Church named after a Patron Saint
Leader of the Universal Church is the Pope - successor of Peter
Jesus gave Peter special authority among the apostles (John 21:15–17) and signified this by changing his name from Simon to Peter, which means "rock" (John 1:42). He said Peter was to be the rock on which he would build his Church (Matt. 16:18).
Early Christian writings tell us that Peter’s successors, the bishops of Rome (who from the earliest times have been called by the affectionate title of "pope," which means "papa"), continued to exercise Peter’s ministry in the Church.
The pope is the successor to Peter as bishop of Rome. The world’s other bishops are successors to the apostles in general.
Cardinals - Special assistants to the Pope who are both the leaders of an Archdiocese, or a Director of an office in the Vatican and the Pastor of a Church in Rome.
In addition to the Pope there are Bishops and Archbishops
In charge of a Diocese (made up of many churches centered around a city or geographic location
Pastors - responsible for a local church
Priests - assist the pastor and minister to God’s People
Deacons - Proclaim the Word of God / Preach and serve the poor
V. MODELS OF THE CHURCH
Cardinal Avery Dulles’
* Church as Institution: Clerics (Pope, bishops, priests, deacons) responsible to the laity for teaching (professing approved doctrines), sanctifying (Administering legitimate sacraments), and ruling (governing faith and morals).
* Church as Community (Body of Christ): A worshiping community of believers who by their faith become a sign and instrument of the union of God and man.
* Church as Sacrament: The church is understood as the visible manifestation of the grace of Christ in the human community.
* Church as Herald: A faithful people who “hear the word of God and keep it” by putting their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior and proclaiming the Christ-event in their lives.
* Church as Servant: A redeemed people who have the mandate to establish in this world Christ’s kingship of peace, justice, love and reconciliation.