The Creeds

This is the final installment in a blog post series on the marks of the Church. Previous posts explored how the Church is one (found here), holy (here) and catholic (here). Today I will discuss why and how the Church is apostolic.

Founded on the Apostles

When we say that the Church is apostolic, we mean that it continues the teachings and mission of the apostles, upon whom Jesus founded the Church. The Youth Catechism explains,

Our Church is apostolic because it holds and teaches the faith, as taught to the twelve apostles by Christ himself. We refer to the apostles as “hand-picked successors” since Jesus chose them to continue his mission after his death and Resurrection. He entrusted the leadership of his Church to the apostle Peter saying, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Thus Peter became the first bishop and pope. Through these actions, Jesus wasn’t setting up his friends in positions of power, influence, and honor. Instead, he was calling them to a life of service as missionaries for his Church. All the bishops and popes who have followed, up to the present day, share this mission.

Priests, Prophets, and Kings

We say that the pope and bishops share in Christ’s ministry as priests, prophets and kings. As priests, the pope and bishops celebrate the Eucharist and all the sacraments to lead their people to holiness.  As prophets, they are the official teachers of the Church.  And as kings, they speak with authority just as Jesus did.  This is an important aspect of the apostolic nature of our Church. Jesus commissioned the apostles to preach in his name. He gave them the authority to baptize, to heal and to forgive sins. He also gave them the authority to generate additional disciples of the Church, so that their mission would continue in perpetuity. This apostolic succession through the sacramental anointing of bishops and popes ensures the continuity of the teachings of Christ.

Infallibility

In his capacity as the official teacher of the Church, Catholics believe that the Pope has the gift of infallibility.  The dictionary defines infallibility as the “the quality of being infallible; the inability to be wrong” that is to be free from error. In the Roman Catholic Church, our belief in Papal Infallibility qualifies that to mean:

Therefore, when the pope proclaims a teaching on faith or morals, we trust that it is true and right – not because the pope is perfect and can’t make a mistake, but because the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth, guides him in such matters.

Takeaway for Teens

The apostolic nature of our Church gives us confidence that its teachings are rooted in Christ. We can trust that by participating in the sacraments, we can grow closer to Christ through grace. Pope Francis reminds us that we are all called to “go out” just as the apostles were called by Jesus. “Belonging to the apostolic Church means being aware that our faith is anchored in the proclamation and the witness of the very Apostles of Jesus — it is anchored there, it is a long chain which comes from there —; and for this we always feel sent, we feel delegated, in communion with the Apostles’ successors, to proclaim, with the heart filled with joy, Christ and his love, to all mankind.” (General Audience of 17 September 2014 | Francis)

© 2018 Catechist’s Aide

This post is part 3 of a 4-part series on the marks of the Church. In the first post I discussed the Church’s unity (found here) and in the second post, its holiness (here).  Today’s post is about the third mark of the Church.

The Church is Catholic

When we say that the Church is catholic, we are saying that it is universal. In essence, we are referring to the wholeness of the Church on multiple levels. The Youth Catechism explains,

And from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

On a mission from God

Before his Ascension into heaven, Jesus tasked his apostles with a mission. “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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age (Matthew 28: 19-20 emphasis added). In Christ’s words, we see the dual sense of wholeness and universality. Their mission is universal. It is intended for the whole world, and they are to teach others to observe the whole of what Jesus has commanded. The task given to the apostles is the same for the Church and all her members throughout the ages. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church that Christ founded has grown from a small group of followers to more than a billion members worldwide.

Takeaway for Teens

When we talk about the mission of the Church, we are really talking about our personal mission as Catholics. How can young persons be missionaries? How can they spread the Gospel message? Although many young Catholics are involved in missionary work across the globe, getting on a plane is not a requirement for the job.

There are many ways to support the missionary efforts of the Church universal or your local parish. Helping with fundraising efforts for the missions is an excellent way to start. You can also help by providing for people’s physical needs. Many missions are located in impoverished areas, where young children lack essentials. Organizing clothing drives, or even toys and sports equipment can bring great joy to these children. There are many other ways that teens can help. Ask your Parish Youth Director or read the bulletin each week to see if there is a way to put your talents to use.  Finally, perhaps the best way to spread the Gospel message is to live the Gospel message – be an example, a witness.

© 2018 Catechist’s Aide

Last week I began a blog post series about something every Catholic should know – the marks of the Church.  Today, we will look at the second mark, which says the Church is holy.

Source of holiness

The Church is holy because Jesus, who founded her, and the Holy Spirit, who dwells in and guides her, are holy. In the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church, it explains that “The Church is holy, not because all her members are supposedly holy, but rather because God is holy and is at work in her” (YouCat 132). This is part of the “mystery” of the Church, that although comprised of sinners, she remains holy, sanctified by Christ. The Catechism refers to this as the “real, though imperfect” sanctity of the Church (CCC 825). Even if members and clergy within the Church are corrupt, the Church can never be corrupt. In fact, in the Catechism we read that the Church is “unfailingly holy” (CCC 823).

Whose purpose is to lead us to holiness

St. Paul wrote in his 1^st letter to Timothy, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). He has given us the Church as the means to obtain the salvation He offers and the sanctification to which we are all called.

United with Christ, the Church is sanctified by him; through him and with him she becomes sanctifying. “All the activities of the Church are directed, as toward their end, to the sanctification of men in Christ and the glorification of God.” It is in the Church that “the fullness of the means of salvation has been deposited. It is in her that “by the grace of God we acquire holiness” (CCC 824).

If we think about holiness as being united with Christ, then surely the Church, whom he loves and fills with his spirit, is a means to bring us into a closer relationship with him. Christ has uniquely equipped his bride, the Church, for this purpose. Through the divine grace offered to us in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, we are brought into Communion with Christ.

Examples of holiness

The Church also gives us the saints, ordinary men and women of extraordinary faith, who have lived holy lives, and have been officially recognized by the Church as examples of holiness. But there are many holy people who may never be canonized as saints. Pope Francis, in an address on All Saints Day, said that “the mark of true holiness is living each day as a child of God, imitating both Jesus and the saintly individuals we encounter in the ordinary moments of life.” He focused his comments, not just on canonized saints, but on what he called, “the saints next door” who are “contagious examples of how to live and die in fidelity to the Lord Jesus and his Gospel.”

Takeaway for Teens

As members of the Church, we too are called to be holy. Unfortunately, we rarely see holiness as something attainable for us.  Perhaps because it’s unclear what we must do to live holy lives?  Does it mean we have to pray all the time and never have any fun?

The acronym WWJD stands for What Would Jesus Do.  Since Jesus is our model for holiness, it’s a serious question to ask ourselves.  Fortunately for us, Jesus showed us how we can be holy by the way he lived. In fact, you could say that he left us instructions.  Jesus tells us in the Beatitudes everything we need to do to live a holy life.  He has given us all the answers, all we need to do is look to Christ and imitate him.

But it’s not always easy, which is why God gives us the Church and the Holy Spirit to help guide us to holiness. Receiving the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and praying to the Holy Spirit will help keep us on the right path.

© 2018 Catechist’s Aide

At every Mass, after the homily, we stand together and pray the Nicene Creed as our Profession of Faith.  In it, we proclaim, “I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.” These four characteristics (one, holy, catholic and apostolic) are the “Marks” of the Church. As Catholics struggle with the current crisis in our Church, I believe these marks take on added significance, reminding us what our Church is, her mission (our mission) and most importantly, that she is worth fighting for.

What do we mean when we say “mark?”

You (or your students) may be familiar with the meme, “That’s gonna leave a mark!”  The internet is full of examples, like this one:

As the woman in the GIF is about to find out, a mark is a visible sign.

So, when we say that the marks of the Church are one, holy, catholic and apostolic, we’re not only describing the Church, we are saying that these attributes, which were first shared with the Church by its founder Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, are visible within the Church today. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church,

“These four characteristics, inseparably linked with each other, indicate essential features of the Church and her mission.” (CCC 811)

Today we’ll look in detail at the first of these marks.

The Church is ONE

When we say that the Church is one we are referring to the unity of the Church.  The Church is a community of believers. It is us, and we are a unified community.

What does a unified group look life?  It is a group of people who are united in beliefs, in purpose, in goals, in vision, and in spirit.  Other examples that your students might relate to would be a sports team or the military.

It’s important to recognize that not every group is a unified group. Most teens will relate to being assigned to a group for a project at school. However, these groups can produce mixed results. Just because a group of people comes together does not make them unified. Unfortunately, because some groups are chosen randomly, they may lack unity. The result is usually a subpar effort, not to mention frustration and bad feelings as well.

But there is a perfect example of true unity, and that is the source of the Church, God himself, in the Holy Trinity. God, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who is ONE.

Unified at its founding

The unity of the Catholic Church goes back to its earliest roots. The Acts of the Apostles details these early days and tells us the “The community of believers was of one heart and mind.”  (Acts 4:32; emphasis added) Jesus had been the unifying source in the Church while he lived on earth.  But, Jesus knew that he would be leaving his apostles to carry on without him. He knew that they would need the presence of God to unify them in their mission to grow the Church and live as Christians.  So Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to unite the Apostles and strengthen them to carry on in His name. The Holy Spirit remains the unifying force of the Church on earth today.

The Church is one because of her “soul”: “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.”  (CCC 813)

Wounds to Unity

Of course, the Church can suffer wounds to its unity, its oneness. History has shown, and we see evidence today, that there can be disagreements, divisions, separations, and scandal within the Church.  The Catechism reminds us that,

“Christ bestowed unity on his Church from the beginning. This unity, we believe, subsists in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose, … but the Church must always pray and work to maintain, reinforce and protect the unity that Christ wills for her.” (CCC 820)

I was recently reminded of the importance of the laity in our Church, and our duty to help preserve her unity. In a blog post for Word on Fire, Elizabeth Scalia recalled the words of Archbishop Fulton Sheen which, as she points out, although written in 1972 are “most relevant to our times:”

“Who is going to save our Church? Not our bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes, and the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops act like bishops, and your religious act like religious.”

Takeaway for Teens

The best way for all Catholics to “maintain, reinforce and protect the unity” of the Church is through fervent prayer and a better understanding of the faith that we profess. Learning what we believe, and why we believe doesn’t stop with Confirmation. We must continue our education in the faith throughout our lives, preserve it, and live it, bringing it out into the world.

© 2018 Catechist’s Aide