• “those who have been called together”

• A mystery – human and divine

• The community of those being redeemed

• Church history = salvation history“The church is not a hotel for the righteous, but a hospital for sinners” – Peter Kreeft

Communion of Saints- Holy people – when we

profess our belief in the Communion of Saints, we affirm our relationship with all faithful people living now and in the past;

- Holy things – Sacraments –

- bind us to one another, and to God.

• To be ‘church’ is nothing other than making heaven present in the midst of a broken world

The four “marks of the Church” that endure

The Church is one, because her Lord is One

• In Faith

“The church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of truth.” - 1 Tim. 3:15

• In Sacraments and Worship

• In Governance

• In charity•“See how they love one another!”

•There is ―one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:4–6).

•Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf (1 Corinthians 10:17). •Jesus had promised at the outset that ―there will be one flock, one shepherd‖ (John10:16).

• …the Church is holy, because her Lord is Holy

“Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”Leviticus 19:2

• The Church exists to birth saints

“Canonization is theChurch recognizing

herselfin history” – Pope John Paul II

Set apart for the service of God: transform the world!

Christ loved the Church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:25 –27)

• the Church is Catholic, because she is the Body of Him who enjoys the fullness of Truth and Life

• Big C – Catholic church that was founded by Christ

• Little c – catholic church contains the fullness of Christ and has a mission to all people

• Embraces all peoples, cultures, languages

• Diversity of charismas working in symphony•Apostles: hierarchy•Laity: all the baptized, faithful of Christ•Religious: those consecrated to God by the evangelical counsels

• Sharing in Christ’s three-fold office of priest-prophet-shepherd•Priests who lead the world in worship

•Prophets who speak and do the Truth in love

•Shepherds who use power for service

• …the Church is apostolic because:

• her mission in and to the world is a continuation of the work of the first Apostles

• Jesus sent his Apostles to continue God’s mission – he gave them authority and power.

 ApostolicHow do we know that the Apostles have thepower and authority to pass on to others whatthey had received from Christ?•―Whoever listens to you listens to me‖ (Luke10:16).

 Apostolic

How do we know that the Apostles have the power and authority to pass on to others what they had received from Christ?

•Whoever listens to you listens to me‖ (Luke10:16).

 ApostolicThe Church is also Apostolic in that theDeposit of Faith foundin both SacredScripture and SacredTradition waspreserved, taught, andhanded on by the Apostles

 Apostolic

The Church is also Apostolic in that the Deposit of Faith found in both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition was preserved, taught, and handed on by the Apostles

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, the Magisterium (the teaching authority entrusted to the Apostles and their successors) has the duty to preserve, teach, defend, and hand on this Deposit of Faith.

The Pope and bishops in union with him form the Magisterium, the living, teaching office of the Church

• The community of disciples of Jesus Christ

• The Mystical Body of Christ

• The Bride of Christ

• The Temple of God

• The Light of Christ

• Mother and Teacher of the faithful

• The community of divine and human communion

• The Sacrament of the unity

• The community of charity

• The beacon of hope