marks of thechurch

8/9/2019 Marks of TheChurch

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THE ESSENTIAL CARACTERISTICSTHE ESSENTIAL CARACTERISTICS

OF THE CHURCHOF THE CHURCH

(MARKS OF THE CHURCH)(MARKS OF THE CHURCH)

The Church of Christ possesses theinseparable unity of the human

and divine elements (LG 8). TheChurch of Christ which is bothhuman and divine subsists in

the Catholic Church…isgoverned by the successor of eterand by the bishops in communion

with him (LG 8).


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!ut Lumen Gentium does not say "

the Church of Christ is theCatholic Church. #ather$ theChurch of Christ only subsistsin the Catholic Church. Christ%sChurch ta&es its concrete form inthe Catholic Church (cf. Vatican IIDocument on Ecumenism, Unitatis

Redintegratio 3; CCC 816).


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Can we nd outside the CatholicChurch the elements of the Church ofChrist?

'enitely YES!

There are a number of elements ofsanctication and of truth found outside the

visible connes of the Catholic Church. These elements such as Bible, Holy Spirit,Bpti", are also armed by the otherChristian #eligions. The idea that theCatholic Church has no monopoly of theseelements is a force impelling authentic unitywith our Christian brothers. *or in truth$ t#eC#$r%# o& C#rit 'oe beyo t#e*iible li"it o& t#e Ct#oli% C#$r%#+


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*inally$ t#i i t#e ole C#$r%# o& C#rit,#i%# i t#e %ree e pro&e to beOe, Holy, Ct#oli%, Apotoli%+

These four characteristics$ inseparablylin&ed with each other$ indicate essentialfeatures of the Church and her mission. The

Church does not possess them for herself+it is Christ who$ through the ,oly -pirit$ma&es his Church ne$ ,oly$ Catholic$ and/postolic$ and it is he who calls her to

reali0e each of these 1ualities (LG 8;Denzinger-c!onmetzer, Enc!iridion"m#o$orum, De%nitionum etDe$carationum de Re#us &idei et 'orum

(888, CCC 811).


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/. The Church as/. The Church as ONEONE2. The church is ONE because of her"

◦

2.2. SOURCE3 4 5the neLiving God in three ersons63 the Church shines forth as

5a people made one with theunity of the *ather$ -on andthe ,oly -pirit6 (LG ))


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2.7. FOUN-ER3 esus Christ who"

9 came to redeem and unify the wholehuman race+

9 prayed to ,is *ather 5that all may beone even as you$ *ather$ are in me and : in

;ou6 ( *n+ 1(1)

9 instituted the ew Covenant intoa unity of faith$ hope and charity (cf. UR (-?).


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7. The church is ONE"

◦7.2. in the confession of onefaith received from theapostles+

◦7.7. the common celebrationof divine worship especiallythe sacraments+ and

◦7.?. the fraternal harmony ofGod%s family (cf. UR (; CCC81.)


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?. /s a *iible i' o& t#i$ity$ Christ put 5eter at thehead of the other apostles$ and

in him set up a lasting andvisible source and foundationof unity of faith and of

communion6 (LG 18).


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@. Church is a $ity.i.

i*erity3 the universal Churchembraces not only eople ofdi=erent ran&s$ duties$ and

ways of life$ but also particularChurches which retain their owntraditions while united under

the Aicar of Christ (cf. LG 13).


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B. Church nity as a T/ . The divisionsamong Christians remain a maDor cause ofscandal before the world. O0%il bre/it# C#$r%# %o""$io include"

◦ B.2. #erey$ the obstinate denial ordoubt by bapti0ed person of a truth

which must be believed by divine andCatholic *aith+

◦ B.7. poty, the total repudiation ofthe Christian faith+ and

◦ B.?. %#i", the withdrawal ofsubmission to the -upreme onti= orfrom communion with the members ofthe Church subDect to him.


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E. E%$"ei" is concerned with theretori' $ity o& t#e C#ritiC#$r%#e. Aatican :: recogni0ed non3Catholic Christians$ for all who are Dustiedin faith through !aptism are incorporatedinto Christ and therefore have a right to becalled Christians and with good reason are

accepted as brothers by children of theCatholic Church6 (UR 3). :t also calls for theactive involvement of all$ faithful and clergyali&e6 (UR .).


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F. The hope of full ecumenicalunity transcends humanabilities$ and must be

grounded 5in prayer of Christfor the Church$ in the love ofthe *ather for us$ and in the

power of the ,oly -pirit6 (UR()).


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7. The sanctity of the Church has shoneout in the innumerable uncanoni0ed

saints among the ordinary faithful andreligious$ who through the ages haveled holy lives.

?. The Church%s holiness is a process of

growing. Christians have always beenehorted to 5lay aside your former wayof life and the old self which deterioratesthrough illusion and desire…and put on

that new man created in God%s image$whose Dustice and holiness are born intruth6 (E!+ )((-()).


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@. /ll in the Church are called to

holiness (cf. 1 2!ess+ )3). /llthe bapti0ed are called to livethe full challenge of Christian

holiness.B. :n reality$ Charity/Love isthe center of holiness$ uniting

inseparably both worship of Godand service of our fellow humanpersons (LG )(; c+ CCC 8(6).


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C. The church asC. The church as CATHOLICCATHOLIC

2. The term 1Ct#oli%2 (G&. term$kath’olon) means universal$complete$ all3embracing. :t applies tothe Church in two di=erent ways"

◦ 2.2. *irst$ the Church is world3wide$sent to all people.

◦ 2.7. -econd$ being endowed with the

5fullness of the means for salvation6$she announces the whole$ true faith6(cf. 4G 6; CCC 83/).


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7. The Church is 1Ct#oli%2 according toa Church *ather (t+ C"ri$ o *erusa$em)because she"

◦ 7.2. is spread throughout the world (cf. 4cts 18).

◦ 7.7. possesses all saving truth (cf. *n+

1613).◦ 7.?. is sent to all peoples (cf. '5+161.).

◦ 7.@. can heal all &inds of sins (cf. *n+(/(3).

◦ 7.B. abounds in every &ind of virtue andspiritual gift (C"ri$ o *erusa$em,

Catec!etica$ Lectures)


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3. Vatican II explains the universality of

God’s call to the whole world (LG 13;cf.

CCC 831).4. The Church catholicity is oth a gift

and a task which involves !ission and

inculturation.4.". In its !ission the Church

!anifests a asic respect for local

Churches and cultures.

4.#. The !utual interaction of the

Christian !essa$e and hu!an culture is

an on%$oin$& never%co!pleted process

throu$h history.


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B. The process of inculturationrespectfully draws the good

elements within a culture$ renewsthem from within and assimilatesthem to form part of its catholicunity. The catholicity of theChurch is more fully reali0ed whenit is able to assimilate and use theriches of a people%s culture for the

glory of God (C II (/8). 5He haveto raise up more and more *ilipinoevangeli0ers$ formed in a *ilipino

way6 (C II (1/).


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'. The Church as'. The Church as A3OSTOLICA3OSTOLIC2. The Church is 1potoli%2 in three

basic ways"◦ 2.2. *irst$ because esus Christgrounded her permanently 5on the

foundation of the /postles6 (E!+ ((/).◦ 2.7. -econd$ because she guards andtransmits their teaching and witness(cf. 't+ (810-(/)+

◦ 2.?. Third$ she continues to beinstructed$ sanctied and guided by theapostles through their successors (cf.CCC 8.-6/).


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7. Apotoli% S$%%eio. Theprincipal way the apostles“guide us still is through

the potoli% $%%eio ofthe bishops$ assisted by the,oly -pirit (cf. CCC 861 f).


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?. The Church is 1potoli%2

because it is a hierarchicalcommunity $ whose unity infaith and communion are

grounded in the successors ofthe apostles$ and especially of!eter" the chosen 5roc&$6 upon

which Christ would build hisChurch (cf. 't+ 16; 18; c+ LG18).


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?.2. The Roman onti7 $ the !ope" as the #icar of Christ and successor of eter$has supreme and universal power overthe Church.

?.7. The $ishops (the %verseers)$ assuccessors of the apostles$ in their role as

teachers and pastors$ 5together with theirhead$ the -upreme onti=$ and neverapart from him$ have supreme and fullpower over the universal Church (LG ((+

?.?. This power and leadership of thehierarchy is a 5ministry of service6 bywhich our Lord esus is present in themidst of the faithful6 (LG (1).


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MO-ELS OF THE CHURCHMO-ELS OF THE CHURCH (/ccording to /very 'ulles)(/ccording to /very 'ulles)

2. Itit$tio (,ierarchy" ope3College ofCardinalsI!ishops$ Clergy$ 'eacons$ Laity)

7. Myti%l Co""$io (community oflove and peace)3 unity in love and charity

?. S%r"et (sign and instrument ofGod%s grace)

@. Herl (proclaimer of the Kingdom of

GodI bearer of the Good >ews) B. Ser*t (tas& of healing and

humani0ing the worldImission true$good and Dust in the pursuit of the

common good).

MO-ELS OF THE CHURCHMO-ELS OF THE CHURCH


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MO-ELS OF THE CHURCHMO-ELS OF THE CHURCH (/ccording to the(/ccording to the &econd !lenary&econd !lenary

Council of the !hilippines 'Council of the !hilippines '

!C!((!C!(())2. Co""$io

◦ 2.2 unity3in3diversity

◦ 2.7 e1uality in dignity7. 3rti%iptio

?. Co""$io.i.Miio

@. 3rietly, 3rop#eti% Ki'ly 3eople

B. C#$r%# o& t#e 3oor

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