Our Catholic Faith
Living What We Believe
CHAPTER 4
The Church: The Body of Christ
 Where Christ Is, There is the Church
 What is Church?
 More Descriptions of the Church
 Membership and Ministries in the Church
 Marks of the Church
 Ecumenism: The Church and Other
Religions
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
Where Christ Is, There is the Church
 “Basin Theology”: Pilate vs. Jesus
 challenges the followers of Jesus to
choose what their role will be in the Church
 The Church is Christ’s presence in the world
 The Church is our Mother – nurturing
and sustaining us through life
 Jesus’ presence in the Church by
the power of the Holy Spirit
guarantees her ultimate success
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
What is Church?
Ways of understanding the word church
 “family of the Lord”
 “those called out, convocation, assembly”
 God’s Chosen People in the Old Testament
 the community of Catholics
that assemble to worship
 the local gathering of Catholics
in a particular neighborhood
 the worldwide gathering of those
who have faith in Jesus Christ
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
What is Church?
The Church as a Mystery of God’s Love
the visible reality
The Church
the invisible reality
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
What is Church?
The Church as a Mystery of God’s Love
 The Church is both a means and a goal of the great
mystery of God’s love for us
 Each Person of the Blessed Trinity had
a role in the planning of the Church: The Holy Spirit
God the Father
created the
world which
foreshadowed
the Church
Jesus Christ
established
the Church
on Peter and
the Twelve
Apostles
came on
Pentecost to
make the Church
holy and lead her
in its mission of
preaching the
Good News to all
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
What is Church?
The Church is:
Christ’s
vineyard
pilgrim
God’s
family
God’s
building
and farm
our
mother
organized
hierarchically
and the mystical
body of Christ
a visible
society and
spiritual
community
an earthly
community
blessed with
heavenly
riches
the
flock of
Christ
the Bride
of Christ
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
More Descriptions of the Church
Four Images of the Church from the CCC
Body of Christ
● A communion of people with
God
● The unity is achieved especially
in the holy Eucharist
● Because of Christ we are linked
in a special way to the poor,
persecuted, and suffering
● Each Catholic is important to
the health of the Body of Christ
As a body is one though it
Temple of the Holy Spirit
has many parts, and all the
● The Holy Spirit dwells in the
parts of the body, though
Church to give it life
many are one body, so also
● The Holy Spirit is the soul of
Christ. For in one Spirit we
the Church
were all baptized into one
● The Church is “the sacrament
body, whether Jews or
of the Holy Trinity’s
Greeks, slaves or free
communion” with us (CCC; 747)
persons, and we were all given
● The Holy Spirit works through
to drink of the one Spirit.
its members to continue the
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
work of Salvation
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
More Descriptions of the Church
Four Images of the Church from the CCC
Sacrament
● Jesus and his Holy Spirit are
present
● A visible sign of Christ in
our world
● Unites people from all over
the world
● Is a sign of the unity of all
humankind
● Is an instrument to bring
about Salvation
The People of God
● It is of God
● Membership is by baptism
● Has Jesus as its head
● Has dignity and freedom as
children of God
● Obliged to follow the law of
love
● Is to be salt of the earth and
light to the world
● God’s Kingdom is its destiny
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
Membership and Ministries in the Church
What makes a person a member of the Church?
1. Members of the Catholic Church are baptized Christians
who: ● accept Jesus as Lord and Savior ● accept the
entire system of Salvation Christ left the Church
● continue Christ’s work of Salvation
2. Catholics minister God in the Church in different ways:
● the hierarchy ● the laity
● the consecrated life
3. Baptism into the Church makes each
Catholic a child of God with equal dignity
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
Membership and Ministries in the Church
Three categories of membership in the Church
 The hierarchy – the order of ministry established by
Christ on the Apostles and their successors
 The laity – any baptized Catholics who have not
received Holy Orders nor belong to a religious state
 The consecrated or religious life – can be members of
the hierarchy or laypeople and include hermits,
consecrated virgins, secular institutes, different
apostolic societies, and men and women in religious
orders
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
Membership and Ministries in the Church
BAPTISM
Catholics share in the three ministries of Christ
PRIESTLY (sanctifying)
Offering yourself with Christ
in his sacrifice to the Father
PROPHETIC (teaching)
Becoming witnesses of
Christ’s truth to the world
KINGLY (governing)
Serving those in need
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
Membership and Ministries in the Church
Ways the Pope and bishops exercise their
prophetic role:
1. Magisterial teaching – the task of the Magisterium is to
proclaim the Gospel, build up Christian love and
service, and see the proper administration of the
sacraments
2. Ecumenical councils – such councils bring the Pope
and bishops together to offer unified teachings
3. Infallibility – when it comes to essential matters of faith
and morals, the Church is free from error
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
Marks of the Church
ONE
 The profession of oneHOLY
faith
which goes
back toisthe
 Christ
thetime
model
for her
CATHOLIC
of the Apostles
holiness Christ’s presence
gives her
APOSTOLIC
 Divine worship
in
 The celebrated
Holy Spirit
lives
in
her
the fullness
of
the
means
of Christ

She
is the
Church
common, especially inSalvation
the
 God uses her
to bringfounded
his life on the Apostles
Seven Sacraments
and light
world,
tocontinues
 into
Shethe
follows
Jesus’
command

She
to hand on the
 The succession of bishops
sanctify her
to go out toteachings
all peopleof the Apostles
from the time of the Apostles
 She has“the
ofeverything
the
Shefullness
teaches

She
is taught,that
made holy,
to today
means of Salvation”
Christ taught
sanctified, and led by the
 Each local College
diocese of
is Bishops,
in union whom
with the Holy
Father
Christ
appointed as
successors of the Apostles
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
Ecumenism: The Church and Other Religions
Ecumenism
 Unity among Christians is rooted in Baptism,
even among those who are not professed
Catholics
 Means of holiness outside
the Catholic Church:
(1) Scripture
(2) the life of grace
(3) faith, hope, and charity
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
Ecumenism: The Church and Other Religions
Ecumenism
 The Holy Spirit is working among all
Christians today helping them to achieve
a closer unity to our Lord and Savior
 Ways to foster ecumenism:
(1) pray with our Christian brothers and sisters
(2) study the truths of the Church so they can share
with others
(3) learn about other Christian denominations
(4) work with other Christians in service and social justice
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
VOCABULARY
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Evangelization (96)
Church (96)
Mystery (99)
Sacrament (100)
Efficacious symbol
(101)
Laity (102)
Liturgy (102)
Hierarchy (106)
Evangelical counsels
(107)
Infallibility (109)
Marks of the Church
(112)
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Canon law (110)
Canonization (114)
Catholic (114)
Apostle (115)
Heresy (117)
Apostasy (117)
Schism (117)
Ecumenism (117)
Great Schism (118)
Protestant (118)
Prayer for Guidance
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
Lord, grant that I may always allow myself
to be guided by You,
Always follow Your plans,
And perfectly accomplish your Holy Will.
Grant that in all things, great and small,
today and all the days of my life,
I may do whatever You require of me.
Help me respond to the slightest prompting of Your
Grace, so that I may be Your trustworthy
instrument for Your honor.
May Your Will be done in time and in
eternity – by me, in me, and through me. Amen
St. Teresa of Avila