Chapter 5:
The Four Marks of the Church
THE CHURCH: Sacrament of Salvation
1. The First Mark: One
BASIC QUESTIONS
What does it mean to say the Church is One?
How does the image of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ help
us understand the unity of the Church?
What has wounded the unity of the Church?
KEY IDEAS
The Church is One, meaning there is only one Church, whose source of
unity is the unity of God himself.
The unity of the Church can be seen in the unity of faith, worship, and
leadership of the Catholic Church as the Mystical Body of Christ.
Wounds to the unity of the Church have occurred over the centuries due
to heresy, apostasy and schism.
1. The First Mark: One
Anticipatory Set
Read the brief quote from Lumen Gentium that begins this chapter.
Write for a minute on what you think the statement means.
What is the meaning of the affirmation that the Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church?
Christ established only one Church. From the moment he created it, it has existed continually and it
will always exist. In this Church alone are found all the elements that Christ himself instituted. So
there is only one Church, not many. The Church doesn’t come and go with the changes of history.
“This one Church of Christ, which we confess in the Creed [is] one, holy, catholic and apostolic.…
This Church, constituted and organized in this world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church,
governed by the successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him.” The true Church, then
has these four “marks,” which will be studied in this chapter. The true Church has this particular
hierarchical structure. In Lumen Gentium, no. 8, “subsistence” means this perduring (enduring, never
ending), historical continuity and the permanence of all the elements instituted by Christ in the Catholic
Church, in which the Church of Christ is concretely found on this earth. It is possible, according to
Catholic doctrine, to affirm correctly that the Church of Christ is present and operative in the
churches and ecclesial communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church, on account
of the elements of sanctification and truth that are present in them. Nevertheless, the word “subsists”
can be attributed to the Catholic Church alone precisely because it refers to the mark of unity that we
profess in the symbols of the faith (I believe… in the “one” Church); and this One Church subsists in
the Catholic Church.
1. The First Mark: One
What does it mean to say that the Church is both a visible and an
invisible community?
The one Church established by Christ is present both on earth and in
heaven. On earth she is a visible community, whereas the Church in
Purgatory and in Heaven is invisible to us on earth. At the same time, the
spiritual riches that the Church on earth possesses are also invisible, e.g.,
the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
What are the four marks of the Church on earth, in Purgatory, and
in Heaven?
The Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.
What is an immediate, practical value of the four marks?
They help distinguish the true Pilgrim Church on earth from any others
that claim to be Christ’s Church.
1. The First Mark: One
How do we know that the Catholic Church possesses the four
marks of the Church?
Through faith and the historical record.
Where does the Church get these four marks, or characteristics?
She receives them from God. Extension: Eyes of faith only can
recognize that these marks are because of her divine origin, but the
historical manifestations of these marks are signs that speak clearly to
human reason.
1. The First Mark: One
THE FIRST MARK: THE CHURCH IS ONE
What does it mean to say the Church is One?
The Church is unique and singular. Christ has instituted one Church
rather than multiple churches. Extension: One way of understanding this
is that Jesus Christ has not forged multiple paths to salvation but one way
only.
How many “flocks” did Christ intend to have?
Just “one flock,” having “one shepherd.”
What did Christ mean when he said, “I am the way, and the truth,
and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me”?
He is the only way to salvation.
1. The First Mark: One
Why is one Church enough?
Having establishing the Church on earth, Christ gives all people the
opportunity to be united to him, the one Savior of the world, by
becoming part of his one Mystical Body.
What is a second meaning of the statement, “The Church is One”?
The unity and solidarity of the Church.
1. The First Mark: One
Guided Exercise
Think/Pair/Share:
How is the unity of the Church different from that of any other social group or
organization?
1. The First Mark: One
UNITY IN THE MYSTICAL BODY
What is perhaps the best image to express the unity of the Church?
The Church as the Mystical Body of Christ.
How does the Mystical Body of Christ express the unity of the Church?
In the Mystical Body of Christ, the many diverse members of the Church are
united to Christ the Head to form the whole Christ, united and animated by
the Holy Spirit, the “soul” of the Mystical Body.
What are the three visible ways, or attributes, of the unity of the
Mystical Body of Christ?
Unity of faith, worship, and leadership.
What does it mean to say that the unity of the Church will perdure?
The unity achieved at the beginning of the Church’s life will never disappear.
1. The First Mark: One
Guided Exercise
Have the students complete the following graphic to summarize the three
unities of the Church.
Unity
Unity of Faith
The Three Unities of the Mystical Body of Christ
Explanation
Unity of Worship
Unity of Leadership
1. The First Mark: One
Unity
Unity of Faith
The Three Unities of the Mystical Body of Christ
Explanation
The Church professes the one faith that has been passed
down from the Apostles.
Unity of Worship
Unity of Leadership
The pilgrim Church celebrates in common the same Seven
Sacraments that were instituted by Christ during his time on
earth.
Through the sacrament of Holy Orders, the Church’s
apostolic succession ensures uninterrupted continuity with
the teaching and leadership of St. Peter and the Apostles.
1. The First Mark: One
WOUNDS TO UNITY
What major division arose at the very beginning of the Church’s
history?
The first division was over the question of whether Gentile converts had
to be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law in order to become
Christians.
How was this dispute resolved?
The Council of Jerusalem, under the leadership of St. Peter, gave the
response to this question, to which everyone agreed.
What happened to the unity of the Church in subsequent centuries?
Much more serious dissensions appeared, and large communities became
separated from full communion with the Catholic Church.
1. The First Mark: One
Who was to blame for these wounds in unity?
People on both sides were usually to blame.
What are the three types of ruptures that wound the unity of
Christ’s Body?
Heresy, apostasy, and schism.
What is the origin of disunity?
Sin. Extension: This is not to say that understanding is not involved. For
example, the early Christians who founded or followed Christological
heresies got something wrong philosophically or theologically or both.
1. The First Mark: One
What is apostasy?
Apostasy is the total rejection of the Christian Faith by someone who has
been baptized.
What is heresy?
Heresy is the deliberate and persistent denial by one who has been
baptized of a truth of the Faith taught by the Church.
What is schism?
Schism is the refusal by one who has been baptized of unity with the
Pope or the refusal of communion with the members of the Church.
Can a non-Christian be a heretic or schismatic or be in a state of
apostasy?
Extension: No. These are states that only a baptized member of the
Church can possess.
1. The First Mark: One
Who is responsible for these grave sins?
The individuals who commit them.
Why are sins against unity tragic for entire communities?
Large groups of people often go along with the actions of the instigators.
Are those born into schismatic communities responsible for the sin
of schism?
Not necessarily.
1. The First Mark: One
What two major schisms have occurred in the history of the
Church?
The first, with the Eastern Orthodox Churches, took place in the eleventh
century. The second, with the various denominations that were founded
during the Protestant Reformation, occurred in the sixteenth century.
How should Catholics look upon the members born into these
schismatic communities?
We look upon them as separated brethren who often, through no fault of
their own, remain unaware of the truth of the Catholic Faith.
1. The First Mark: One
What are some of the elements of sanctification and truth found within
the separated churches and communities of Protestantism and Eastern
Orthodoxy?
Sacred Scripture; some or all of the Seven Sacraments; the theological virtues
of faith, hope, and charity; and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
What is the origin of the elements of the true faith which our separated
brethren possess?
These elements, which come from Christ and lead back to him, belong by right
to the Catholic Church, the one Church founded by Christ, which possesses
them in their fullness.
How are the seeds of reunification present in the elements of
sanctification and truth which our separated brethren possess?
The fact that some of these elements are present to some degree within other
communities is evidence of those communities’ origins (i.e., they separated
from the Catholic Church) and may provide an avenue for their eventual return
to Catholic unity.
1. The First Mark: One
Sidebar: Pope Saint Leo the Great – “Peter Has Spoken”
What two major problems did St. Leo the Great face?
(1) The division and disintegration of the once great Roman Empire and
(2) the heresies of Pelagianism, Nestorianism, Monophysitism and
Manichæism.
How did the “Tome of Leo” effect the Ecumenical Council of
Chalcedon?
When those present heard the words of Pope St. Leo’s letter, they readily
assented to his teaching and exclaimed, “Peter has spoken through Leo.”
How did St. Leo the Great save the city of Rome from Attila the Hun?
He met the notorious barbarian outside the walls of the city and persuaded
Attila and his men to leave Rome without a fight.
1. The First Mark: One
Closure
Write a paragraph summarizing what is meant by saying that the Church is
One.
1. The First Mark: One
Homework Assignment
Reading:
 Heresies in the Early Church through Monophysitism.
Questions:
 Study Questions 1–7.
 Workbook Questions 1–12.
1. The First Mark: One
Alternative Assessment
Given the actual divisions that exist between the Catholic Church and
Eastern Orthodox Churches and Protestant churches and communities,
brainstorm how each of us can contribute to returning all Christians to
unity within the Catholic Church.
2. Early Christian Heresies
BASIC QUESTIONS
To what error does neo-Platonism tend in regard to the nature of Christ?
What are the heresies of Gnosticism, Arianism, Apollinarianism, Nestorianism
and Monophysitism?
KEY IDEAS
While the Greek language and the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle were
invaluable for articulating Catholic doctrine, the neo-Platonic understanding of
the logos made Greek thought prone to misunderstanding the nature of Jesus
Christ.
Gnosticism claimed a secret knowledge of Christ.
Arianism denied the divinity of Christ.
Apollinarianism denied that Christ had a human mind and will.
Nestorianism claimed that Christ was a union of two persons, one human and
the other divine.
Monophysitism denied that Christ had a human nature.
2. Early Christian Heresies
Anticipatory Set
Scriptural text for the Opening Prayer:
The beginning of John’s Gospel (Jn 1:1–5).
N.B. The English word “Word” used here is a translation of the Greek
Logos, which will be important for understanding this lesson.
2. Early Christian Heresies
HERESIES IN THE EARLY CHURCH
What is the origin of all Catholic doctrines?
They derive from the revealed truths contained in the Deposit of Faith
that Christ entrusted to his Church, which are found in Sacred Scripture
and Sacred Tradition.
What was the subject matter of the earliest heresies?
The Person and natures of Christ.
What does early Christianity owe to the Greek language and the
philosophies of Plato and Aristotle?
The richness of the Greek language and the Greek philosophical tradition
were invaluable for articulating and developing the Christian message.
2. Early Christian Heresies
How did Neo-Platonists see God and the logos?
These non-Christian pagans held that there was a Supreme Being, who
created the world through lesser beings, one of which was the logos.
How did St. John use the word Logos?
He used it to refer to God the Son.
Why would neo-Platonists likely have misunderstood who Christ is?
Their way of looking at the logos was as a created being, inferior to God;
therefore, they would tend to believe that Jesus cannot be divine.
What problem did neo-Platonists have with creation in general?
They saw the created world as an obstacle to contemplation and personal
perfection, so they would not have liked that Christ became true man.
2. Early Christian Heresies
Guided Exercise
Think/Pair/Write/Share:
Compare and contrast the Christian and neo-Platonic ideas of the logos.
2. Early Christian Heresies
Gnosticism
What is the gnosis in Gnosticism?
Gnosis is Greek for “knowledge,” in this case a secret knowledge which Gnostics
consider the basis of salvation.
What did the Gnostics believe about God?
They taught that there were two gods: the creator god who propagated evil (the God
of the Old Testament) and the unknowable divine being (the God of the New
Testament).
What is the role of the logos in Gnosticism?
Christ, the Logos, had been sent to give secret knowledge to a select few so that they
could return to the unknowable divine being. This was only possible if the individuals
understood the secret knowledge of the redeemer’s teaching and practiced the
appropriate Gnostic rituals.
What Church doctrines regarding Christ’s nature did Gnosticism reject?
It rejected both Jesus’ human and his divine nature. It rejected Christ’s divine nature
because the logos was not God, and it rejected Jesus’ human nature because it would be
material and therefore evil.
2. Early Christian Heresies
What was Jesus’ Body according to the Gnostics?
It was an apparition.
What are the major errors of the Gnostics?
The Gnostics denied the goodness of the created world, the existence and supremacy of
the one true God, the clear meaning of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, and the
reality of Christ’s human and divine nature along with his redemptive Passion, Death,
Resurrection, and Ascension.
Might Gnosticism be the true understanding of Christianity and our orthodox
Faith be wrong?
Extension: No. Gnosticism came after the founding of Christianity and cannibalized
certain elements of the faith to give its system respectability.
How is the New Age movement essentially Gnostic?
New Age promises a secret knowledge gained through pagan or ritual ceremony that can
be released through amulets, crystals, secret incantations, fortunetelling, horoscopes,
zodiac signs, or tarot cards. With both Gnosticism and New Age, salvation ultimately
comes from within a person, thus eliminating the need for a Redeemer.
2. Early Christian Heresies
Arianism (fourth century)
Who was Arius?
He was a Catholic priest from Alexandria whose study of neo-Platonism and
familiarity with Gnosticism led him to claim that Jesus Christ was neither
God nor equal to the Father.
How did Arius see Jesus Christ?
Arius taught that Jesus was the supreme creation of God but not his eternally
begotten Son, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. He denied the
divinity of Christ.
How strong was the Arian heresy?
This heresy ravaged the Church in the East and was adopted by many of the
Visogothic tribes that dominated central and northern Europe, thereby
becoming a serious threat to the existence of orthodox Christianity.
2. Early Christian Heresies
How did the Church defend traditional Catholic teaching?
She reaffirmed the traditional belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ, proclaiming that
Christ is consubstantial with the Father.
How was Arianism overcome?
Through clear and consistent teaching along with the catechetical and missionary work
and sacrifices of many saintly men and women.
How has Arianism been revived in the modern age?
It can been seen in the tendency among some to stress Christ’s humanity at the expense
of his divinity. For example, some today see a historical Jesus, who was a wise teacher but
not divine.
What are some Christian sects today that deny the divinity of Christ?
The Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons)
view Christ as the “son of God” but not equal to or consubstantial with the Father,
making them incompatible with the teachings of the Catholic Church in regard to the
divinity of Jesus Christ.
2. Early Christian Heresies
Guided Exercise:
Mini-lesson on personhood
In order to understand the Christological heresies the early Church faced, it
is necessary to grasp the understanding the Church developed in regard to
(1) personhood in general, (2) the kind of person a human being is, and
(3) the nature of the Person Jesus Christ.
A person is a being with reason and free will and therefore capable of
love. These are non-material, spiritual attributes. We call a person with the
powers of intellect and free will a spiritual soul. Spiritual souls are immortal.
God is an uncreated divine person.
Angels and human beings are created persons. Angels are pure souls
(persons without bodies), whereas human beings are composite: an
immaterial, immortal soul and a perishable, material body. Human death is
the separation of the immortal soul from the perishable body.
2. Early Christian Heresies
 Jesus Christ is one divine Person with two natures, his uncreated,
eternal divine nature (God) and his created human nature as man. The
union of these two natures—though complete in themselves without
admixture—in one divine Person is called the hypostatic union; the
Greek hypostasis means “person.”
 Christ has two natures: divine and human. He has a divine, omniscient
intellect and a divine, omnipotent will, and he has the faculty of human
reason and a human will. His human nature also includes his human
Body with its physiological processes, passions, and emotions. This is
why he is like us in every way but sin.
 The Christological heresies each got something wrong in trying to
understand who Christ is.
2. Early Christian Heresies
Guided Exercise
Class discussion:
Why does denying the divinity of Christ invariably lead to the rejection
of the doctrines of the Blessed Trinity and the Redemption?
2. Early Christian Heresies
Apollinarianism (ca. 360-381)
What is the origin of the name of the Apollinarian heresy?
From Apollinaris, Bishop of Laodicea in Syria.
What is Apollinarianism?
Although Jesus is true God and has a human body, he did not have a
human mind and will.
What is the error of Apollinarianism?
If Christ did not have a human mind and will, then he did not live a
complete human life and so did not completely share our human
experience; thus, we are not redeemed.
2. Early Christian Heresies
Nestorianism (ca. 351–ca. 451)
Who was Nestorius?
He was the Patriarch of Constantinople.
What did Nestorius teach about Christ?
He taught that Christ is the unity of a divine Person and a human person.
Why did Nestorius deny the title Theotokos (“Bearer of God”)
could be applied the the Blessed Virgin Mary?
He said that she is the Mother of the human person Christ but not the
Mother of the Person of God.
2. Early Christian Heresies
What is the error of Nestorianism?
Orthodox Catholic belief is that Jesus Christ is one divine Person with two
natures: human and divine.
What is the hypostatic union?
It is a doctrine that was formally accepted by the Church at the Ecumenical
Council of Chalcedon (451): Christ is one divine Person who simultaneously
possesses two natures: one human and one divine.
Why is the Blessed Virgin Mary, a creature, called properly the Mother
of God?
Extension: A mothers is the mother not of a nature but of a person. She is
the Mother of the Person Jesus Christ, who is a divine Person.
When is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, celebrated?
On January 1.
2. Early Christian Heresies
Monophysitism (400s-600s)
What is the origin of the word Monophysitism?
Monos is Greek for “single,” and physis means “nature”: “only one nature.”
What did the Monophysites teach?
There is only one nature in Christ rather than two, claiming that the
human nature of Christ was “incorporated” into the divine Nature in the
same way that a drop of water is absorbed into an ocean.
Which Pope argued successfully against Monophysitism?
Pope St. Leo the Great. Extension: His Tome outlined the orthodox
Catholic position, which was accepted at the Ecumenical Council of
Chalcedon AD 451.
2. Early Christian Heresies
Guided Exercise
Explain briefly the five
heresies discussed in
this lesson and how
they differ from
Catholic teaching.
Heresy
Gnosticism
Arianism
Apollinarianism
Nestorianism
Monophysitism
Early Church Heresies
Brief Explanation
Orthodox Catholic Teaching
2. Early Christian Heresies
Heresy
Gnosticism
Arianism
Apollinarianism
Nestorianism
Monophysitism
Early Church Heresies
Brief Explanation
Orthodox Catholic Teaching
Salvation comes from secret
Creation is good. There is only
knowledge and practices
one God, not two. Jesus Christ
revealed by Christ, a creature
is truly God and truly man.
of the good God of the New
Salvation comes through the
Testament.
sacrifice of Christ on the
Cross.
Jesus Christ is inferior to God
Each person of the Blessed
the Father.
Trinity is equally God.
Jesus Christ is true God but
Jesus Christ is true God and
only partially man; that is, he
true man. As a man, he has a
had a real human body but no human mind, human will, and
human soul with its mind and human body.
will.
Jesus is two persons, a divine
Jesus Christ is just one person
person and a human person,
with a human nature and
consequently denying that
divine nature.
Mary was the Mother of God.
Jesus had only one nature. His Jesus Christ has two distinct
human nature was absorbed
natures, one human and one
into his divine nature like a
divine.
drop of water is absorbed into
the sea.
2. Early Christian Heresies
Closure
Write a paragraph summarizing the five heresies discussed in this lesson
using the completed Graphic Exercise, “Early Church Heresies.”
2. Early Christian Heresies
Homework Assignment
Reading:
 The Protestant Reformation through sidebar Contemporary
Efforts in Ecumenism.
Questions:
 Study Questions 8–13.
 Workbook Questions 13–18.
2. Early Christian Heresies
Alternative Assessment
Work with a partner to identify one negative effect of each of the five
heresies discussed in this lesson if it had been true adopted.
3. Protestantism and Ecumenism
BASIC QUESTIONS
What was the Protestant Reformation?
What is Ecumenism?
KEY IDEAS
The Protestant Reformation was an interrelated series of schisms that
took place from 1517 to 1648 concerning the teachings, worship, and
structure of the Church, resulting in national Protestant churches and
communities and over 30,000 separate denominations today.
Ecumenism calls all Christians to unity through sincere dialogue, prayer,
and discernment.
3. Protestantism and Ecumenism
Anticipatory Set
Brainstorm names of Christian denominations.
3. Protestantism and Ecumenism
THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION
What was the Protestant Reformation?
It was an interrelated series of schisms that took place from 1517 to 1648.
Was the Church in need of reform at this time?
Yes. Several Popes and saints of the time had already attempted to curb
abuses within the Church.
What abuse did Martin Luther criticize rightly?
The sale of indulgences.
What did Martin Luther criticize wrongly?
The validity of indulgences themselves.
3. Protestantism and Ecumenism
What did Luther and Zwingli’s theological reasoning lead to?
An attack on the teaching, worship, and structure of the Church herself.
Who were some other “reformers”?
John Calvin and King Henry VIII.
What was the result of the Protestant Reformation?
Schisms in Germany, Switzerland, England, Denmark, Sweden, and
Scotland.
What was the relationship between Protestantism and the new
political order of princes ruling nation-states?
Secular rulers used Protestantism to seize Church property and power and
to extend temporal control over matters of justice and moral legislation.
3. Protestantism and Ecumenism
What was the result of the new churches’ independence from Rome?
These new Christian communities found that they disagreed with one another.
They have been limited generally to their country of origin or have continued to
splinter. Today there are more than 30,000 different Protestant denominations
throughout the world.
What was the Catholic Reformation?
Also called the Counter-Reformation, it was a renewal of religious fervor on the
part of Catholics throughout Europe that included a new clarification of Church
doctrine during the Ecumenical Council of Trent and new religious orders of
men and women such as the Jesuits and the Discalced Carmelites dedicated to
living in imitation of Christ. Extension: The Catholic Reformation also resulted
in a renewal of Catholic art, music, architecture, education, and a worldwide
evangelization.
Who are some of the great saints of the Catholic Reformation?
God gave the world Sts. Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, John of the Cross,
Teresa of Avila, Francis de Sales, and others to assist the Pilgrim Church.
3. Protestantism and Ecumenism
Guided Exercise
Cooperative learning groups to research online the differences between
Catholics and Protestants on assigned topic:
What is Original Sin?
How are we saved?
What is the source of our knowledge about religion?
What is the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the saints, and angels in our
lives?
Who leads the Church on earth?
What are the Sacraments?
Present your findings.
3. Protestantism and Ecumenism
TOWARD GREATER CHRISTIAN UNITY
What is ecumenism?
It is the task of working toward Christian unity, in which all Christians are
called to engage.
Why do Catholics engage in ecumenical work according to the
Catechism, no. 816?
Only the Catholic Church contains the fullness of the means of salvation,
and all members of the People of God should be incorporated into her.
3. Protestantism and Ecumenism
Guided Exercise
Work with a partner to articulate the principles for engaging in ecumenical
work identified by documents of the Second Ecumenical Council of the
Vatican (Vatican II).
3. Protestantism and Ecumenism
Guided Exercise
Christ prayed to his Father:
That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you,
may they also be one in us… so that the world may know that you have
sent me.
Think/Pair/Share on the question below:
How does Christian disunity harm the Church’s evangelical efforts?
3. Protestantism and Ecumenism
Sidebar: Contemporary Efforts in Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue
With which Christian body is the Catholic Church the closest to reconciling?
The Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Why do the many national churches and multiplicity of sects pose a difficulty in
ecumenism?
The Eastern Orthodox Churches are comprised of more than a dozen disunited national
churches. There is also no unity among the Protestant churches and communities. Catholics
must dialogue with each one individually.
How does the problem of leadership in Protestantism compound ecumenical
dialogue?
The Protestant churches and communities do not have generally a hierarchy or authority that
can officially speak for all the members of their denominations.
What does the Church hope to gain from interfaith dialogue with Jewish and Muslim
leaders and representatives of the Oriental religions?
While unity is less likely, the Church seeks common ground and mutual respect.
3. Protestantism and Ecumenism
Closure
Write a paragraph summarizing the principles that should guide
ecumenical initiatives.
3. Protestantism and Ecumenism
Homework Assignment
Reading:
 The Church Is Holy through Perfection in Heaven.
Questions:
 Study Questions 14–19.
 Practical Exercises 5–6.
 Workbook Questions 19–24.
3. Protestantism and Ecumenism
Alternative Assessment
Free write on ways you can personally foster interfaith understanding.
4. The Second Mark: Holy
BASIC QUESTION
In what sense is the Church Holy?
KEY IDEAS
The Church, though made up of sinful members on earth, is Holy
because of the holiness of Christ her Head.
The Church on earth and each of her members participates in a hidden
way in Christ’s holiness.
The Church will be perfected at the end of time in the glory of Heaven.
4. The Second Mark: Holy
Anticipatory Set
Opening Prayer: Ephesians 5:25–33.
What does this reading say about the relationship between Christ and the
Church?
4. The Second Mark: Holy
THE SECOND MARK: THE CHURCH IS HOLY
What is the origin of the holiness of the Church?
The Church receives her holiness from Christ her Founder through the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
What means does the Church possess to sanctify people?
The teachings of Christ, the Sacraments, and the life of prayer.
Why does Christ make the Church Holy?
Christ loves the Church as his Bride and so makes her holy, as he is holy.
4. The Second Mark: Holy
How is the Church Holy if her members are sinners?
The Church’s holiness is not defiled by the presence of sinners; rather, her
holiness transforms sinners into saints if they live her life.
Which members of the Church are absolutely holy?
All of the Church’s members in Heaven have reached the perfection of
holiness.
According to the Catechism, no. 827, how do members of the
Church become holy?
By living her life.
4. The Second Mark: Holy
What is the effect of the sins of individual members of the Church
on people outside the Church?
Our sins obscure the Church’s holiness in the eyes of the world.
Extension: Because people tend to notice other’s sins and but are blind
to their own, critics may accuse the Church of hypocrisy or failure
without recognizing or while minimizing their own.
What is the antidote to the sins of individual members of the
Church?
Purification, penance, and renewal.
4. The Second Mark: Holy
Guided Exercise
Perform a paragraph shrink on the final paragraph of this section
beginning “In 2000” through the two quotes from Pope Bl. John Paul II
(p. 160).
N.B. The Pope did collectively for the Church what Christ instructed each
Christian to do individually in the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our
trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”)
4. The Second Mark: Holy
PARTICIPATION IN THE HOLINESS OF CHRIST
According to St. Paul, why is Christ’s Resurrection of first importance for Christians?
If Christ did not rise from the dead, then our faith is futile, and we are still in a state of sin.
How is Christ’s Resurrection different from the resurrections Christ performed while
on earth?
The people Christ raised miraculously returned to ordinary, earthly life and later died. Christ’s
risen body possesses new properties that reflect the glory of his divinity and is not limited to
time and space. It is made for dwelling in the eternity of Heaven.
What will our resurrected bodies be like?
They will not be like Lazarus’ body, which died again, but like Christ’s, which is indestructible
and capable of dwelling in Heaven.
When will the bodily resurrection take place?
At the end of history.
4. The Second Mark: Holy
Guided Exercise
Think/Pair/Write/Share:
Based on the section “Participation in the Holiness of Christ,” how does the Church
already share in Christ’s Resurrection?
4. The Second Mark: Holy
THE CHURCH WILL RECEIVE HER
PERFECTION IN THE GLORY OF HEAVEN
In what sense is the Church the point of human history?
God envisioned the Church from all eternity as the means to bring the
human family back to himself after the Fall. God used human history to
prepare all people for the coming of Christ and his Church.
What is God’s ultimate vision of the Church as the People of God?
It is eternal communion of the human family with him in Heaven.
What three qualities does the Church possess because of her holiness?
The Church is immutable, meaning it will never change in its essential aspects;
indefectible, meaning it will never perish nor go astray; and perennial, meaning it
will exist until the end of time.
4. The Second Mark: Holy
Guided Exercise
Work with a partner to write a bullet-point summary of the Catechism,
no. 769 (p. 161), to unpack its many ideas.
4. The Second Mark: Holy
Closure
Write a paragraph summarizing what it means to say that the Church is
Holy.
4. The Second Mark: Holy
Homework Assignment
Reading:
 The Church is Catholic through Conclusion.
Questions:
 Study Questions 20–24.
 Workbook Questions 25–29.
4. The Second Mark: Holy
Alternative Assessment
Explore in more depth the Resurrection of Christ by reading an excerpt
from the philosopher and theologian Peter Kreeft: “The Meaning of the
Resurrection: Ten Confusions” (pp. 178–181).
Use the search terms “Google Books” and “Christian Apologetics,” then
go to Chapter 12.
5. The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Apostolic
BASIC QUESTIONS
What does it mean to say the Church is Catholic?
What does it mean to say the Church is Apostolic?
KEY IDEAS
The Church is Catholic because she has a universal authority to fulfill her
universal mission.
The Church is Apostolic because it is built on the teaching of the
Apostles, whose authority she possesses through Apostolic Succession.
5. The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Apostolic
Anticipatory Set
Free write for a few minutes on that aspect of the many dimensions of
the Church’s catholicity articulated by St. Cyril (see the sidebar “The
Catholicity of the Church”) that is most appealing to you personally.
5. The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Apostolic
What does the word “Catholic” typically mean as used today?
It is a denominational term, much like “Baptist” or “Lutheran,” and refers
to Roman Catholic Christians.
What does the word “catholic” mean?
It comes from the Greek katholikos, meaning “universal,” or “pertaining to
the whole.”
What are the two meanings of the word “catholic” as it pertain to
the Church?
The Church is catholic because (1) she is whole and complete, and (2) she
has received universal authority from Christ to fulfill her universal
mission.
5. The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Apostolic
How can a Church in a particular place be universal?
According to the New Testament, insofar as local communities preserved
Christian unity in their teaching, worship, and leadership, each was
appropriately identified as the Church of Christ.
What are local Churches called today?
Dioceses. Extension: In Catholic theology they are also called “particular
churches,” and in the Eastern Churches they are called “eparchies.”
To what extent does each local Church possess the presence of
Christ?
Each possesses it fully.
5. The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Apostolic
How is the universality of the Church more than international?
Through her unity with Christ, the Church fills both time and space,
including the faithful on earth, in Purgatory, and in Heaven.
What diversity exists within the universality of the Church?
The Church possesses a rich diversity of external expressions of faith and
worship according to the culture in which she has taken root.
5. The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Apostolic
Guided Exercise
Break down the paragraph beginning “From the day of Pentecost”
(p. 162) into bullet points to identify the various ways the Church is
universal.
5. The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Apostolic
Sidebar: Why Does the Church Have Different Rites?
Why are there different rites in the Church?
From the earliest years the Catholic Faith has found expressions and ways
of worship that are distinctive to individual cultures.
What does every Rite of the Church have in common?
Each shares the same Apostolic origin and Sacraments.
How do the Rites differ?
Each rite preserves its own linguistic, artistic, architectural, spiritual, and
cultural heritage.
5. The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Apostolic
THE FOURTH MARK: THE CHURCH IS APOSTOLIC
What is the parallel between the Twelve Apostles and the twelve
ministers of Solomon?
Solomon appointed twelve ministers to assist him in ruling his kingdom,
and Christ appointed twelve Apostles to assist him in ruling his kingdom.
What tasks did Christ give his Apostles the authority to carry out?
To teach, sanctify, and govern his Church.
According to the Catechism, no. 861, how did the Apostles pass on
their authority?
They appointed their immediate collaborators to carry on their work and
directed those men to appoint other proven men to take over their
ministry when they died.
5. The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Apostolic
How can the true Church of Christ on earth be recognized?
One test is whether the church in question can be shown to be led
by shepherds who received their mission and powers from the
Apostles through an uninterrupted chain of lawful
succession. Extension: The true Church of Christ possesses all
four marks of the Church, including apostolicity.
What reflects a bishop’s direct link with the Apostles?
The laying on of hands.
5. The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Apostolic
Guided Exercise
Complete the following table to capture the senses in which the Church is
Apostolic.
Sense
Apostolic
Foundation
Apostolic Faith
Apostolic
Succession
Why the Church is Apostolic
Meaning
5. The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Apostolic
Sense
Apostolic
Foundation
Why the Church is Apostolic
Meaning
She was built and remains on the foundation of the Apostles.
Apostolic Faith
She guards and transmits, with the help of the Holy Spirit
who dwells in her, the teachings of the Apostles.
Apostolic
Succession
She continues being taught, sanctified, and directed by the
Apostles in the persons of their successors in the pastoral
ministry: the college of bishops, presided over by St. Peter’s
successor, the pope.
5. The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Apostolic
Closure
Write a paragraph explaining why the Church is Catholic and Apostolic.
5. The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Apostolic
Homework Assignment
Questions:
 Study Questions 25–26.
 Workbook Questions 30–36.
5. The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Apostolic
Alternative Assessment
Free write for five minutes on which of the four marks of the Church
seems the greatest or most important and why.
The End