the church

The The ChurchChurch

Sacrament of Sacrament of SalvationSalvation

The The ChurchChurch

Chapter 5Chapter 5

Chapter 5Chapter 5

The Four Marks of The Four Marks of the Church: One, the Church: One,

Holy, Catholic, and Holy, Catholic, and ApostolicApostolic

Chapter Chapter ObjectivesObjectives

• The Church is OneThe Church is One• The unity of the The unity of the

Church in the Mystical Church in the Mystical Body of ChristBody of Christ

• Wounds to the unity of Wounds to the unity of the Churchthe Church

• Neo-Platonism and the Neo-Platonism and the nature of Christnature of Christ

• Gnosticism, Arianism, Gnosticism, Arianism, Apollinarianism, Apollinarianism, Nestorianism, and Nestorianism, and MonophysitismMonophysitism

• The Protestant The Protestant ReformationReformation

• EcumenismEcumenism• The holiness of the The holiness of the

ChurchChurch• The Church is The Church is

CatholicCatholic• The Church is The Church is

ApostolicApostolic

The student will be able to understand:

Keys to Chapter Keys to Chapter 55

•Christ founded only one Church, and Christ founded only one Church, and he is the source of her unity.he is the source of her unity.

•The unity of the Church has been and The unity of the Church has been and continues to be wounded through continues to be wounded through apostasy, heresy, and schism.apostasy, heresy, and schism.

•We work and pray for the reunion of We work and pray for the reunion of all Christians in the Catholic Church all Christians in the Catholic Church in which in which the true Church of Christ subsists.the true Church of Christ subsists.

Keys to Chapter Keys to Chapter 55

•Though made up of sinful members, Though made up of sinful members, the Church is holy with the holiness the Church is holy with the holiness of Christ.of Christ.

•The Church has a universal mission The Church has a universal mission to fulfill.to fulfill.

•The Church’s foundation is the The Church’s foundation is the Apostles and their teaching.Apostles and their teaching.

For Discussion:For Discussion:•What are the four marks of the Catholic What are the four marks of the Catholic

Church?Church?•What does it mean that the Church is What does it mean that the Church is OneOne??•How has the unity of the Church been How has the unity of the Church been

wounded?wounded?•What ecumenical efforts are being made What ecumenical efforts are being made

at present?at present?•What does it mean that the Church is What does it mean that the Church is HolyHoly??

For Discussion:For Discussion:•What does it mean that the Church is What does it mean that the Church is

CatholicCatholic??•What does it mean that the Church is What does it mean that the Church is

Apostolic?Apostolic?•What is apostolic succession, and why is What is apostolic succession, and why is

it important?it important?•What is apostolic Tradition?What is apostolic Tradition?

The First The First Mark: OneMark: One

Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives•The Church is OneThe Church is One•The unity of the Church in the Mystical The unity of the Church in the Mystical Body of ChristBody of Christ•Wounds to the unity of the ChurchWounds to the unity of the Church

The First Mark: The First Mark: OneOne

What does it mean to say the Church is One?

Basic Questions

The Church is One, meaning there is only one Church whose source of unity is the unity of God himself.


How does the image of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ help us understand the unity of the Church?

Basic Questions

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.


What has wounded the unity of the Church?

Basic Questions

Wounds to the unity of the Church have occurred over the centuries due to heresy, apostasy, and schism.

Focus QuestionFocus Question

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. The Church in Purgatory and in Heaven is invisible to us on earth. At the same time, the spiritual riches, which the Church on earth possesses, are also invisible. For example, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is invisible.


What are the four marks of the Church, both on earth 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.


How do we know the Catholic Church possesses the four marks of the Church?Through faith and the historical

record. Only faith can recognize that the Church possesses these marks because of her divine origin, but the historical manifestations of these marks are signs that clearly speak to human reason.


Where does the Church get the Four Marks, or characteristics?She receives them from God.

Guided Guided ExerciseExercise

Conduct a think/pair/share using the following question:

How is the unity of the Church different from

that of any other social group or organization?


What do we mean when we say, “The Church is one”?

The Church is unique and singular. Jesus has instituted one Church and not multiple churches.

Extension:One way of understanding this is that Jesus Christ has not forged multiple paths to salvation but only one way.


How many “flocks” did Christ intend to have?He has just “one flock” as he is

“one shepherd.”


What did Christ mean in saying, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me”?He meant that he is the only way to salvation.


Why is one Church enough?

In establishing the Church on earth, Christ gives all mankind the opportunity to be united to him, the one Savior of the world, by becoming part of his one Mystical Body.


What is the second meaning of the statement, “The Church is one”?

The unity and solidarity of the Church.


What is perhaps the best image of the Church 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 Jesus, our 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?She has a 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.

Graphic Graphic OrganizerOrganizer

Complete the following table to summarize the three unities of the Church.

Unity ExplanationUnity of Faith

Unity of Worship

Unity of Leadership


What were the two major problems that Pope St. Leo the Great faced?1. The once great Roman

Empire was dividing and disintegrating.

2. The heresies of Pelagianism, Nestorianism, Monophysitism, and Manichaeism were gaining adherents.


How did the “Tome of Leo” affect the Council of Chalcedon?

When those present heard the words of Pope St. Leo the Great’s letter, they readily assented to his teaching and exclaimed, “Peter has spoken through Leo.”


How did Pope 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.


What was one division that arose in the Church at the very beginning?

The first division was over the question of whether Gentile converts had to be circumcised and live according to the Mosaic Law in order to become Christians.


How was this resolved?

The Council of Jerusalem, under the leadership of St. Peter, gave the response to this question.


What happened to the unity of the Church in subsequent centuries?

More serious dissensions appeared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church.


What are the three types of ruptures that wound the unity of Christ’s Body?Heresy, apostasy, and schism.


What is apostasy?

Apostasy is the total rejection of the Christian Faith by someone already baptized.


What is heresy?

Heresy is the deliberate and persistent post-baptismal denial of a truth of the Faith taught by the Church.


What is schism?It is the post-baptismal refusal 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?No. These are states that only a

baptized member of the Church can possess.


What are two major schisms that have occurred in the history of the Church?The first, with the Eastern

Orthodox Churches, took place in the eleventh century. The second was with the various denominations that were founded during the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century.


How do Catholics today view the members born into these schismatic communities?Catholics view them as separated

brethren who often, through no fault of their own, remain unaware of the truth of the Catholic Faith.


What are some elements of sanctification and truth found within the separated Churches and ecclesial communities of Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism?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 that 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.

Early Early Christian Christian HeresiesHeresiesLesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives

•Neo-Platonism and the nature of ChristNeo-Platonism and the nature of Christ•Gnosticism, Arianism, Apollinarianism, Gnosticism, Arianism, Apollinarianism, Nestorianism, Nestorianism, and Monophysitism and Monophysitism

Early Christian Early Christian HeresiesHeresies

What error was Neo-Platonism prone to in regard to the nature of Christ?

Basic Questions

While 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.


What is the heresy of Gnosticism?

Basic Questions

Gnosticism claimed a secret knowledge of Christ.


What is the heresy of Arianism?

Basic Questions

Arianism denied the divinity of the Son of God.


What is the heresy of Apollinarianism?

Basic Questions

Apollinarianism denied that Christ had a human mind and will.


What is the heresy of Nestorianism?

Basic Questions

Nestorianism claimed Christ was two persons, one human and the other divine.


What is the heresy of Monophysitism?

Basic Questions

Monophysitism claimed Christ had only one nature.


Conduct a think/pair/share using the following prompt:

Compare and contrast the Christian and Neo-Platonic ideas of the logos.


Identify and briefly explain the five heresies discussed in this lesson.

HeresyBrief

ExplanationOrthodox Catholic

TeachingGnosticism

Arianism

Apollinarianism

Nestorianism

Monophysitism


Where do Catholic religious doctrines come from?They derive from the revealed

truths contained in the Deposit of Faith that Christ entrusted to his Church and which are found in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.


What did the first heresies concern?The Person 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.


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 the Neo-Platonists likely misunderstand the Person of Christ?Their way of looking at their

logos was as a created being, inferior to God; therefore, they would tend to believe that Jesus could not be truly divine.


What problem did the Neo-Platonists have with creation in general?They saw the created world as an

obstacle to contemplation and personal perfection and so would not like the idea that Christ is true man.


What is the gnosis in Gnosticism?

Gnosis is knowledge, in this case a secret knowledge, which is the basis of salvation.


What did the Gnostics believe about God?

The Gnostics taught that there were two gods; the creator god who propagated evil (the Old Testament) and the unknowable divine being (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.


Discuss the following question:

Why does denying the divinity of Christ

invariably lead to the rejection of the doctrines

of the Trinity and the redemption?


Who was Arius?

He was a Catholic priest whose study of neo-Platonism and familiarity with Gnosticism led him to claim the Son of God was neither God nor equal to the Father.


How did Arius see Jesus Christ?

Jesus was the supreme creation of God, but not his eternally begotten Son, Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. He denied the divinity of Christ.


GnosticismWhat Church doctrines regarding Christ’s nature did Gnosticism reject?It rejected both Christ’s human and divine nature. It rejected Christ’s divine nature because the logos was not God. It rejected Christ’s human nature, because it would be material and therefore evil.


GnosticismWhat was Christ’s Body, according to the Gnostics?It was an apparition.


GnosticismWhat are the two 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, and Resurrection.


GnosticismHow is the New Age movement essentially Gnostic?New Age promises a secret knowledge gained through pagan or ritual ceremony, which 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.


ArianismHow 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. It seriously threatened the existence of orthodox Christianity.


ArianismHow did the Church defend traditional Catholic teaching?

She reaffirmed the traditional belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ, proclaiming that the Son is consubstantial with the Father.


ArianismHow was Arianism overcome?Bishops from throughout the world, meeting in the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (AD 325), solemnly defined the consubstantiality of God the Father and God the Son.

Extension: Emperor Constantine expelled Arian bishops from the Roman Empire and restored deposed, faithful bishops to their sees.


ArianismHow has Arianism been revived in the modern age?It can be 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.


ArianismWhat 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.


NestorianismWho was Nestorius?

He was the Patriarch of Constantinople.


NestorianismWhat did he teach about Christ?

He maintained that Christ was the unity of a divine Person and a human person and thus a person neither human nor divine but an admixture of the two.


NestorianismWhy did Nestorius deny the title of Theotokos (“Bearer of God”) to Mary?He taught that the Blessed Virgin

Mary was the Mother of the human person Christ but not the Mother of the divine Person of the Son of God.


NestorianismWhat is wrong with Nestorianism?

Catholic belief is that Jesus Christ is one divine Person with two natures, human and divine.


NestorianismWhat is the Hypostatic Union?

It is a doctrine, formally accepted by the Church at the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451), that explained that Jesus Christ is one divine Person who simultaneously possesses two natures, one human and one divine, without any admixture of the two.


NestorianismWhy is Mary understood as the Mother of God?Mothers are mothers not of

natures but of persons. She is the mother of the Person of Jesus Christ, who is a divine Person.


MonophysitismWhat is the meaning of the word monophysitism?

Monos is Greek, meaning “single,” and physis, meaning “nature”; thus, monophysitism is the belief that Christ has only one nature.


MonophysitismWhat is the heresy of Monophysitism?Monophysitism claimed that

there is only one nature in Christ—not two. It claimed that the human nature of Christ was “incorporated” into the Divine Nature in the same way that a drop of vinegar might be absorbed into an ocean of water.


MonophysitismWhich Pope basically defeated Monophysitism?

Pope St. Leo the Great’s Tome stated the orthodox Catholic position, which was accepted at the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451).


Where does Apollinarianism get its name?It is named for Apollinaris, the

Bishop of Laodicea in Syria who formulated it.


What is the Apollinarian heresy?

Apollinaris taught that although Jesus Christ is true God and has a human body, he did not have a human mind and will.


What was wrong with Apollinarianism?If Christ did not have a human

mind and will, he was not fully human, and, therefore, human beings could not have been redeemed by his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. “That which is not assumed is not saved.”

Protestantism Protestantism and and

EcumenismEcumenismLesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives

•The Protestant ReformationThe Protestant Reformation•EcumenismEcumenism

Protestantism and Protestantism and EcumenismEcumenism

What was the Protestant Reformation?

Basic Questions

The Protestant Reformation was an interrelated series of schisms that took place from 1517 to 1648 over the teachings, worship, and structure of the Church, resulting in Protestant communities and over 30,000 separate denominations today.

Protestantism and Protestantism and EcumenismEcumenism

What is Ecumenism?

Basic Questions

Ecumenism calls all Christians to unity through sincere dialogue, prayer, and discernment.


What was the Protestant Reformation?It was an interrelated series of

schisms that took place from 1517 to 1648.


What abuse did Martin Luther rightly criticize?He criticized the sale of

indulgences.


What did Martin Luther wrongly criticize?He criticized the validity of

indulgences.


Research online the differences between Catholics and Protestants

using the following topics:•What is Original Sin?•How are we saved?•What is the source of our knowledge about religion?•What is the role of Mary, the saints, and angels in our lives?•Who leads the Church on earth?•What are the Sacraments?


What was the result of the Protestant independence from Rome?These new Christian communities

found that they disagreed with one another. These new denominations generally have been limited to their country of origin or have continued to splinter. Today, there are more than thirty thousand different Protestant denominations throughout the world.


Who are some of the great saints of the Catholic Reformation?

God gave the world saints like Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, and Francis de Sales to assist the pilgrim Church.



Based on Christ’s prayer, “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,” how does Christian disunity

harm the Church’s evangelical efforts?


To which Christian body is the Catholic Church the closest in terms of worship and belief?She is closest to the Eastern

Orthodox Churches.


How does the problem of leadership in Protestantism compound ecumenical dialogue?

Each of the Protestant communities generally does not have a hierarchy or teaching authority that can officially speak for all the members of its denomination.


What does the Church hope to gain

from interfaith dialogue with Jewish and Muslim leaders and representatives of the Oriental religions?

While unity is unlikely, the Church seeks common ground and mutual respect.


Articulate the principles for engaging

in ecumenical work identified by the

documents of the Second Vatican Council.


What is ecumenism?

It is the task of working toward Christian unity.


According to CCC 816, why do Catholics engage in ecumenical work?Only the Catholic Church

contains the fullness of salvation, and all members of the People of God should be incorporated into her.

The Second The Second Mark: HolyMark: Holy

Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives•The holiness of the ChurchThe holiness of the Church

The Second Mark: The Second Mark: HolyHoly

In what sense is the Church holy?

Basic Questions

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 participate in a hidden way in Christ’s holiness. The Church will be perfected at the end of time in the glory of Heaven.


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 are the means the Church possesses to sanctify people?

She has the teachings of Christ, the Sacraments, and the life of prayer.


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 can transform sinners into saints.


Which members of the Church are absolutely holy?

The Church’s members in Heaven have reached the perfection of holiness.


According to CCC 827, how do members of the Church become holy?By entering into the life of the

Church, which is Jesus Christ.


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).


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 but are blind to their own, critics may accuse the Church of hypocrisy or failure.


What is the antidote to the sins of individual members of the Church?

Everyone must seek and practice purification, penance, and renewal.


In what sense is the Church the point of human history?

From all eternity, God envisioned the Church as the means to bring the human family back to himself after the Fall. God used human history to prepare humanity for the coming of Christ and his Church.


What is God’s ultimate vision of the Church as the people of God?

It is the eternal communion of the human family with him in Heaven.


What three qualities does the Church possess because of holiness?The Church is immutable,

meaning she will never change in her essential aspects; indefectible, meaning she will never perish nor go astray; and perennial, meaning it will exist until the end of time.



Based on the section, “Participation in the Holiness

of Christ” (p. 160), how does the Church

already share in Christ’s Resurrection?


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 persons Christ miraculously raised returned to ordinary earthly life and later died. Christ’s risen body possessed new properties, which reflected the glory of his divinity, and was not limited to time and space.


What will our resurrected bodies be like?They will not be like Lazarus’s

body, which died again, but like Christ’s, which is intended for dwelling in Heaven.


When will the bodily resurrection take place?At the end of history.


Write a bullet-point analysis of CCC 769

to “unpack” its many ideas.

The Third and The Third and Fourth Marks: Fourth Marks: Catholic and Catholic and

ApostolicApostolic

Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives•The Church is CatholicThe Church is Catholic•The Church is ApostolicThe Church is Apostolic

The Third and Fourth The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Marks: Catholic and

ApostolicApostolic

What does it mean to say the Church is Catholic?

Basic Questions

The Church is Catholic because she has a universal authority to fulfill her universal mission.

The Third and Fourth The Third and Fourth Marks: Catholic and Marks: Catholic and

ApostolicApostolic

What does it mean to say the Church is Apostolic?

Basic Questions

The Church is Apostolic because it is built on the teaching of the Apostles, whose authority she possesses through apostolic succession.


Break down the paragraph beginning,

“From the day of Pentecost…” (p. 162),

into bullet points to identify the various

ways the Church is universal.


What does the word “catholic” typically mean as used today?

It is a denominational term, much like “Baptist” or “Lutheran,” and refers to Catholics.


What does catholic actually mean?

The word “catholic” comes from the Greek word katholikos, meaning “universal,” or “pertaining to the whole.”


What are the two meanings of “catholic” as they describe the nature of the Church?The Church is catholic because:

1.she is whole and complete; and2.she has received universal authority from Christ to fulfill her universal mission.


To what extent does each local Church possess the presence of Christ?Each possesses it fully.


How is the universality of the Church more than international?

Through her unity with Christ, the Church includes the faithful on earth, in Purgatory, and in Heaven.


What is the diversity that 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.


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 legitimate Rite of the Catholic 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.


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?

He gave them his authority to teach, sanctify, and govern his Church.


According to CCC 861, how did the Apostles pass on their authority?

They appointed successors to carry on their work and directed those men to appoint other proven men to take over their ministry when they died.


How can one recognize the true Church of Christ on earth?

The 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 succession.


What reflects a bishop’s direct link with the Apostles during installation?The laying on of hands signifies

this.


Complete the following table to capture the senses in which the Church is Apostolic.

Sense Meaning

Apostolic Foundation

Apostolic Faith

Apostolic Succession

the church

Documents

catholic church

churchthe church

catholicthe church

christs church

true church of christ

basic questionsthe church

onelesson objectivesthe

true pilgrim church