What is the Church?

THE 4 MARKS OF THE CHURCH 

1. One

2. Holy

3. Catholic

4. Apostolic

“This is the sole Church of Christ, which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic. These four characteristics, inseparably linked with each other, indicate essential features of the Church and her mission. The Church does not possess them herself; it is Christ who, through the Holy Spirit, makes his Church one, holy, catholic and apostolic, and it is he who calls her to realize each of these qualities” (CCC, 811)

The Church is the new People of God, the congregation of all baptized persons united in the same faith, the same sacrifice and the sacraments, under the successor of Peter, the Pope, and the bishops in union with him. By the marks of the church we mean certain clear signs founded by Jesus Christ. Only the Roman Catholic Church bears these essential and visible signs.

THE 3 ATTRIBUTES OF THE CHURCH

1. Authority

2. Infallibility

3. Indefectibility

“In order to preserve the Church in the purity of the faith handed on by the apostles, Christ who is the Truth endowed the Church’s shepherds with the charism of infallibility. The power which they exercise personally in the name of Christ, is proper, ordinary and immediate, although its exercise is ultimately controlled by the supreme authority of the Church.”(CCC, 889; 895)

“They are called attributes because they are qualities which belong to the nature of the Church. The Church has the power to safeguard the purity of doctrines and regulate the exercise of her mission (authority); the charism to teach without error in matters of faith and morals (infallibility); and the gift of perpetuity (indefectibility), that she will last always until the end of the age.”(Mt.28, 20)

THE THREE STATES OF THE CHURCH

1. Pilgrim or Militant Church (on Earth)

2. Suffering Church ( in Purgatory)

3. Triumphant Church (in Heaven)

“We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always [attentive] to our prayers” (CCC, 962).

In the celebration of the Holy Mass, as we offer our thanksgiving and worship to God, we express three things: our unity as brothers and sisters in Christ, our union with those who have died and our communion with the angels and saints in heaven.