RelEd-Reviewer

Church

PCP II, it is more than a building or social group; it's the people of

God called together

Ekklesia,Qahal

• Greek and Hebrew term meaning “called forth”

• refers to believers gathered by God

Body of Christ

Church is Christ’s body, with Christ as the head (St. Paul).

First Church

Formed by the apostles, the first believers.

Revelation

• Truths of faith revealed by God through Scripture and Tradition

• We couldn’t discover these truths on our own

○ Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

○ Incarnation (God became man)

○ Eucharist (Jesus present in bread and wine

Key mysteries

Sacred Scripture

Written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit

Sacred Tradition

Oral teachings passed down by apostles; not all are in the Bible

- referenced in 2 Thessalonians 2:15

Apostolic Fathers

Personally taught by the apostles; clarified Jesus’ teachings.

Magisterium

• Teaching authority of the Church (Pope & bishops)

• Entrusted with the Word of God

• Guided by the Holy Spirit

• Exercises Christ’s authoritative voice on faith and morals

• Infallibility

• Indefectibility

Infallibility

No error

Indefectibility

The Church has No end / will exist until the end of time

Ecumenical Council

• all bishops invited; most attend.

• Pope has final authority.

• Bishops not in union with the Pope have no authority.

Includes: Saints, Church Fathers, Popes, Doctors of the Church

Extraordinary Magisterium

• Ecumenical council: all bishops united with the Pope issue a solemn decree

• Pope speaks solemnly as head of the Church.

Ordinary Magisterium

• Daily teachings via encyclicals and apostolic letters.

• Includes teachings of bishops and the Pope

Peter and the Apostles

Who led Christ’s Church

Peter

• Given “keys to the kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 16:18).

• first Pope

• renamed “rock” for strength and mission

Pope

successor of Peter

Bishops

successors of the Apostles

Hierarchy

Order of authority in teachings

Church leadership

Jesus promised guidance through

St. Peter’s Basilica

Central Church in Rome; Peter was crucified there

Christ’s Church

• Divine institution, not man-made

• Only the Church with sacraments continues Jesus’ work.

baptism

Members join through

30

age of Jesus when He began the catholic church

Jesus

chose Peter to lead before ascending to Heaven

Pope Leo XIV

Current Pope; holds same authority

Church Continuity

Same structure, Bible, sacraments, and mission for 2,000 years

Apostolic Succession

• Unbroken chain from apostles to bishops

• Passed through laying of hands.

• Essential for valid sacraments and Holy Orders.

Kingdom of God

Christ’s major theme in the Synoptic Gospels

Synoptic Gospels

gospels of Matthew,Mark and Luke, describing events from a similar point of view, in contrast to John

Kingdom of God

Good News to the poor, God as loving Father (“Abba”) who cares for all (Luke 4:18-19)

• Seed quietly sown growing into a tall tree

• The leaven raising the dough

• treasure hidden in a field

• fish net catching the good and bad

Kingdom of God is described as

“Kingdom in process”:

1. Good News preached to the poor

2. Seed quietly sown

3. Leaven in dough

4. Raising all toward the Kingdom of the Father through Christ in the Spirit

“Your Kingdom come”

already here but not yet fully complete.

The Church – People of God

• Vatican II’s favorite image

• God makes people holy and saves them as one people, not isolated individuals

• Prefigured in Old Covenant with Israel; fulfilled in New Covenant in Christ’s blood

• Called to renew the earth through the Spirit, overcome sin, and spread Christ’s values.

New Covenant

Christ in his blood, called together a people, making them one, not according to flesh but in the Spirit

Nature of the New People of God

Priestly, Prophetic, and Kingly

Priestly People

We worship God and offer our lives to Him (through prayer, Mass, good works)

Prophetic People

We share God’s message and show His truth by how we live and speak

Kingly People

Share in Christ’s service, to serve for others

Church as the Body of Christ

all Christians are united with Jesus so closely that together we form one living body, with Christ as the Head and us as the members

• If one suffers, all suffer; if one is honored, all rejoice”

Baptism & Eucharist

Union with Christ happens especially through

Physical body of Jesus, Eucharistic body, Mystical body

“Body of Christ” can mean

Physical body of Jesus

Incarnation – Jn 1:14

Eucharistic body

Risen Christ made present in the Mass

Mystical body

the Church – faithful united to Christ as Head, animated by the Spirit

Unity in diversity

Christ

Head (leads, nourishes)

Holy Spirit

breath (gives life)

Church as the Temple of the Holy Spirit

• Old Temple in Jerusalem (does not exist anymore)

• the holy spirit is dwelling in all believers regardless of place and time

• Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there”

• Scripture

• Sacraments

• Hearts of believers

• Prayers

Spirit lives in:

Spirit

leads, gives charisms (ordinary & extraordinary), works miracles today

model

image to understand the Church

Institution Model

• Matthew 16:18-19 — Peter as the rock, given authority.

• Stresses hierarchy, structure, offices, laws, rituals

• Leadership given to those Jesus appointed

Herald Model

• Focus: Bible & preaching the Word

• Church = those who hear & believe

• Mission: proclaim Good News that all are called to live in God’s family

• Stresses: to become a messenger of God and his word

Servant Model

• Inspired by Jesus the Good Samaritan — came to not only preach but serve

• Church works for peace, justice, and social transformation

• Members serve the world, seeing it as basically good

• Stresses: to be a community of others

Community of Disciples Model

• Based on discipleship — following Jesus seriously

• Church = community of faith, open to the Spirit

• Stresses - living in faith together, led by the Holy Spirit

• Example: Guatemalan Christians gathering despite persecution

Sacrament Model

• Church = continuing presence of Christ in the world

• Sacrament = making a sacred reality visible & active. Making an invisible reality become visible in a human way

• Jesus = sacrament of God; Church = sacrament of Christ

• Visible realities (actions, signs, words) make invisible grace present

• Stresses: the Church makes Jesus present in a human and tangible way

Divine and Human

Two dimensions

Divine

invisible life of Christ uniting members

Human

community of believers

Hypostatic union

Jesus, a person with both divine and human nature

Sacraments: Symbols of God’s Love

Humans need visible signs to express invisible realities (love, respect, reverence).

Sacraments

visible sign of an invisible reality, making an invisible reality become visible in a tangible way

Grace

undeserved gifts from God, participation in the life of God

1. Baptism 2. Confirmation 3. Eucharist 4. Reconciliation 5. Anointing of the Sick 6. Holy Orders 7. Matrimony/Marriage

Seven Sacraments

Mystery

God became man (hypostatic union: Jesus = one person, both human & divine)

Sign

→ makes visible something invisible (Jesus makes visible the love of God).

Jesus Christ: The Primordial Sacrament

● First & source of all sacraments

● All sacraments participate in His ministry, life, death, and resurrection

● He is the only way to God.

Church

Fundamental Sacrament ; visible presence of Christ in the world

Christians as Living Sacrament

When any one of us chooses to act as Jesus was known to act, we too become living sacraments in our world.