The Church: The Body of Christ.
The Church: The Body of Christ.
· Basin Theology: Pilate vs. Jesus
o Challenges the followers of Jesus to choose their role in the Church.
o The church is Christ’s presence in the world.
o The church is our mother—nurturing and sustaining us throughout life.
o Jesus’ presence in the church by the power of the Holy Spirit guarantees her ultimate success.
· The Church as a Mystery of God’s Love
o The Church is both a means and a goal of the great mystery of God’s love for us.
o Each Person of the Blessed Trinity had \n A role in the planning of the Church:
- God the Father \n She created the world which foreshadowed the Church.
- Jesus Christ established the Church \n On Peter and the Twelve Apostles.
- The Holy Spirit came on Pentecost to make the Church holy and lead her in its mission of preaching the Good News to all.
· Three categories of membership in the Church
o The hierarchy – the order of ministry established by Christ on the Apostles and their successors.
o The laity – any baptized Catholics who have not received Holy Orders nor belong to a religious state
o 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.
· Catholics Share in three ministries of Christ.
o Priestly – Offering yourself with Christ in his sacrifice to the father.
o Prophetic – Becoming witnesses of Christ’s truth to the world.
o Kingly – Serving those in need.
· Ways the Pope and bishops exercise their prophetic role:
o 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
o 2. Ecumenical councils – such councils bring the Pope and bishops together to offer unified teachings
o 3. Infallibility – when it comes to essential matters of faith and morals, the Church is free from error
· Ecumenism
o The Holy Spirit is working among all \n Christians today helping them to achieve \n a closer unity to our Lord and Savior
o Ways to foster ecumenism:
§ pray with our Christian brothers and sisters
§ (2) study the truths of the Church so they can share them with others
§ (3) learn about other Christian denominations
§ (4) work with other Christians in service and social justice
· ONE
o The profession of one faith goes back to the Apostles’ time.
o Divine worship celebrated in common, especially in the Seven Sacraments
o The succession of bishops from the time of the Apostles to today
· HOLY
o Christ is the model for her holiness.
o The Holy Spirit lives in her
o God uses her to bring his life and light into the world, to sanctify her.
o She has “the fullness of the means of Salvation.”
· CATHOLIC
o Christ’s presence gives her the fullness of the means of Salvation.
o She follows Jesus’ command to go out to all people.
o She teaches everything that Christ taught.
o Each local diocese is in union with the Holy Father
· APOSTOLIC
o She is the Church Christ founded on the Apostles.
o She continues to hand on the teachings of the Apostles.
o She is taught, made holy, sanctified, and led by the College of Bishops, whom Christ appointed successors of the Apostles.