Four Marks of the Church

The Catholic Church is the one true Church founded by Christ. How do we know the Catholic Church is the one true Church founded by Christ? Because only the Catholic Church has the Four Marks of the true Church. What do we mean when we say Marks of the Church? By these four marks everyone can recognize it is the true Church founded by Jesus. The Four Marks of the Church are: One Holy Catholic Apostolic

Four Marks of the Church

How is the Catholic Church One?
Church is one because all the members profess the same faith, have the same sacrifice and sacraments, and are united under the same visible head, the pope.

Faith Sacrifice Sacraments One Head (the pope)

The Church constantly prays for Christian Unity, to heal the wounds and reunite all Christians into the one Church of Christ. There are over 30,000 denominations alone in the US. Cyprian of Carthage (The Church is One by way of being with the Pope) "[T]he Church is one, and as she is one, cannot be both within and without. For if she is with [the heretic] Novatian, she was not with [Pope] Cornelius. But if she was with Cornelius, who succeeded the bishop [of Rome], Fabian, by lawful ordination, and whom, beside the honor of the priesthood the Lord glorified also with martyrdom, Novatian is not in the Church; nor can he be reckoned as a bishop, who, succeeding to no one, and despising the evangelical and apostolic tradition, sprang from himself. For he who has not been ordained in the Church can neither have nor hold to the Church in any way" (Letters 69[75]:3 [A.D. 253]).

Four Marks of the Church Tertullian (Church is Apostolic founded on the Apostles, Church is One)

"[The apostles] founded churches in every city, from which all the other churches, one after another, derived the tradition of the faith, and the seeds of doctrine, and are every day deriving them, that they may become churches. Indeed, it is on this account only that they will be able to deem themselves apostolic, as being the offspring of apostolic churches. Every sort of thing must necessarily revert to its original for its classification. Therefore the churches, although they are so many and so great, comprise but the one primitive Church, [founded] by the apostles, from which they all [spring]. In this way, all are primitive, and all are apostolic, while they are all proved to be one in unity" (Demurrer Against the Heretics 20 [A.D. 200]).

Four Marks of the Church

Why is the Catholic Church Holy?
The Church is holy because it was founded by Jesus Christ, who is all holy and because the Church teaches holy doctrines according to the will of Christ. And provides the means of leading a holy life, thereby giving holy members in every age. The Church is both human (sinners) and divine (the Lord). The Church is made up of sinners, who are saints on the way to perfection. Founder: Jesus is Holy Teachings Help Us to Know How to Become Holy The Church is a Means of Grace through the Sacraments Members who follow teachings and use grace provided

Four Marks of the Church

Why is the Catholic Church called Catholic or universal?
The Catholic Church is Catholic or universal because it is destined to last until the end of time, because Jesus said the gates of hell shall not prevail against it and it never fails to teach all the nations, all the truths revealed by God. Not the church of one nation or one race. But its the Church all nations and all races for all people everywhere. Word Catholic First Used to describe the Church founded by Christ Church was called the way, then St. Luke tells us, it was in Antioch that people were first called Christians St. Ignatius of Antioch who died about 107AD and lived during the time of the apostles was first to use the Greek word, Katholicos Catholic meaning universal for everyone. Non-Catholics Today Catholic Today, non-Catholic churches are taking the word Catholic out of the Nicene Creed. Christians used the word Catholic since at least 107AD. By doing so, they most likely are unaware they are saying that their church is not universal (not for everyone).

4th Century, Catholics began to call themselves Catholic due to a group, who claimed to be Christian. St. Augustine said, Heretics which to call themselves Catholics, yet if you ask any of them to direct you to a Catholic Church, he will not direct you to his own!

Catholic Churches are Everyone the Same Same doctrines in the US, as in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia Everywhere ruled by the same head, who is the Pope.

Four Marks of the Church

Why is the Catholic Church called Apostolic?
The Catholic Church is apostolic because it was founded by Christ on the apostles and according to His divine will has always been governed by the apostles lawful successors. (The Church can trace its origin back to its apostles, on whom Christ founded the Church.) Ephesians 2:19-22 You are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone,.. St. Paul appointed other priests (Tim. 1:5) This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every town I directed you. Apostles appointed their successors (St. Mathias) Acts. 1:15-26

The transfer of authority occurs by the laying on of hands. Laying on of Hands from the Apostles to Today. They presented these men to the apostles, who first prayed over them and then imposed hands on them. Acts 6:6 or Acts 13:3 It is a firm tradition that every bishop, every priest, and every deacon, can trace his ministerial power through the laying on of hands of a bishop, who himself can trace his ordination directly to the apostles themselves.
Let all follow the bishop, as Jesus Christ follows his Father, and the college of presbyters as the apostles; respect the deacons as you do God's law. Let no one do anything concerning the Church in separation from the bishop. St. Ignatius of Antioch, 110AD

Four Marks of the Church

Pope Clement I (Successors to ApostlesBishops and Deacons) "Through countryside and city [the apostles] preached, and they appointed their earliest converts, testing them by the Spirit, to be the bishops and deacons of future believers. Nor was this a novelty, for bishops and deacons had been written about a long time earlier. . . . Our apostles knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife for the office of bishop. For this reason, therefore, having received perfect foreknowledge, they appointed those who have already been mentioned and afterwards added the further provision that, if they should die, other approved men should succeed to their ministry" (Letter to the Corinthians 42:45, 44:13 [A.D. 80]). Irenaeus (Tradition from Apostles, Apostles instituted Bishops) "It is possible, then, for everyone in every church, who may wish to know the truth, to contemplate the tradition of the apostles which has been made known to us throughout the whole world. And we are in a position to enumerate those who were instituted bishops by the apostles and their successors down to our own times, men who neither knew nor taught anything like what these heretics rave about" (Against Heresies 3:3:1 [A.D. 189]). Jerome (Clergy make present Body of Christ due to Succession of Apostles) "Far be it from me to speak adversely of any of these clergy who, in succession from the apostles, confect by their sacred word the Body of Christ and through whose efforts also it is that we are Christians" (Letters 14:8 [A.D. 396]).

Four Marks of the Church

How Do We Know No Other Church But the Catholic Church is the One True Church of Christ?
Only the Catholic Church has all four of these marks (one, holy, Catholic and apostolic) The Church has Three Attributes Authority, Infallibility, and Indefectibility. They are called attributes because they are qualities perfecting the nature of the Church. Authority of the Church The pope and bishops are the lawful successors of the apostles and therefore have the power from Christ Himself to teach, to sanctify, and govern the faithful in spiritual matters. -All authority is given from God and He gives it to the Church in spiritual matters. -To refuse to obey the authority of the Church is to refuse to obey Christ. Jesus said, He who hears you, hears me, and he who rejects you, rejects me (Luke 10:16) I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. (1Tim. 3:14-15) What is meant by Infallibility of the Church? The Church by special assistance of the Holy Spirit, cannot err when it teaches or believes a doctrine of the faith or morals held by the faithful. What is meant by Indefectibility? Indefectibility means that the Catholic Church, as Christ founded it, will last until the end of time. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matt. 16:18) -Nations will rise and fall. False religions will come and go. But the Church will last forever.Baltimore Catechism.

Four Marks of the Church Outside the Church There is No Salvation

What does the Catholic Church mean by the phrase, "Outside the Church there is no salvation" (extra ecclesiam nulla salus)? All salvation comes through Jesus Christ, the one Savior of the world (cf. Acts 4:12). His Holy Spirit dispenses those graces through His body, the Church. "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me" (Lk. 10:16). There are two principal errors when it comes to the Churchs teaching on extra ecclesiam nulla salus. Some reject this teaching as both incorrect and arrogant. Others interpret this statement to condemn all those who are not visibly united to the Roman Catholic Church . To come to the proper understanding of this teaching, we must examine it within the context of divine Revelation and Church history. This examination will reveal that the phrase was not formulated to express who would go to heaven and who would go to hell, for only God will judge that. Rather, the phrase expresses an understanding of the Church in relation to her role in the salvation of the world. This means that Jesus made the Church the necessary means of salvation and desires that all may enter the Church, so that a person must be connected with the Church in some way to be saved.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church #846 explains: Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He Himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.

Invincibly Ignorant
The Church recognizes that God does not condemn those who are innocently ignorant of the truth about his offer of salvation. Regarding the doctrine in question, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (quoting Vatican II document Lumen Gentium, 16) states: Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their consciencethose too may achieve eternal salvation. (CCC 847).

Four Marks the Church

What is the mystical body of Christ? The Church (Col. 1:18) Head: Christ (Pope is Vicar or head of the Church, Christs representative) Members: Faithful (The Living Stones 1 Peter: 2:5) Churchs Soul: Holy Spirit Its Life: Grace The Church is the Bride of Christ (Eph. 5) The Church is symbolized as the House of God (Heb. 10:21) and Temple of God (Eph. 2:21), the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:3) Why did Jesus found the Church? Jesus Himself founded the Church for the purpose of bringing all men to salvation.

What does the Church do? Teach, Sanctify and Rules

Teaches- Jesus stands behind the preaching of the Church Sanctifies- Jesus is the invisible Minister of every sacrament (which gives grace to make one holy) Rules- Jesus guides the Church to make its laws. (Canon Law)

Jesus gave the Power to Apostles, and Bishops Who Succeeded Them.
Jesus gave this power to the apostles, the first bishops. He intended this power to be exercised not only by the apostles, but the bishops, who would succeed them. Priests help bishops in the exercise teaching, sanctifying, and ruling.

The Church in Heaven, Purgatory, Earth Church Militant- People Earth Church Suffering- Souls in Purgatory Church Triumphant Saints in Heaven

Four Marks of the Church

Separation from the Church

-Denominations, which broke away from the Church, separated themselves from Apostolic Succession.

(No Succession, No Holy Orders , No Priesthood)

-How Does a Baptized Person Separate Themselves from the Mystical Body of Christ?
Heresy, Apostasy ,Schism, Excommunication

Heresy- When one openly rejects doctrine proposed by the Catholic Church as a truth of faith, though still
professing oneself as Christian.

Apostasy- One openly rejects the entire Christian faith.

Christian who becomes Buddist, Muslim, Jewish or no Christian faith at all.

Schism- when one refuses obedience to lawful authorities of the Church, especially the pope.
Example: Orthodox, St. Pius X Society (Lefebvrites, followers of Archbishop Lefebvre, who rejected Vat. II)

Excommunication- the principal and severest censure, is a medicinal, spiritual penalty that deprives the
guilty Christian of all participation in the common blessings of ecclesiastical society. Being a penalty, it supposes guilt; and being the most serious penalty that the Church can inflict, it naturally supposes a very grave offence. It is also a medicinal rather than a vindictive penalty, being intended, not so much to punish the culprit, as to correct him and bring him back to the path of righteousness.-- Catholic Encyclopedia Examples: Automatic Excommunication: Desecration of the Eucharist, priest breaks the seal of confession (never have heard a priest ever getting excommunicated for it). Excommunication imposed by a Bishop: after repeated warnings by a bishop to a group of Catholics promoting doctrine which opposes the Catholic faith (such as a group of Catholics, who ordain women).