RELIGIOUS EDUCATION XII
2ND QUARTER: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
 The Catholic church is the world’s
largest and Christianity’s oldest
religious body.
 Presently it has 1.3 billion members
which inhabit the width and breadth of
the earth compromising almost one fifth
of the total human population.
 This church was built by Jesus on 33
A.D.
 Through Peter (Mt. 16:16-19)with a
magisterium of 2000 years as guided by
the Holy Spirit.
 From Jesus to Peter to Pope Francis,
the 266th Pope.
•The word Church (Latin: ecclesia) from
(Greek: ek-kalein/”to call out of”), means
convocation or assembly. It designates the
assemblies of people, usually for religious
purpose.
•Ekklesia
 Is used frequently in Greek Old
Testament for the assembly of the
chosen People before God, above all for
their assembly on MOUNT SINAI
where Israel received the Law and was
established by God as his people.
 Ek : out of, from
 Klesia : (from kaleo) to call
  « called out or called out ones »
•Kyriake
 (equivalent Greek term), from which the
english word church and the German
Kirche are derived, and it means what
belongs to the Lord.
1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, His own special
people. That you may proclaim the praises of
Him who called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light.”
IN CHRISTIAN USAGE, HOW CHURCH
IS USED TODAY:
1. Designates the liturgical assembly /worship
(the building).
2. A particular/local community or
denomination.
3. The whole universal community of believers
that meet together.
•These three meanings are inseparable. The
Church is the people that God gathers in the
whole world. She exists in local communities
and is made real as a liturgical, above all a
Eucharistic, assembly. She draws her life from
the word and the body of Christ and so becomes
Christ’s Body.
THE IMAGES OF THE CHURCH IN THE
NEW TESTAMENT :
1. It is the sheepfold, Christ is the shepherd.
2. It is a building, Christ is the cornerstone.
3. It is our mother, the spouse of Christ.
4. It is the dwelling place of God on earth.
5. It is the house of God in which his family
dwells.
•The Church is symbolized in places of worship
built out of stone, is praised by the fathers, and
not without reason, is compared in the liturgy of
the Holy city, the Jerusalem.
WHAT IS THE TASK OF THE CHURCH?
The church’s task is to make the kingdom of
God, which has already begun with Jesus,
germinate and grow in all nations.
1. The kingdom of God was enaugurated, a
kingdom of peace and justice
2. She must carry on what Jesus started.
3. She should act as Jesus would act
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2ND QUARTER: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

4. She continues the sacred signs of Jesus WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SAY THAT
(the Sacraments). THE CHURCH IS THE TEMPLE OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT?
WHY IS THE CHURCH MORE THAN AN
INSTITUTION? The church is the place in the world where the
Holy Spirit is completely present. (CCC 797-
The church more than an institution because she
801,809)
is a mystery that is simultaneously human and
divine. Where two or three are gathered in my name,
there am I in the midst of them. (Mt. 18-20)
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE PEOPLE
OF GOD? What makes her alive is the Spirit of CHRIST:
He lives in the Word of the Sacred Scripture and
 The founder of the people is God the
is present in the sacred signs of the Sacraments.
father.
 Its leader is Jesus Christ.
 Its source of strength is the Holy Spirit.
 The entryway to the people of God is
Baptism.
 Its dignity is the freedom of the children
of changes of the world. (CCC 781-786)
-It is supposed to be like salt which adds
flavour.
-Like yeast, which permeates everything.
-Like light, which drives away darkness.
MARKS/SIGNS OF THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH (CHARACTERISTICS)
All these signs are linked together in such a way
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SAY THAT that they manifest the church of Jesus Christ.
THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF
CHRIST ?   The church of Christ is marked by four
signs.
Above all through the sacraments of baptism  Catholics confirm their belief in the
and Holy Eucharist, an inseparable union comes “one, holy, catholic and apostolic.”
about between Jesus Christ and Christians. The  "[We believe] in one, holy, catholic, and
Union is so strong that it joins him and us like apostolic Church.”
the head and members of the human body and  They are still professed today in the
makes us one. (CCC 787-795) Nicene Creed, recited in the liturgy of
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SAY THAT Catholic Church.
THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF 1. THE CHURCH AS ONE
CHRIST ?
 Because of its oneness in the Lord, a
Jesus Christ loves the church as a bridegroom oneness which is seen in its belief, its
loves his bride. He binds himself to her forever worship and its fidelity to Christ’s
and gives his life for her. authority in the church.
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2ND QUARTER: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
 “I believe in one God....
I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ....”
(Nicene Creed)
 “There is one Lord, one faith, one
baptism, one God and Father of all who
is over all and through all and in all.”
(Eph. 4:5-6)
 One from her very source, the one
living God in three Persons.
 “The Church shines forth as ‘a people
made one with in the unity of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit’”(LG 4)
THE SIGN OF CATHOLIC FAITH
 Church Unity as a task.
 Ecumenism is concerned with restoring
unity of the Christian Churches.
 Inter-religious dialogue
 Ecumenical unity transcends human
abilities grounded in the prayer of Christ
for the Church.
2. THE CHURCH AS CATHOLIC
 Salvation is a free gift for all.
 Because being for all people in all times
in all places.
 The word "catholic" means
"universal”, pronouncing the
universality of Christ's church.
 Catholic means universal, complete,
all-embracing.
 The Church is world-wide, sent to all
the peoples and by faith endowed with
the “fullness of the means for salvation”.
 “Catholicity” external and internal.
 The Church as Catholic is both gift and
task which involves mission and
inculturation.
 The Catholicity of the Church is more
fully realized when it’s able to
assimilate and use the riches of a
people’s culture for the glory of God.
 It refers to the wholeness and totality of
all true believers in Jesus as the Christ.
3. THE CHURCH AS APOSTOLIC
 Because it professes the same faith as
the apostolic church
 It is essentially the same
community founded by Christ.
 Describes its origin and beliefs as rooted
in the teachings of the Apostles of Jesus.
 Apostolic - to mean continuity in the
church's teachings from the apostles
throughout history.
 The Church is “Apostolic” based on the
Foundation of the Apostles (Eph. 2:20)
 APOSTOLATE - The work of all the
faithful who carry on the original
mission entrusted by Christ to his
Apostle.
MISSION AND MINISTRIES OF THE
CHURCH
 Christ founded his Church to continue
his saving mission on earth.
 Matthew’s mission stresses the
teachings of the Christian community -
the Church.
 In John’s Gospel sends forth his
disciples on mission, just as the Father
sent him.
 Mission is at the center of Church’s
being, the whole Church is missionary.
 “…All are called to mission… -all
without exception… -are called to
evangelize” (PCP II 402)
THE CHURCH IS APOSTOLIC IN TWO
WAYS:
1. It is same community as the church of
the apostolic age; the same body of
Christ, the same real presence of the
Lord.
2. The Teaching of Jesus, first preached by
the apostles to the world, continue to be
taught by the Catholic Church.
4. THE CHURCH AS HOLY
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2ND QUARTER: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
 Because it is united to Jesus Christ, the
source of all holiness.
 The word holy means set apart for a
special purpose by and for God.
•Holiness means a share in God’s own life.
•Holiness means striving to live a fully Human
life by Imitating CHRIST.
•It is the result of allowing the Lord to work in
us.
HOLINESS RESULTS FROM WHAT?
A. Living the virtue of Faith
 Thinking with Christ.
 Be a living sign of God’s presence to
your family, classmates, and friends.
B. Living the Virtue of Hope
 Spirit of Vital Youthfulness,
 Touching one’s lives.
C. Living the virtue of Charity
 A participation in the divine love which
looks out for the welfare of others.
YOU LET THE LIGHT OF CHRIST SHINE
THROUGH YOU TO OTHERS BY:
- By doing the three-fold mission of
Jesus.
A. YOU ARE A PROPHET:
 When you proclaim the Good News in
words or deeds.
 Examples: When you study or learn,
read the bible, speak the truth, stand up
for the defenseless, take a stand on
controversial issues; etc.
B. YOU ARE A PRIEST:
 When you mediate between God and
others.
 Examples: when you pray, explain your
faith, worship, keep peace, forgive, etc.
C. YOU ARE A KING:
 When you serve as Jesus served.
 When you serve as Jesus.
 A Christian concept of Kingship is one
of the leadership through service.
 Examples: when you help out at home,
spend time with a friend, help someone
at school, give money to the poor, join
others in common task, take leadership
in righting social justice, etc.
SIX MODELS OF THE CHURCH
“A schematic description of a system, theory, or
phenomenon that accounts for its known or
inferred properties and may be used for further
study of its characteristics.” – Cardinal Avery
Dulles
A. Church as Institution
1. Hierarchical constitution of the Church.
2. Relative clarity and simplicity.
3. Does not enjoy extensive New
Testament support.
B. Church as Communion
1. Invisible reality of the life of the Church
—family
2. Firm New Testament base.
3. Neglect the visible aspects of Church—
amorphous “good fellowship.”
C. Church as Sacrament
1. The visible sign of God’s loving
presence in the world.
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2ND QUARTER: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
2. Shows both the invisible and the visible
reality of Church.
3. Presupposes a certain theological
sophistication.
D. Church as Herald (Messenger)
1. Proclamation and preaching of the
Gospel.
2. Protestant communities have long given
central importance to this model of
Church.
3. Emphasis on word does not match
emphasis on sacrament.
E. Church as Servant
1. Work for social justice which is at the
heart of the Church’s mission.
2. Stresses the active participation of lay
people.
3. Exclusive use can compromise what is
distinctive to the Church of Christ.
F. Church as Community of Disciples
1. Follow completely in the footprints of
Jesus.
2. People whose lifestyle stands in contrast
with the rest of society.
3. Jesus never imagined that his disciples
would have an easy life.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
 Three years before Jesus died, he started
his public life. He was baptized in
Jordan River.
 The community of the Apostles or
Disciples was the first Church that
Christ have founded.
 Together, they organized, preached, and
choose from among.
 4-5 B.C. was the time when Jesus was
born.
 29-30 A.D. was the time when he died.
 Priests spouse is Christ.
 Through Moses, they gathered together
as one.
 The liturgy of the word is the part of
the mass that sustains us.
 Prayer collect is a moment for pause.
 Consecration of the bread is the most
holy part of the mass.
 Transubstantiation is the process of
transforming the bread and the wine into
the body and blood of Christ.
 Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and
Zealots were all hypocrites for they
condemned Jesus.
 Always connect to the source. Our faith
is like Wi-Fi, we cannot see it but we
can feel it.
 There are 27 countries where the
PBVM members are present.
 In the Bible, the right hand is used to
care for.
 The bone was taken out of the male’s
ribcage and near to the heart because it
signifies equality and it means that
males should love females.
 In every relationship, it must be rooted
in God.
 Conflicts are natural.
 Rose signifies love; it sinks deep down
in the heart; love-conflict, passion-hurt.
 Donkey signifies humility.
 The four elements (Bible) are: (1) Read,
(2) Reflect, (3), Share, (4) Live.
 The Church is holy because it is united
to Jesus.
 Jesus is the person who is the source of
holiness.
 Holy means Christ-centered. It also
means that we are set apart (love and
nurtured).
 According to Mt. 16:18, we share the
holiness of the Church, share in God’s
own life, and we live life according to
Christ’s life.
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2ND QUARTER: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

 Holiness – striving to live a fully human

life by imitating Christ. It is the result of
allowing the Lord to work in us.