Chapter 6 -2 What is the Church?

Read pages 142-145 and answer FO REVIEW on page 153 # 1- 5Read pages 146 – 153 and answer FRO REVIEW on page 153 #6 - 10

Aim: What is the Church?I. Gathering of Believers who carry on Christ Mission

A. Christian church those who profess belief in Jesus Christ and are baptized into the faithB. Active present of Christ in the world with the help of the Holy SpiritC. Carrying out Jesus’ mission by being God’s instrument of salvation in historyD. Exists for the world

1. Beacon of light and hope2. Source of healing and unity

E. Christ will come again1. Second Coming - when Christ will return to earth2. Last Judgment – when evil will be overcome by good and God’s

Reign will be brought to fulfillment

II. Mary as a model of ChurchA. Mother of the Church = title of Mary B. Assumption the doctrine that Mary went to

heave body and soul, she did not go through the corruption o death 2/27 ended

III. “Church” at different levelsC. Liturgical assembly – gather for liturgy = public

worship, eg. MassD. Parish – local assemblyE. Diocese – group of parish led by a bishopF. Worldwide Church

IV. Images of the ChurchA. People of God- St. Peter’s epistle, not perfect, a

“pilgrim” churchB. Body of Christ – St. Paul, we are to “be” Christ for the

worldC. Temple of the Holy Spirit – St. Paul, the Spirit dwells in

usV. Small Christian Communities

D. Early Christians gathered to worship & celebrate the Eucharist in homes

E. Today called base communities or small Christian communities

VI. Splits in ChristianityA. denominations – variety of Christians

branching off from Catholic ChurchB. Catholic Church “main trunk” traces its

history back to the Apostles through an unbroken line of bishops

1. led by the pope, bishop of Rome, successor of St. Peter

C. Christian include Catholics, Orthodox Christian, Protestant

D. ecumenism movement to build mutual understanding and respect among Christians

VII. Beyond the Christian ReligionA. non-Christian can be saved, Christ died for allB. Fullest revelation of God and God’s truth is found in

Jesus ChristVIII. States of Life within the Catholic Church

C. laypeople / Laity – most of the church, single, married, divorced, young and old

D. Religious – those who take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience

1. variety of ministries, teaching, hospital, social work2. Sister of Mercy, Dominicans, Franciscans3. Marist Brothers, Dominicans, Franciscans

C. Ordained clergy celebrate the sacraments1. deacons2. priest3. bishops