We Have Four Essential Marks of the Church

By: Harrod Chua7F CN7

The 4 Essential Marks

The Church is ONE. The Church is HOLY. The Church is CATHOLIC. The Church is APOSTOLIC.

The Church Is ONE…… The Church is ONE because of three reasons:

-Her source: The Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit -Her Founder: Jesus Christ: who reconciled all of us on the cross -Her soul: The Holy Spirit: which unites all of those who are believers.

“Just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all" (Eph. 4:4-5).

Being ONE means……

The body of Christ unites all baptized Christians.

We are united by the leadership of the Church officials.

We are united by our faith and love in Jesus Christ and each of our neighbors.

The Church is HOLY…… Christ is a perfect model of holiness.

-He prays to his Father always. -He does not only pray but also serves his neighbors lovingly.

The Holy Spirit guides and inspires each and everyone of us to have the courage to be as holy as we can be.

Holiness is the main goal of every Baptized member of the church.

The Churches being Holy means……

It does not mean that all members of the Church are Holy since to begin with the Church is composed of sinners.

It means that the Church was made to continue the work of Jesus to redeem and sanctify all of us.

The Church was given the sacraments along with the Good News in order to be able to help make sinners holy.

The Church is CATHOLIC……. The Church welcomes all people. Everyone should and can hear the Good

News of Jesus Christ. Jesus told his Apostles and disciples “Go

therefore an make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28: 19-20) This mission is continued today by all baptized Christians.

The Church is APOSTOLIC….. The Churches foundations were the Apostles. The Church guards and teaches the witness

and the teachings of the Apostles. The Church is still guided by the Apostles

through their successors. “Now that the Apostles have died, the

bishops together with the Pope and assisted by the priests (the successors of the Apostles, the hierarchy) are the ones who continued their work in spreading the Good News to all nations”. (CCC 857-860)

Sources

We Build the Church: The Christian Community, Lesson 5, 22-27

http://www.ewtn.com/faith/Teachings/churb2.htm

http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0106.html