UNIT TWO

1. UNIT TWO The Church is Mystery

2. 2.1 Enduring and Developing

3. What’s Really Catholic? • Father Kelly: Believed in rules, structure and Church hierarchy. • Father Dave: Believed that every person was a necessary part of the body of Christ, the Church.

4. Magisterium • The bishops acting in unison with the pope, by virtue of their ordination. • The teaching authority of the Church.

5. Why the Church is a Mystery • Can never be fully expressed from any single viewpoint • Its nature can never be grasped by the power of reason alone • It holds opposites together. • Human and sinful • Divine and holy • Visible and changeable • Invisible and permanent

6. The Church and God’s Kingdom • The Kingdom of God broke into human history through the incarnation of Jesus. • Church is the focal point of the kingdom’s presence on earth. • Through the Church the will of God may be most reliably known

7. Role of the Holy Spirit in the Church • Dwells in hearts of the faithful • Speaks God’s will to them • Reveals God to us primarily through signs and symbols • Transforms us through the power of those signs and symbols

8. Kingdom of God • The reign or rule of God • Began with the coming of Jesus • Will exist in its perfect form at the end of time

9. RCIA • Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults • Process through which non-Catholic adults learn about and join in full communion with the Catholic Church by receiving sacraments of Initiation

10. Mystagogia • “Unfolding of the mystery” • Period following the Baptism of adults • Newly baptized open themselves more fully to the graces received in Baptism

11. The Church is the culmination of Salvation History • From creation of the world, God has intended human beings to share in divine life. • In the Church, this sharing finally becomes a reality.

12. Salvation History • Story of God’s action in human history • Refers to the events through which God makes humanity aware of, and brings humanity into, the kingdom of God • Begins with the creation of the world • Ends with the Second Coming of Christ

13. Covenant • Partnership between God and humanity which God has established out of love • New covenant is offered through Christ • The blood which Christ shed on the cross is a sign of the new covenant

14. Body of Christ on Earth • The depth and breadth of God’s love for humanity and trust in humanity is revealed in the establishment of the Church • On Pentecost a new era in God’s relationship with humanity began

15. God Remains Incarnate in Church • Through the Church, God chooses to be made known present and tangible. • God communicates truth and grace through the Church

16. God Remains Incarnate in Church • Church is the sacrament of salvation • Points people toward God • Makes God an accessible reality for them

17. The Church is Necessary for Salvation • Salvation comes to the world only through Jesus • Jesus remains present in the world through his body, the Church. • The Church is necessary for salvation because Jesus is necessary for salvation

18. Salvation • True, complete, and permanent unity with God and with one another • The end goal of all creation • The fulfillment of the human desire for ultimate truth and goodness • Made possible by Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension.

19. To be Faithful to Christ, the Church Must… • Reach out with compassion to everyone • Challenge its own members to live as Christ lived • Strive for perfection • Offer God’s all-encompassing love

20. What is the true Church? • Shares God’s healing and forgiveness with other. • Places people above rules • Membership in the body of Christ should be evident in a person’s priorities and behaviors • Importance of doing what God would have us do.

21. Church as Bride of Christ • One in will, one in action • Christ surrenders himself to the Church • Allows the Church to express his will to the world • The Church surrenders itself to Christ • Makes Jesus’ will its own.

22. The Church is Unchanging yet Developing

23. Role of Church as body of Christ • Continue to reveal the presence of God and to lead all people to unity with the Father just as Jesus did • Interpret what is going on in today’s world in light of the gospel

24. Three things in Church which cannot/will not change: Constitution Body of dogma Ethic

25. Permanent Constitution • Basic form and makeup of Church • Structure makes it possible for church to be church • Elements in the Church’s structure which were established by Jesus • Includes the presence of the hierarchy

26. Apostle • “One who is sent” • 12 men Jesus chose • Given authority by Christ • To teach and baptize in his name

27. Bishops are the successors of the apostles • Jesus will continue to guide those who will succeed the apostles until the end of time • Called to protect the central truths of our faith from ideas and beliefs which are not compatible with the truth revealed by Jesus

28. Bishop • “Overseer” • Successor to the apostles • Head of a particular church • Together with the pope exercise leadership over the universal church

29. Responsibility of the Magisterium • College of bishops = bishops of the world • Maintain continuity between faith of today and of the past • Authentic teachers of the faith • Hand on the deposit of faith from generation to generation

30. Responsibility of the Magisterium • Ensure that the teachings of Christ are not dissipated or corrupted • Convey messages so they can be understood

31. Pope • Bishop of Rome • Successor of Peter • Highest office of teaching and governance in the Catholic Church

32. Magisterium • Bishops acting in unison with the pope • Teaching authority of the Church • Authentic interpreter of scripture and Tradition • Essential to the Church • Established by Jesus

33. Tradition • Doctrinal, moral teachings which have been passed on from generation to generation

34. Magisterium serves non-Catholic Christians • Ensures that issues such as abortion, justice for the poor will be discussed in relationship to Christian faith • Ensured the preservation of certain beliefs and practices many Protestant Churches had ignored for a time, but are now reclaiming

35. Can an individual disagree with the Magisterium? • Need to make an informed decision • Study, reflection, prayer, consult with others knowledgeable about Church teaching • Must continue to pray for conversion and strive to form conscience in conformity with the teaching of the Church

36. Permanent Ethic • God is unchanging, and therefore there are certain things that have always been and will always be opposed to God • Certain behaviors always undermine our relationship with God and others

37. Permanent Ethic • Moral teachings which are essential corollaries of the Church’s understanding of God revealed in Jesus

38. Responsibilities to the Church’s permanent ethic • Impossible to be a Catholic and reject it • Every Catholic is responsible for learning and embracing this ethic

39. Responsibilities to the Church’s permanent ethic • If knowingly rejects all or part of the moral order revealed by Jesus he/she puts self outside of Catholic Church • May reject interpretation of ethic in regard to specific set of circumstances and not be separated

40. Hierarchy • Structural order of leaders within the Church • Refers to all of the ordained ministers in the Church • Pope • Bishops • Priests • Deacons

41. Permanent Dogma • Absolute truths revealed by Christ • Essential to Christian faith • Essence can never be changed

42. In Conclusion • Church is a mystery because it is the culmination of Salvation history • Aspects of church which do not change make it possible for Church to be the body of Christ and to function as the body of Christ • Structure (constitution) • Ethic • Dogma