Chapter 5: The Four Marks of the Church

1. Chapter 5: The Four Marks of the Church THE CHURCH: Sacrament of Salvation

2. 1. The First Mark: One BASIC QUESTIONS What does it mean to say the Church is One? How does the image of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ help us understand the unity of the Church? What has wounded the unity of the Church? KEY IDEAS The Church is One, meaning there is only one Church, whose source of unity is the unity of God himself. The unity of the Church can be seen in the unity of faith, worship, and leadership of the Catholic Church as the Mystical Body of Christ. Wounds to the unity of the Church have occurred over the centuries due to heresy, apostasy and schism.

3. 1. The First Mark: One Anticipatory Set • Read the brief quote from Lumen Gentium that begins this chapter. • Write for a minute on what you think the statement means. What is the meaning of the affirmation that the Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church? Christ established only one Church. From the moment he created it, it has existed continually and it will always exist. In this Church alone are found all the elements that Christ himself instituted. So there is only one Church, not many. The Church doesn’t come and go with the changes of history. “This one Church of Christ, which we confess in the Creed [is] one, holy, catholic and apostolic.… This Church, constituted and organized in this world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him.” The true Church, then has these four “marks,” which will be studied in this chapter. The true Church has this particular hierarchical structure. In Lumen Gentium, no. 8, “subsistence” means this perduring (enduring, never ending), historical continuity and the permanence of all the elements instituted by Christ in the Catholic Church, in which the Church of Christ is concretely found on this earth. It is possible, according to Catholic doctrine, to affirm correctly that the Church of Christ is present and operative in the churches and ecclesial communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church, on account of the elements of sanctification and truth that are present in them. Nevertheless, the word “subsists” can be attributed to the Catholic Church alone precisely because it refers to the mark of unity that we profess in the symbols of the faith (I believe… in the “one” Church); and this One Church subsists in the Catholic Church.

4. 1. The First Mark: One What does it mean to say that the Church is both a visible and an invisible community? The one Church established by Christ is present both on earth and in heaven. On earth she is a visible community, whereas the Church in Purgatory and in Heaven is invisible to us on earth. At the same time, the spiritual riches that the Church on earth possesses are also invisible, e.g., the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. What are the four marks of the Church on earth, in Purgatory, and in Heaven? The Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.  What is an immediate, practical value of the four marks? They help distinguish the true Pilgrim Church on earth from any others that claim to be Christ’s Church.

5. 1. The First Mark: One How do we know that the Catholic Church possesses the four marks of the Church? Through faith and the historical record. Where does the Church get these four marks, or characteristics? She receives them from God. Extension: Eyes of faith only can recognize that these marks are because of her divine origin, but the historical manifestations of these marks are signs that speak clearly to human reason.

6. 1. The First Mark: One THE FIRST MARK: THE CHURCH IS ONE What does it mean to say the Church is One? The Church is unique and singular. Christ has instituted one Church rather than multiple churches. Extension: One way of understanding this is that Jesus Christ has not forged multiple paths to salvation but one way only.  How many “flocks” did Christ intend to have? Just “one flock,” having “one shepherd.” What did Christ mean when he said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me”? He is the only way to salvation.

7. 1. The First Mark: One Why is one Church enough? Having establishing the Church on earth, Christ gives all people the opportunity to be united to him, the one Savior of the world, by becoming part of his one Mystical Body.  What is a second meaning of the statement, “The Church is One”? The unity and solidarity of the Church.

8. 1. The First Mark: One Guided Exercise Think/Pair/Share: How is the unity of the Church different from that of any other social group or organization?

9. 1. The First Mark: One UNITY IN THE MYSTICAL BODY What is perhaps the best image to express the unity of the Church? The Church as the Mystical Body of Christ.  How does the Mystical Body of Christ express the unity of the Church? In the Mystical Body of Christ, the many diverse members of the Church are united to Christ the Head to form the whole Christ, united and animated by the Holy Spirit, the “soul” of the Mystical Body. What are the three visible ways, or attributes, of the unity of the Mystical Body of Christ? Unity of faith, worship, and leadership.  What does it mean to say that the unity of the Church will perdure? The unity achieved at the beginning of the Church’s life will never disappear.

10. 1. The First Mark: One Guided Exercise Have the students complete the following graphic to summarize the three unities of the Church.

11. 1. The First Mark: One

12. 1. The First Mark: One WOUNDS TO UNITY What major division arose at the very beginning of the Church’s history? The first division was over the question of whether Gentile converts had to be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law in order to become Christians.  How was this dispute resolved? The Council of Jerusalem, under the leadership of St. Peter, gave the response to this question, to which everyone agreed. What happened to the unity of the Church in subsequent centuries? Much more serious dissensions appeared, and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church.

13. 1. The First Mark: One Who was to blame for these wounds in unity? People on both sides were usually to blame.  What are the three types of ruptures that wound the unity of Christ’s Body? Heresy, apostasy, and schism. What is the origin of disunity? Sin. Extension: This is not to say that understanding is not involved. For example, the early Christians who founded or followed Christological heresies got something wrong philosophically or theologically or both.

14. 1. The First Mark: One What is apostasy? Apostasy is the total rejection of the Christian Faith by someone who has been baptized.  What is heresy? Heresy is the deliberate and persistent denial by one who has been baptized of a truth of the Faith taught by the Church. What is schism? Schism is the refusal by one who has been baptized of unity with the Pope or the refusal of communion with the members of the Church.  Can a non-Christian be a heretic or schismatic or be in a state of apostasy? Extension: No. These are states that only a baptized member of the Church can possess.

15. 1. The First Mark: One Who is responsible for these grave sins? The individuals who commit them.  Why are sins against unity tragic for entire communities? Large groups of people often go along with the actions of the instigators. Are those born into schismatic communities responsible for the sin of schism? Not necessarily.

16. 1. The First Mark: One What two major schisms have occurred in the history of the Church? The first, with the Eastern Orthodox Churches, took place in the eleventh century. The second, with the various denominations that were founded during the Protestant Reformation, occurred in the sixteenth century. How should Catholics look upon the members born into these schismatic communities? We look upon them as separated brethren who often, through no fault of their own, remain unaware of the truth of the Catholic Faith.

17. 1. The First Mark: One What are some of the elements of sanctification and truth found within the separated churches and communities of Protestantism and Eastern Orthodoxy? Sacred Scripture; some or all of the Seven Sacraments; the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity; and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. What is the origin of the elements of the true faith which our separated brethren possess? These elements, which come from Christ and lead back to him, belong by right to the Catholic Church, the one Church founded by Christ, which possesses them in their fullness. How are the seeds of reunification present in the elements of sanctification and truth which our separated brethren possess? The fact that some of these elements are present to some degree within other communities is evidence of those communities’ origins (i.e., they separated from the Catholic Church) and may provide an avenue for their eventual return to Catholic unity.

18. 1. The First Mark: One Sidebar: Pope Saint Leo the Great – “Peter Has Spoken” What two major problems did St. Leo the Great face? (1) The division and disintegration of the once great Roman Empire and (2) the heresies of Pelagianism, Nestorianism, Monophysitism and Manichæism. How did the “Tome of Leo” effect the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon? When those present heard the words of Pope St. Leo’s letter, they readily assented to his teaching and exclaimed, “Peter has spoken through Leo.” How did St. Leo the Great save the city of Rome from Attila the Hun? He met the notorious barbarian outside the walls of the city and persuaded Attila and his men to leave Rome without a fight.

19. 1. The First Mark: One Closure Write a paragraph summarizing what is meant by saying that the Church is One.

20. 1. The First Mark: One Homework Assignment Reading: • Heresies in the Early Church through Monophysitism. Questions: • Study Questions 1–7. • Workbook Questions 1–12.

21. 1. The First Mark: One Alternative Assessment Given the actual divisions that exist between the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Churches and Protestant churches and communities, brainstorm how each of us can contribute to returning all Christians to unity within the Catholic Church.

22. 2. Early Christian Heresies BASIC QUESTIONS To what error does neo-Platonism tend in regard to the nature of Christ? What are the heresies of Gnosticism, Arianism, Apollinarianism, Nestorianism and Monophysitism? KEY IDEAS While the Greek language and the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle were invaluable for articulating Catholic doctrine, the neo-Platonic understanding of the logos made Greek thought prone to misunderstanding the nature of Jesus Christ. Gnosticism claimed a secret knowledge of Christ. Arianism denied the divinity of Christ. Apollinarianism denied that Christ had a human mind and will. Nestorianism claimed that Christ was a union of two persons, one human and the other divine. Monophysitism denied that Christ had a human nature.

23. 2. Early Christian Heresies Anticipatory Set Scriptural text for the Opening Prayer: The beginning of John’s Gospel (Jn 1:1–5). N.B. The English word “Word” used here is a translation of the Greek Logos, which will be important for understanding this lesson.

24. 2. Early Christian Heresies HERESIES IN THE EARLY CHURCH What is the origin of all Catholic doctrines? They derive from the revealed truths contained in the Deposit of Faith that Christ entrusted to his Church, which are found in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. What was the subject matter of the earliest heresies? The Person and natures of Christ.  What does early Christianity owe to the Greek language and the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle? The richness of the Greek language and the Greek philosophical tradition were invaluable for articulating and developing the Christian message.

25. 2. Early Christian Heresies How did Neo-Platonists see God and the logos? These non-Christian pagans held that there was a Supreme Being, who created the world through lesser beings, one of which was the logos. How did St. John use the word Logos? He used it to refer to God the Son. Why would neo-Platonists likely have misunderstood who Christ is? Their way of looking at the logos was as a created being, inferior to God; therefore, they would tend to believe that Jesus cannot be divine.  What problem did neo-Platonists have with creation in general? They saw the created world as an obstacle to contemplation and personal perfection, so they would not have liked that Christ became true man.

26. 2. Early Christian Heresies Guided Exercise Think/Pair/Write/Share: Compare and contrast the Christian and neo-Platonic ideas of the logos.

27. 2. Early Christian Heresies Gnosticism What is the gnosis in Gnosticism? Gnosis is Greek for “knowledge,” in this case a secret knowledge which Gnostics consider the basis of salvation.  What did the Gnostics believe about God? They taught that there were two gods: the creator god who propagated evil (the God of the Old Testament) and the unknowable divine being (the God of the New Testament). What is the role of the logos in Gnosticism? Christ, the Logos, had been sent to give secret knowledge to a select few so that they could return to the unknowable divine being. This was only possible if the individuals understood the secret knowledge of the redeemer’s teaching and practiced the appropriate Gnostic rituals. What Church doctrines regarding Christ’s nature did Gnosticism reject? It rejected both Jesus’ human and his divine nature. It rejected Christ’s divine nature because the logos was not God, and it rejected Jesus’ human nature because it would be material and therefore evil.

28. 2. Early Christian Heresies What was Jesus’ Body according to the Gnostics? It was an apparition. What are the major errors of the Gnostics? The Gnostics denied the goodness of the created world, the existence and supremacy of the one true God, the clear meaning of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, and the reality of Christ’s human and divine nature along with his redemptive Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Might Gnosticism be the true understanding of Christianity and our orthodox Faith be wrong? Extension: No. Gnosticism came after the founding of Christianity and cannibalized certain elements of the faith to give its system respectability.  How is the New Age movement essentially Gnostic? New Age promises a secret knowledge gained through pagan or ritual ceremony that can be released through amulets, crystals, secret incantations, fortunetelling, horoscopes, zodiac signs, or tarot cards. With both Gnosticism and New Age, salvation ultimately comes from within a person, thus eliminating the need for a Redeemer.

29. 2. Early Christian Heresies Arianism (fourth century) Who was Arius? He was a Catholic priest from Alexandria whose study of neo-Platonism and familiarity with Gnosticism led him to claim that Jesus Christ was neither God nor equal to the Father. How did Arius see Jesus Christ? Arius taught that Jesus was the supreme creation of God but not his eternally begotten Son, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. He denied the divinity of Christ. How strong was the Arian heresy? This heresy ravaged the Church in the East and was adopted by many of the Visogothic tribes that dominated central and northern Europe, thereby becoming a serious threat to the existence of orthodox Christianity.

30. 2. Early Christian Heresies How did the Church defend traditional Catholic teaching? She reaffirmed the traditional belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ, proclaiming that Christ is consubstantial with the Father. How was Arianism overcome? Through clear and consistent teaching along with the catechetical and missionary work and sacrifices of many saintly men and women.  How has Arianism been revived in the modern age? It can been seen in the tendency among some to stress Christ’s humanity at the expense of his divinity. For example, some today see a historical Jesus, who was a wise teacher but not divine.  What are some Christian sects today that deny the divinity of Christ? The Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) view Christ as the “son of God” but not equal to or consubstantial with the Father, making them incompatible with the teachings of the Catholic Church in regard to the divinity of Jesus Christ.

31. 2. Early Christian Heresies Guided Exercise: Mini-lesson on personhood In order to understand the Christological heresies the early Church faced, it is necessary to grasp the understanding the Church developed in regard to (1) personhood in general, (2) the kind of person a human being is, and (3) the nature of the Person Jesus Christ. A person is a being with reason and free will and therefore capable of love. These are non-material, spiritual attributes. We call a person with the powers of intellect and free will a spiritual soul. Spiritual souls are immortal. God is an uncreated divine person. Angels and human beings are created persons. Angels are pure souls (persons without bodies), whereas human beings are composite: an immaterial, immortal soul and a perishable, material body. Human death is the separation of the immortal soul from the perishable body.

32. 2. Early Christian Heresies Jesus Christ is one divine Person with two natures, his uncreated, eternal divine nature (God) and his created human nature as man. The union of these two natures—though complete in themselves without admixture—in one divine Person is called the hypostatic union; the Greek hypostasis means “person.” Christ has two natures: divine and human. He has a divine, omniscient intellect and a divine, omnipotent will, and he has the faculty of human reason and a human will. His human nature also includes his human Body with its physiological processes, passions, and emotions. This is why he is like us in every way but sin. The Christological heresies each got something wrong in trying to understand who Christ is.

33. 2. Early Christian Heresies Guided Exercise Class discussion: Why does denying the divinity of Christ invariably lead to the rejection of the doctrines of the Blessed Trinity and the Redemption?

34. 2. Early Christian Heresies Apollinarianism (ca. 360-381) What is the origin of the name of the Apollinarian heresy? From Apollinaris, Bishop of Laodicea in Syria.  What is Apollinarianism? Although Jesus is true God and has a human body, he did not have a human mind and will. What is the error of Apollinarianism? If Christ did not have a human mind and will, then he did not live a complete human life and so did not completely share our human experience; thus, we are not redeemed.

35. 2. Early Christian Heresies Nestorianism (ca. 351–ca. 451) Who was Nestorius? He was the Patriarch of Constantinople. What did Nestorius teach about Christ? He taught that Christ is the unity of a divine Person and a human person. Why did Nestorius deny the title Theotokos (“Bearer of God”) could be applied the the Blessed Virgin Mary? He said that she is the Mother of the human person Christ but not the Mother of the Person of God.

36. 2. Early Christian Heresies What is the error of Nestorianism? Orthodox Catholic belief is that Jesus Christ is one divine Person with two natures: human and divine. What is the hypostatic union? It is a doctrine that was formally accepted by the Church at the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451): Christ is one divine Person who simultaneously possesses two natures: one human and one divine. Why is the Blessed Virgin Mary, a creature, called properly the Mother of God? Extension: A mothers is the mother not of a nature but of a person. She is the Mother of the Person Jesus Christ, who is a divine Person.  When is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, celebrated? On January 1.

37. 2. Early Christian Heresies Monophysitism (400s-600s) What is the origin of the word Monophysitism? Monos is Greek for “single,” and physis means “nature”: “only one nature.” What did the Monophysites teach? There is only one nature in Christ rather than two, claiming that the human nature of Christ was “incorporated” into the divine Nature in the same way that a drop of water is absorbed into an ocean. Which Pope argued successfully against Monophysitism? Pope St. Leo the Great. Extension: His Tome outlined the orthodox Catholic position, which was accepted at the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon AD 451.

38. 2. Early Christian Heresies Guided Exercise Explain briefly the five heresies discussed in this lesson and how they differ from Catholic teaching.

39. 2. Early Christian Heresies

40. 2. Early Christian Heresies Closure Write a paragraph summarizing the five heresies discussed in this lesson using the completed Graphic Exercise, “Early Church Heresies.”

41. 2. Early Christian Heresies Homework Assignment Reading: • The Protestant Reformation throughsidebar Contemporary Efforts in Ecumenism. Questions: • Study Questions 8–13. • Workbook Questions 13–18.

42. 2. Early Christian Heresies Alternative Assessment Work with a partner to identify one negative effect of each of the five heresies discussed in this lesson if it had been true adopted.

43. 3. Protestantism and Ecumenism BASIC QUESTIONS What was the Protestant Reformation? What is Ecumenism? KEY IDEAS The Protestant Reformation was an interrelated series of schisms that took place from 1517 to 1648 concerning the teachings, worship, and structure of the Church, resulting in national Protestant churches and communities and over 30,000 separate denominations today. Ecumenism calls all Christians to unity through sincere dialogue, prayer, and discernment.

44. 3. Protestantism and Ecumenism Anticipatory Set Brainstorm names of Christian denominations. 

45. 3. Protestantism and Ecumenism THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION What was the Protestant Reformation? It was an interrelated series of schisms that took place from 1517 to 1648.  Was the Church in need of reform at this time? Yes. Several Popes and saints of the time had already attempted to curb abuses within the Church. What abuse did Martin Luther criticize rightly? The sale of indulgences.  What did Martin Luther criticize wrongly? The validity of indulgences themselves.

46. 3. Protestantism and Ecumenism What did Luther and Zwingli’s theological reasoning lead to? An attack on the teaching, worship, and structure of the Church herself. Who were some other “reformers”? John Calvin and King Henry VIII. What was the result of the Protestant Reformation? Schisms in Germany, Switzerland, England, Denmark, Sweden, and Scotland. What was the relationship between Protestantism and the new political order of princes ruling nation-states? Secular rulers used Protestantism to seize Church property and power and to extend temporal control over matters of justice and moral legislation.

47. 3. Protestantism and Ecumenism What was the result of the new churches’ independence from Rome? These new Christian communities found that they disagreed with one another. They have been limited generally to their country of origin or have continued to splinter. Today there are more than 30,000 different Protestant denominations throughout the world.  What was the Catholic Reformation? Also called the Counter-Reformation, it was a renewal of religious fervor on the part of Catholics throughout Europe that included a new clarification of Church doctrine during the Ecumenical Council of Trent and new religious orders of men and women such as the Jesuits and the Discalced Carmelites dedicated to living in imitation of Christ. Extension: The Catholic Reformation also resulted in a renewal of Catholic art, music, architecture, education, and a worldwide evangelization.  Who are some of the great saints of the Catholic Reformation? God gave the world Sts. Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Francis de Sales, and others to assist the Pilgrim Church.

48. 3. Protestantism and Ecumenism Guided Exercise Cooperative learning groups to research online the differences between Catholics and Protestants on assigned topic: What is Original Sin? How are we saved? What is the source of our knowledge about religion? What is the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the saints, and angels in our lives? Who leads the Church on earth? What are the Sacraments? Present your findings.

49. 3. Protestantism and Ecumenism TOWARD GREATER CHRISTIAN UNITY What is ecumenism? It is the task of working toward Christian unity, in which all Christians are called to engage. Why do Catholics engage in ecumenical work according to the Catechism, no. 816? Only the Catholic Church contains the fullness of the means of salvation, and all members of the People of God should be incorporated into her.

50. 3. Protestantism and Ecumenism Guided Exercise Work with a partner to articulate the principles for engaging in ecumenical work identified by documents of the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican (Vatican II).