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THE CHURCH (PART TWO)

The Four Marks of the Church
(C 811-870, USC Ch.11)

You are Peter and upon this rock I will more closely at each of the four marks or signs
build my church and the gates of the of the Church and their countersigns.
netherworld will not prevail against it.
(Mt 16:18) The Church is One (C 813-822, USC p.127)

…I believe in one, holy, catholic and May they all be one, as you Father, are in me
apostolic Church... (Nicene Creed) and I in you…that the world may believe that
you sent me.
In this article, we will look at: (Jn 17:21)

 The Four Marks of the Church The Church “acknowledges one Lord, confesses
 Who Belongs to the Catholic Church one faith, is born of one Baptism, forms one
 Salvation of Non-Catholic Christians Body, is given life by one spirit, for the sake of
 Salvation of Non-Christians one hope, at whose fulfillment all divisions will
be overcome.” (C 866)
The Four Marks of the Church
The source and model of the Church’s unity or
Reality and challenge. Since the Council of one-ness is the unity of Father, Son and Holy
Con-stantinople 381, the Church has spoken of Spirit in the Trinity. Jesus died on the cross to
herself as “one, holy, catholic and apostolic,” gather all people to himself. Jesus spoke of “one
words found in the Nicene Creed. One, holy, flock and one shepherd” (Jn 10:16). The Holy
catholic and apostolic are known as the “marks” Spirit present in the Church seeks to bring about
or “signs” of the Church, four traits that identify an intimate communion between all of God’s
the Church before the world. In ancient times, people (C 813).
these “four marks” of the Church served to
distinguish her from heretical or false churches Within the unity of the Church, we find a
that developed in time. They also refer to the wonderful and rich diversity, a multiplicity of
divine element―Christ and the Holy Spirit at peoples, cultures, spiritualities, gifts and
work in the Church. liturgical rites (C 1200-1203). What keeps our
rich diversity from creating chaos in the
Because the four signs or marks of the Church Church? The invisible bond of charity and the
are never lived out fully, they are seen as both visible bonds of a common creed and
reality and challenge (USC p.127). For sacraments. For the Catholic Church, the
example, the Church is one and yet wounded Pope―successor of St. Peter―is also a very
because of many Christian denominations. The important visible symbol of our unity.
Church is holy and yet sinful in her members.
The Church is catholic (universal) and yet she Countersign: division in the Body of Christ.
can be uninviting to outsiders. Individual Tra-gically, down through the history of the
Christians can show prejudice to nonbelievers. Church, some members of the Church have
The Church is apostolic, yet many offended the unity that Jesus prayed for. The
denominations ignore the belief of apostolic two main events that inflicted serious wounds
succession. So while in a real sense the Church on the Body of Christ are: the split between
is one, holy, catholic and apostolic, in another Rome and Constantinople in 1054 (a wound that
sense, these marks or signs of the Church may had been festering for centuries) and the
sometimes not be very evident. Let us now look Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century.

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Today, Eastern Christians separated from her own house in order. In doing this, her life
commun-ion with Rome are called the will be a clearer witness to her teachings.
“Orthodox Church,” its two main branches
being the Greek and Russian Churches. The  Conversion of heart. If sin caused the
Protestant Reformation proved disastrous as its divisions, only holiness of life will heal them.
attempt to bring about much needed reform in
the Catholic Church only led to more  Prayer in common should be regarded as the
brokenness in the Body of Christ. Today, there soul of the whole ecumenical movement.
are over 300 churches in the membership of the “When Cath-olics and Protestants put their
World Council of Churches. knees together in common prayer, God will
put their heads together to understand
Pause: What do you like most about belonging to the common truths” (Peter Kreeft).
Catholic Church? If you are a convert, what caused you to
join the Church?  Fraternal knowledge of each other will help to
dispel ignorance and misunderstandings about
each other’s beliefs.
Ecumenism (C 817-822). The word ecumenism
comes from a Greek word meaning universal.  Collaboration among Christians in various
The goal of Christian ecumenism is a common areas of service to mankind. Hands working
commitment among Christians to live out the together can educate the head.
Gospel more fully and to be open to the
unifying work of the Spirit. Its goal, in the The Catechism (822) states that, in the end, the
words of the late Pope John Paul II, is to work work of reconciliation transcends human powers
towards making the partial unity that exists and gifts. This is God’s work. Only Christ can
between Christian Churches grow into full save us from sin and only Christ can heal the
commun-ion (That All May Be One #14). divisions amongst Christians.

Disunity amongst Christian Churches is both a

Pause: Growing up, how much association did you have
sin and a scandal that weaken the witness of with non-Catholics? To what extent have you had
Christianity in the non-Christian world. Catholic conversations with non-Catholics about Catholic and non-
leaders recognize that the Church is partially to catholic
The Churchbeliefs?is How
holyecumenical are you?
(C 823-829, USC p. 129)
blame for the divisions in the Body of Christ
and has asked for the forgiveness of other
Christians leaders. Working and praying for The Church is Holy (C 823-829, USC p. 129)
reunification of Christianity is not an option but
an essential activity of the Church. Christ loved the Church and handed himself
over for her to sanctify her…that she may be
How to work for reunion of the Church (C holy and with-out blemish. (Eph 5:25-27)
820-822). “The desire to recover the unity of all
Christians is a gift of Christ and a call to all The Church has her origin in the Holy Trinity
Christians” (C 820). Para. 821 of the Catechism and that is the source of her holiness. (USC p.
names some of the ways we can respond to the 129)
call to work for the reunion of the Church.
In his book Catholic Christianity, Peter Kreeft
 A permanent renewal of the Church in greater writes:
fidelity to her vocation. A hurting marriage is
healed when both spouses get back to living The Church is “holy” in a way her members are
out their marriage promises. The best gift to not. Her doctrine, her moral principles, and her
ecumenism that the Church can make is to get sacraments are pure because they are from

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Christ. But her human members, clergy as well  The Church is catholic in that she seeks to
as laity, are far from pure in their embrace all peoples and cultures at all times
understanding of those doctrines, in their living and places. Just as Christ, the founder of the
according to those principles, and in their Church, reached out to all, so must the
participation in those sacraments. For Christ Church. The Catechism states “the Church is
established his Church, not as a museum for catholic because she has been sent out by
saints, but as a hospital for sinners. “I came not Christ on a mission to the whole human
to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mk 2:17). race” (C 831).

Christ through the Church offers each of us  The Church is catholic in that she includes all
wonder-ful means to become holy. We see the of what Jesus has entrusted to her―the
proof of this in the thousands of holy men and “fullness of truth” and the “fullness of the
women the Church has produced down through means of salvation” subsist or reside in the
the ages. Church.

Countersign of holiness. The countersign of  St. Cyril of Jerusalem in 387 described the
this mark of the Church is, of course, the Church as “catholic because it extends to the
sinfulness of her members, both clergy and lay ends of the earth, teaches all doctrines
faithful. The presence of sin in the Church can necessary for salvation, instructs all people,
tempt one to quit attending church or to join heals every kind of sin and possesses every
what we perceive to be a less imperfect church. virtue.”
To act on such a temptation would be sad and
destructive to our spiritual lives. If we feel that The title “Roman Catholic Church” highlights
our parish has failed us in our desire to grow the importance of the unity of the Catholic
spiritually, we would be much better served to Church with the successor of St. Peter, the
look for another catholic parish than to break Bishop of Rome. Particular churches are fully
ties with the Church by staying at home or by catholic through their communion with the
choosing to join a non-Catholic church. Church of Rome. Regarding union with the
Church of Rome, St. Irenaeus in the second
Pause: In your opinion, what causes Catholics to quit
church or join a non-Catholic church? What causes them
century said: “For with this church, by reason of
to return? Have you a personal story in this area? its pre-eminence, the whole church, that is, the
faithful everywhere must necessarily be in
accord” (C 834).
The Church is Catholic (C 830-856, USC p.
Who Belongs to the Catholic Church? And
129)
Who Will Be Saved? (C 836-845)
“Catholic,” as used in the Nicene Creed, means
Catholic Christians. People are fully
“universal” or “all-embracing”―referring to the
incorporated into the Catholic Church who
totality or whole which is embraced. This mark
accepts her entire system and means of salvation
of the Church has three dimensions:
given to her (creed, sacraments, ecclesiastical
governance). In order to be saved, it is not
 “Catholic Church” can simply mean the
enough to belong to the Church. Lumen
whole Church. This is what St. Ignatius of
Gentium 14 states: “He is not saved who does
Antioch meant when he said in 110 AD,
not persevere in charity.”
“where Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic
Church.” Where Jesus is proclaimed and
accepted, the Catholic Church exists in some
form.

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What About Non-Catholic Christians? Regarding the possibility of the salvation of
non-Christians, Lumen Gentium (16) states:
The Church teaches that Christians who believe Those also can attain everlasting salvation who,
in Christ and are properly baptized are to be through no fault of their own, do not know the
received with the affection of brothers. Through gospel of Christ or his church, yet sincerely seek
baptism and their belief in Christ, they are in God and, moved by grace, strive by their deeds
partial communion with the Catholic Church to do his will as it is known to them through the
(Vat.2, Decree on Ecumenism 3). These dictates of conscience.
brothers and sisters in Christ are saved if they
persevere in following the ways of Jesus as they What about non-believers? In a similar way,
understand them. While we Catholics may the church believes that “Divine Providence
believe that we have the “fullness of truth,” we does not deny the help necessary for salvation to
should re-member that there is a difference those who without blame on their part, have not
between “having” the fullness of truth and yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God, but
“living” whatever truth we have grasped. strive to live a good life, thanks to His grace”
(Lumen Gentium 16).
What About Non-Christians?
Finally, a saying attributed to St. Augustine:
Non-Christians do not belong in any direct “God has some people whom the Church does
sense to the Church. Yet this does not mean that not have. The Church has some people whom
the grace of Christ is not at work in their hearts. God does not have.”

Judaism. The Catholic Church acknowledges Pause: How do you feel about the Church’s attitude towards
her special relationship with the Jewish people. non-Catholic religions and their salvation? Would you want
the Church to change her attitude in any way?
The Christian religion has its roots in Judaism.
The Jewish people were the first to hear the
word of God (Rom 9:4-5). They have not ceased Countersign. One way the Church has failed in
to be God’s Chosen People. We share with them the past, and continues to the present time, to
the faith of Abraham, the Ten Commandments live more fully this mark, is in the area of
and the books of the Old Testament. inclusivity. For example, in the sixteenth
century, the Church lost a great opportunity to
Islam. The Church also recognizes that she has evangelize China and Japan due to failure to
a unique relationship with Muslims. “The plan permit missionaries to adapt Church beliefs and
of salvation also includes those who liturgies to Asian mentalities and customs. Of
acknowledge the Creator, in the first place course, such adaptations should never involve
amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess falsifying or watering down the essentials of the
to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with faith. Even though the Church since Vatican II
us they adore the one merciful God, mankind’s has become more inclusive and appreciative of
judge on the last day” (C 841). women’s gifts, she still has a ways to go in this
area. Nearly all of the important decisions in our
Other non-Christian religions. The church also Church today are still made by men.
engages in dialogue with Hindus and Buddhists.
“She has a high regard for the manner of life Pause: What can the Catholic Church learn from other
and conduct, the precepts and doctrines which, Christian churches and/or non-Christian religions?
although differing in many ways from her own
teaching, nevertheless often have a ray of that
truth that enlightens all people. (Nostra Aetate
2).

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Missionary mandate (C 849-856). While the Pause: Hundreds of Christian churches only started in
Catholic Church very much respects the beliefs the past one or two hundred years. They have no
of other Christian churches and non-Christian historical ties to the Apostolic Church. This does not
religions, she also has a deep sense of her seem to bother them. Should it?
obligation to continue to share the fullness of
the Gospel with all who are willing to listen.
This missionary mandate is carried out with a Suggestions for action. Continue to take small
spirit of prayer, love and respect for the beliefs but real steps towards becoming an informed
of others. The Catechism (856) states: and transformed Catholic Christian. Read one
“Believers can profit from respectful dialogue book each year that will help to deepen your
by learning to appreciate better those elements understanding of catholic beliefs and practices.
of truth and grace which are found among Participate in an annual retreat that will help you
people, and which are, as it were, a secret to live more fully the teachings of Christ.
presence of Christ.”
Meditation
The Church is Apostolic (C 857-865, USC
p.132) ...To be holy is not to be perfect yet. The
Church’s obvious human imperfections have
The Church is apostolic in a threefold way: been an occasion for scandal and apostasy
for…centuries. But para-doxically this very fact
Origin. The Church is “built upon the is also a powerful argument for her divine
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ nature. This is cleverly brought out in
Jesus himself being the cornerstone” (Eph 2:20). Boccaccio’s story of Abraham, the medieval
Jewish merchant in The Decameron. Abraham
Teaching. The Church is apostolic because she is contem-plating becoming a Catholic. He tells
teaches and defends the teachings of Christ and his friend, the bishop of Paris, who has been
guards them against false teachers. The Church trying unsuccessfully to convert him, that he has
seeks to act on Paul’s exhortation to Timothy: to go to Rome on business. The bishop is
“You must keep to what you have been taught horrified: “Don’t go! When you see the
and know to be true...” (2Tim 3:14-17). stupidity and corruption there, you’ll never join
the Church.” (This was the time of the Medici
Structure. The Church is apostolic because she Popes who were notoriously worldly and
continues to be taught by the bishops who are corrupt.) But Abraham is a practical man.
the successors of the apostles, assisted by all Business calls. Upon his return to France, he
involved in the catechetical ministry of the tells the bishop he is now ready to be baptized.
Church and united with the Bishop of Rome, the The bishop is astounded, but Abraham explains:
successor of Peter. This mark or characteristic “I’m a practical business-man. No earthly
of the Church has led many Protestant clergy business that stupid and corrupt could last
and laity to enter into full communion with the fourteen weeks. Your Church has lasted
Catholic Church. (For their stories, see fourteen centuries. It must have God behind it.”
Surprised by the Truth edited by Patrick (Peter Kreeft, Fundamentals of the Faith)
Madrid.)

Countersign. The main countersign of this mark

is the large number of ecclesial communities Fr. Eamon Tobin ©
that ignore the importance of apostolic Ascension Catholic Church
succession. Melbourne, FL
tobin2@[Link]