[Link]

com/photos/apostles-church-christianity-jesus-3281206/

MODULE TWO
Church in History: Journey and Growth
Prepared by:
Marnon L. Regis, PhD
Frank S. Villanueva, EdD 1
 Table of Contents

Part 1: Church in History (Journey and Growth)

A. Graeco-Roman Period (1st –7th Centuries)

B. The Dominance of Church in the West (7th –13th Centuries)

C. Great Western Schisms and the Transition to a Wider Mission

(13th- 19th Centuries)

D. The Church In the Industrial and Technological Age (19th-20th Centuries)

E. Marks of the Church

STARTING ACTIVITY

In our discussion on the journey of the Church, let us reflect and learn from this reading the
experience of the early Christian community.

(Acts 2:42-47) “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ instruction and communal life, to
the breaking of bread and the prayers. A reverent fear overtook them all,
many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles. Those who believed
shared all things in common; would sell their property and goods, dividing
everything based on each one’s need. They went to the temple area together
every day, while in their homes they broke bread. With exultant and sincere
hearts, they took their meal in common, praising God and winning the
approval of all the people. Day by day the Lord added to their number. Those
who were being saved.”

Guide questions:
1. Identify some salient features of their community life.
2. Comparing your personal experiences/ observations in our churches or communities
right now what can you comment on?

Part One:
Church in History (Journey and Growth)

2
 Overview
Here we will be able to discover the stories behind the lives of great men and women in the history
of Christianity, the struggles and failures that have contributed to the establishment of the church
founded by the apostles, that was the result of Jesus’ Preaching about the Kingdom of God. This
organization, a community of believers, living the one faith brought about by trust and confidence
to their master has now become a stronghold of people’s hope for the life to come. Come and
witness its journey, and let us live this legacy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the life of the Church, we shall witness the different triumphs and defeats, happiness and
sadness, and unity and division. As we journey together in looking at the Church in history and
embrace the values we can draw from each period, let us be reminded of our identity as
Christians. May we be able to appreciate therefore the knowledge that we learn in this
module.

Sacred Scripture

Peter the Rock. “When Jesus came to the neighborhood of Caesarea Philippi, He asked
His disciples this question: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied,
“Some say John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“And you,” He said to them, “who do you say that I am?” “You are the Messiah,” Simon
Peter answered, “the Son of the Living God!” Jesus replied, “Blest are you, Simon son of
Jonah! No mere man has revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. I for my part
declare to you, you are Rock,’ and on this rock, I will build My Church, and the jaws of
death shall not prevail against it. I will entrust to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you declare bound on earth shall be bound in heaven; whatever you declare
loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt. 16:13-19)

The One Body of Christ. “You, then, are the body of Christ. Every one of you is a member
of it. Furthermore, God has set up in the church first apostles, second prophets, third
teachers, then miracle workers, healers, assistants, administrators, and those who
speak in tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work
miracles or have the gift of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Set your hearts on the
greater gifts” (1 Cor. 12:27-31)

Church Teaching
According to Catholic tradition, the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ. The New
Testament records Jesus' activities and teaching, his appointment of the twelve Apostles, and
his instructions to them to continue his work. The Catholic Church teaches that the coming of
the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, in an event known as Pentecost, signaled the beginning of
the public ministry of the Church.

Apostles were the direct eyewitnesses. They "have heard" and "have seen with their own eyes,"
"have looked upon" and even "touched with their hands" Christ, as the evangelist John says in
another passage. This human, first-hand, and "historical" witness to Christ is linked to the
witness of the Holy Spirit: "He will bear witness to me." In the witness of the Spirit of truth, the

3
human testimony of the Apostles will find its strongest support. And subsequently, it will also
find therein the hidden foundation of its continuation among the generations of Christ's
disciples and believers who succeed one another down through the ages.

The journey of the people is the journey of the Church. The gospels report on every page that
the essence of Jesus' sermon on salvation was the cheerful message of the Kingdome of
heaven. This message is a call for celebration among the followers of Jesus to preach and
proclaim its authentic content. This message lives in a particular situation time and historical
settings. The framework of the Church, which was established (indirectly) by Jesus and
handed upon to the apostles, finds itself in historical and political upheavals.

The Church in history is not static nor passive evolution of mare data's and personalities but
rather it is a historical process that certainly lives in the hearts and minds of people who are
both thirsty and excited, waiting patiently for
the Kingdom to come. It is not a mere history
of Kings, Popes but of peoples' history who
continue to live and re-live the life of Christ
amidst the challenges and difficulties of
life's historical situation. It is a journeying
church that looks forward to changing and
directions for its people. It is a walking
Church in the struggle and hope of God's
people. It is a listening Church that carefully
deliberates issues that concerns her flock. It
is a Church in action that defends its people
from the powerful brought about by political,
social, religious, and cultural domination,
[Link]
oppression. It is a Church that responds to storyline-of-christian-church-history-30-
the call and signs of the time. It is not Church minute-video/
history but a Church in history.

This chapter does not categorically present all the historical perspectives of the church nor it
will labor on basic historical proponents but merely take a glimpse of the Church that journeys
throughout the lives of its people. It will not be seen from a historian's point of view but from
the optic of an educator who merely sees the church in history. The division of this Chapter is
based on the writer's look at the church as a figure in molding perspectives attune with God's
mission, the coming of the Kingdom. There might be some important details that must be
seen and read in this chapter but we are just merely looking at simple identity, characteristics,
and how the church emerged from its original Jewish context and developed into a worldwide
phenomenon.

4
 A. GRAECO-ROMAN PERIOD (1ST –7TH CENTURIES)

Christianity in Foreign Land

Jesus' mission was extended to the gentiles. The apostles carried among themselves the task
of proclaiming the good news. And in doing so, people from different places found their
proclamation of the good news
heartening and lived the ideals of
Jesus the Christ. This missionary zeal
of the apostles gave rise to Jesus’
movement (Kee, 1998). Paul, an
astute follower of Christ, brought
Christianity further to the Gentile
countries. Regardless of their
[Link] culture, Jews and non-Jews adhered
of-missionary-christianity-understanding-the-first-age-in- to live in this new community.
[Link]#post/0 Because of this, the followers had to
interpret the message about him in
the language and cultural form of the Hellenistic time. Various perceptions about Jesus were
told. This movement had encountered various difficulties with its teachings. Issues and
conflicts about the nature of this movement or community and its teachings stirred passions
of debates among the followers. To resolve the conflicts and heresies, the council of bishops
has to be called upon and the Church doctrines have to be clearly defined to answer false
teachings (for your knowledge see councils for some specific heresies that Church had settled
to answer).

“Gold Tested in Fire:” Persecution

At first, the Roman authorities did not so much pay
attention to the increasing number of the movement, but
long before Christians began to become the target of
extraordinary persecution. A series of persecution began
with Nero as the Roman emperor in the year 67. It is
believed that Peter and Paul were both killed in Rome
during the persecution of Nero. But one of the worst of
these was that of Diocletian. Christians endured and
even more became bolder of their adherence to the
[Link]
faith as if it was like a “gold tested in fire.” 9/20/henotikons-trisagions-justinians-being-a-
christian-gets-more-and-more-dangerous/
Constantine and the Edict of Milan (313)
Constantine succeeded Diocletian and he brought along with him his Christian mother who
later influenced him in the most remarkable decision. Through the Edict of Milan (313), he
granted Christianity a legal status and aligned even himself with the Church. He became an
instant supporter of the Christians even to the point that anybody who is not a Christian at his
time deserves to die. Christianity became a symbol of power. The subjugation of Christianity
to power created an immense problem among its followers such as power struggles among
its heads and impending divisions among its people. We saw a Church from being a loose
movement to a Church to having accorded power and privileges. Hence, Christianity became
the religion of the state.

5
 The next centuries brought forth some
extraordinary Christian figures. The so-
called fathers of the Church began to
embark on extraordinary scholarship on
behalf of the Church. Jerome (ca. 345-
420), a monk, was the one who translated
the Bible from its original version into Latin.
This translation is called Vulgate, which
was later recognized as the official
translation of the Church. Augustine is also
one of them. He was from Northern Africa.
His life in excesses and pleasures became
the context of his theology, which is found
in his writings, the City of God and
Confessions, that even to this day still
[Link] influential. He then became the bishop of
Hippo.

Monasticism
As Christianity became a legal religion, masses of people were baptized, yet it lost much of its
original identity. But for others, there are some ways to go back to the covenantal identity of
the church. Some of the devout Christians went ahead to form a new community and
dedicated themselves to God alone. They "fled from the World" (Fuga Mundi) and cloistered
their days with prayer, meditations, and work. They continue to fulfill the work of the disciples
by living a life of simplicity and penance. This gave rise to Monasticism. St. Anthony of Egypt
is credited as the founder of this new movement and St. Benedict made structure into it by
establishing a community of monks at Monte Cassino. The monks were governed with a
written rule of life, common prayer, and strenuous manual labor (ora et labora). By copying
the works of the fathers of the Church and the classics of western civilization, the monks kept
alive this tradition in an age in which the Roman empire was crumbling. By the 9 th century,
the monasteries had become the centers of learning and their abbots were powerful men.

B. THE DOMINANCE OF CHURCH IN THE WEST (7TH –13TH CENTURIES)

The Germanization of the Church

The effect of the entrance of the young German people into the Church was significantly strong
and influential (Franzen, 1968). They destroyed the culture and civilization of the Roman
empire. For nearly two centuries they continued to practice their pagan custom and morals.
During the second epoch, Boniface and Charlemagne created the necessary conditions for
the development of Western Christianity by helping to establish the union between the
Universal Roman Church and the Kingdom of Franks. The two helped the Church by
Germanizing the organizational forms of Christianity such as agrarian structure, the sharp
separation of classes into lower and higher clergy favored an aristocratic rule in the church,
right of the landowners, development of Christian knighthood.

6
This century was a great and exciting time that found an elevated expression in the wonderful
work of the Roman and Gothic world. Monastic orders continue to flourish; the convent was
the center of true religion. The monks make earnest with their religion and put it into zealous
practice.
East and West Schism
The two great centers of Christianity were
Rome (west) and Constantinople (east). They
are separated by theology and politics. Those
in the east often resented Roman's claims to
primacy. The crowning of Charlemagne as
the Holy Roman Emperor in the year 800
brought about great resentment from the
east. There was a time that Michael
Cerularius, patriarch of Constantinople
[Link] refused to accept the authority of the pope.
[Link] Another followed one bad decision.
Diplomatic relations failed. Despite repeated
attempts at reconciliation, all hope was lost after the fourth crusade in which the city of
Constantinople was sacked by armies representing western Christianity. The result was the
break that divides the Roman and Orthodox churches to this day.

Gregorian Reform
The Church’s connection with the
state became so influential in which
the Church became increasingly
corrupted by secular forces.
Ecclesiastical offices were bought
(known as simony). Wealth was the
matter of the day, not faith. Church
property was passed on to the
children of priests or bishops
(celibacy was not yet mandatory in
the Church), and secular rulers
appointed bishops. The authority of
the pope over the Church had
[Link]
virtually disappeared. Pope Gregory for-young-men-from-st-gregory-the-great
VII came into the mess with a great
determination to reform the Church.
He strengthened the structure of the institution and added more power to the pope. Under
his papacy, the church developed many offices under his office (known as curia). With Gregory
VII as pope, the papacy was granted extraordinary powers within the Church, which were
further developed by Innocent III. These reforms also gave rise to the dominance of the code
of canon law. The rules of the Church were strictly codified in the canon law for clarity in legal
terms. The Church was defined more in institutional terms with the pope as the supreme
head and the laity and priests in totally subservient roles.

As historians would always say, these were some of the best and the worst days in the history

7
of the Church. The inquisition, under Innocent III, began its terrible chapter in Church’s history.
In this dark time of the Church, there was a bit bright ray of hope in the persons of these two
great men St. Francis (d. 1226) and St. Dominic (d. 1221). They both manifested powerful
signs of what Christian life was truly meant to be and both founded orders of men interested
in living the gospel in its pristine simplicity: the life of poverty, prayer, preaching, and service.
Moreover, these orders had dawned the Church for theological renewal led by the Dominicans,
Albert the Great and Thomas of Aquinas and the Franciscans, Bonaventure and Duns Scotus.

The Avignon Exile

The power of the papacy came to a halt in 1303. Pope Boniface VIII had issued a statement
(called a bull, Unam Sanctam) declaring his authority over the French government. This led
to his arrest by the order of the French king, Philip the IV. After the date of the pope, a French
bishop and a friend of the king were elected pope. He took the name Clement V. He moved
his residence from Rome to Avignon in Southern France. Many French cardinals were
appointed in his papacy, and they, in turn, elected another Frenchman as pope, John XXII, who
moved all the papal offices to Avignon. At least seven French popes lived in Avignon from
1309 to 1377. The papal concern became more with finances and taxation. The popes lived
in extravagance.

The end of the Avignon papacy and the return to Rome was a gradual process under the
papacy of Gregory XI who was influenced by an extraordinary woman of her time, St. Catherine
of Siena. This was also the time of the beginning of further internal conflicts in the west.

C. GREAT WESTERN SCHISMS AND THE TRANSITION TO A WIDER

MISSION (13TH- 19TH CENTURIES)

Three Popes
Division seems normally happen to a
church that does not focus herself to
her true mission but to the self-
vested power. The Great western
Schisms were the aftermath of this
reality. This lasted from 1378-1417.
Urban VI who was elected as pope at
that time elicited a firm reaction from
the French cardinals when in turn
elected among themselves Robert of
Geneva as the Anti Pope Clement VII.
France, Scotland, and Spain gave
their allegiance to Clement VII. Urban
VI was supported by England, Italy,
Hungary, Poland, and Germany
(Lovasik, 1986). They both
excommunicated each other. A
council was held at Pisa, seeking to
[Link] choose a compromise candidate and
unify the Church. Instead, the two popes already refused to let go of their authority, and then

8
there were three popes. Emperor Sigismund mediated the “war” within the Church and called
a council to meet at Constance. There, Martin V was elected pope.

“The Dawn is here”

From the 14th century and the first half of the 16th century, there was a great development
the happened in the entire world. This was the Renaissance Age. There were so many
changes in theology, philosophy, literature, and the arts. The spirit of liberation and changes
stirred the air. Also, great maritime cities sprang up along the coast of Italy (Lovasik, 1986)
which led to the easy transport of knowledge from one place to another. Teachings and moral
precepts of the church were put into question. Discoveries curiously inspired new
philosophies and ideas (Humanism).

One thing is clear at this very time: The Church was badly in need of reform. Unfortunately,
those in the Church with all the power to lead a reform seemed to be unable and have little
interest in this regard. With the hindsight provided by history we can see some of the reforms
that were necessary for the Church: (1) the need to return to the message of the Gospel,
(2) the need for reform in spirituality, (3) reform in the papacy, (4) reform within ecclesiastical
offices, and (5) and the relationship of the Church with secular governments.

The Reformation
Into the midst of this crisis stepped
one of the most important figures of
western Christianity, Martin Luther.
He was a Roman Catholic priest and
monk who was devoutly religious. On
October 1517 he posted his now-
famous Ninety-Five Theses on the
door of the castle church at
Wittenberg. Luther just saw himself
as a reformer, not an ambitious one
seeking a new form of Christianity.
The attempt of dialogue between him [Link]
and Church officials was not a
successful one. Later, he hardened his position and so the Church. He was ex-communicated
from the Church on January 3, 1520, and was protected by German royalty. His theology
spread rapidly. The following are his beliefs:

1. Salvation comes from faith alone (sola fide). In no way did a person merit his or
her eternal life with God through good works. It was grace alone that brought
salvation.
2. The Bible is the sole authority (sola Scriptura) in the life of the Christian. While the
Church traditions may be helpful, they are secondary to the Bible.
3. Luther recognized only two sacraments as having a biblical basis: the Eucharist
and Baptism. He believed that the mass should be said in the language of the
people. He did not believe in the celibacy for priests since it was not in the Bible.

9
 4. He discredited all intermediaries between God and the believer. Thus there was
no need for the rosary, prayers to saints, statues of saints, indulgences, etc.
5. He emphasized the role of the laity in the Church and believed that all should have
access to reading God’s word.
6. Because he believed in the Bible, he stressed the importance of preaching.

Luther was not alone in seeking reform in the Church. In Switzerland, Ulrich Zwingli was
starting to get the Church back to its biblical roots and away from any beliefs not rooted in the
Bible. In France, John Calvin was well known for his teaching concerning predestination.
Meanwhile, in England, the reform was not so much on the matter of doctrines rather on the
vested interest of Henry VIII when the pope did not allow him to divorce his wife. And so, he
declared himself head of the Church in England and along with most of the bishops of the
country set himself against Rome. This marked the beginning of the Anglican Church.

The Counter-Reformation
Not to be left out unable to defend herself, the Catholic
Church fought a furious intellectual and faith battle
against the reformation the Counter-Reformation. The
Catholic Church felt that the emerging protest wrought
havoc to its center and portal. A program of reform is
necessary to re-evaluate the position of the Church. In
1537, an ecumenical council was convened to draw
up eminent changes and affirmation of doctrines in
the Catholic Church. The Council of Trent clarified
church doctrines and condemned the corresponding
errors of the reformers. The following principal
[Link]
doctrines were redefined and refined by the Council of
holic-counter-reformation-reacting-or-reforming/ Trent:

1. The basis of faith is contained in both scripture and tradition.

2. All the books of the bible are to be regarded as inspired by the
almighty God.
3. The sole infallible interpreter of the sacred Scripture is the
Catholic Church founded by Jesus Christ.
4. Faith and good works are both necessary for salvation.
5. Christ instituted each of the 7 sacraments.
6. The mass is both a sacrament and sacrifice.
7. All Church doctrines are contained in the deposit of Divine
Revelation and are an integral part of the religion founded by Jesus
Christ.

The Council of Trent inspired a period of reform within the Catholic Church that was badly
needed. The question remained as to why Church came only after she had been attacked
vigorously by the reformation movements. Even at Trent, the Church remained at the
defensive stance, instead of discerning where did she go wrong. Trent defined the life of the
Catholic Church for the next three hundred years.

10
Missions
To add new fervor to the Church, missionary expansionism began. To evangelize people, the
Church sent many missionaries to be the herald of the good news. Spain and Portugal
spearheaded these navigations. The treaty of Tordesillas signed by these two countries
affirmed their domination and divided the world into two. They installed bishoprics in their
subjugated territories, baptized and gave the natives a Christian name. It was also the time of
oppressions and conquest bringing with them the wisdom and the truth of the gospel; the
conquistadors used it as a form of manipulation and justified it by using the name of the
church.

D. THE CHURCH IN THE INDUSTRIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL AGE

(19TH-20TH CENTURIES)

The Enlightenment
The intellectual and religious upheavals
that had swept over Europe during the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries (the
renaissance, the reformation, and the
counter-reformation) helped gave rise to a
period known as the Enlightenment. The
thinkers of the enlightenment placed great
value on human thought as a science. All
things that can be known are things that can
be observed and studied. The human mind
cannot know anything about the “spiritual”
[Link]
realm of existence. Voltaire, a French
philosopher, summed up the line of thought of the time: “What our eyes and mathematics
demonstrate, we must take as true. In all the rest, we can only say: We are ignorant.” For
some thinkers, Christianity had to be rejected as a religion of revelation and authority.
Likewise, for them, the mind was the only true authority. These thinkers opened the world
with great optimism on our humanity – our human capacity to think and be creative. This line
of thinking threatened not only the institutions of the society but the Church as well for an
obvious reason – it undermined much of the authority of the Church and its basis – the Divine
Revelation.

The enlightenment movement produced a significant turn of events, the French Revolution.
The Church was seen as an element of an old order of power, which need to be toppled. The
Church underwent extraordinary persecution during this revolution. This brought to an
eventual end to the hierarchical and feudal patterns of relationships which the Church’s
authorities had been enjoying. It did so at a terrible cost.

11
Vatican I
After many years of persecutions and
setbacks, the Church slowly climbed
back to the ladder to make a
considerable turnaround. The most
important Church figure during this
period was Pope Pius IX whose reign
encompassed such noteworthy events
as the definition of the Dogma of the
Immaculate Conception, the
publication of the "syllabus of errors," [Link]
and the calling of Vatican I. This vatican-ii/
ecumenical council took place
between 1869-1870, which finally ensured and defined the primacy and the infallibility of the
Pope. The Pope is infallible in matters of faith and morals upon which he speaks "ex-cathedra."
The "syllabus of errors" condemned rationalism, modernism, socialism, and communism.

The Industrial Revolution

The nineteenth century was best characterized as the age of industrialization. Breakthroughs
in technology had re-created the affairs of the world. The world began to work in new and
different ways. Sources of the wealth of the society were controlled by the few and the masses
of workers had terrible wages and working conditions. Karl Marx, the thinker behind
communism, came into this midst. He criticized the prevailing economic order, Capitalism
with its abuses and excesses as the source of alienation and oppression of workers. He, thus,
thought of a socialist order in which a worker contributes according to his ability and receives
according to his need. Religion, for Marx, functioned as an escape from the real condition of
the human person. It was him who said that religion is, “the opium of the people.”

Amidst the challenges of the times, Pope Leo XIII, who was very much concerned with the
realities affecting the human person, wrote an encyclical called Rerum Novarum. In this
encyclical, he encouraged the development of trade unions, as well as just wages and working
conditions. He criticized both extreme capitalism and extreme socialism. In one way or
another, the pope conditioned the Church to become more involved in the quest for social
justice.

The Twentieth Century

During this period the Church has involved itself in a wide spectrum of affairs. It began
condemning “modernism,” which was an intellectual movement that sought to bring some of
the principles of the enlightenment to the Christian faith. Later, however, the Church became
open to modern ideas. There was a significant development in the areas of liturgy, biblical
studies, ecumenism, and social justice. Perhaps in the first half of the century, there was an
important encyclical called Divino Afflante Spiritu, written by Pope Pius XII, which opened the
doors for modern scholarship in Scripture and which effects are still being felt today.

Another major action that the Church had taken was its war against communism particularly
of its atheistic and materialistic doctrines. The most significant highlight of the century was
the Second Vatican Council. It is considered by many historians to be the most important

12
event in Church history since the reformation. Because of its historical significance, we will
deal with it in the next part.

The Church became hierarchical and monarchial at one point in our history but she did
struggle a lot to go back to its original mission of service. The Church at that certain times
discriminated and oppressed its people because of power bestowed on her by the turn of
events, but by now the Church continues to journey with her people toward the realization of
the Kingdom of God here and now. The Church is still on the journey and will always be.

Second Vatican Council

There was much talk of reform in the Church and some small signs that it was on its way.
However, when Pope Pius XII died in 1958, little did the Church know that it was about to
embark on a new era of its history. The election of Angelo Roncalli as the new pope was seen
as a choice of moderation. He chose the name John XXIII, and from the beginning, he gave a
new direction to the papacy. He described himself as a shepherd and a priest. He visited the
sick, the elderly, and those in prison. Perhaps most importantly, John XXIII believed in the
goodness of the world and the possibilities of progress.
John XXIII was an optimist. He saw in human progress the hand of God. He believed that the
Church must open itself up to the modern world. He also believed that the divisions of the
church brought about in history by the schism of east and west and the reformation were a
scandal. Vatican II was to be different. Its purpose was not to condemn but to build up and
renew and help the church face the challenges of the twentieth century.

The Second Vatican Council met in four sessions from 1962 through 1965. The sessions
generally went from October to the beginning of December. Those who came to the council
included all bishops throughout the world and their advisors. Observers were welcomed from
the laity and the Protestant and Eastern Orthodox churches.

Pope John XXIII dies in June 1963 between the first and second sessions. Paul VI who
continued the council succeeded him, and under his leadership, not only its work but also its
spirit was maintained.

The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (also known as Lumen Gentium) is one of the most
important documents of the Council. This document describes the very nature and meaning
of the Church.

Since the Second Vatican Council different theological concepts, descriptions, and images of
the Church have developed. Some are the result of the Council’s deliberations, others
emerged out of the experience of very concrete situations in which the Church finds herself
today. It can be seen that a theology of the Church has emerged that reflects definite changes
in political, social, philosophical, and religious thinking.

13
[Link]

14
 E. MARKS OF THE CHURCH (ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS
OF THE CHURCH)

The Faith We Profess

(as Catholic Christians)

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all
things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of
the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from
true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him,
all things were made. For us men and our salvation he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For
our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was
buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He
ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will
come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have
no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the
Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church . I confess one

baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of
the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

-oOo-

15
 [Link]

We know that Our Lord established a Church before He ascended into Heaven. He made St
Peter the head of that Church. But does that Church still exist? There are so many Churches
that call themselves Christian ... are they all the true Church? Is only one of them? Which one?

Most true Christians accept as the basis of their faith those truths outlined in the Nicene
Creed. It is in that Creed that we learn the true marks (or indicia) of the True Church of Christ.

THE TRUE CHURCH IS ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC.

Only the Roman Catholic Church can validly claim all four marks. It is the Roman Catholic
Church which has always been and continues to be that Church which Jesus Himself
established almost 2000 years ago.

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The Catholic Church is ONE
There is only one Christian Church,
united in faith, in worship, and
succession from the Apostles
themselves. For the Church is the Body
of Christ Himself, and so is whole and
one as Christ's Body is whole and one.
Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic
Constitution on the Church promulgated
by the Fathers of the Second Vatican
Council, states that:
[Link]
"The sole Church of Christ [is that] which our
Savior, after His Resurrection, entrusted to Peter's pastoral care, commissioning him and the
other apostles to extend and rule it... This Church constituted and organized as a society in
the present world, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter
and by the bishops in communion with him."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that: "The Church is one: she acknowledges one
Lord, confesses one faith, is born of one Baptism, forms only one Body, is given life by one
Spirit, for the sake of one hope, at whose fulfillment all divisions will be overcome."

Of course, it is a sad fact that in the course of its history, rifts have arisen in the Church,
sometimes leading whole groups of the faithful to separate from the Church. This is a scandal,
unpleasing to God. Our Lord wishes that "all may be one" and all Christians must strive towards
and pray earnestly for that day when all Christians will be united in the Lord.

This does not, however, mean that a proliferation of denominations means the Catholic
Church is not one. All those separated from the Catholic Church remain part of her,
mysteriously. All those who receive Christian baptism belong to the Catholic Church! We all
look forward with hope to the day when we will share a meal at the one banquet table in the
presence of Our Lord.

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The Catholic Church is HOLY
Lumen Gentium states further that: "The Church ... is
held, as a matter of faith, to be unfailingly holy. This is
because Christ, the Son of God, who with the Father and
the Spirit is hailed as "alone holy", loved the Church as
his Bride, giving himself up for her to sanctify her; he
joined her to himself as his body and endowed her with
the gift of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God."

The Church, then, is perfect and holy, the spotless bride

of Christ, the undefiled Body of Christ Himself, filled with
the Holy Spirit. The mysterious paradox is that the Church
[Link] is holy and perfect, even though she is made of imperfect
s/devotional-items/ sinners!

The Church is holy: The Most Holy God is her author; Christ, her bridegroom, gave himself up
to make her holy; the Spirit of holiness gives her life. Since she still includes sinners, she is
"the sinless one made up of sinners". Her holiness shines in the saints; in Mary, she is already
all-holy." (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

The Catholic Church is CATHOLIC

"Catholic" in this sense is the "small-c" "catholic", which
means "universal". The Church can be found in St
Peter's Basilica, in a suburban parish church, in a group
of faithful in the Amazon Jungle. But being one in faith
and communion with the Church in Rome makes this
Church a universal collection of those "particular
Churches". Particular Churches fall to the care of
Bishops, the pastors of the faithful, and successors of
the Apostles. Their communion with each other and
with the Bishop of Rome makes the Catholic Church
truly universal.

Pope Paul VI in his encyclical, Evangelii Nuntiandi,

states: "Let us be very careful not to conceive of the
universal Church as the simple sum, or ... the more or less anomalous federation of essentially
different particular churches. In the mind of the Lord, the Church is universal by vocation and
mission, but when she puts down her roots in a variety of cultural, social, and human terrains,
she takes on different external expressions and appearances in each part of the world."

"The Church is catholic: she proclaims the fulness of the faith. She bears in herself and
administers the totality of the means of salvation. She is sent out to all peoples. She speaks
[Link]
to all men. She encompasses all times. She is "missionary by her very nature".
quotes-after-loss/
(Catechism of the Catholic Church)

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The Catholic Church is APOSTOLIC
The Catholic Church validly claims succession from the Apostles themselves. All bishops of
the Catholic Church are ordained by bishops who themselves were ordained ... and so on ...
who themselves were ordained by the Apostles.
This passing on of the authority and mission of the
Apostles throughout time is guided by the Holy
Spirit who descended on the Apostles at Pentecost
and remains with the Church guiding Her until the
Lord comes again.

Other Churches, no longer in communion with the

Church of Rome, have also maintained Apostolic
Succession. The Orthodox Churches, certain of the
bishops of the Anglican Communion and the
bishops of the Society of St Pius X, although not in
communion with Rome, have maintained this
succession from the Apostles by ensuring that only
bishops in the Apostolic Succession may ordain
other bishops after the group has separated from
Rome.

"The Church is apostolic. She is built on a lasting

[Link]
foundation: "the twelve apostles of the Lamb". She
february-forsake-the-vanity-of-the-crowd-st-polycarp/

is indestructible. She is upheld infallibly in the truth:

Christ governs her through Peter and the other apostles, who are present in their successors,
the Pope and the college of bishops. (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

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LEARNING REFERENCES
Primary Sources:
New American Bible (NAB)
Christian Community Bible, Revised Standard Version (RSV)
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. (2005). Catechism
for Filipino Catholics. Makati: Word and Life Publications.
Acts and Decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines
(PCP II)
Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education.
(1994). Catechism of the Catholic Church (newsprint edition).
Manila: Word and Life Publication
Evangelii gaudium (Joy of the gospel).
Patambang, Salibay, and Valera. (2001). Sacraments, marriage,
and family life. Manila: National Bookstore.
Alonsozana, De Leon, Domingo, Ellema, Ramirez, Regis, Salibay,
Talamera, Valera. (Workbook) Christian Discipleship in the
Modern World. Pan Asia Book Exchange Inc., Quezon City,
Philippines

Additional Online Sources:

[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-
ii_enc_18051986_dominum-[Link]
[Link]
growth-of-the-church/
[Link]
worldreligions/chapter/reformation-counter-reformation-and-
the-modern-period/

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