At this epoch of human history, as we cross the threshold into the Great Jubilee and focus on the 2000th anniversary of Christ’s Inca nation, we do well to reflect on the nature of His Mystical Body, the Church which He founded. This is an excellent opportunity to clarify in our minds both what the Church is and how she is to be properly understood. In particular, present day misunderstandings, especially concerning the nature of Church as “community,” need to be addressed and put into an understanding harmonious to the Church’s own mind.
Jesus Christ came to make knows the Father’s great love and to reveal to human beings the dignity of their most-high calling. He came to empower His people with the gift of His Spirit, so they might be sanctified for a life of holiness. The Incarnation is not to be seen as an isolated event in the distant past but rather the center of history. Jesus Christ is Lord of History and Lord of Time. In Jesus Christ, history finds its ultimate meaning.
Having accomplished His earthly mission, Christ ascended to the right hand of God, where he exercises his those priestly ministry by interceding for those who draw near to God through Him (Hebrews 7:25). Though the visible humanity of Christ is with the Father, Christ still dwells on the earth through His body, the Church. The Church is the kingdom of God present in mystery (LG 3). Though already present in His Church, Christ’s reign has yet to be completely fulfilled, so the Church hopes and longs for the fullness of His presence at the Parousia when all will be made subject to him and brought under his Lordship.
In reflecting on the mystery of the Church at the beginning of this millennium, we must look to the Second Vatican Council, which gave expression to the Church’s understanding in Lumen Gentium (The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 1963) and Gaudium et Spes (The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 1965). The Catechism of the Catholic Church has distilled the major aspects of this teaching in its explanation of the Church. Pope John Paul II reminds us that the Second Vatican Council was a great gift to the Church at the end of the second millennium. As the Church moves into the new millennium, she should do so with a renewed commitment to the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. The Church must strive to live the liturgy as the source and summit of her ecclesial life. The Church must pray and work for Christian unity seeking to develop a stronger ecdesiology of communion. The Church must continue an open and respectful dialogue with the world but with careful discernment and courageous witness to the truth (see Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 1994).
How to Use This Guide
Each of the following reflections presents the major elements of the Church’s teaching on the Church as developed in the Catechism. They are meant to help families and other small groups of individuals begin to reflect prayerfully on the significance of the Church in the new millennium. Try to set aside an hour each week to go through the Catechism and the corresponding scriptural references, discussing them with your families or in small groups from your parish. For each section do the following:
- Read the selections from the Catechism seeking to understand the main points of consideration. Then read the synopsis, which highlights certain aspects of the doctrine. Discuss what is most important about this doctrine and why.
- Look up the Scripture references. Consider how they help illustrate the doctrinal teaching. Notice how Catholic doctrine is a further development of the biblical witness.
- Beginning with discussion questions, consider how the doctrinal teaching relates to your own life and what you need to do to appropriate this teaching in a more personal way.
- Using the Scriptures for further reflection, spend the remainder of your week reflecting on this aspect of the Church’s doctrine, not just as an isolated teaching, but as it relates to the whole of the Catholic faith.
Week One
The Church in God’s Plan
Read Sections 748-780
The word “Church” refers to those whom God has called together or assembled under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It can refer to the liturgical assembly (parish), the local community (diocese), and the universal communion. Gathered together in worship, the Church receives the Word of God and the Body of Christ to be formed in the image of Christ. All the Church has is the gift of the Spirit that Christ bestows on the Church. She has no light of her own but only reflects the light of Christ. In the Old Testament, in response to sin, God began the great work of gathering a people to Himself and preparing them to receive His gift of salvation. Through the blessings given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He chose a people and set them apart for Himself, binding Himself to them in covenant. In the fullness of time, He sent His Son to inaugurate His kingdom. Christ gathered to Himself apostles and disciples, through whom He laid the foundations for His community of salvation, the Church. The Church exists as the community of faith, hope, and love, given the gift of the Spirit by which she offers grace and salvation to all. The Church therefore exists as both a visible society and a communion in the Spirit, standing as a sign and instrument, a sacrament of God’s salvation, and a witness to the consummation yet to come.
SCRIPTURE
Acts 2:47, “And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”
Ephesians 1:9-10, “He has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.”
DISCUSSION
1. How is the Church both a visible and a spiritual communion?
2. In what ways is the Church a sign and sacrament of salvation?
FURTHER REFLECTION
Matthew 4:18-22
Ephesians 3:14-21
1 Timothy 3:1-13
Week Two
The Church: People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy Spirit
Read Sections 781-810
Various images used throughout Scripture help to explain the inexhaustible mystery of the Church. As the people of God, a common Old Testament theme, the Church journeys through the wilderness on her way to the Promised Land. The journey theme reminds us that the Church has not yet arrived at her final destination. She must continue to follow the way the Lord has set out for her, trusting in His provision even as He provided for Israel in the desert. The Church is the bride of Christ (the new Eve), born from the pierced side of Christ (the new Adam) on the cross, sanctified by his sacrifice, and united with him in the marriage feast. The Church is the body of Christ, a body made up of many members with diverse gifts. Through their union with Christ, the various members of the body are united with one another. Therefore when one member suffers, all suffer; if one member is honored, all are honored. Furthermore, the Church is the temple of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the life principle that animates and sustains the body of Christ, giving various charisms according to the need of the Church. Among these charisms are the gifts of shepherds to lead and guide the Church.
SCRIPTURE
1 Corinthians 12:12, “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:16, “Do you know not that you are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
DISCUSSION
1. What is the nature of the Church’s unity?
2. What are the characteristics of the people of God?
FURTHER REFLECTION
Ephesians 4:1-5
Luke 10:38-42
John 14:15-31
Week Three
The Church is One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic
Read Sections 811-870
Four marks or characteristics of the Church are confessed in the creed: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. These marks explain the essential aspects of the Church and her mission. She possesses these characteristics, not in her own right but as a gift from the Lord and the Spirit. The unity of the Church is real because there is but one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one Spirit that binds all together. The challenge to the Church is to maintain her visible unity, which has often come under attack and has suffered rupture as a result of sin. Only through reconciliation and healing can the gift of unity Christ bestows on the Church be realized fully in her visible incarnation. The Church is holy because Christ died to sanctify and redeem His bride. The Church, having been given the fullness of the means of salvation, directs all of her activity to the sanctification of her members. On earth, this holiness is achieved in a real, though imperfect way. The Church is catholic, which means “universal” or “whole.” The Catholic Church holds the fullness of Christ, her head, who imparts to the Church all that is necessary for salvation. The Church is also catholic in the sense that her mission is universal: She has been sent to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world. Finally, the Church is apostolic in that she has received a structure founded on the apostolic witness and guided by those to whom the apostles handed on the traditions they received from the Lord.
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 16:18, “And I say to you, you are Peter and upon this rock I shall build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it.”
1 Peter 2:22, “Since you have purified yourselves by obedience to the truth for sincere mutual love, love one another intensely from a pure heart.”
DISCUSSION
1. How do the four marks of the Church relate to her mission?
2. How does the Catholic Church relate to those outside her communion?
FURTHER REFLECTION
2 Thessalonians 2:15
John 15:1-17
Acts 1:6-12
Week Four
Christ’s Faithful: Hierarchy, Laity, Consecrated Life
Read Sections 871-945
In as much as a diversity of gifts have been given to the members of the Church, the people of God share in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly ministry of Christ also in diverse ways. Truly there is equality in dignity accorded to all members of the Church, yet this does not preclude differences based on function, which Christ willed the Church to have. The apostles and their successors have been entrusted with the ministry of shepherding the Church and so they exercise an authority that not all the members share. Though each are assigned different tasks, the hierarchy, laity, and consecrated religious share in a common mission. The hierarchy is primarily responsible for authentically teaching the faith, celebrating the divine worship, and guiding and governing the Church. The laity, on the other hand, are directed toward the world, acting as leaven in the midst of the marketplace. By virtue of their baptism and confirmation, they give witness to Christ by living lives of holiness in the midst of the world. Consecrated religious, through their profession of the evangelical counsels, give witness to the world yet to come. Through their consecration, they serve as a special sign of the mystery of redemption, surrendering themselves to the love of God and service to His Church.
SCRIPTURE
Acts 14:23, “They appointed presbyters for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had placed their trust.”
John 8:31-32, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
DISCUSSION
1. How do the hierarchy participate in Christ’s ministry as priest, prophet, and king?
2. How do the laity and consecrated religious participate in Christ’s ministry as priest, prophet, and king?
FURTHER REFLECTION
Matt 28:16-20
1 Corinthians 1:1-2
James 5:13-15
Week Five
The Communion of Saints
Read Sections 946-962
The “communion of saints” refers to holy people who share in holy things. Those who have received the gifts of God (faith, justification, grace, sacraments, charisms, charity) are united with one another in a profound communion. The sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and particularly the Eucharist bring about the unity of the body. By sharing in communion, the unity of the Church is expressed and brought about. This unity transcends visible and temporal limitations. The Church existing visibly here on earth seeks the intercession of those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, for they are more closely united with Christ. At the same time, the Church remembers and prays for her dead, for she is aware that we are called to serve and suffer with one another.
SCRIPTURE
Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race.”
Ephesians 2:19, “So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God.”
DISCUSSION
1. How is the Church a communion in holy things?
2. How is the Church a communion among holy persons?
FURTHER REFLECTION
James 5:16-18
Colossians 1:9-14
Revelation 21:9-27
Week Six
Mary, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church
Read Sections 963-975
From the time of Christ’s virginal conception to the moment of his death, Mary consented to her Son’s work of salvation. Through faith she accepted the divine plan for her life, uniting herself with the work of her Son and Redeemer. From the Cross, Jesus committed the beloved disciple, symbol of all faithful disciples, to her maternal care. After Jesus’ Ascension, Mary assisted the Church with her prayers, waiting with the disciples for the promised Holy Spirit. Because of her fidelity, she is the Church’s model of faith and love. Through the gift of her Son, she was preserved from the stain of original sin, and thus, after her earthly life, she was assumed body and soul into heaven as a sign and anticipation of the resurrection of all her children. In the mystery of God’s grace, He willed that human beings, separated from Him by willful disobedience, might cooperate through their obedience in the work of redemption. Mary stands first in this line of grace as Mother of the Redeemer. This cooperation in no way takes away from Christ, for He is the source of all salvation. Nonetheless, He wills that all those saved share in some way in the work of redemption. Thus Mary, who cooperated most fully with God’s work, stands as a sign and witness of what the Church is yet to achieve.
SCRIPTURE
Luke 1:38, “Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word:”
John 19: 26-27, “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, `Woman, behold your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.”
DISCUSSION
1. How is Mary a model of the Church?
2. How did Mary cooperate in her Son’s work of redemption?
FURTHER REFLECTION
Mark 3:31-35
John 2:1-12
Revelation 12:1-18
Week Seven
Liturgy: The Church’s Worship
Read Sections 1066-1112
In the liturgy, the Church signifies and makes present the Paschal Mystery, Christ’s work of redemption. The word “liturgy” means work of the people—that is, it is the people’s participation in the work of God. The Second Vatican Council stated that the liturgy is the source and summit of the Christian life. All that Christians accomplish in this world has its source in the work of Christ, which the liturgy makes present. All that Christian life is directed toward—union with the Trinity—is manifested in the liturgical celebration. In her earthly liturgy, the Church participates in the heavenly liturgy where Christ, the eternal high priest, offers his worship before the Father. The liturgy is an anticipation of the final manifestation of Christ, when His bride, His Church, will be completely united with Him. As the Church journeys toward her final destination, she is nourished and strengthened by the grace of the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. Through the gift of the Spirit, the Church is called to communion with the mystery of Christ and is prepared to encounter her Lord. The Spirit sanctifies the Church’s offering, so that the faithful, offering themselves along with the bread and wine, are transformed into the body of Christ.
SCRIPTURE
John 4:23, “The hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth.”
Revelation 5:10, “You made of them a kingdom and priests for our God and they will reign on the earth.”
DISCUSSION
1. How is liturgy the work of the people?
2. How is liturgy the source and summit of Christian life?
FURTHER REFLECTION
Acts 3:1
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Revelation 4:1-11
Week Eight
Sacraments: Celebrations of the Paschal Mystery
Read Sections 1113-1134
The sacraments were instituted by Christ as a means of realizing and continuing His ministry of reconciling the world to God. During His lifetime, Jesus’ words and actions prepared for and anticipated His work of redemption. Through various signs and healings, He made known the nature of the Father’s loving mercy. Having demonstrated the signs of the kingdom, He commissioned His apostles to do the same. The Church’s ministry continues the redemptive, liberating, healing work of Christ. Sacraments are one of the principal ways this ministry is continued. Sacraments are efficacious signs and symbols that make present the redeeming work of Christ. The Church, the community of salvation, is the principal sacrament of Christ. The ministry of the Church is accomplished in and through particular sacraments. The sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist) make people members of Christ’s body and participants in His community of salvation. The sacraments of healing (reconciliation and anointing of the sick) provide the means for overcoming the alienating effects of sin and illness. Holy orders and matrimony set people apart for service to the kingdom of God. Sacraments are not works of magic but are rooted in the faith life of the community and the power of Christ and His Spirit. Therefore, it is important to prepare for the celebration of sacraments with heartfelt faith and devotion.
SCRIPTURE
Acts 2:38, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?’
2 Peter 2:5, “Let yourself be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ?’
DISCUSSION
1. How do sacraments flow from the ministry of Christ?
2. How is the Church the sacrament of Christ?
FURTHER REFLECTION
John 3:1-21
Acts 2:42-47
James 5:13-15
Editor’s Note: To promote study, Crisis hereby grants permission to reproduce this study guide at will for group use.