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THE CHURCH - Nature, Etc
THE CHURCH - Nature, Etc
Second, Jesus gave Peter and the apostles the power and authority to
carry out His work. "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in
heaven."(Matthew 16:19; 18:18) "Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you
forgive, they are forgiven, whose sins you retain, they are retained."(John
20:23)
Third, Jesus gave Peter and the apostles commands as to what that
work should be. At the last supper,
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The Catholic Church can trace its lineage back to Jesus Christ who
appointed St. Peter as the first pope. This line of popes has continued
unbroken for almost 2,000 years.
God rules, instructs and sanctifies His people through His Church.
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Under her teaching office, the Catholic Church preserves the Word of
God. She is the custodian, keeper, dispenser and interpreter of
teachings of Christ. And she accomplishes this under the protection of
the Holy Spirit.
In Gods own time, he sent Jesus into the world to establish the Church
which came about as a result of Jesus preaching and his suffering,
death andResurrection.
In Mt 16:17-19 Jesus explicitly speaks of his plan to establish
theChurch:
- Called individuals
- Formation of the apostles
Confer the foundation to Peter;
You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against
it.
The Catechism states that the Church was born on the cross:
As Eve was formed from the sleeping Adams side, so the church was
born from the pierced heart of Christ hanging on the cross (C 766).
But the Apostles and disciples of Jesus need the enlightenment of
the Holy Spirit to awaken them to what Jesus has done on the
cross, and to help them realize that they are the New Israel
who has now entered into a new covenant relationship with
Christ.
In Acts we see
Peter and other disciples acting on Jesus command. Descesnt of the
Holy Spirit
- His message is preachedand people are called to repent.
- Those who respond are baptized and
- acommunity of disciples is born.
Today we refer to this process as the beginnings ofthe Church. As
we read the Acts of the Apostles, sometimes called the Gospel of
the Holy Spirit, we notice how much the Holy Spirit is present
and activein the early Church.
Down through the 2,000 years of her history, the Holy Spirit
continues to guide theChurch despite the sinfulness of her
members and despite attacks from outside.
The Holy Spirit maintains the stability, durability, and continuity of
the church both
in
favorable and unfavorablehistorical
circumstances. (USC p. 115).
prayer
of
the
Church,
the laity do not just only grow inholiness but they also help
others to become holy,thus sharing in the bishops role of
sanctifying theChurch.
Prophetic role (C 904-907).
The most effectiveprophet or teacher is the one who witnesses to
theteachings of Christ in their daily life.
St. Francis ofAssisi used to say: preach the gospel always, ifnecessary
use words.
This is a very excitingdevelopment in our Church.
Within the prophetic ministry of the Church, bishopsin union with
the Pope, hold a special role. They arethe official teachers of the
Church, sometimes calledthe Magisterium (from the Latin to
teach).
How do we share?
The lay faithful share in the prophetic ministry of Christ and
the Church both by teaching and witness of life.
Kingly role(C 908-913).
Jesus is called Christ the Kingbecause he is the King of the universe
and the sourceof all authority. During his life on earth, Jesusmodeled
for us a servant style of leadership. He saidthat the son of man
came not to be served but to serveand give his life for others (Mk
10:41-45).
How do we share?
Clergy andlaity alike exercise their baptismal kingly role in
aChrist-like way when they carry out their ministrywithin
the Church in a humble servant-like manner.