The Apostles Creed

● Crafted in the council of Trent

● The core of Christianity. It encapsulates dogmas in the religion.
● You may present the Apostles' Creed when someone asks about the Christian Faith.
COUNCIL - All bishops (and Christian authority) gather to discuss, rule, and consider
doctrines, administration, discipline, and other matters.

TRIVIA - As the Apostle’s Creed was crafted in Trent, the Nicene Creed was also crafted
during the council in Nicea.

Church’s Main Mission - Spread the Word of God

Salvation - to save and enlighten

Jesus’ role is to spread the word of God. We are to continue to spread his word to ALL
people. Thus, the concept of salvation is still ONGOING.

Jesus is the head, and the Church is considered the body

We receive Christs’ THREE FOLD MISSION when we are baptized.

PROPHETIC MISSION

Life - To convey God’s Message

Mission - To spread faith in God
Work - to serve God and the people, and to spread God’s word.
They are the spokespersons of God. They receive the message from God and simply relay
the message. They all faced tragic fates and were killed. Our mission is to be prophets and
to give good messages on how you can inspire others.

PRIESTLY MISSION

The priestly mission of the Church is centered around worship, sacraments, prayer,
reconciliation, spiritual guidance, teaching, and acts of charity—all aimed at helping
individuals and the community draw closer to God and live out their faith. We fight for those
who are marginalized, oppressed, and are facing injustice.

KINGLY MISSION

The kingly mission of the Church involves leadership, moral authority, social justice
advocacy, evangelism, community service, cultural influence, and the proclamation of God's
kingdom on Earth. It reflects the Church's role in shaping society and working towards a
world that aligns with Christian values and principles. Servant leadership should be followed.
It is important to note that a manager has a bird’s eye view of the progress, while the leader
engages in the journey.
“Cathedral”
● Derived from the latin word ‘cathedra’ which means chair/seat.
● Symbolizes leadership/kingship.

What does a king do?

1. A king serves.

A king must be in the service of others. The Church must serve as an instrument for
the achievement of unity in the world.

2. A king establishes peace and justice.

A king establishes peace and justice that is achieved through serving others. Moreso,
the church must help in establishing peace and justice, they must not tolerate
injustice and constantly speak out.

3. A king involves themselves in politics.

They must maintain law and order, protect the land, and care for the wellbeing of
their people. The church must involve.

4. A king leads.

A king rules. Servant leadership is a prominent idea. If a king leads, therefore, the
church must follow this notion aswell.

SYNTHESIZING:
In the altar of the church, there is a chair that only the bishop can use. According to the
church, a bishop can only preside the Eucharist, so how is it possible that priests can hold
masses? This is made possible through the bishop ‘sharing’ their power to the priests to
perform, they share their power with the bishop. Without the bishop’s explicit permission, a
priest does not have the power to hold a mass.

IMAGES OF THE CHURCH

Why are they called ‘images’?

They are called images as they symbolically depict or represent the body of believers, the
community of Christian worship, and the spiritual unity of the Church.

1. Body of Christ - The "Body of Christ" refers to the belief that all Christians
collectively make up the spiritual body of Christ, with Jesus as the head. It
emphasizes the idea that all believers, regardless of their individual roles or
functions, are interconnected and work together as a unified body to fulfill the mission
of Christ on Earth.

2. Temple of the Holy Spirit - The church is a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. The
church’s believers are collectively indwelt with the Holy Spirit.
 3. God’s People - "People of God" is a biblical term used to describe the community of
believers in Christianity. It is a concept that spans both the Old and New Testaments
and signifies God's chosen people, united in their faith and commitment to Him. In
the New Testament, the term is often used to refer to the Christian community that
follows Christ.

MARKS OF THE CHURCH

1. One - The Church is considered "one" because it is believed to be a single, unified body
with a common faith and purpose. This unity is based on the belief in one God, one faith,
and one baptism. Despite the diversity of denominations and local congregations, Christians
are called to seek and promote unity within the Church.

2. Holy - The Church is considered "holy" because it is set apart for sacred purposes and is
believed to be sanctified by the presence of God's Spirit. Christians are called to live holy
lives and strive for personal sanctification. The Church also administers the sacraments,
which are seen as means of grace and holiness.

3. Catholic - The term "catholic" means "universal." The Church is seen as catholic because
it is not limited to a particular time, place, or culture. It is meant to be a global and inclusive
community that welcomes all people regardless of their background. The mission of the
Church is to spread the message of Christ to all nations.

4. Apostolic - The Church is considered "apostolic" because it is believed to be founded on

the apostles, who were chosen by Jesus to be his original disciples and messengers of the
Gospel. The Church's teachings and authority are believed to be passed down in an
unbroken line of succession from the apostles through bishops and clergy.

HERESY, APOSTASY, SCHISM

 "Heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be
believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt
concerning the same; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism
is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the
members of the Church subject to him."

Heresy - Heresy refers to holding and promoting beliefs that contradict or deviate from
officially accepted religious doctrines within a specific tradition.

Schism - A schism is the division or separation within a religious community, typically arising
from disagreements over religious doctrine, practice, or authority.

Apostasy - Apostasy is the act of renouncing one's religious faith or allegiance to a

particular religious tradition.

These terms describe different ways in which individuals or groups can deviate from
established religious norms, whether through beliefs (heresy), division within the
religious community (schism), or the abandonment of one's faith (apostasy).

PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH

Persecution – Refers to affiliations imposed on man by his fellowman with the intention to
injure or distress.

History of persecution – Since the 5th century, it has been customary to count ten major
persecutions in the early church, a number that nicely parallels the ten plagues of Egypt.

The Ten Persecutions:

​ 1. Nero (64 AD): The first persecution took place under Emperor Nero, who falsely
blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE. Christians were subjected to
brutal and widespread mistreatment.
​
​ 2. Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD): Emperor Domitian targeted Christians for their
refusal to worship the Roman gods and the emperor himself. Many were exiled,
imprisoned, or killed.
​
​ 3. Emperor Trajan (98-117 AD): Emperor Trajan issued a decree against Christianity,
primarily targeting Christian leaders and clergy. Local governors were given authority
to enforce this decree.
​ 4. Emperor Marcus Aurelius (177-180 AD): During the rule of Emperors Marcus
Aurelius and Commodus, Christians faced sporadic and localized persecutions due
to their refusal to participate in pagan rituals.
​
​ 5. Emperor Septimius Severus (202 AD): Emperor Septimius Severus forbade
conversions to Christianity and issued penalties for those who disobeyed. This was a
significant effort to suppress Christian growth.
​
​ 6. Emperor Maximinus the Thracian (235-238 AD): Under Maximinus, a severe
persecution was aimed at the entire Christian community, leading to mass arrests
and executions.
​
​ 7. Emperor Decius (250 AD): Emperor Decius issued an empire-wide edict requiring
all citizens to perform a sacrifice to Roman gods. Christians who refused were
subject to punishment.
​
​ 8. Emperor Valerian (253-259 AD): Valerian initiated a severe persecution, which
included confiscation of church property and the arrest of clergy.
​
​ 9. Emperor Aurelian (274-275 AD): He sought to promote religious unity through a
monotheistic worship of the sun-god, and of the Emperor as his representative on
earth. This of course led to a resumption of the persecutions of Christians.
​
​ 10. Emperor Diocletian (284-305 AD): The most extensive and systematic
persecution was carried out under Emperor Diocletian. It included destroying
churches, burning Christian texts, and brutalizing believers.
​