RE 106 THE CHURCH

SCRIPTURAL IMAGES OF THE CHURCH

A. Vatican II’s View of the Church

A1. The Flock of Christ - The good Shepherd, who lays down his life for his
sheep.

A2. The Vineyard of God - Cultivated by the heavenly Vinedresser; Christ is

the true vine who gives life and fruitfulness to us, the branches.

A3. The Temple of God - With Christ as the cornerstone and the apostles as
foundation; and

A4. Our Mother, Spotless Spouse of the Spotless Lamb - “Whom Christ
loved and for whom he gave himself up that he might sanctify her” (LG 6).

B. PCP II’s Four Particular Adaptation of the Biblical Images

B1. Kingdom of God

This is the major theme of Christ’s own teaching in the Synoptic Gospels. PCP
II sketches it in Biblical images: The Church is the “Kingdom of God in the
process” that is:
* the Good News preached to the poor,
* the seed quietly sown, and
* the leaven in the dough, gradually raising all in the pilgrimage to the
Kingdom of the Father, through Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Church represents the coming of the Kingdom, the Kingdom in the
process.

B2. People of God

This is the favorite image use by the Vatican II. God saves us not merely
as individuals, but by calling us into a single people united in faith whose:
 Head is Christ the Lord;
 unifying soul is the indwelling spirit;
 members are those who believe in Christ and are reborn through
water and the Spirit in Baptism;
 structure is the Christ – instituted hierarchy of apostles and their
successors, the Bishops with the Roman Pontiff as head;
 law is Christ’s new commandment of love;
 mission is loving service of neighbor, and
 final destiny is sharing in the perfect communion of love, of Father,
Risen Incarnate Son and Holy Spirit.

This new People of God is a Priestly, Prophetic and Kingly people.

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 As a Priestly People – by reason of Baptism, strengthened by
Confirmation and nourished by the Eucharist, we Christians offer spiritual
worship for the glory of God and salvation of men (LG 34).

As a Prophetic People – we give witness to Christ by our understanding

of the faith and the grace of speech (Acts 2:17ff), so that the power of the
Gospel may shine out in daily life and social life (LG 35).

As a Kingly People – we share in the power of Christ the King who came
“to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Mt.20:28).
B3. Body of Christ
“By communicating His Spirit to His brothers and sisters, called together
from all people, Christ made them mystically into His own body” (LG 7)
The Church is the real, living body whose members are formed in Baptism
into the likeness of Christ, fed in the Eucharist with the very life of Christ their
head, and animated and unified by his Spirit as its soul.

B4. Temple of the Holy Spirit

St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians. “You are the temple of God, and the
Spirit of God dwells in you” (1Cor.3:16)

IV – ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS of the CHURCH

A. The Church as One

The Church is one. Jesus said to Peter: You are Peter, and on this rock I
will build my Church (Mt.16:18). Jesus said my Church, not my churches, to
stress that the true Church is only one.

Three are the sins against the unity of the Church: heresy, apostasy, and
schism. Heresy is to change the Catholic faith. Apostasy is to abandon the
Catholic Church, like the Protestants. Schism is to dissociate from the Pope,
without changing the dogmas of faith, like the Orthodox.

Ecumenism, which means “the common house”, is the movement which

strives to unite the Protestants and the Orthodox in the Catholic Church. We
must love them as our brothers, but we must not accept their mistakes. We love
the heretic, not the heresy.

Despite numerous sects and churches, the Church is essentially One as a gift
in its:
a. Source, as a people made one with the unity of the Trinity and Her founder,
Jesus Christ;
b. Life, as one body and one Spirit in:
♠ the confession of the faith;

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 ♠ common sacramental worship:
♠ loving service of one another;
♠ loving obedience to the Vicar of Christ here on earth.

Task:

The Church’s Oneness as a task - As followers of Christ and members of

the Church we are called to a radical change of heart to overcome the divisions
rooted in: Heresy, Apostasy and Schism.

B. The Church as Holy

The Church of Jesus Christ is holy because in Her there is the Holy Spirit.
As St. John said: I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from
God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for Her husband
(Rev.21:2).
The Church is holy and sinful. Holy because it is animated by he Holy
Spirit; sinful because it is composed of men. We must strive constantly in order
to become holy. As St. Peter said: Be holy in all you do, since it is the Holy One
who has called you, and Scripture says: Be holy, for I am holy (1Peter1:15-16).
The Church is holy as a gift from Christ who unites Her to Himself as His
Body, and sends Her His holy Spirit. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Church
sanctifies Her members by Her preaching, loving service, sacramental life and
charismatic gifts.

Task:
The Church’s holiness is a process of growing, a “Paschal Pilgrimage”. Like
Jesus, She welcomes sinners. But unlike, Jesus, the Church is at the same time holy
and always in need of being purified, and incessantly pursues the path of penance and
renewal.
Eph.4:22-24
James 3:2
LG 32
LG 40

C. The Church as Catholic

The Church is Catholic because it is universal. The Church is universal in

time, because it is present from the Pentecost day till the end of the world. The
Church is also universal in space, because it is present in all nations of earth.
As Jesus said before His ascension: You will receive power when the Holy
Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem
but throughout Judea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth (Acts
1:8).

The term “Catholic’ here means universal, complete, all-embracing.

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Task:
“All - without exception – are also called to mission, that is, to evangelize (LG
32).

D. The Church as Apostolic

The Church is apostolic because it is founded on the apostles. As

Scripture says: You are part of a building that has the apostles and the
prophets as its foundations, and Christ Himself for its main cornerstone (Eph.
2:20).

Peter is the head of the Church, because Jesus said: You are Peter and
on this rock I will build my Church (Mt.16:18). We must love and obey the Pope
like Jesus Christ Himself.
* The Church of Jesus Christ is also called Roman. It is because Rome is the
residence of the Holy Pope.

The Church is “Apostolic” in three basic ways:

a. Jesus Christ founded Her permanently “on the foundation of the apostles”
(Eph.2:20)

b. She guards and transmits their teachings and witness (Mt.28:19-20);

c. She continues to be instructed, sanctified and guided by the apostles through

their successors (LG 19)

The apostles were sent out by the Lord:

First to the children of Israel and then to all the nations,
so that as shares in Christ’s power they might make all people
His disciples and sanctify and govern them, and thus spread
His Church and, by administering it under the guidance of the
Lord, shepherd it all days until the end of the world.
Task:
The apostolic nature of the Church is exercised by all the Faithful
who carry on the mission entrusted by Christ to His apostles.

V – MISSION and MINISTRIES of the CHURCH

A. Mission

Christ founded His Church to continue His saving mission here on earth. “The
Church endowed with the gifts of Her founder, receives the mission to proclaim and to
establish among all the peoples the Kingdom of Christ and of God. (LG 5). This
“mission” is built into Her very nature as originating from the Blessed Trinity. The

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mission flows from the Church as “Sacrament of Salvation”, the sign and instrument for
achieving intimate union with God (LG 1).

The Church:
 has a mission mandate. (Mt.28:19ff) “Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations…end of age”
 whose origin and goal is the Blessed Trinity (AG 2)
 motivated by God’s love (2Cor.5:14)
 with the Holy Spirit as Principal Agent (RMi 2)

The mission of the Church (People of God) is the central theme of the four Gospels.

Mark – presents mission as “proclaiming” the Gospel to lead others to the faith:
“Clearly this man is the Son of God (Mk.15:39).

Matthew – mission stresses the “teaching” of the Christian community, the

Church. (Mt.28:19ff)

Luke – emphasizes the Gospel’s transforming power to work conversion to

God’s merciful love, and liberation from the root of evil and sin.

John – Jesus sends forth His disciples on mission, just as the Father sent Him
(Jn.20:21).

PCP II’s favorite image of the Church is the Church as a “community of families”, “family
of families” as a “community in mission”. Since mission is at the center of Church’s
being, the whole Church is missionary. This means that “we are missionaries above all
because of what we are as a Church…even before we become missionaries in word
and deed.

PCP II describes the particular mission of the laity (lay faithful) within the universal
mission of the Church. It grounds the “Lay Apostolate” in Vat II’s teaching:

The apostolate of the laity is a sharing in the salvific mission of the Church. Through
Baptism and Confirmation all are appointed to this apostolate by the Lord Himself…The
laity have this special vocation: to make the Church present and faithful in those places
and circumstances where it is only through them that She can become the salt of the
earth (LG 33).

PCP II develops the mission of the Laity in terms of being called to:
♣ a community of families
♣ Christian presence in the world
♣ service and evangelization; and
♣ social transformation

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* Evangelization is the proclamation of the “Good News” of the Revelation of the
Crucified and Risen Christ to the contemporary world by the Christian Church and each
Christian.

The Church’s mission towards non- Christians is based in two firm convictions:
♥ Christ is the one Savior of all, the one mediator between God and man. (Paschal
Mystery)
♥ God establish the Church as “the Universal Sacrament of Salvation”, sent on
mission to the whole world as the light of the world and salt of the earth.
* It is necessary to keep these truths together, namely, the real possibility of
salvation in Christ for all mankind, and the necessity of the Church for salvation
(RMi 5, 9).

B. Ministries in the Church

Jesus Christ instituted the 12 Apostles as “the seed of the new Israel and the
beginning of the sacred hierarchy. The Apostles (apostolos) were sent out together,
their fraternal unity would be at the fraternal communion of all the faithful, St Peter as
their head.
The Pope is the successor of St. Peter (the Vicar of Christ on earth). The Pope,
by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full,
supreme and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always
exercise unhindered (LG 22).

a. Bishop exercises his ministry from within the Episcopal college with the Pope as
head.

b. Priest exercises his ministry from within the presbyterium (council of priests) of
the diocese, under the direction of their Bishop.

The mission of the priest is to:

- teach
- sanctify
- govern the Church
The priests are also called “presbyters”, which means “the elders

c. Deacon (diakonia) meaning service.

VI – THE COMMUNION of the SAINTS and MARY

A. The Communion of the Saints

To “the Catholic Church” the Apostles’ Creed adds the explicitation: “the
Communion of the Saints.” The phrase has two meanings: (Acts 2:42)
* communion in holy things (sancta), and
* communion with holy people (sancti).

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 1. The inspired description of the primitive Church in Acts summarizes the
members’ “communion in holy things.”
They devoted themselves to:
▪ the teachings of the apostles: communion in the faith received from the
apostles;
▪ communal life: fellowship in the Lord, supported by the charism of the Holy
Spirit;
▪ the breaking of the bread and prayers: communion in the sacraments,
especially Baptism, the door to the Church, and the Eucharist which nourishes
and perfect the communion;
▪ “they shared all things in common”: communion in possessions;
▪ “with exultation and sincerity of heart they ate their meals”: communion of
charity.
2. The Church is also the “communion of holy people” in there states:
♣ those who are still pilgrims on earth;
♣ those who are being purified;
♣ those who are already in glory, contemplating in the full light of God Himself.
* Despite these different states, all are in communion in loving the same God and
their neighbor, being disciples of the same Lord, and animated by the same Spirit.
Moreover “the union of the living with the brethren who have fallen asleep in the peace
of Christ is in no way interrupted, but n the contrary, according to the constant faith f the
Church, is reinforced by the sharing of spiritual goods. (LG9)
Filipino Catholics are culturally attuned to communion with the saints,
communion with the departed, in one family of God. November 1-2 are national
Holidays, showing how Filipinos “cherish the memory of the dead with great piety,
offering prayers for them” because it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the
dead”. (2 Mac.12:46) (LG 50)

Definition of Terms:

Everlasting life - It is the perfect and eternal communion of love with God in paradise.

Final judgment – It will take place at the end of the world, when Jesus will come again to
judge the living and the dead. (Mt.25:31ff)

Purgatory – It is a place where we are purified from our sins before entering into
paradise. (2Mac.12:45)

Hell – It is a state of self-separation from the communion with God (Mt.25:41)

Sheol – It is the kingdom of the dead.

- It is the place where the souls of the dead stayed before the Resurrection
(Jn.10:9)

Paradise – It is the state of perfect communion of love with the Blessed Trinity, the
Virgin Mary, the angels and the saints.

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B. Mary: Daughter, Mother and model of the Church

The 3rd article of the Apostle’s Creed says: “He was conceived by the power of
the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary”. We believe that the Blessed Virgin Mary is
the Mother of God, the Immaculate Conception, the perfect Virgin, and the glorious
Assumption. Mary is the Immaculate Conception because she was conceived without
the original sin. God did not allow her to be stained by sin, because she was to be the
Mother of God, because Jesus Christ, who is God, was conceived in her womb by the
power of the Holy Spirit. She is also the perfect Virgin, before, during, and after the birth
of Jesus, because she was totally consecrated to God. Finally, Mary is the glorious
Assumption, because at the end of her life, she was taken up into heaven in her body
and soul.

1. Mary, Daughter of the Church

Marian piety has uncovered an abundant richness of relationships
between Mary and the Church. For example, as “being of the race of Adam
and redeemed by Christ in a more exalted fashion” and as a “believing
disciple of Jesus,” Mary is a “daughter of the Church, and our sister as well”
(LG 53).
Vatican II states that Mary is “clearly the mother of the member of the
Christ, since she has with love cooperated in bringing about the birth in the
Church of the faithful who are members of Christ their Head” (LG 53).

2. Mary, Mother of the Church

Mary as “Mother of the Church” is the reflection and intention of Her being
the Mother of God and associate in Christ’s saving work (RMa 24).We saw
how Mary became the Mother of God, that is, of the historical Jesus,
beginning with her acceptance at the Annunciation when the Holy Spirit
overshadowed her.
Mary is the Mother of the Church because:
 As “Mother of Jesus Christ” she is mother of the Head of the
Church, His Mystical Body, and thus mother of all members of His
Body, we have Mary as our spiritual mother (Jn.19:26f; CCC 964).
 As “associate in Christ’s saving work,” ”Mary” cooperated in an
utterly singular way by Her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity
in the work of the Savior…She is a mother to us in the order of grace”
(LG 61).

3. Mary, Model of the Church

Mary is venerated as Model of the Church because she is:
 the first to be evangelized and redeemed: the perfect disciple of
Christ her Son, model of Faith as both virgin and mother, blest
among women, the handmaid of the Lord; and

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  the first evangelizer: with Christ, she perfectly fulfilled – and is even
now fulfilling – her role in God’s plan of universal salvation.

VI – Models of the Church

THE LOCAL CHURCH

PCPII

Discipleship in Community – The Church

1. The Church is a Community

In community a Christian grows in faith. We are called as individuals, and
each one must give a personal response. But Christ calls as to form a
Christian community. He wants the Church to be “a communion of life, love
and truth; a community of faith, hope and charity.

a. Unity in Diversity
In the Church there is unity. But this unity is a unity in diversity. In
the Church there are different charisms and ministries but there is only
one body. The diversity does not destroy the unity. But it brings out the
complementarity and necessary contribution of the different charisms
and ministries.

b. Equality in dignity
In the unity of the Church there is equality in Christian dignity of all
the members.
*Lumen Gentium – speaks of this equality not withstanding the
diversity of ministries and charisms.
*Code of Canon Law – states that, “In virtue of their rebirth in Christ
there exists among all the Christian faithful a true equality with
regard to dignity.
*John Paul II – spoke “The newness of Christian life is the
foundation and title for equality among all the baptized in Christ,
for all the members of the People of God.

2. Participation
In the Body of Christ, each has a gift from the Spirit to share, and each
has a need of the other gifts for the building up of the Body and for the
fulfillment of its mission.
In the Church, nobody is so poor as to have nothing to give, and nobody is
so rich as to have nothing to receive.

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 In the Philippines, participation largely means enabling the laity to
participate more fully in the life of the Church and its task of mission.

3. A Community-in-Mission
The plan of God is that “the whole human race might become one People
of God, from one Body of Christ, and be built up into one temple of the Holy
Spirit.”
The plan of God points to the missionary character of the community of
disciples. The Church is a communion in a state of mission.

4. The Church of the Poor

What then is the “Church of the Poor”?
It means a Church that embraces and practices the evangelical
spirit of poverty, which combines detachment from possessions with a
profound trust in the Lord as the sole source of salvation.
The “Church of the Poor” is one whose members and leaders have
a special love for the poor.
Vat II tells Bishops of their obligation to form the faithful “in a love of
the whole Mystical Body of Christ and, in a special way, of the poor,
the suffering, and those who are undergoing persecution for the sake
of justice.”
The special love is a love of preference for the poor.

5. The Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC): An Expression of Renewal

Our vision of the Church as : communion
: participation
: mission
but the Church as : Priest
: Prophet
: King
and Church of the Poor.

A Church that is renewed – is today the Word of God and the Eucharist.

 family is the basic unit of the Church and State

 integrate faith and daily life.
 small communities who gather around the Word of God and the
Eucharist.
 they are united to their pastors.
 concern both material and spiritual.
 they have a strong sense of belongingness and responsibility for
one another.

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 The Lay Faithful

1. Foundation of the Lay Apostolate

From the fact of their union with Christ the Head, flows the laity’s right and
duty to be apostles. Inserted as they are in the Mystical Body of Christ by
Baptism and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation, it is
by the lord Himself that they are assigned to the apostolate. If they consecrated
a kingly priesthood and a holy nation, it is in order that they may in all their
actions offer spiritual sacrifices and witness to Christ all the world over.
from this it is clear:
a. that the apostolate of the laity is of divine right:
b. that it is Christ who calls the laity to full participation in the life of
the Church, and
c. that this call is by virtue of baptism and confirmation.

2. Four Aspects of the Laity’s Role and Life

a. Called to a Community of Families

The family is the Church in the home.
The family plays a pivotal role in renewing Christian Life and in
forming communities of the Lord’s disciples.4

b. Called to Christian Peace

It is the laity who are immediately and most numerously seen as
the presence of the Church in the world.
By their secularity, their insertion into the world, they are the people
of the Incarnation, signs and instruments of the Incarnate
Christ in the world.
Empowered through Baptism, the laity act as the heart of the
church in the heart of the world.5

c. Called to Service and Evangelization

Unity and diversity in mission.
Laity must exercise their charism. By this exercise, they fulfill their
baptismal responsibilities.2
Lay apostolate is realized often in the service of the word and of the
Eucharist.3
The whole church is missionary, and the work of evangelization is
the basic duty of the People of God.

d. Called to social Transformation

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 All the lay Faithful are called to heal and transform society, to
prepare the temporal order for the final establishment of the
Kingdom of God.1.

3. Lay Spirituality
Lay spirituality is consists of being able to see the Will of God operating,
precisely in one’s secular duties, in the ordinary things that one does, and in
fulfilling them with as much love as one can muster. Lay spirituality is deeply
rooted in the secular, in the “Father’s business” in the fields, in the factories, in
schools, in offices and home. It is to lead to an unselfish, other-centered and
Christ-centered life in world and in the Church.

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