*** Section 4: Church ***

4-1 The Founder
Who founded the Catholic Church and why is Catholicism the truest form of Christianity?

Jesus Christ founded the Catholic Church, designating St. Peter as its first leader with the words, “Upon this rock I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18), entrusting it with divine authority to teach and sanctify. Christ established His Church to guide souls to salvation, promising it would endure without error. The Catholic Church's Christian faith is Catholicism - the truest form of Christianity, as so many other non-Catholic Christians claim to have the true Christian faith and church. The Catholic Church alone preserves the complete deposit of faith through Sacred Scripture and Tradition, administers all seven sacraments instituted by Christ, and maintains an unbroken Apostolic Succession through the Papacy and bishops, as Christ promised “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The first succesion as bishop was St. Matthias (Acts 1:15-26), and the second Pope was St. Linus (2 Timothy 4:21). While non-Catholic Christian denominations, originating from human-led schisms or reforms, lack the fullness of truth, the Church's authority, and direct continuity with Christ’s foundation - the rock, making the Catholic Church the one true Church of Christ, which is the mystical body of Christ, entrusted with the mission to lead all to eternal life.

4-2 The Visible Church

What is the significance of the Pope and Apostolic Succession in identifying the visible Church of Christ?

The Pope (Bishop of Rome – Chief pastor of the whole Church) and Apostolic Succession, are central to identifying the visible Church of Christ as the Catholic Church. Christ appointed St. Peter as the first Pope, giving him the keys of the kingdom and supreme authority to govern the Church (Matthew 16:19). This type of singular authority given by God can also be found in the Old Testament (Isaiah 22:22). This authority passes to his successors, the future Popes, through Apostolic Succession. The Church's Apostolic Succession ensures an unbroken line of bishops including the Bishop of Rome - the Pope, starting from the apostles, to preserve the Church’s deposit of faith, sacraments, and mission as instituted by Christ. The Pope, as successor of Peter, serves as the visible head, guaranteeing unity and infallibility in matters of faith and morals. This structure distinguishes the Catholic Church as the one true, visible Church of Christ, uniquely endowed with His authority and protected from error, unlike other communities lacking this divinely ordained continuity and headship.

4-3 Universal
Why is the Church that Jesus founded called the Catholic Church?
The Church that Jesus founded is called the Catholic Church because it embodies its universal mission and character, as the term "Catholic" comes from the Greek katholikos, meaning "universal" or "concerning the whole," signifying its reach to all nations and all times. Christ established His Church on St. Peter to preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15), a mission inherently universal. This name, used as early as St. Ignatius of Antioch (107 AD), highlights its distinction as the one true Church, unified in faith, sacraments, apostolic succession, and divine chain of authority (Matthew 10:40), unlike fragmented groups. Jesus intended His Church to gather all humanity into one fold under one shepherd (John 10:16), and the word "Catholic" perfectly captures this divine purpose of universality, completeness, and continuity as His mystical body.

4-4 Supernatural
Is the Catholic Church supernatural, and why is it called the mystical body of Christ?
The Catholic Church is indeed supernatural because it was founded by Jesus Christ, the God-Man, and is sustained by the Holy Spirit, transcending mere human institutions with divine origin and purpose. Christ established the Church with supernatural authority to forgive sins and dispense grace through the sacraments, acts beyond natural power. It is called the mystical body of Christ because it is a living, spiritual union of the faithful with Christ as its Head and the Holy Spirit as its soul, as described in 1 Corinthians 12:27; this mystical nature reflects its supernatural reality, uniting members across time and space in a divine organism, not just a human organization, to continue Christ’s redemptive work until the end of time.

4-5 The Ark of Salvation

Is there salvation outside the Church and what does invincible ignorance mean?

The doctrine of “outside the Church there is no salvation” (extra ecclesiam nulla salus) is a fundamental truth, but it is nuanced by the concept of invincible ignorance. The Catholic Church is the ordinary means of salvation, instituted by Christ, and those who knowingly reject the Church cannot be saved, as they refuse the path Christ established. However, those who are invincibly ignorant—meaning they cannot know the Church through no fault of their own, yet live according to the natural law and seek God sincerely—may attain salvation through extraordinary means known only to God. This does not diminish the Church’s necessity, as it alone possesses the fullness of truth and the sacraments instituted for eternal life. The doctrine, as historically taught (e.g., by Pope Pius IX), holds that while salvation is possible for the invincibly ignorant, it still comes through Christ’s grace and the Church’s mystical role, not apart from it, ensuring no one is unjustly condemned but all are called to the visible unity of the Catholic Church, the ark of salvation.

4-6 Becoming Catholic
Can anyone join the Catholic Church?

Yes, anyone can join the Catholic Church, provided they sincerely seek to embrace its faith and follow its teachings. The Church is universal, open to all people, as Christ commanded the apostles to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Entry into the Church typically occurs through Baptism, preceded by instruction in the Catholic faith and a genuine desire to live according to its doctrines and moral precepts. This includes professing belief in the Church’s teachings, repenting of sins, and accepting the sacraments. While no one is excluded due to race, background, or past sins, joining requires a free and deliberate commitment to the Church as the one true path to salvation, as instituted by Christ. If you are seeking to become Catholic, contact a Catholic priest.

4-7 The Priest
What is a Catholic priest?
A Catholic priest is a man ordained through the Sacrament of Holy Orders to act in the person of Christ (in persona Christi), serving as a mediator between God and humanity in the Church. Priests are given the power to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, forgive sins in Confession, and administer other sacraments, acting as shepherds of souls under the authority of bishops. Christ instituted the priesthood when He empowered His apostles, such as at the Last Supper and with the words, “Do this in memory of me,” entrusting them to continue His redemptive mission. A priest’s role is unique—teaching, sanctifying, and governing the faithful—making him indispensable for delivering the ordinary means of grace, especially the Eucharist, to the Church.

4-8 The Mass
What is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the unbloody renewal of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, offered by a priest in the person of Christ, uniting the faithful with His redemptive act for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. It is the same sacrifice as on the Cross at Calvary, differing only in manner, where the priest, using bread and wine, makes Christ present in the Eucharist through transubstantiation, fulfilling Christ’s command, “Do this in memory of me.” The Mass has a fourfold purpose: adoration, thanksgiving, atonement, and petition, serving as the central act of worship in the Church. It is both a communal celebration and a personal participation in Christ’s Passion, strengthening the mystical body and applying His merits to the living and the dead, especially those in Purgatory.

4-9 The Eucharist
What is the Eucharist, and what happens at Communion?
The Eucharist is the true Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present under the appearances of bread and wine, instituted by Him at the Last Supper as a perpetual sacrifice and sacrament. Through the priest’s words of consecration at Mass, the substance of bread and wine is changed into Christ Himself—called transubstantiation—remaining only in appearance as bread and wine. At Communion, when the faithful receive the Eucharist worthily (in a state of grace), they are united intimately with Christ, receiving His grace, strength against sin, and a pledge of eternal life (John 6:54). This act renews the sacrifice of the Cross, nourishes the soul, and deepens our bond with the Mystical Body of Christ, making it the source and summit of Catholic life.

4-10 Sacra Scriptura

What is the Bible?

The Bible, is the inspired Word of God to convey God’s divine revelation, guiding humanity to know, love, and serve Him for our salvation, revealed through the prophets and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. It is a collection of sacred writings, comprising 46 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books, written by human authors under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, making it free from error in faith and morals. Its canon was determined by the Catholic Church through councils like Hippo (393 AD), Carthage (397 AD), and Trent (1546), affirming the Church’s role as its sole interpreter alongside Sacred Tradition. Relying solely on the Bible (sola scriptura) is insufficient, as it lacks the fullness of divine revelation (John 21:25) and authoritative interpretation provided by Tradition and the Church’s magisterium, which Christ entrusted to the apostles to ensure unity and truth, as St. Paul’s call to “hold fast to the traditions” (2 Thessalonians 2:15) underscores, highlighting the risk of division and error without them.

4-11 Tradition
Why is Tradition important?
Tradition is important because it is the living transmission of divine revelation, alongside Scripture, entrusted to the Church by Christ and the apostles, ensuring the fullness of truth is preserved and understood. Tradition includes teachings and practices not explicitly detailed in the Bible but handed down from the apostles, such as applying the sacraments correctly, under the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Scripture itself emerged from Tradition, and without it, key doctrines—like the Trinity or the canon of the Bible—would lack clarity or authority, as not all truths were written down (e.g., 2 Thessalonians 2:15, “Hold fast to the traditions”). As a co-equal source of revelation, Tradition, safeguarded by the Church’s magisterium, prevents misinterpretation and keeps the faith alive and whole across generations.

4-12 The Greatest Good

What is the greatest good?

The greatest good is the salvation of souls, which aligns with loving God above all and charity rooted in love of God, seeks the ultimate good of others, which is their eternal union with Him.

The ultimate purpose of life is to know, love, and serve God, which culminates in eternal salvation. While helping the poor through corporal works of mercy is essential (Matthew 25:35-40), the spiritual works of mercy—such as instructing the ignorant or converting sinners—are higher because they directly aim at the soul’s eternal destiny, the greatest good possible. Bringing people to Christ through evangelization, teaching the faith, or encouraging sacramental life fulfills the Great Commission to redeem humanity for Heaven, as seen in His command to preach the Gospel—Good News (Matthew 28:19-20). This greatest good aligns with ordered love, prioritizing eternal salvation over temporal needs, though both are interconnected, as material aid often opens hearts to the Gospel. Thus, bringing souls to God through faith, sacraments, and truth surpasses all other goods, as it fulfills God’s will and secures everlasting life.

4-13 The Saints

What are saints, and why should we imitate them?

Saints are individuals who, by their heroic virtue and holiness, have attained eternal glory in Heaven and are recognized by the Church as models of Christian perfection. Saints are those who have lived lives of extraordinary fidelity to God’s will, now interceding for us before Him. Saints, through their cooperation with grace, exemplify the practice of virtues like faith, hope, and charity, as seen in figures like St. Francis or St. Therese. We should imitate them because they show us how to live for Christ in diverse circumstances, their lives serving as practical guides to holiness. If we have a vice (habit of sin), we can find saints who have overcome it. By following their example and seeking their intercession, we can overcome our sins with their help, and by God’s grace grow closer to God, fulfilling our call to sanctity as members of the Church (Romans 8:28).