*** 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, establishing it as the one true Church through His commission to St. Peter, saying, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18). Christ appointed Peter as the first Pope, entrusting him and his successors with the keys to the kingdom and authority to teach, govern and sanctify (Matthew 16:19). Catholicism is the truest form of Christianity because it alone possesses the fullness of divine revelation, preserved through Sacred Scripture and Tradition, and safeguarded by the Church’s full apostolic succession and the Pope’s infallibility in matters of faith and morals. Unlike other Christian denominations, which may lack elements of doctrine, valid sacraments, or unity under Peter’s successor, the Catholic Church retains the complete deposit of faith, the seven sacraments instituted by Christ, and has the four visible marks (One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic) of Christ’s one true Church, making it uniquely the mystical body of Christ through which salvation is ordinarily dispensed.

4-2 The Pope

What is the role of the Pope, and why is it necessary?

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and the successor of St. Peter, to whom Christ entrusted the keys of the Kingdom, making him the supreme pastor and visible head of the universal Church (Matthew 16:18-19). The Pope holds the primacy of jurisdiction over the entire Church, with authority to teach, govern, and sanctify, ensuring its unity and fidelity to Christ’s mission. The Pope is not free from error in all matters but is infallible when teaching ex cathedra on matters of faith and morals.

His role is necessary because Christ established a visible, hierarchical Church to guide souls to salvation, and the Pope’s leadership preserves the Church’s unity, guards the deposit of faith (Scripture and Tradition), and ensures the correct administration of sacraments. Without the Pope’s authoritative role, the Church would risk division and error, as he is the divinely appointed rock upon which Christ’s Church stands, maintaining its indefectibility until the end of time. “Where Peter is, there is the Church.”—St. Ambrose of Milan

4-3 The Visible Church

What are the four visible marks of the Church founded by Jesus Christ?

The four marks of the Church founded by Jesus Christ are that it is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. These marks are as follows: the Church is One in its unity of faith, worship, and government under the Pope; Holy in its divine origin, sacraments, saints, and moral teachings; Catholic in its universality, embracing all nations and times; and Apostolic in its direct, unbroken line of succession from the Apostles, with St. Peter—“this rock”—as the authoritative foundation of the one true Church, to the Pope today as St. Peter’s successor with the supreme authority—“the keys”—to govern the Church, with the bishops under his leadership. These four marks visibly distinguish the Catholic Church as the one true Church established by Christ, uniquely equipped to fulfill His mission of teaching, governing, and sanctifying all people until the end of time. There can only be one true Church, as Jesus is faithful to His Church, like the bridegroom is faithful to his bride (Ephesians 5:25-27).

4-4 The Supernatural Church

Why is the Church founded by Jesus called the Catholic Church, and is it supernatural?

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," and is attributed to St. Ignatius of Antioch (107 AD) emphasizing its universal mission to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the salvation of souls, and its visible unity as the one true Church, with the divine chain of authority from St. Peter, unlike fragmented groups. Jesus intended His Church to gather all humanity into one fold under one shepherd (John 10:16). The Church is indeed supernatural, as it is not merely a human organization but the mystical body of Christ, animated by the Holy Spirit, with divine origin and authority to teach, sanctify through sacraments, and guide souls to eternal life. Its supernatural nature is evident in its indefectibility, promised by Christ when He said “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18), and its ability to dispense divine grace (primarily through the Sacraments), which transcends human capabilities and originates from God’s own life.

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 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, at the Last Supper, 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.

4-7 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 (the changing of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ), 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.

4-8 The Eucharist & Holy Communion

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 6:51-58). 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. Catholics must offer it the adoration (latria) due to God alone, expressed through acts like genuflection, Eucharistic adoration, and reverent reception in Holy Communion (1 Corinthians 11:29). This adoration is not optional but a natural response to the reality of Christ’s presence, as taught by the Church and affirmed in Scripture, fostering a deeper union with Him.

4-9 Tradition

Why hold to Tradition, and not move with the times?

Sacred Tradition is essential because it is a divinely revealed source of faith, alongside Sacred Scripture, entrusted by Christ to the Church to guide souls to salvation. Tradition preserves the apostles’ teachings and practices not explicitly written in Scripture, ensuring the fullness of truth under the Holy Spirit’s guidance. These include truths such as the form of the Sacraments or doctrines like the Immaculate Conception, and also the practices and rites through which the Church worships and lives out the faith. The liturgy, particularly the Mass, and customs like fasting or devotions, are rooted in apostolic Tradition, reflecting the Church’s unchanging worship of God while allowing for organic development under the Magisterium’s guidance. These elements, such as the Traditional Latin Mass or traditional prayers, embody the deposit of faith, ensuring continuity and reverence, and cannot be abandoned for modern trends without risking the loss of their sacred, divinely instituted character. Moving with the times by altering Tradition would compromise the deposit of faith, which the Church is divinely tasked to protect, not adapt to fleeting cultural trends.

4-10 The Bible

What is the Bible, and should it be solely relied on?

The Bible (Sacred Scripture), is the inspired Word of God which conveys God’s divine revelation, guiding humanity to know, love, and serve Him for our salvation, revealed through the prophets and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This collection of sacred writings, comprising 46 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books, has been written by human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, ensuring that the Bible is free from error in faith and morals, and affirming the Church’s authoritative role as its sole interpreter. The Catholic Church, again under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, has collected and determined the books which had always been recognized as inspired, at councils like Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage (397 AD), and confirmed at Trent (1546). Relying solely on the Bible (Scripture alone), as many non-Catholic Christians do, risks misinterpretation, as Scripture alone is not self-interpreting and lacks certain truths preserved in Tradition, such as the details of the Sacraments. The Magisterium, led by the Pope and bishops, safeguards the authentic interpretation of both, preventing division and error, and ensuring the fullness of Christ’s teachings is faithfully transmitted.

4-11 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).

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 Becoming Catholic

Can anyone join the Catholic Church?

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. 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, it is important to choose a wise Catholic priest who follows all the teachings of the traditional Catholic Faith and celebrates the traditional Latin Mass, thus providing a spiritual environment that fosters growth in holiness through sound doctrine, reverent liturgy, and a supportive community. Study and find the right parish and contact the relevant Catholic priest for guidance to join the Church.