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EDITION
PUBLISHER Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate Quality Catholic Publications Isabella De Rosis St., Multinational 1708 Paraaque City, Philippines Telefax (02) 828-2338 Tel. (02) 828-9509 sonsmaryphil@yahoo.com
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2. A CATECHISTS PRAYER
Loving Father, giver of all that is, help me to remember that every gift I have comes from you. Expand my vision so that I can appreciate your goodness in the world around me. Jesus, our Redeemer, you are the path to the treasures of my heart and soul. Strengthen my commitment to be a catechist and deepen my capacity to share your truth with those in my care. Holy Spirit, Love Divine, all life and energy flows from you. Illuminate my thoughts and intensify my desire to grow ever deeper in my faith. I lift up my prayer to you, God Father, Son, and Spiritin humility and hope. Amen.
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of the Church
2. The Four Characteristics of the Church 3. The Communion of Saints
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7. NATURE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH: What is the mission of the Church?
The mission of the Church is to establish among all peoples the Kingdom of God. This is to be done by means of evangelization and sacramentalization.
EVANGELIZATION is the process of proclaiming the Gospel to all peoples; it begins with the kerygma and continues with the catechumenate. SACRAMENTALIZATION is the process of sanctifying our life by means of the Sacraments, that are instituted by Christ, and the Sacramentals.
8. NATURE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH: What are the four symbols of the Church?
1) PEOPLE OF GOD: because the Church is composed of persons of different nationalities but united into one people. 2) BODY OF CHRIST: because the Church is like a spiritual body, with Christ as the head, and we as the members. 3) BRIDE OF CHRIST: because the Kingdom of God is like a spiritual wedding, where Jesus is the groom and the Church the bride. 4) FLOCK OF CHRIST: because the Church is like a community of sheep, with Jesus Christ as her good shepherd.
The true Church of Christ is identified by four characteristics: 1. 2. 3. 4. ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, APOSTOLIC.
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The Church is one, as opposite to many, because Jesus wants all his disciples to be united in one community, under the guidance of the Pope. As he said: You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church (Matthew 16:18). The true Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church; however, in the course of two thousand years, many Christian Churches and Denominations have separated. Ecumenism, a Greek word meaning the common house, is the movement striving to unite all Christians into the true Church. Jesus desires all his disciples to be united as a family, as he said: By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35).
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The Church is holy, as opposite to sinful, because it is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit initiated the Church on Pentecost day, enriches the Church with countless charisms, and will guide the Church to her final destiny in Paradise. Although the Church is holy, some of her members commit serious crimes and provoke scandals. Jesus allowed Judas Iscariot to join the college of the Apostles, although he knew he was a traitor, precisely to give us a warning: that in every twelve shepherds, there might be a bad one. Each of us should strive to achieve perfect holiness, as recommended by St. Peter: But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy (1 Peter 1:15-16).
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The Church is Catholic, as opposite to national, because she is universal, as Jesus said: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). The term Catholic comes from the Greek word katholikos, which literally mean all-embracing, hence universal. The Church does not identify herself with any nation, although she is present in every country.
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The Church is apostolic, as opposite to self-made, because it is founded on the Twelve Apostles, as Jesus declared: You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church (Mt. 16:18). The Apostolic Succession is the unbroken chain of ordinations connecting all the bishops - and the deacons and priests ordained by them - to one of the Apostles.
The Church is also called Roman because the two greatest Apostles, Sts. Peter and Paul, died as martyrs in Rome. For this reason, Rome became the center of the Church and the Bishop of Rome is acknowledged as the Pope. On June 29, 64 AD, St. Peter was crucified upsidedown on the Vatican Hill; while St. Paul was beheaded along the Ostiense Way. Their tombs were carefully preserved, and enshrined with two basilicas.
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17. THE FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH: What is the meaning of Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus?
The Latin sentence Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus, means: Outside the Church there is no salvation. The expression refers only to those who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded by Christ, would refuse either to enter or to remain in it. Obviously, it does not refer to those who ignore Christ and his Church without fault of their own, lest all the inhabitants of the Americas before 1492 (arrival of Christopher Columbus), and of the Philippines before 1521 (arrival of Ferdinand Magellan), could not be saved. For instance, a Catholic who joins Islam for the sake of marrying a Muslim woman: he cannot be saved because he abandoned his faith knowing it was the true one. On the contrary, an honest Muslim, who never had a chance to meet Christ and his Church, but who nevertheless behaves well and follows his conscience: he can be saved, by receiving the baptism of desire.
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19. THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS: What are the three states of the Church?
1. PILGRIM CHURCH: The Church on earth is called pilgrim, because we Christians are on a spiritual journey towards Paradise. 2. SUFFERING CHURCH: The Church in Purgatory is regarded as suffering, because the souls of the departed are being purified of their temporal punishment. 3. GLORIFIED CHURCH: The Church in Paradise is considered glorified, because the saints in Heaven are constantly praising God.