THE NATURE AND FUNCTION OF THE C ATHOLIC C HURCH a brief overview Christian Initiation of Adults: A Catechumenate Class © 2008 Terry Modica, Catholic Digital Resources – catholicdr.com

In this presentation, we will cover: The Church was founded by Christ to lead all believers to heaven. The Apostolic Succession has continued the leadership of Christ. Revelation by Scripture and Tradition is how Jesus continues to reveal himself. The 7 Sacraments are gifts through which Jesus continues to purify us. The Mission of the Church is the mission of Christ continuing to lead people to heaven. The Nature and Function of the Catholic Church

In this presentation, we will cover:

The Church was founded by Christ to lead all believers to heaven.

The Apostolic Succession has continued the leadership of Christ.

Revelation by Scripture and Tradition is how Jesus continues to reveal himself.

The 7 Sacraments are gifts through which Jesus continues to purify us.

The Mission of the Church is the mission of Christ continuing to lead people to heaven.

The Church was founded by Christ We are all sinners. We cannot get to heaven by our own efforts, because we don't always obey God. We turn away from God to do things our own way, and thus we break our unity with the Father who gave us life. This leads to eternal death: Hell. The Nature and Function of the Catholic Church

The Church was founded by Christ

We are all sinners.

We cannot get to heaven by our own efforts, because we don't always obey God.

We turn away from God to do things our own way, and thus we break our unity with the Father who gave us life.

This leads to eternal death: Hell.

The Church was founded by Christ Jesus was born (God became man) to be the Son who always obeyed the Father. As the divine Son, who loves all of God's children, he took our death upon himself on the Cross on Good Friday. His resurrection gives us eternal life if we follow him: Heaven. Q for group discussion: When did Jesus begin this mission? A: Whenever he began to tell others the truth about God. The Nature and Function of the Catholic Church

The Church was founded by Christ

Jesus was born (God became man) to be the Son who always obeyed the Father.

As the divine Son, who loves all of God's children, he took our death upon himself on the Cross on Good Friday.

His resurrection gives us eternal life if we follow him: Heaven.

Q for group discussion: When did Jesus begin this mission?

A: Whenever he began to tell others the truth about God.

The Church was founded by Christ Q: When did his mission end? When he died on the cross? When he was resurrected? When he ascended to heaven 40 days later? Which do you think is the right answer? A: It has never ended! Read Matthew 16:13-19 Jesus trained all of his apostles to continue his mission. He put the Apostle Peter in charge of the mission. He gave his Holy Spirit to all of his followers. The Nature and Function of the Catholic Church

The Church was founded by Christ

Q: When did his mission end?

When he died on the cross?

When he was resurrected?

When he ascended to heaven 40 days later?

Which do you think is the right answer?

A: It has never ended!

Read Matthew 16:13-19

Jesus trained all of his apostles to continue his mission.

He put the Apostle Peter in charge of the mission.

He gave his Holy Spirit to all of his followers.

The Church was founded by Christ The activities of the Apostles built the Church on Christ’s foundation. The “Acts of the Apostles” is the first book after the Gospels. It tells the story of how the Apostles continued the mission of Christ by building the Church. The Apostles spread Christianity everywhere they could travel. The believers gathered into community life. The first churches were in people’s homes. Their love for one another was an example of what Jesus' love was like and many more were converted by it. The Nature and Function of the Catholic Church

The Church was founded by Christ

The activities of the Apostles built the Church on Christ’s foundation.

The “Acts of the Apostles” is the first book after the Gospels.

It tells the story of how the Apostles continued the mission of Christ by building the Church.

The Apostles spread Christianity everywhere they could travel.

The believers gathered into community life. The first churches were in people’s homes.

Their love for one another was an example of what Jesus' love was like and many more were converted by it.

The Apostolic Succession The Apostles established church communities. They put leaders in charge of the local community and then continued traveling to spread the Good News of Jesus throughout the territory. The Apostles were the first bishops. Peter was the first Pope (the first head bishop). The local leaders were the first priests. Deacons were assigned to help get some of the work done that the priests didn't have enough time to do. The Nature and Function of the Catholic Church

The Apostolic Succession

The Apostles established church communities.

They put leaders in charge of the local community and then continued traveling to spread the Good News of Jesus throughout the territory.

The Apostles were the first bishops.

Peter was the first Pope (the first head bishop).

The local leaders were the first priests.

Deacons were assigned to help get some of the work done that the priests didn't have enough time to do.

The Apostolic Succession We still have this hierarchy today. Jesus ordained the first Apostles by calling them and commissioning them to continue his leadership. They ordained the next generation of priests. Some priests became bishops, who ordained the next generation of priests, and so on, in an unbroken chain of ordination. The Nature and Function of the Catholic Church

The Apostolic Succession

We still have this hierarchy today.

Jesus ordained the first Apostles by calling them and commissioning them to continue his leadership.

They ordained the next generation of priests.

Some priests became bishops, who ordained the next generation of priests, and so on, in an unbroken chain of ordination.

Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition The mission of Christianity is to follow Jesus to heaven and help others follow Jesus to heaven. We learn about Jesus and how to follow him (i.e., how to be like Jesus) from the Bible. Q: How else does Jesus reveal himself? In our hearts as we pray A good homily Christian songs And … how else? A: God is not limited by one method of revelation. The Nature and Function of the Catholic Church

Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition

The mission of Christianity is to follow Jesus to heaven and help others follow Jesus to heaven.

We learn about Jesus and how to follow him (i.e., how to be like Jesus) from the Bible.

Q: How else does Jesus reveal himself?

In our hearts as we pray

A good homily

Christian songs

And … how else?

A: God is not limited by one method of revelation.

Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition Sacred Tradition is a collection of revealed truths that are not exactly in the Bible but are validated by Scripture. They are divinely inspired theological truths that help us understand the meaning of our faith more fully. For example: The word “Trinity” is not in scripture, but it’s a traditional teaching about the nature of God. They are often stories of historical events, helping us understand the richness of our faith more. For example: The story has been passed from generation to generation, since the earliest days of Christianity, that Peter was crucified upside down. Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Not everything that Jesus said and did was recorded in the Bible. Not everything the Apostles taught about Jesus was recorded in the Bible. The Nature and Function of the Catholic Church

Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition

Sacred Tradition is a collection of revealed truths that are not exactly in the Bible but are validated by Scripture.

They are divinely inspired theological truths that help us understand the meaning of our faith more fully.

For example: The word “Trinity” is not in scripture, but it’s a traditional teaching about the nature of God.

They are often stories of historical events, helping us understand the richness of our faith more.

For example: The story has been passed from generation to generation, since the earliest days of Christianity, that Peter was crucified upside down.

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6

Not everything that Jesus said and did was recorded in the Bible.

Not everything the Apostles taught about Jesus was recorded in the Bible.

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