Community and Tradition Revision EdExcel

2. Body of Christ
Faith
Communion of saints
Authority
Magisterium
Apostolic tradition and succession
Protestant beliefs
Popes and BishopsPriests
Virgin Mary

3. Key Word
Body of Christ -The belief that the
Church is Christ’s body in the world
continuing his work

5. The Catholic Church helping you to faith – why
is this important?
-The Catholic faith remains the true faith
- The faith of the Church brings salvation
- Church guides people into faith
- Church supports people in their faith

6. The Catholic Church bringing you to salvation
– why is this important?
- Without salvation you go to Hell
- Salvation brings eternal life
- Church gives clear guidance on how to
achieve salvation
- Church gives opportunities for a second
chance

7. Key Words
• Dogmas – the beliefs of the Catholic
Church
• Magisterium – the Pope and bishops
interpreting the Bible for Catholics today
• Papacy – the office of the Pope
Copy these down!

8. Apostolic Succession
• Jesus gave the Apostles his message and
the authority to begin the Church.
• The Church teaches that this message was
not just handed on in the Gospels, but also in
the oral message of the Apostles.
• Catholics believe that the tradition from the
Apostles has been handed down in the
Church through the Pope and the bishops.
This is known as the apostolic succession.

9. Why is apostolic succession important for
Catholics?
• Message of the Church = the message
Jesus gave to the Apostles.
• Unbroken link between the Church and
Jesus.
• It explains how the authority of the Pope
has come directly from the Apostles.
• It explains why the Church has the
authority to interpret the Bible.

11. The Magisterium
• It is the duty of the Church to interpret the Bible and
the Apostolic Tradition for Catholics today.
• This interpretation if carried out by the Pope and the
college of bishops.
• When the Pope and the college of bishops are
interpreting the Bible and Apostolic Tradition they
are called the MAGISTERIUM.
• The Pope and bishops are the ones who can define
the dogmas of the Catholic Church – the
Magisterium is the supreme authority for Catholics –
it tells them what to believe and how to behave.

12. Why is the magisterium important for
Catholics?
• The Magisterium addresses issues that
did not exist when the Bible was written
(e.g. contraception)
• The Magisterium provides clear guidelines
for how Catholics should be behave.
• The Magisterium ensures that the teaching
of the Church is updated.