1. Villanueva, Veloso, See, Romero, Reyes, Rendon, Reglos
FOUR MARKS OF THE CHURCH

2.  Just as Filipinos have general characteristics
and qualities, so does the Church
 We can trace these qualities from the Gospel
according to John: (Jn 17:21)
 We are ONE. That all may be one even as
you, Father, are in me and I in you. I pray that
they may be one in us.
 The oneness of the Church helps us
understand how the Church becomes the
sacrament of Christ

3. FOUR MARKS OF THE CHURCH
 To distinguish itself from all other religious
groups
 Four criteria proclaimed in the Nicene Creed: One,
Holy, Catholic and Apostolic
 The Church does not possess the four qualities
herself
 It is Christ who, through the Holy Spirit, makes
the Church as one, holy, catholic and apostolic
 It is Christ who calls the Church to realize each of
these qualities
 CCC, 811

4. FOUR MARKS OF THE CHURCH
 Not the only marks, but have become
traditional
 Seen more as gifts from God and as tasks to be
achieved
 Inseparably linked with each other
 Essential features of the Church and her
mission

5. THE CHURCH IS ONE

6.  The Church is a mystery of unity
 Its
ultimate foundation is in Christ, in whom the
Church is undivided
 The Church is one because of her source: the
unity, in the Trinity of Persons, of one God, the
Father, the Son in the Holy Spirit
 The Blessed Trinity is the primary foundation of
the unity of the Church

7.  The Church is one because of her founder,
Jesus Christ who reconciled all men to God
 He has restored the unity of all in one people and
one body
 Unity is the essence of the Church
 Unity depends ultimately not on the Church itself
but upon the unity of God

8.  The Church is one because of the Holy Spirit
 The ‘soul’ of the Church
 It brings about that wonderful communion of the
faithful and joins them together in Christ.
 The most fundamental in the Church- our unity
in faith, hope and love
 Ideal unity- a unity in freedom and diversity in
which people with different charisms and gifts
of grace serve one another

9.  Within the unity of one faith, tolerance is not
enough. Respect, love and acceptance for one
another and the desire to come to a
‘togetherness’ is also needed
 It is Christ who, through the Holy Spirit, makes
his Church one. And we are all called to live out
this oneness.

10. THE CHURCH IS HOLY

11.  Primarily, the church is holy because of her founder
Jesus Christ.
 To sanctify the church, Jesus Christ, gave himself to
her and sent His Spirit to her.
 Holiness is the commitment to justice. It is
transforming of the world according to God’s plan
through compassion, service and unconditional love.
It is seen through God’s love.
 Charity /Love is the center of holiness.

12.  Ang pagiging Banal ay di nababatay sa pagiging
laman ng simbahan ngunit nasa pang-araw-araw
mong ugnayan sa Diyos.
 All of us are called by Christ to holiness.
 The Church is the Bride of Christ.
 Ang pagmamahal ng Diyos ang nagpapabanal sa
simbahan, sa halip na likas syang banal sa ganang
sariling kakayahan.

13. THE CHURCH IS CATHOLIC/ UNIVERSAL

14.  From the Greek word Kath’olou- “referring to
the whole”, universal, related to all, embracing
 Universal mission (Good news/kingdom of
God)
 All
are called to belong to the people of God
 The Good news is for everyone and the Kingdom of
God is for the whole world

15.  Day of Pentecost
 Thisevent shows that the assembly had
experienced God in all cultures and languages
 Church is endowed with the fullness of the
means for Salvation- that is complete
confession of faith, full
sacramental life, and ordained
ministry in apostolic succession

16.  Use of the word Catholic became divisive after
1. East-West Schism (11th century)
– East became Holy Orthodox Church
– West claimed the title Catholic Church
HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH

17. 2. Protestant Reformation (16th century)
– Churches that broke with the papacy
3. Sectarian- part of the Church that
separated itself from the worldwide
church
– Example: Donatism

18.  Catholicism is not based on a single theological
tradition but includes a wide variety of theologies,
spiritualities, liturgies and expressions of the
Christian life
 Universality of the Christian faith should be
manifested in the openness of the Christian churches
 Global good of all- able to live demands of justice,
peace, equality, sharing of goods and integrity of
creation

19. THE CHURCH IS APOSTOLIC

20. The Church is Apostolic
 both in her origins in Christ and His Apostles.
 mission to spread Christ’s word and message,
ministry and service.

21. The Church is Apostolic in several basic ways:
 Christ grounded her (the Church) permanently on the
foundation of the Apostles (Eph 2:20).
 Apostolic in terms of succession in apostolic teaching
and tradition.
 The Church continues to be instructed, sanctified and
guided by the apostolic tradition until Christ’s return
through their successors in the pastoral ministry, the
bishops, assisted by presbyters, in union with the
successor of Peter, the Pope (CCC 857-60)
 The Church remains, through the successors of Peter
and the other apostles in communion of faith and life
with her origin.

22.  Christ had formed the Apostles in a form of
college or permanent assembly, over which He
place Peter chosen from among them, as its
head! (CFC, 1409)
 “Feed my lambs” – Jn 21:15-17)
 As “Apostolic,” the Church is a hierarchical
community, whose unity in faith and
communion are grounded in the successors of
the apostles (CFC, 1490).

23.  The four attributes of the Church are seen
more as a challenge and as a task for every
Christian community than as the exclusive
property of the Church. The Church must
continuously aspire to be ever more fully one,
holy, catholic, and apostolic (Donovan, 151).
These marks remain as challenges to all the
churches.

24. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ROOTED IN
JESUS CHRIST

25.  The Church of Christ (one, holy, Catholic and
apostolic) is truly present in its essential
completeness in the Catholic Church
 Institutionalfullness of the Church of Christ is
found in the Catholic Church
 The one Church of Christ is present beyond the
boundaries of the Roman Catholic Church
which remains ‘joined in many ways’ in the
Holy Spirit to the baptized in other Churches
and ecclesial communities (LG15)

26.  Vatican II
 Non-Catholic Christians are also incorporated
into the Body of Christ and thus, into the
Church
 Non-Christian believers can be saved if:
They strive to do God’s will according to
their state of knowledge,
And action of grace extends beyond the
Church’s institutional boundaries

27.  However, Christians know the plan because
 Theyreceived redemption
 AND revelation
 Mission of Christians is to proclaim the love of
God in words and deeds and their life
 Membership in the Church is not a condition of
salvation (Mt. 7:21)
 The final test will be leading a just life

28. CELEBRATING OUR FAITH TOGETHER

29.  Christ bestowed unity on His Church from the
beginning but the Church must always pray
and work to maintain, reinforce and perfect
the unity Christ wills for her. (CCC 820)
 We should pray that the Christians from EAST
and WEST will someday walk together in unity
of faith and with respect for legitimate
diversity, accepting and sustaining each other
as members of the one Body of Christ.

30. Thank you! 