Lesson 1. The Origin and Nature of The Church

Unit.
The fundamental aspects of the church
Lesson 1. The Origin and Nature of the Church
Etymology and Definition
The church is a faith assembly whose root cause is God's free call to share his Divine
goodness and love in Christ.
The church is the congregation of all baptized persons united in the same true faith, the
same sacrifice, and the same sacraments under the authority of the Sovereign pontiff
and the bishops in communion with him.
Since baptism according to the ruling of Christ is the gateway to the church a person
becomes a member of the church on the saving the sacrament.
Jesus Christ Founded the Church
Christ completed the founding of his church just before his Ascension when he
commissioned the apostles to make disciples of all nations.
The gospels show that Christ founded a church in the form of a visible hierarchical
society that is one made up of subjects and superiors who rightfully rule subjects.
After Pentecost Sunday the apostles began to carry out the mission which through them
under their successors continues and will continue until the end of time
To Bring All Men to Salvation
Jesus Christ founded the church to bring all men to eternal salvation the Church
instituted by Christ is the only way to eternal salvation Christ gave the church the means
whereby man can be sanctified and saved.
The Church can bring all men to salvation by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who gives
it life.The dwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Church was firstly visibly manifested on the
Pentecost Sunday when he came down upon the apostles in the form of tongues of fire.
The holy spirit will dwell in the church until the end of time. Christ foretold that the Holy
Spirit would dwell in the church until the end of time.
Teaching, Sanctifying, and Ruling in the Name of Christ
By teaching sanctifying and ruling in the name of Christ is meant that the church always
does the will of his Divine founder who remains forever its invisible head.
The will of the founder of the church is expressed in the commission he gave to his
Apostles to teach all nations to baptize them and to have them observe all the things he
had commanded. This commission as well as the guarantee that Christ would be his
church until the end of time is related in the gospel.
Christ gave the power to teach to sanctify and to rule the members of the history to the
apostles the first Bishops of the church.
Christ intended that this power should be exercised also by their successors the bishop
of the church
The apostles lived for a short time only. Christ must then have intended that the
apostles provide duly authorized successors to carry on the work of teaching sanctifying
and ruling.
A special power in his church Christ gave special power in his church to St. Peter by
making him the head of the Apostles and the chief teacher and ruler of the entire
church. The power of the keys was promised to st. Peter and was actually conferred on
him. Saint Peter was recognized by the early Christians from the beginning as the head
of the church.
The Pope, Bishops, and Priests
A successor to Saint Peter. The first bishop of Rome was required as chief teacher and
ruler for the same reason the successors are required for the other apostles.
The successor of St. Peter is called the Pope.
The Bishops of the church are the successors of the Apostles because they have
received the power of orders by valid consecration through an unbroken line of
successors of the Apostles and have received the power of jurisdiction through the
union with the Pope the successor of St. Peter
The priests especially Parish priests assist the Bishops in the care of the souls.
Although all priests assist the bishop of a diocese in the care of souls Parish priests
especially are given the definite care of a section of a diocese which is called parish and
this of ecclesial institution.
The Laity and Consecrated Members of the Church
The laity of the church are all its members who do not belong to the clerical or to the
religious state.
The consecrated religious include men and women who embrace a community life and
make the vows of poverty chastity and obedience.
Religious and clerics enjoy special canonical privileges and have many more obligations
than lay people have.
Among the laity or secular persons who have embraced the state of celibacy or virginity
or the matrimonial state.

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Unit.

The fundamental aspects of the church

Lesson 1. The Origin and Nature of the Church

Etymology and Definition

Jesus Christ Founded the Church

To Bring All Men to Salvation

Teaching, Sanctifying, and Ruling in the Name of Christ

The Pope, Bishops, and Priests

The successor of St. Peter is called the Pope.

The Laity and Consecrated Members of the Church

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