C4: Ignite Your Catholic Faith - What are the Marks of the Church?

Archdiocese of Milwaukee

19 Apr 201303:32

Summary

TLDRThis video explains the four key characteristics of the Church: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. The Church is one through unity in faith and love. It is holy because God shares His holiness with us. 'Catholic' means universal, embracing all people across time and space. 'Apostolic' signifies that the Church is built on the witness of the apostles, and all believers are called to spread the Good News. Viewers are invited to experience this faith by attending Mass and living out these traits in their lives.

Takeaways

🔵 The Church is described by four characteristics: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.
🙏 The 'one' characteristic signifies unity among Christians despite divisions in Christianity.
🕊️ The 'holy' characteristic means the Church is set apart and made different by God's holiness, not by the holiness of its members.
🌎 The 'catholic' characteristic comes from the Greek word meaning 'universal', indicating the Church's universal embrace of all people.
📜 The 'apostolic' characteristic is based on the witness of the apostles and the Church's mission to continue their work.
🤲 The unity of the Church is rooted in baptism, belief in scriptures, and relationship with Jesus.
🕊️ The holiness of the Church is a reflection of God's holiness, shared with believers through Christ's life.
🌐 The Church's catholic nature is demonstrated by its inclusiveness of all languages, cultures, and times.
📢 The apostolic nature of the Church calls believers to be missionaries, spreading the Good News.
💌 The invitation to Church and Mass is an invitation to experience the unity and characteristics of the Church in community.

Q & A

What does the term 'one' in the Nicene Creed signify about the Church?
-The term 'one' signifies the unity of the Church, reflecting Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper for His followers to be united in faith and truth, despite the divisions seen in Christianity today.
How does the Church strive to achieve unity among Christians?
-The Church seeks to make unity more real and full through the commonality of baptism, belief in the scriptures, and relationship with Jesus, aiming to live united in faith, goodness, and love.
What does the Church's holiness represent?
-The Church is holy not because its members are inherently holy, but because it partakes in God's holiness. The term 'holy' signifies a difference or distinction, indicating that God shares His life with us, making us holy as we live a life of goodness and service.
How does the Church's holiness impact the world?
-The Church's holiness makes a difference in the world by living a life committed to goodness, service, prayer, and faith, thus reflecting God's nature and influence.
What is the meaning of the term 'catholic' in the context of the Church?
-The term 'catholic' comes from the Greek and means 'universal.' It signifies the Church's universal embrace, including people of all times, spaces, languages, and cultures, united by baptism and the Holy Spirit.
What does the Church's apostolicity indicate?
-Apostolicity indicates that the Church's faith is based on the witness of the apostles, who knew Jesus personally and experienced His teachings and miracles. It also reminds us that we are called to be apostles, spreading the Good News.
How does the Church's apostolicity relate to its mission?
-The Church's apostolicity relates to its mission by calling its members to continue the work of the apostles as missionaries, proclaiming the Gospel and sharing the faith with others.
What is the significance of the Nicene Creed in the Mass?
-The Nicene Creed is significant in the Mass as it is a profession of faith, where believers declare their belief in the Church's unity, holiness, catholicity, and apostolicity.
How does the Church's unity, holiness, catholicity, and apostolicity contribute to its identity?
-These four traits collectively contribute to the Church's identity by defining its essence and mission, guiding its actions, and providing a framework for understanding its role in the world and in relation to God.
What is the Year of Faith, as mentioned in the script?
-The Year of Faith is a period designated by the Catholic Church to encourage and deepen the faith of its members, often involving special events, teachings, and reflections on the Church's doctrines.
Why is it important for individuals to understand the four characteristics of the Church?
-Understanding the four characteristics of the Church is important as it helps individuals grasp the core beliefs and values of Catholicism, fostering a deeper connection with the faith and its teachings.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 What Does it Mean When the Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic?

This paragraph introduces the Nicene Creed and the four essential traits of the Church: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. It explores how these characteristics describe the Church’s identity and significance in the faith. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding what these terms mean, especially for those who feel overwhelmed by the language of the Creed.

🤝 The Church is One: Unity in a Divided World

The second paragraph focuses on the unity of the Church. It references Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper for His followers to remain united through the ages. Despite the divisions within Christianity today, Catholics maintain unity with other Christians through shared baptism, scripture, and relationship with Jesus. This unity is essential in a world filled with conflict, as it reflects a deeper connection with God and one another.

🕊 The Church is Holy: Sharing in God’s Holiness

In this paragraph, the concept of holiness is explored. The Church is considered holy not because of the holiness of its members, but because God is holy. Holiness is defined as being different or set apart, and through God's sharing of His life with humanity, believers are called to live holy lives. By dedicating themselves to Christ, people become like God and make a positive difference in the world through service, prayer, and faith.

🌍 The Church is Catholic: Universality in Christianity

This section explains that the term 'catholic' means 'universal.' It highlights the inclusivity of the Church, which embraces people from every language, culture, and background, united through baptism and the Holy Spirit. The Church is open to all of humanity, reflecting its universal mission to spread the Gospel to every corner of the world.

📖 The Church is Apostolic: Faith Built on Apostolic Witness

The final characteristic of the Church is its apostolic nature. This means that the faith is rooted in the witness of the apostles—those who knew Jesus personally, experienced His miracles, and heard His teachings. The credibility of the apostles' testimony forms the foundation of Christian belief. Additionally, all believers are called to be apostles themselves, spreading the Good News and becoming missionaries in their own lives.

🔥 Invitation to Church: Ignite Your Faith!

The concluding paragraph serves as an invitation to experience the Church firsthand by attending Mass. It encourages people to embrace the community that is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. The speaker urges viewers to share the message with others and spark discussions about faith, reminding them of the Year of Faith and the continued journey of learning and growing in belief. The playful close invites viewers to return for more faith-filled content in the future.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Church

The Church refers to the community of believers in Christianity, specifically in the context of Catholicism in this script. It embodies the four traits of being one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, which are described in the Nicene Creed. The video emphasizes how these traits define the identity and mission of the Church.

💡One

One is one of the four characteristics of the Church, representing unity among believers. It reflects Jesus' desire for his followers to remain united, as expressed at the Last Supper. Despite divisions in Christianity, the script highlights the shared commonality of baptism and belief in the authority of scripture that binds Christians together.

💡Holy

Holy signifies that the Church is sacred because it is connected to God, who is inherently holy. The video explains that holiness does not come from human beings themselves but from God, who shares His life with believers. By living in Christ, members of the Church become holy and contribute positively to the world.

💡Catholic

Catholic means 'universal,' originating from Greek. The term indicates the Church's inclusiveness, embracing people of all times, places, languages, and cultures through baptism and the Holy Spirit. The video underscores this universal nature as a defining trait of the Church, aiming to unite the entire human race in faith.

💡Apostolic

Apostolic refers to the Church's foundation on the teachings and witness of the apostles—those who knew Jesus personally. The script explains that the Church's apostolic nature not only connects current believers to the apostles' experiences but also calls all members to act as apostles by spreading the Good News.

💡Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed is a statement of Christian faith recited at Mass. It declares the four essential traits of the Church: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. The video mentions the Creed to remind viewers of these key aspects that characterize the Church and its mission.

💡Unity

Unity refers to the Church being one and its members striving to live in harmony with one another. Despite the existing divisions in Christianity, the script emphasizes that the unity found in baptism and shared belief helps bring Christians closer to each other and to God.

💡Holiness

Holiness is described as a quality of the Church, deriving from God rather than human beings. The script explains that by following God's will and embracing Christ, believers partake in His holiness, allowing them to live lives of goodness, service, prayer, and faith, thereby making a positive difference in the world.

💡Apostles

Apostles are the original followers of Jesus who witnessed His teachings, miracles, and resurrection. The apostolic trait of the Church is based on their testimony, and the video explains that all believers are called to be apostles in their own right, sharing the Good News with others and continuing the mission of the Church.

💡Missionary

Missionary relates to the Church's apostolic mission of spreading the teachings of Jesus and the Good News. The video encourages believers to see themselves as missionaries, actively participating in sharing the faith and inviting others to experience the community of the Church, reflecting its apostolic character.

Highlights

The Church is described as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.

The Creed's language can be challenging to understand.

The concept of the Church being 'one' is rooted in Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper.

Despite divisions in Christianity, Catholics believe in unity through baptism and scriptural authority.

Unity is a holy and desirable quality in a world marked by division.

The Church's unity is also a unity with God and a bond as His people.

The Church is 'holy' not because of the people but because of God's holiness.

God's holiness is shared with believers through His life.

The term 'catholic' means 'universal', indicating the Church's global reach.

The Church is open to all people, regardless of language or culture.

The Church's 'apostolic' nature is based on the witness of the apostles who knew Jesus personally.

The Church invites everyone to Mass to experience its unity and holiness.

The Year of Faith is a time to connect with Christ and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The video aims to ignite faith and encourage spirited conversations about Catholic beliefs.

The term 'apostolic' reminds us of our call to be apostles and missionaries.

The video invites viewers to return for more discussions on Catholic beliefs.