preview

Four Marks Of The Church Essay

Decent Essays

The four marks of our church are what we believe as Roman Catholics our church to be. We state these beliefs in the Nicene Creed and they are also shown in many other parts of our faith. Only the Roman Catholic Church reflects the fullness of these marks. It is through these marks that salvation can be achieved. These marks include One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostalic. The meaning of the first mark of the church is that we are united in our creed as well as other teachings, the celebration of the Sacraments, and the hierarchical structure based on the Apostalic succession preserved through holy Orders. The church is one for three reasons. These reasons include its source (the Holy Trinity), its founder Jesus Christ, and its “soul” (the Holy Spirit). These reasons make the “oneness” of the church visible. No matter where you worship God at mass, it is the same all over the world. The readings are the same, the order of the mass is the same, and the hymns …show more content…

The meaning of the word Catholic is universal. The church is catholic in two senses. The first is that Christ is present in her so she possesses the fullness of Christ and has received from him the fullness of the means of salvation. The second is Christ sent her on a mission to gather all people into the people of God. The church feels connected to all people because all are made in the image and likeness of God. Despite this, the perfect union with God and all people will not take place till the end of time. Churches are completely and fully Catholic when they are in communion with the Church of Rome, meaning they recognize the Pope’s authority as the visible foundation for the unity of all members of the church and church leaders. The Seven Sacraments are also a huge part of what makes the church Catholic as they touch the totality of a persons life and Catholic journey from Baptism in the beginning as a sacrament of initiation to Annointing of the Sick at the

Get Access