The Catholic Church is the community of all baptized persons united in the same true faith, the same sacrifice, the same sacraments, under the authority of the Sovereign Pontiff, the Bishop of Rome, and the bishops in communion with him. In the Old Testament, God made Israel the first People of God. He made Israel a sacred community, dearer to …

Jesus started the Catholic Church at the time of His Death and Resurrection, more than two thousand years ago. Jesus earned for us the privilege of belonging to God’s holy family, the Church, by His death and Resurrection. In order to enter that family, we must have sanctifying grace, which we first receive at Baptism and which cleanses our soul …

Some of the basic gifts given by God to the Catholic Church are: (1) the apostolic ministries of bishops, priests, and deacons, (2) the truths of the Faith, and (3) the Seven Sacraments. 1. Among the basic gifts given by God to the Catholic Church are the apostolic ministries of bishops, priests, and deacons. Christ gave the Apostles and their …

The two sources of Divine Truth are: (1) Holy Scripture and (2) Sacred Tradition (also known as Apostolic Tradition or simply Tradition). 1. One source of Divine Truth is Holy Scripture. Holy Scripture (or the Bible) is the collection of books accepted as definitive by the Catholic Church. Sacred Scripture is the authentic, inspired record of the revelations made to …

Other gifts of the Catholic Church besides the truths of the faith are the sacraments (cf. Q. 140). Jesus taught the Apostles that His grace was to be given to men through them. It would be through the Apostles and their successors, for example, that He would forgive sin and give the world His Precious Body and Blood in the …

Yes, the other gifts of the Church besides the truths of the faith and the sacraments are the ministries inherited from the Apostles (cf. Q. 140). St. Peter was Christ’s chief ambassador on earth. The whole Church was entrusted to his care. The Apostles shared their responsibility with others, called bishops. Today the Church continues, through the Pope and its …

By means of these gifts, the Catholic Church can act and grow as a community in Christ, by serving men and giving them His saving word and activity. The Catholic Church is nourished by God’s saving truth, the sacraments, and the apostolic ministry. Through these gifts, the Church Militant (the Church on earth) is able to grow and to continue …

The Catholic Church belongs entirely to Christ, because He is the Head of the Church, its Founder, its Spouse, and its Savior. He continues to do His saving work in and through the Church. In the New Testament we see Christ’s preparation for the Church, His promises concerning it, and the beginning of their rich fulfillment. Christ is the Light …

The Catholic always sees the Church in its relationship to Christ. It is not the Church as such that is the primary object of Catholic faith. The Catholic believes in Christ and in His Father and in the Holy Spirit. In the Creed, the Catholic professes his belief in “the holy catholic Church” precisely because he sees the Church as …

The Church is a living continuation of Christ on earth because Christ spiritually and mystically lives and acts through the Church. It is a living organism, not just an organization. Christ organized the Church to carry on His work in the world and to bring His ministry and truth to all men and all ages. It is Christ Who accomplishes …