The Church as the Sacrament of Salvation

Chapter 4Part 1

Theology ll –Mr. Perrotti

The Church: The Sacrament of Salvation

• The Second Vatican Council’s constitution Lumen Gentium (Light for all Nations) offers a number of images to describe the Church, but the Church as “The People of God” surpassed all others

• Lumen Gentium rightly calls the Church “the universal sacrament of salvation” since Christ, who “is continually active in the world,” leads all people to the Church so that He may “join them more closely to Himself.”

The Church: The Sacrament of Salvation

• That the Catholic Church is an institution here on earth that leads us to Christ,

• Our salvation since the Catholic Church was started by Christ; therefore, she cannot err; therefore, she leads Christ's people to salvation through her sacraments

• All who are saved, therefore, receive the necessary grace somehow through the visible Church founded by Christ

Terms we will discuss in the Chapterplus vocab at end of unit

• Apostolic Succession – Lineage of the Catholic bishops pope through the ages by which each holds office in a direct link to the 12 apostles

• Bishop - a clergyman having spiritual and administrative authority

• Canon - Definitive list of the books of the Bible –The Law of the Church

• Cardinal - (Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 200 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes

Terms we will discuss in the Chapter

• Cathedral - Home church of the bishop• Clergy - A body of officials who perform religious

services, such as priests, ministers or rabbis• Collegiality - The "sacred order" of teaching

authority in the Catholic Church.• Conclave - Gathering of cardinals to elect a pope.• Deposit of Faith - Revelation of Christ given to

apostles

More Terms

• Diocese - Territory and churches under a bishops authority

• Roman Curia – The administrative and governing part of the Church.

• Ecumenical Council - A worldwide, official assembly of the bishops under the direction of the pope.

• Episcopacy - the office of bishop in the catholic church; from the greek episkopos, from which also is derived the word "bishop"

More Terms

• Infallibility - the quality of never making an error

• Magisterium - the official teaching authority of the church

• Sacred tradition– The living transmission of the Church's gospel

message found in the Church's teaching, life, and worship. It is faithfully preserved, handed on, and interpreted by the Church's Magisterium.

The Mystery of the Church

• Encyclical – Official letter from the Pope• LUMEN GENTIUM – Pope Paul VI – Describes the

Mystery of the Church as Christ’s Light for all Nations.• Vatican II observes that the official explanation given to

the bishops in 1964 read:“The word ‘mystery’ in this context does not indicate simply that a thing is unknowable or hidden. Rather, as many authorities recognize today, it points to a transcendent, divine reality that has to do with salvation and that is in some sensible way revealed and manifested. The term, therefore, which is found in the Bible, is very suitable as a designation for the Church.”

A Visible and Invisible Society

• The visible church is the church as we imperfectly see it.

• The various congregations of the universal church that regularly meet together in a particular place at a set time for things such as teaching, fellowship, and worship are commonly called the "local church" or the "visible church."

Church is Visible

• The local church is visible in that the community sees people who belong to the Lord Jesus gathering as the church for regular meetings, often called church services. Outsiders also see those in the visible church living the life of Jesus as they disperse into the community.

The Invisible Church

• The invisible church is the church as God perfectly sees it

• The invisible church is the community of all Christians throughout history who have been or will be loved and saved by Jesus Christ, including the believing people of the Old Testament.

• In this sense, "invisible church" refers to every person of any age, race, and culture whose sins are forgiven through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Visible vs. Invisible

Visible Church • Membership: saved and lost• Only currently living people• Many local churches• Differing denominations• Part of the body of Christ• Differing types of

government• Ministering of ordinances

(or sacraments)

Invisible Church • Membership: saved only• Both dead and living in

Christ• Only one universal church• No single denomination• The entire body of Christ• Christ is the only head• Ordinances fulfilled

The Church as the Sacrament of Communion

• Christ is the Head of the Mystical Body of the Church.

• Through his Paschal Mystery Christ made us all free from sin.

• The Liturgy each Sunday reenacts His Paschal Mystery and as Catholics we celebrate in His Holy Communion!

• “Do this in Memory of Me”

The Church as the Sacrament of Communion

• Christ calls us each day to his table, as he called the 12 on the “Holy Thursday”

• We are a Communion of Faith Followers who join him each day in the Eucharist!

• THIS IS MY BODY! THIS IS MY BLOOD!• Through the power of Transubstantiation the Bread

and Wine are changed into His Body and Blood.• WE share in His Communion Physically, Spiritually

and as ONE!

Communion

• In observing Communion we are remembering Christ and all that He has done for us in his life, death and resurrection:

– And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11:24 (NIV)

Communion

• When observing Communion we take time to examine ourselves:

– A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28

Communion (Christian), the relationship between Christians as individuals and their Church in Christ!

COMMUNION as COMMUNITY

• Christ never asked us to do this alone• He gave the Apostles all the tools to succeed!• He gave us the Great Commandments and

Commission to live by.• He gave us the Seven Sacraments to keep us

focused on his Divine Love• His Word in the Holy Scriptures to guide us!• And those members of the Apostolic Succesion

to contune to teach us!

Rather than asking for God’s help in prayer!

Thank him for all He has done and will do for us!

The Great Commission given to the Apostles was also a challenge give to all who believe that Jesus Christ came to save them from sin!His Church is for all who want to follow, His Kingdom is for all who want to enter!

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