The Four Marks of the Church

Sisters and brothers. We last talked about the Church, and we talked about the nature of the Church called together by Christ by the action of the Holy Spirit at the Crucifixion. And then in Pentecost. Today, we will reflect on four characteristics of the four marks of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. 

The Church is called to be One, and one of the most important things is the unity of the Church. And when we say unity, we don’t necessarily mean uniformity. For there is diversity in the Church, as there always has been. The importance is that there is unity around the essentials of the Church: our Sacramental Life, our Creed, and our moral commitments.

We were told in the Scripture there is one Lord, one Faith, in one Baptism.
And so, indeed, even though the Church has recognized that there has been fracturing over the years between Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox Church and Churches,
between Catholics and those Churches of the Protestant Reformation, we no longer see those Churches as enemies, their friends, their cousins, and always our one Baptism is recognized. So one of the ways we recognize the call to unity in the Church today is the ecumenical efforts of the Church for Churches to come together, oftentimes to share prayer, to share dialog, to break bread, perhaps at a Thanksgiving meal where Churches come together, and also to serve others in ministry, an ecumenical ministry working together.
So the Church unity, the Church is One. 

Second, His Constitution on the Church from the Second Vatican Council spoke of a universal call to Holiness. That Holiness isn't something that is intended for priests or monks or sisters. It's intended for all of the baptized to experience the Grace of Christ, to live that grace well, to pray well, and live well with one another. This body of Christ ever more living in conformity with Christ. So one and Holy. 

The Catholic, being universal, is that the Church is indeed meant for all. The call of the gospel is to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth with Jesus’s promise. I will be with you to the end of the age. As he says in Matthew’s gospel. The Church though, while universal, intended for all people, is both universal and local. So we can talk about the Roman Catholic Church, for example, and Pope and universal ministry of the Church, but that is also present in the local Church of a diocese or archdiocese in which we live. So not only is the Church universal Catholic, but its Catholicity is expressed locally as well. 

Finally, the last is Apostolic. That is, the Church has continuity with the teachings of the apostles, the deposit of Faith that was passed on to the apostles, that became in our lives and theology, Scripture and tradition, then that is carried on, guarded, and guaranteed by the teaching of the Magisterium and the sense of the faithful throughout the Church.

So with those four marks, sisters and brothers, we can identify the Church One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic, each of which is a mark and an invitation.

Reflection Questions:

1. How can we contribute to the unity of the Church while respecting its diversity?

2. In what ways can we live out the call to holiness in our daily lives?

3. How does understanding the Church’s universality and apostolic continuity deepen our Faith?