The Marks of the Church

the marks of the church

Objective: to become aware that the Church has four unique marks.

Good News Translation

​

​read acts of the apostles 2:42 - 47

​

Open Ended

From the passage, identify the four main features of the early Christian community [note: refer to page 35 of your learner's book]

from the passage we see that

the early Christians gathered to:

1. ​learn more about Christ from the apostles

2. ​take part in fellowship

3. pray together and celebrate the Eucharistic meal

4. share thier belongings and help the needy​

When other people witnessed the early Christian community living out these four features in their gatherings, many of them were attracted to the Lord Jesus, and they were baptised into the Church

As the members of the Church increased and the Chruch spread to other parts of the world, the bishops saw the importance of fomulating a formal summary of what Christians believed. This was because there were many false teachings about Christ and the Church that was spreading at that time and, therefore, the bishops wanted Christians to be clear about their beliefs.

​

​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

• A formal summary of what Christians believe is called a creed.

• We profess this creed during the Sunday Eucharist or feast days or special celebrations.

• The creed we commnly profess during the Eucharistic celebration is called​: Apostle Creed

​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

• was first formulated at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.;

• was developed further over the following centuries;

• reached its final form at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D.​

​

​Cathchism of the Catholic Church, 811

" This is the sole Church of Christ, which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic.

These four characteristics, inseparably linked with each other, indicate essential features of the Church and her mission. the Church does not possess them of herself; it is Christ who, through the Holy Spirit, makes the Church one, holy catholic and apostolic, and it it he who calls her to realize each of these qualities. " 

Replace this with your body text.

​Duplicate this text as many times as you would like.

​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

​Replace this with a header

Multiple Select

Which are the four unique characteristics or marks of the Church?

• Catholic

• One

• Holy Spirit

• Holy

• Apostolic

1. The Chur​ch is one - we are called to unity;

2. ​The Church is holy - we are called to holiness;

3. The Church is catholic - we are called to be open and welcoming to all peoples;

4. The Church is apostolic - we are called to share in the mission of the apostles.​

​

​In the creed, the bishops identified the four marks of the Church...

​

as Catholic we are called to unity as a family of God.

as Catholic we are called to share in the holiness of Holy Spirit and to be holy in our daily lives.

​as Catholic we are called to be universal, that is, to be open and welcoming to all people regardless of their social, ethnic, cultural, religious and economic background.

We are sent by Christ to proclaim the Good News to all peoples as handed down by the apostles.

The four marks make the Catholic Church what she is because these marks were bestowed upon her by Christ, through the Holy Spirit. Without any one of these marks, the Church would not be the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

​

​

Draw

Draw images you feel best symbolise each of the four marks - one, holy, catholic, apostolic.

[Note: Don't be too concerned about the quality of the drawing. What is essential is that you express your own ideas on the four marks of the Church.]