Meditation Twenty-two, First Week of August 2003

The Marks of the Church

Readings: Matt 16: 18-19; Ephesians 4: 1-6; 1 Cor. 12: 1-31

Generations of youngsters studying the Catechism learned that the Catholic Church had four distinguishing marks or characteristics. These are historical signs that distinguished it as the Church established by Christ. The Church was said to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic. We accepted these qualities of the Church as both obvious and static or permanent signs. That was it. Later, as religious education tended to be more ecumenical, some might say less triumphalistic, and in some cases, less informed, these marks of the Church were seldom taught. This is unfortunate since they are, in fact, succinct ways of describing the Church. I think they should be seen in a dynamic way rather than a static possession like favors from God in a treasure box. By dynamic I mean that they are qualities that the Church must constantly strive toward; qualities whose continuous existence is ultimately made possible only by the grace of the Holy Spirit, using the cooperative wills of those members of the Church who respond to His grace. Take for example unity. Throughout the history of the Church, there has been a constant struggle to preserve the doctrinal unity of the Church. This means that we believe something and that we act like we believe it. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, functioning together as disciples of the One Lord Jesus Christ, in union with the bishops, especially the bishop who succeeded Peter as the head of the apostolic band. The faith is there, but we must not presume. In the confusing sea of human thought, that unity must exist in a constant struggle of rebelliousness of the human heart. Baptism must be believed in and practiced as Christ meant it to be, as a sign of unity. All this struggle is because the Church on earth doest not exist in books, or declarations, or even in rituals. It exists in the faithful, in their hearts and souls. We are, if we follow the Gospel teachings of Christ and the tradition of the apostles, as interpreted by the Fathers of the Church, living stones out of which the Church is built by God. This dynamism, this struggle, is even more obvious if instead of speaking of the unity of the Church, we speak of its holiness. Holiness means dedication to living according to the life of Christ, given to us in sanctifying grace. Even in the worst of times there were saints, some of these acknowledged later as great saints in the Church. During the dreadful century before the Protestant reformation, one of the darkest moments in Church history, there was at least one person born every year who would be a canonized saint, like St. Catherine of Genoa, St. Teresa, St. John of the Cross and St. Ignatius Loyola. The Church is catholic, or universal, only because we try to resist the things that would and could break up its unity. In the past these evil forces of dissolution included slavery, war, military occupation, and even use of the Church as a source of power and political influence. Today the introduction into the Church of conflict that puts stress on its unity, must be resisted or parts of the Church will become severed from the living body of Christ and even very sincere people will fall into schism or heresy. Finally we must always know, follow, and struggle to keep and apply the teaching of the apostles planted in our hearts and minds by Christ. To be apostolic is to be zealous, brave, and dedicated to our own comfort and welfare, but to bringing the love of Christ to others, to being loyal to Christ in our own life situations, as possible. The marks of the Church flow from the Holy Spirit. They are dynamic features of His loving presence, His grace, and His action among us. We Catholics struggling to live out our Christian vocation in the Church that Christ founded, must, according to Pope John Paul II, find strength, energy and inspiration in the Holy Eucharist. Then the four marks of the Church will not be seen as logos or trademarks on an object, they will be marvelous signs of the Holy Spirit, working in living souls who really make up the Church, the mystical body of Christ.

Quotation for Meditation

The Catechism of The Catholic Church 811 & 812

811 "This is the sole Church of Christ, which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic." These four characteristics, inseparable 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 his Church one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, and it is he who calls her to realize each of these qualities.

812 Only faith can recognize that the Church possesses these properties from her divine source. But their historical manifestations are signs that also speak clearly to human reason. As the First Vatican Council noted, the "Church herself, with her marvelous propagation, eminent holiness, and inexhaustible fruitfulness in everything good, her catholic unity and invincible stability, is a great and perpetual motive of credibility and an irrefutable witness of her divine mission."

Quiet Time and Then Discussion

Questions for Meditation

1. Was I ever aware of the four marks of the Church?

2. Do I think of myself as called to be a living stone functioning as a dynamic part of the body of Christ?

3. What can I do to be someone who responds to the four marks of the Church, as these unbelieving times seem to be sweeping over the Church?

Prayer

My Savior and shepherd of my soul, confusion, doubt, lack of loyalty, even false teaching and controversy within the Church trouble me deeply. I want to stand with You. I want to encourage unity and peace. I want to grow in holiness to be an informed, willing, and witnessing member of the Church. I want those I love to be the same. Please help us O Lord, as you helped Our Lady and Mary Magdalene, Peter and Paul, Thomas and John, all so different, yet called to be Your living stones. Amen.