TWELVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH

1. THE CHURCH IS TRINITARIAN

• God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit
• Divine Community is the model for human community
• Trinity is part of all our prayer; joining God's Life
• In Eucharist we share in Jesus' communion with the Father
• The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ

2. THE CHURCH IS CHRIST-CENTERED

• Jesus: the eternal Son of God made man
• Jesus died on the cross for our sins...
• ...and rose from the dead
• The Mass is the perpetual sharing in Jesus' sacrifice
• Jesus promises the Kingdom--eternal life--"at hand"

3. THE CHURCH IS A COMMUNITY

• The pilgrim people, living in the world...
• ...but seeking happiness in the next life
• Tradition: the teachings that keep us on the right path
• Communion of Saints...
• ...union of souls on earth, those in Heaven and in Purgatory

4. THE CHURCH IS SACRAMENTAL

• Jesus reveals God in acts and words
• Jesus acts in each Sacrament to share God's life
• Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist
• Reconciliation, Sacrament of the Sick
• Marriage, Holy Orders

5. THE CHURCH IS EUCHARISTIC

• Eucharist = "Thanksgiving"
• Christ is present...
• ...in the assembly, the Word, and the Bread & Wine
• The consecrated Bread and Wine are the Real Presence of Christ
• The Mass echoes the actions of Jesus at the Last Supper

6. THE CHURCH IS BIBLICALLY BASED

• Christ is present in all Scripture
• The OT reveals the plan of God to save us
• The NT reveals the completion of God's plan thru J.C.
• Scripture and Sacred Tradition cannot be separated
• Scripture is reflected in every part of the Church's life

7. THE CHURCH IS ONE

• The Church is founded by God...
• ...and so reflects God's oneness
• The Holy Spirit is the Church's soul
• The mission of the Church...
• ...is "that all may be one" in Christ

8. THE CHURCH IS HOLY

• Because Christ loved the Church,...
• ...giving himself up for her...
• ...so as to sanctify her.
• So the Church through her gifts...
• ...will sanctify her members and the world

9. THE CHURCH IS CATHOLIC

• Catholic = Universal
• Christ is present throughout the Church
• ...and the Church is sent to the whole world
• We share the Good News with all,
• ...by our words and acts.

10. THE CHURCH IS APOSTOLIC

• Founded on Peter and the Apostles
• Unbroken line of successors since the start!
• The first creed was composed in the Apostolic times
• All persons in the Church share a call to leadership
• A multitude of gifts and missions..

11. THE CHURCH IS CALLED TO BRING JUSTICE

• Universal call to serve
• Peace through justice
• Seeing Christ in the Poor
• Widow, orphan, stranger
• Life from womb to tomb

12. THE CHURCH REVERES CREATION, NATURE AND HUMAN DIGNITY

• Repairing the world wounded by Sin
• Truth, beauty and love present in Creation
• The Horizontal dimension of Christ's Cross
• Right use of Reason
• Reason inspired and supported by Faith