Nathan March

21 November 2002

 

 

INTRODUCTION TO THE CATHOLIC FAITH

REFLECTION PAPER #4

 

In my opinion, the most striking element of the Church presented in Lumen Gentium and the Catechism is the radical meaning of the totality and all-encompassing unity implied by the term “Catholic Church”.  The word “church” is derived from the Greek word “ecclesia” meaning assembly.  While the word “catholic” refers to “universal”, “according to the totality”, and “in keeping with the whole.” (CCC 830) The Catholic Church is therefore, the assembly of all peoples, encompassing the totality of God’s universal offering of salvation to all mankind. 

God created the world for the sake of communion with his divine life.  Through Jesus Christ, he draws all men to himself and shares his life with them thereby making them a people: “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” (CCC 782)  What makes the Catholic Church specifically “catholic” is Jesus Christ who is present in her.  Christ is the fullness, light, truth, and life of the Church.  He alone is the wholly all-embracing.  (LCCC pg 119) The “convocation” of men in Christ, as a participatory assembly or “church”, is a communion with the Father through the Son in the Spirit (CCC 760). Thus the Church is like a sacrament, both the visible sign and the reality, of the “plan of God’s love for humanity,” that “the whole human race may become one People of God, form one Body of Christ, and be built up into one temple of the Holy Spirit.” (CCC 776)

The Catechism considers the unity of the Church from the perspective of her origin.  Because of their common origin in God all men are bound together and have the same human nature and the same human dignity. (CCC 1934) Christ’s instruction to make all men his disciples means that God wants to gather the one family of man, (LCCC pg 113) to save us, not as individuals, but as a people. (CCC 781)  This may seem counterintuitive with modernity’s emphasis on individuality. Perhaps it is better to state that God’s plan, to save us as a people, includes saving us individually.  The emphasis is on the universal rather than the particular: salvation is offered to all men.  Conversely, God is not the property of any one people, nor the sole possession of a particular sect or denomination.  God wishes to save all men, by welcoming all men into his family, by acquiring a people for himself, formed from those who previously were not a people. (CCC 782)

The Church is one because of her source.  (CCC 813) Since God is one he desires that we, too, should become one with him, to the extent not only of being his brothers and sisters, but even more: of becoming one Body with him, members of his Body. (CCC 521) Through baptism, we are united with the death and Resurrection of Christ thereby becoming members of his Body, of his Church. (LCCC pg111)  Just as the body is composed of many members the Church is made up of many people with a variety of gifts for the benefit of the whole. Within the unity of the People of God, a multiplicity of peoples, and cultures is gathered together. (CCC 814)

The Church is “apostolic” meaning she has been “sent”.  Christ’s mandate to the Church is to spread the Kingdom of Christ, to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” (Mt 28:19) It is her mission to unify since it is the desire of her spouse to save all men by drawing them into communion.  Taking his example, she must always pray and work towards unity.  This is why Christ prayed at the hour of his Passion, “That they may all be one.  As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us.” (Jn 17:21)