The Church We Believe in: One, Holy, Catholic, and ApostolicWhile it is generally recognized that differences in ecclesiology are the ones that constitute the most stubborn obstacles to Christian reunion, there are good grounds for hope in the fact that most Christians do agree in professing their faith in "one, holy, catholic and apostolic church." Indeed, honest facing up to the contradiction between our common faith in the "one church" and the divided state of Christianity is a prime motive for the ecumenical movement. It is true, of course, that the mere fact that Christians use the same words in professing their faith about the church does not eliminate their deep differences in ecclesiology. Profoundly divergent answers will be given when one asks: What do you mean when you say "the church"? and How do you understand it to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic? Ecumenical progress, then, calls for the effort to reach a common under- standing of the faith we profess. Theology has an important role to play here, because theology is defined as "faith seeking understanding." Ecumenical dialogue is most fruitful when it is a concerted effort, on the part of people coming from different theological traditions, to seek a deeper understanding of the creed in which they already profess a common faith, in the hopes that such a deeper understanding will get beneath their differences to the common ground where they are at one. An essential step in this process is for Christians to seek to deepen and clarify their understanding of their faith to the light of their own respective traditions. Such is the purpose of this book. What we are seeking here is an understanding of our profession of faith concerning the church, in the light of the Roman Catholic tradition. + |
Contents
| 3 | |
The One Church of Christ Suhsists in the Catholic Church | 23 |
The One Church A Communion of Churches | 34 |
Marked with a Genuine Though Imperfect Holiness | 66 |
The Catholic Unity of the People of God | 84 |
Universal Sacrament of Salvation | 109 |
Sacrament of Integral Salvation | 132 |
The Church Is Apostolic | 152 |
Apostolicity in Ecumenical Dialogue | 185 |
One Holy Catholic and Apostolic | 210 |
Notes | 225 |
| 236 | |
Common terms and phrases
apostolic succession apostolic tradition baptism baptismal creed baptized believe bishops body of Christ bond called catholic and apostolic Catholic Church chapter charity Christian churches Christian faith church of Christ churches and ecclesial Decree on Ecumenism describe the church disciples divine doctrine documents eastern Catholic churches eastern churches ecclesial communion ecclesial communities elements episcopal Eucharist expressed fact Father full communion Gentiles gifts God's gospel grace Hippolytus Holy Spirit human indefectibly holy integral salvation Jerusalem Jesus Christ Jews kingdom letter Lord Lumen gentium Lutheran means of salvation ministry mission mystery mystical body olic ordination ostolic particular churches pastoral Paul Paul's person Pope Pope Paul VI prayer preaching profess question reality reason recognized role Roman Catholic Church sacrament of salvation Second Vatican Council sense share sign and instrument sins speak statement subsists Synod teaching term things tians unity universal sacrament Vatican II visible word