Msgr. Beaulieu – Apostolic Nature of the Church

Apostolic Nature of the Church

In the Nicene Creed, at least weekly, the faithful profess their belief in the four marks of the Church: she is one, holy, catholic and apostolic. Full apostolic faith requires several elements: belief in the divine inspiration of both testaments of the Bible, the teachings of the apostolic fathers, and believing that the bishops not only have valid apostolic succession, but that they are also in a living communion with the successor of Peter — the Pope. Among those four marks of the Church, her apostolic mark signifies that the Church’s foundation is squarely on the teachings and mission of the Apostles, who were directly commissioned by Jesus. This mark emphasizes the Church’s continuity with them, the first generation of Christians, and the unbroken line of apostolic succession, where bishops inherit their authority from those Apostles. In the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, you would read this, “The Church is apostolic in her origin because she has been built on ‘the foundation of the apostles’ (Ephesians 2:20). She is apostolic in her teaching which is the same as that of the Apostles. She is apostolic by reason of her structure insofar as she is taught, sanctified, and guided until Christ returns by the Apostles through their successors who are the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter” (CCCC, n.174).

Triplex Munera of Christ – Priest, Prophet, King

The terms priest, prophet, and king refer to the threefold office of Jesus and, by extension, to all the baptized in Christ. Whether Pope or Bishop, each of them share in Christ’s ministry as priest, prophet, and king. As priests, the pope and bishops celebrate the Eucharist and all the sacraments to lead their people to holiness. As prophets, they are the official teachers of the Church. And as kings, they speak with authority just as Jesus did. These are important aspects of the apostolic nature of the Church. Jesus commissioned the Apostles to preach in His name. He gave them the authority to baptize, to heal and to forgive sins. He also gave them the authority to generate additional disciples of the Church, so that their mission would continue in perpetuity. This apostolic succession through the sacramental anointing of bishops and popes ensures the continuity of the teachings of Christ.

In a General Audience, the late Pope Francis said, as apostolic in her nature, that mark of the Church “underline[s] the deep and constitutive link between the Church and the Apostles, a small group of 12 that Jesus has gathered around Himself to stay with Him and to send them to teach” (16 October 2013). The Holy Father went on to say that the Gospel “isn’t an idea or a philosophy,” but a living relationship with Jesus Christ. “Without Jesus there is no church,” he added. The guarantee that the Church is teaching and sharing the authentic Jesus, the late Pope said, comes through her fidelity to the teaching and preaching of the Apostles. He went on to say, “Through the centuries, the church preserves this precious treasure, which is the sacred Scriptures, the sacraments and the ministry of its pastors so that we can be faithful to Christ and participate in his life.”  

All four marks of the Church are about Jesus. The Church is one because Christ is one. She is holy because Jesus Christ is holy; the Church is catholic because  the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior of all; and, ultimately, the Church is apostolic because, as the Father has sent Jesus, so Jesus sends us. In other words, in order to understand the nature of the Church at all, you must understand who Christ is and what He does, even now.

Excerpted from http://www.ncregister.com. Fr. Dwight Longenecker. What Does It Mean to Say the Church is “Apostolic?” 16 February 2020