Keep God's Word
The Church proclaims the Gospel, transmits Sacred Scripture and preserves the Tradition received from the Apostles, helping the faithful to know and live the truth of Christ.
Católicos em Ennis Community
The Catholic Church
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Faith, Tradition and Mission
A Catholic Church
The Catholic Church is the community of disciples of Jesus Christ, called to proclaim the Gospel, celebrate faith, live charity and to lead everyone to the encounter with God.
What is the Catholic Church?
The Catholic Church is the people of God gathered together by Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit and sent into the world to evangelize. It is not just a human institution, but a mystery of communion, faith and mission. In it, the faithful receive the Word of God, they celebrate the sacraments and live charity in union with the whole Church throughout the world.
Founded by Christ
Jesus called the Apostles and entrusted to the Church the mission of proclaiming the Gospel.
One Church
The Church lives in the unity of faith, of the sacraments and of communion with the Pope.
Universal
It is present all over the world, welcoming peoples, cultures and nations.
Mission of love
Evangelize, serve, welcome and witness to God's love.
The identity of the Church
The Church is communion, faith and mission
Since apostolic times, the Church has lived to proclaim Jesus Christ, to lead people to salvation and to be a sign of God's presence in the world.
Celebrate the sacraments
Through the liturgy and the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, the Church nourishes the spiritual life of the faithful and communicates the grace of God.
Forms a spiritual family
In the Church, every baptized person is part of a large family of faith, called to live fraternity, service and charity.
It is guided by the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit sustains the Church, conducts her mission, inspires holiness and strengthens the faithful in the Christian walk.
It is God's people
The Church gathers men and women of all ages and peoples, called to live faith, hope and charity in communion.
She is a missionary
The Church exists to evangelize. Its mission is to bring Christ to everyone, especially through witness, prayer and love of neighbor.
The Four Marks of the Church
One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic
The Church's profession of faith teaches that Christ's Church has four characteristics that manifest its identity and its mission.
Una
The Church is one because she has one Lord, one faith, one Baptism and lives in visible communion among the faithful.
Santa
The Church is holy because Christ is holy, because she receives the grace of the Holy Spirit and because it is called to lead everyone to holiness.
Catholic
The Church is catholic because she is universal: she proclaims the totality of the faith and it was sent to all the peoples of the earth.
Apostolic
The Church is apostolic because she is founded on the Apostles and continues his mission through the successors of the Apostles.
The Church's mission in the world
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To proclaim Jesus Christ and his Gospel to all people.
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To celebrate the liturgy and the sacraments as a source of divine grace.
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3
To form disciples in faith, prayer and the Christian moral life.
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4
To serve the poor, the sick, the needy and the suffering.
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5
To be in the world a sign of unity, hope, mercy and salvation.
The Church as mother and teacher
Catholic tradition recognizes the Church as a mother, because she generates new children for faith by Baptism, and as a teacher, because it teaches with authority the truth of Christ.
Throughout history, the Church has been a place of prayer, formation, holiness, charity and mission, helping millions of people to find meaning, hope and new life in God.
Communion with the Pope
The Catholic Church lives in communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, Successor of Saint Peter, to whom Christ entrusted in a special way the service of unity and pastoral care of the universal Church.
Doctrinal source
This content was written in pastoral language based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church and in the official teachings of the Church available on the Vatican website.
The Church continues Christ's mission
The Catholic Church exists to bring Christ to the world and to lead the world to Christ. In it, the faithful find the Word, the sacraments, fraternal communion and the path of holiness.