Chapter 10 — "The Church: Reflecting the Light of Christ"
OPENING PRAYER
We stand before you, Holy Spirit,
conscious of our sinfulness,
but aware that we gather in your name.
Come to us, remain with us,
and enlighten our hearts.
Give us light and strength
to know your will,
to make it our own,
and to live it in our lives.
Guide us by your wisdom,
support us by your power,
for you are God,
sharing the glory of Father and Son.
You desire justice for all:
enable us to uphold the rights of others;
do not allow us to be misled by ignorance
or corrupted by fear or favor.
Unite us to yourself in the bond of love
and keep us faithful to all that is true.
As we gather in your name
may we temper justice with love,
so that all our decisions
may be pleasing to you,
and earn the reward
promised to good and faithful servants.
You live and reign with the Father and the Son,
One God, forever and ever.
Amen.
It is stated that this prayer was used before every session of the Second Vatican Council.Book of Blessings (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1989), pp. 191–192.
"THE CHURCH: REFLECTING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST"
—CCC, Nos. 571–664
What does the Church mean for you?
The Church is part of God’s plan to share God’s divine life with all people. God’s family has been formed over time through the various events described in Scripture. Jesus Christ brought forth the fulfillment of God’s plan through his preaching, teaching, and witnessing to God’s Reign, salvation from sin, and restoring our participation in God’s divine life.
Jesus established the visible structure of the Church through the Apostles which will continue until God’s Reign is fully realized. The Holy Spirit revealed the Church at Pentecost, forming and uniting the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples into a visible community, and empowering them to proclaim the Gospel—the Good News—of Jesus Christ to the world. There is and remains an inseparable link between the Holy Spirit and the Church.
The Church is the continuing manifestation of the Trinity, whose plan is to gather all people and to unite them under Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church,. The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ. Christ continues to fill the Church with life, his saving grace and presence, and gives the Church the Holy Spirit with her gifts of love, unity, and peace.
The Church is a sacrament of salvation that is a holy mystery, an integration of both visible and spiritual realities. The Church is a spiritual reality because her origin is from the Holy Trinity, and the Church is sustained, guided, and nourished by the Holy Spirit. However, the Church is also a visible, public institution with a hierarchical government, laws and customs. The Church is also the “People of God,” visible through her worldwide membership of more than one billion people who gather in communion, unity and love to worship and praise God, participate in the sacraments, and go forth to witness to Jesus Christ and serve the world in love, peace, justice, compassion, and mercy.
Through our Baptism, we are called to participate in Christ’s mission as a priestly people, uniting our prayers, works, activities, and sufferings with the sacrifice of Christ;. We are a prophetic people who teach, proclaim, and bear witness to the Gospel and God’s Reign in the world; we are servant leaders who, like Christ, offer ourselves in loving service to others.
Please read this week USCCA, Chapter 10, "The Church: Reflecting on the Light of Christ," (pages 111–123), the CCC, Nos. 748–810 (pages 197–213), and the Compendium, Nos. 147–160
VIDEOS
"What's the Church All About?" (C4-Bishop Don Hying)
"Why So Many Churches?" (C4-Bishop Don Hying)
"What Gifts Does God Give the Catholic Church (Bishop Robert Barron)
"The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church" (Bishop Robert Barron)
"The Mystical Union of Christ and the Church" (Bishop Robert Barron)"I Believe in the Church" - CCC 748-769 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
"The Mystery of the Church" - CCC 770-810 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
MUSIC
"Christ Be Out Light"
"We Are One Body, One Body in Christ" (John Michael Talbot)
"One Bread, One Body" (John Michael Talbot)"Give Me Jesus"
"Bread for the World"