Church and Mission

Question 1

Describe Catholic Beliefs About the Church

Answer 1

-In Greek, ‘ecclesia’ is the word for Church. It means assembly or gathering together of God’s people. The Church is the people of God gathered together.

-The word church with a small c is used to refer to building where Christians come to pray.

-When it is written with a capital C, Catholics mean everyone who is a member of the Church, all believers together. The Church is an important idea to Catholics.

Catholics believe that the Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic.

Question 2

Describe the Reasons for the Church as ‘One’

Answer 2

-The Catechism notes that the Church is one for three reasons.

-One reason is because it comes from one source, God. This is the Holy Trinity, a perfect unity of three divine persons.

-A second reason is because of its founder, Jesus Christ, who came to reconcile and unite all humankind through His death on the cross, taking away their sins.

-The final reason is because of its soul, the Holy Spirit, who lives in the souls of Catholics and unites them into one group or ‘communion’ of believers, and who guides the church.

Question 3

Describe Catholic Beliefs About the Church as ‘One’

Answer 3

-Catholics believe that there is only one Church and all those who believe in Christ and are baptised are members of it.

-Catholics are united in their beliefs, the prayer which sums up what Catholics believe, the other teachings and the celebration of the sacraments.

-For example, wherever you go to Mass in the world, the Mass is always the same.

‘One’ also refers to the idea that all are equally able to share in salvation.

Question 4

Describe the Diversity in the ‘Oneness’ of the Church

Answer 4

-‘One’ does not mean that everything should be exactly the same everywhere you go.

-In the Church’s oneness, there is diversity: there is room for many different types of people who work together to continue the mission of Jesus.

-The Catholic Church teaches that these various cultures and traditions enrich the church in the different expressions of the one faith.

Question 5

Describe Catholic Beliefs About the Church as ‘Holy’

Answer 5

-Catholics believe Jesus is the source of all holiness. Jesus makes the Church holy, and the Church makes people holy through its teaching, prayer, worship and good works.

-Catholics believe that each member of the Church has been called to holiness.

-This means that through baptism, a Catholic has been freed from original sin, filled with God’s grace, and become a member of the Church as the ‘Body of Christ’.

-The members of the Church are saved by Christ as God incarnate and are therefore set aside (made holy) and will receive eternal life after they die.

Question 6

Describe Catholic Beliefs About a Church of ‘Sinners’

Answer 6

-‘Holy’ doesn’t mean that there are no sinners in the Church. Catholics recognise that they are weak human beings, and at times they sin and fall short of what God wants them to be.

-They are taught to ask for God’s forgiveness and try again. In a sense, the Church considers itself to be a Church of sinners, rather than of the self-righteous.

-For example, one of the prayers of the Mass asks: “Lord, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church.”

Question 7

Describe Catholic Beliefs About the Church as ‘Catholic’

Answer 7

-‘Catholic’, means that the Church is ‘universal’ or ’whole’. It is the same in all times and places, worldwide and universal.

-Belief comes with the responsibility to spread the Good News.

-The Church is Catholic in that Christ is universally present in the Church, and because he has given the Church the task of evangelising.

-The Church has the task of reaching out to the whole world with the message of Jesus as it is open to all people.

-The Church is Catholic because Jesus gives the Church everything they need to be saved.

Question 8

Describe Catholic Beliefs About the Church as ‘Apostolic’

Answer 8

-Catholics believe that Jesus Christ founded the Church and gave His authority to His apostles.

-He entrusted a special authority to St Peter, one of the first Apostles, by giving him “the keys to the kingdom,” to act as His representation on Earth.

-Peter became the first Pope, and all Popes are continuing that role with the work of the bishops. In this way, ‘Apostle’ refers to one as a messenger.

-Hence, the Church is apostolic means that the faith that Catholics have was preserved, taught and handed down by the apostles, through the pope and bishops, right up to the present day.

Question 9

Explain how Catholics are Influenced by the Nature of the Church

Answer 9

One- Catholics will work towards unity amongst the different Christian traditions. They will also participate in interfaith dialogue to promote unity amongst all.

Catholic- This mark encourages Catholics to evangelise and take part in missionary work.

Holy- Catholics will take the sacraments to be more like Jesus and become closer to God.

Apostolic- Catholics will listen to the Magisterium’s teachings for guidance.

Question 10

Describe the Importance of Mary to Catholics

Answer 10

-Catholics hold Mary in great honour. She is a model of the Church meaning that she is an example to all Catholics of how humans should respond to God.

-She was chosen to be the human mother of Jesus and is often described as the Mother of God so is really important in the work of salvation.

-Without Mary, there would be no Jesus, no incarnation and, therefore, no salvation.

-Mary is often called ‘Our Lady’ by Catholics. This is a special title given to no one else, showing how special she is.

-All Catholic churches will have a statue of Mary and there is a special devotion to her.

Question 11

Describe the Catholic Devotion to Mary

Answer 11

-As Mary had such a special relationship with God, Catholics believe that she acts as a mediator between them and God.

-Catholics pray to Mary, but do not believe that she can answer prayers in the way God can. They believe that she will intercede and pray to God on their behalf.

-The whole month of May is dedicated to Mary and Catholics will often say the ‘Hail Mary’. Many Catholics will go on pilgrimages to places where Mary is believed to have appeared such as Lourdes.

-All Catholic churches will have a statue of Mary showing her importance.

-Catholics might light a special votive candle and place it on a special stand by the statue in church as a symbol of their prayer.

Question 12

Describe Catholic Beliefs About Mary as an Example of Discipleship

Answer 12

-A disciple is one who follows the way of a teacher.

-From the very beginning Mary followed God even when she did not fully understand, in accepting that she was to be the mother of Jesus at the annunciation.

-“I am the handmaid of the Lord.”

-When Mary was told by the angel that she was to be the mother of the Christ, she also accepted willingly and joyfully; leaving “in excitement” to see Elizabeth.

-Catholics believe that Mary was the greatest example of discipleship. She spent her whole life dedicated to Jesus.

-This makes her a role model and a guide to the way Christians should serve God.

Question 13

Describe Catholic Beliefs About Mary as an Example of Faith

Answer 13

-Mary had total faith in God and in her son. She did not question God when she was told that she would have a child, even though she was a virgin.

-To agree to become an unmarried pregnant woman in first century Palestine required bravery since the consequences of being pregnant and unmarried was potentially a death sentence.

-At the very end she did not desert her son but was one of the few of his followers to follow him right up to the foot of the cross.

-Mary is a prophet of the Kingdom. She prayed the Magnificat in which she anticipated some of the themes of the kingdom Jesus would preach.

-For example, helping the poor: “He filled the hungry with good things.”

Question 14

Describe Catholic Beliefs About Mary as an Example of Charity

Answer 14

-Mary is also a model of charity. She gave her whole life to God and showed kindness and compassion. This is how Christian should be too.

-At the wedding feast at Cana, she asked Jesus to help, knowing that he would do what was needed. The celebration had run out of wine, but Mary know that Jesus had the power to help.

-As a result of Mary’s request Jesus performed his first miracle and turned water into wine. This is also an example of how Jesus listens to his mother and fulfils her request.

-This is one of the reasons why Catholics pray to Mary, because they believe she will pray to Jesus for them and he will listen.

Question 15

Describe Catholic Beliefs About the Physical ‘Body of Christ’

Answer 15

-The Church is described as the body of Christ in both the New Testament and the Catechism.

-According to the Bible, when Jesus entered the world, He took on a physical body that was ‘prepared’ for Him in the incarnation- God became man.

-While on Earth in His physical body Jesus showed God’s love in the things He said and did. He taught people how God wanted them to live and he cared for the sick by curing them.

-Ultimately, He gave his life as a sacrifice so that all Christians could have a closer relationship with God.

-After He rose from the dead, He physically ascended into heaven- the Ascension.

Question 16

Describe Catholic Beliefs About the Church as the ‘Body of Christ’

Answer 16

-The teaching that the Church is the body of Christ means that Catholics believe that the work of Christ on earth did not end with the Ascension.

-They believe that Jesus lives on through his followers, and in the Church. It is believed that Christ continues his work in the world and shows the love of God through members of the Church.

-In this way, the Church functions as ‘the body of Christ’. The Church continues the work that Jesus started off: making the world holy.

-All Christians continue the work of Jesus on Earth. Catholics are now the physical body of Jesus as he is no longer physically present in the world.

Question 17

Describe the Importance of the Church as the ‘Body of Christ’

Answer 17

In the New Testament, the Church is described by St Paul as ‘the body of Christ’ and that all Catholics are “a part of it.”

-As Catholics consider themselves to be the physical form of Jesus on earth (the body of Christ), they must continue with his physical work, giving help and teaching.

-For Catholics, this means that Jesus is still active in the world. His work didn’t end with his death, but it continues in those that follow and believe in him.

-When someone is baptised, Catholics believe that they are united with other Christians and with Christ and become part of this ‘body’.

Question 18

Explain how Catholics Continue Christ’s Work as the ‘Body of Christ

Answer 18

-Following the teaching that all are part of the ‘Body of Christ’, individual Catholics can continue Jesus’ work in different ways and yet be united.

-Each person in the Church has a different talent they use for the good of the Church in the same way that each part of a body has a different function and is used for the good of the whole body.

-“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”

-The Church remains a unity because its entire people are working together as the body of Christ.

Question 19

Describe the Importance of the Eucharist for the ‘Body of Christ’

Answer 19

-The Eucharist is central to their faith that the bread and wine which have been offered up in prayer have now become the body and blood of Christ.

-As they share these in communion, Catholics believe that they share in the Body of Christ. They are fed by Christ and are given strength to be the followers of Christ in the world.

-This also reaffirms their unity and gives them a sense of identity.

-Catholics believe that Christ is fully present in the Eucharist. This is known as the Real Presence.

-This means that at Mass the bread and wine, while keeping the appearance of bread and wine, are actually transformed into the body, blood, soul and dignity of Christ.

Question 20

Describe the Catholic Teaching of ‘Outside the Church there is no Salvation’

Answer 20

-The Church teaches that everyone is saved through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection – whether they know it or not.

-The way you can be most certain of receiving salvation is to be a baptised and practising member of the Catholic Church. This is stated in the Catechism:

-“Jesus ‘explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism.”

-However, they also teach that the Church of Christ is wider than the Catholic Church. Catholics believe that the full way to get to God is through the Catholic faith.

-However, God is bigger than the Church, so people who are not Catholics can be saved by God’s power.

Question 21

Describe Catholic Beliefs About ‘the Baptism of Desire’

Answer 21

-The Church also teaches that people who have not heard the Gospel of Jesus but have lived good lives can be saved because it is not their fault that they are not Christians.

-They are sometimes referred to as ‘anonymous Christians’. This is because Catholics believe these people are living good lives.

-So the Church also believes that people who are not Christians can also be saved: “Those who do not know the Gospel…but seek God with a sincere heart…may achieve eternal salvation.”

-The Catholic Church still believes that the most certain route to salvation is to be a baptised and practising member of the Catholic Church.

-It does believe that other good people outside of the Church can be saved.

Question 22

Explain why the Church Engages in Evangelisation

Answer 22

-Catholics believe that Jesus brought salvation through his death and resurrection. In doing this, he atoned for the sins of mankind.

However, to be ‘saved’, individuals have to have faith in
Jesus and believe in his atoning death and his resurrection.

-The Church believes it has a duty and an obligation to spread this faith as Jesus told his disciples to “Go out and make disciples of all nations,” so that as many people as possible can be saved.

-Helping the poor and those in need is an important part of evangelisation as it puts Jesus’ teachings about love and compassion into practice.

Question 23

Describe the Mission of the Church

Answer 23

-Mission means the calling to go out into the world and spread the Christian faith.

-At the end of Matthews Gospel, Jesus gives His Apostles a mission. This mission is also the mission of the Church.

-The mission of the Church is to go out into the world:

-To go out to the ends of the Earth
-To baptise people into the church
-To teach the teachings of Christ

-Evangelisation does not mean forcing people to convert. It is about sharing and living out the message. When a person has heard the Gospel it is their own personal choice what to do next.

Question 24

Describe the Development of Evangelisation

Answer 24

-The Church began in Jerusalem and within a few decades of the resurrection of Jesus it had spread through the Roman Empire.

-In the last 500 years, the Church has become truly worldwide. Missionaries have gone from Europe and started churches in Africa, South America and in Asia.

-In recent years the focus of evangelisation changed and the Church is no longer evangelising in places that have not heard the Gospel before.

-Instead they are focusing on Western countries, like European countries, which are becoming increasingly secular.

Question 25

Describe the Importance of Evangelisation for Catholics

Answer 25

-Evangelising is about sharing the love of Jesus with those who do not know about it.

-Evangelising is necessary so that people are able to come to know Jesus and be saved because Jesus said “The only way to the father is through me.”

-Evangelising is also about sharing the Good News especially with “the poor and the sick, those who are usually despised and overlooked.” We should care for their bodies and souls.

-These should be the people Catholics should evangelise first. The Church even gives a special place to the poor – the preferential option for the poor.

Question 26

Explain how the Church Engages in Evangelisation Locally

Answer 26

-The basic message of God’s love is passed on by the parish, for example, social events, Bible study and the celebration of mass.

-Pope Francis talks a lot about the parish and says that the parish “possesses great flexibility “, which means there are many ways they can spread God’s message.

-The parish can also engage with other Christian churches and other faith communities.

-This works towards justice, social cohesion and the common good, which is also part of evangelisation, because it is living out the Gospel message of love.

-There may be local diocesan newspapers that the church uses to help people learn more about their faith, such as the Catholic Pictorial in Liverpool.

Question 27

Explain how the Church Engages in Evangelisation Nationally

Answer 27

-On a national level, the Bishops’ Conference of a country helps Catholics to know and share the Gospel.

-In 2015, a national evangelisation initiative called Proclaim 15: building missionary parishes, was introduced by the Church through Cardinal Vincent Nichols.

-It was designed to affirm the good work that is already being done by the Catholic community, and to provide resources to develop new expressions of catholic missionary outreach.

-There may be national Catholic publications used by the Church to help evangelise such: The Catholic Herald.

Question 28

Explain how the Church Engages in Evangelisation Globally

Answer 28

-The Catholic Church is a global presence. The global reach of the Church means it can share the message of the Gospel with the whole world.

-The Vatican has a specific department that focuses on evangelisation called the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.

-The Church proclaims the Gospel to the whole world through the global figure of the Pope who visits countries representing the Church and through its own Vatican Radio and TV station.

-The Pope endorsed the ‘Docat’ so young people can learn about how to live out the faith. The Pope attends World Youth Days. The Church also uses modern media like Twitter (@Pontifex).

Question 29

Explain how Individual Catholics can Engage in Evangelisation

Answer 29

Locally- Catholics might choose a career like teaching or medicine which demonstrates Christ’s caring love for the world.

-They might work as a catechist, sharing their faith with other people. Being married and raising children to follow Jesus is another way Catholics can live out the Gospel.

Nationally- Individual Catholics might attend national events and conferences to share their faith.

Globally- The Church lives out the Gospel in the work of global charities like CAFOD and CARITAS. Specific organisations also exist, such as Missio, which is concerned with overseas evangelisation.

Question 30

Describe Pope Francis’ Teachings in Evangelii Gaudium

Answer 30

-Evangelii Gaudium means ‘The Joy of the Gospel’. Its theme is the Church’s mission of evangelisation in the modern world. To share the Gospel, we must show love and care for the vulnerable.

-Pope Francis says that the heart of the Christian message is love for one another, which must motivate Christians to share the Gospel, help the poor and work for social justice.

-Pope Francis says that when God became human as Jesus, he made himself lowly and poor. For this reason, the pope wants “a Church which is poor and for the poor.”

-He wants the Church to have a special love and care for “above all, the poor and the sick, those who are usually despised.”

Question 31

Describe Pope Francis’ Teachings About the Role of the Parish

Answer 31

-Pope Francis also says that the parish is important in spreading the Church’s message.

-He says a parish “possesses great flexibility,” which means there are many ways they can spread the Gospel.

-As well as a church, many parishes have a Catholic primary and secondary school connected to them. These provide Catholic education and help to spread the teachings of Jesus.

-Parishes should be welcoming places, ready to greet new people and receive them into the community.

-The Pope says that Catholics should be outward looking; this means they should look for new ways to spread the Gospel message.

Question 32

Describe Benefits of Catholic Mission and Evangelisation

Answer 32

-Catholics are called to spread the word: “Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations.” A Catholic would see this as beneficial because they would be acting on Scripture.

-It is a duty to offer the faith to all in order to offer salvation to all; this will benefit others.

-Papal teaching also encourages mission and evangelisation. Evangelii Gaudium states “the missionary task must remain foremost”.

-Therefore a Catholic would feel they were responding to Church teaching.

Question 33

Describe Benefits of Catholic Mission and Evangelisation in a Multifaith Society

Answer 33

Mission in a multi-faith society may bring good opportunities to develop mutual understanding and respect because it gets people of different religions talking together.

-Catholics are much more likely to meet people from different faiths.

-The Catholic Church teaches that people of other faiths should be respected and Catholics should be sensitive to those who have no religious beliefs yet still seek to do good.

Catholics should try to respect differences and work in unity showing common values such as respect, tolerance, charity and non-violence.

Question 34

Describe Challenges of Catholic Mission and Evangelisation

Answer 34

-Church attendance is on the decline. This means that churches have had to close, making it less easy for the Gospel to be spread.

-There are now fewer men becoming priests and existing priests are getting older.

-In the past, parishes might have two or more priests. Now priests have to serve several parishes, making celebration of the sacraments more difficult.

Question 35

Describe Challenges of Catholic Mission and Evangelisation in a Multifaith Society

Answer 35

-Although Great Britain has mainly Christian traditions, there is also diversity of religious traditions, some of which may feel uncomfortable with Catholic mission and object to it.

-There are also challenges of mission in an increasingly secular society, for example, some non-religious people may feel that mission is inappropriate in a society like ours.

-Catholics may feel that society in general is making evangelisation difficult because of the erosion of certain traditions such as keeping Sunday special.

Question 36

Describe the Influence of Christianity in British Traditions

Answer 36

-“Keep the Sabbath day holy” is a commandment. Traditionally Christians go to church on a Sunday and it was regarded as a ‘day of rest’ so the hours shops can trade on a Sunday are restricted.

-In UK courts of law witnesses giving evidence are asked to swear they are telling the truth. They often do this on the Bible.

-Non-religious people can make a ‘witness affirmation’ where they promise to tell the truth without reference to a holy book.

-Christian hymns and readings are often made at public events, for example the National Service of Remembrance
held each year to commemorate those who died war.

Question 37

Describe the Influence of Christianity in British Law

Answer 37

-The House of Commons is made up of elected representatives.

-The House of Lords is not elected. Its members are of two types: Lords temporal are appointed by the monarch, but the Lords spiritual are 26 of the most senior Church of England bishops.

-For laws to be passed they must be approved by both houses of Parliament so the Church of England has a direct role in shaping UK law.

-Meetings of both houses open with Christian prayers.

-Many of the laws of the UK reflect the teaching of some of the Ten Commandments, such as “Do not kill” and “Do not steal.”

Question 38

Describe the Influence of Christianity in British Festivals

Answer 38

-The Christian calendar influences UK public holidays. The two major Christian festivals, Christmas and Easter, are still widely celebrated in the UK.

-School holidays fall over these periods and many businesses will close. However, for many, these festivals have become separate from their true meaning and are commercialised.

-Other Christian festivals such as St Valentine’s Day are celebrated.

-However, for most people the religious context of the day is no longer important and it has become a more ‘secular’ festival, celebrating romantic love.

Question 39

Describe the Influence of Different Religious Traditions on British Traditions, Laws and Festivals

Answer 39

-As the 2011 census results show, the UK is a place where many religions are practised.

-People from a different religious tradition they can swear on their own holy book in UK courts of law.

-Today people of all the religious traditions may take time off school work to celebrate their own festivals.

-For example, the biggest celebration of the Muslim festival Eid al-Fitr happens in Small Heath Park in Birmingham, where 75,000 people gather to celebrate the end of fasting during Ramadan.

Question 40

Describe the Influence of Non Religious Traditions on British Traditions, Laws and Festivals

Answer 40

-There has been a recent emergence of humanist celebrations of births, weddings and funerals. These are traditionally linked to religion but are now sincere ways of celebrating outside of faith.

-Bonfire Night remembers the Gunpowder Plot when plotters led by Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up Parliament.

-Some non-religious festivals, for example the Notting Hill Carnival that happens every summer in London, celebrate the diversity of modern Britain with no-specific focus on religion.

-Non-religious groups, such as humanists, might recognise World Humanist Day or Human Rights Day but these are not widely celebrated in the UK.