The Church. Communion. Comm. Union

Transcription

1 The Church Comm Communion Union

2 ECCLESIOLOGY Chapter 4: The Church formed through Word and Sacrament

3 Word of God = a person: Jesus Christ = full, entire Good News Is mediated to us by the Holy Spirit Is handed down to us In the Sacred Scriptures In Tradition, esp. Sacraments Forms the Church into communion

4 Word of God Forms the Church into communion Is above the Church: Word creates the Church Is in the Church Proclaimed at liturgy The task of authentically interpreting the word of God, whether written or handed on, has been entrusted exclusively to the living teaching office of the Church (Dei Verbum #10)

5 Interpretation Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, Take and eat; this is my body. John 6:55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Real Presence or just a memorial? How do we decide? On what authority?

6 Authority to interpret The Word of God forms the Church into communion Word of God? What happened to the Bible? What happens if someone seizes authority? Martin Luther and his 95 theses The Trouble with History!

7 What makes a teaching Apostolic? Martin Luther Whose interpretation of the Bible? Personal versus Church How to get authority to interpret? Martin Luther: Sola Scriptura Bible authorizes each person Catholic Church: Apostolic Tradition Church is authorized Revelation handed down Tradition: councils, teachings, liturgy, etc. Holy Spirit guides the Church through the magisterium of bishops and pope

8 The Big Christian Split West Round 1 Luther questions authority of pope & bishops -Luther excommunicated -Beginning of the Protestant Reformation 1517 Protestant Ecclesial Communities Catholic Church Round now Without a central authority, many splits continue to happen -Separate: Lutherans, Episcopalians, Calvinists -From these more splintering happens over matters of authority and theology More Protestant Ecclesial Communities Catholic Church

9 Derivation of major Protestants in US Lutherans 1517 Catholic Church 1 st cent. Calvinists 1520s Presbyterians 1560 Puritans 1595 Not Christian Unitarians 1785 (US) Mormons 1820 Jehovah s Witnesses 1872 Anglican (Episcopalians) Baptists 1609 Methodists 1730

10 ECCLESIOLOGY Chapter 4: The Church formed through Word and Sacrament

11 The Church is the sacrament of Christ Sacrament = outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace (traditional definition) Rising from the dead [Christ] sent His life-giving Spirit upon His disciples and through [the Spirit] has established His Body which is the Church as the universal sacrament of salvation. (Lumen Gentium #48) Celebrated worthily in faith, the sacraments confer the grace that they signify (CCC #1127)

12 7 Sacraments signify communion give grace Union with God Participation in God s life transform us into Christ Paschal mystery Christ s death & resurrection Sacrifice: giving-receiving The sacraments make the Church. (CCC #1118, quoting Aquinas)

13 Eucharist Epiclesis Holy Communion Intimate encounter with Christ in his act of giving Purpose Our transformation by transformation of gifts (bread & wine) We join in Christ s sacrifice Priest: Pray, brethren that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God

14 Eucharist Eucharistic altar-table = place for communion There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal 3.28) Eucharist is an action We are united with Christ and one another Notice the host is broken Behold the Lamb of God

15 Eucharist a sign of union first servant of unity (St John Paul II: Ut Sint Unum #94) Protestant book

16 ECCLESIOLOGY Eastern Christians

17 The Big Christian Split East Round Round 2 Bishop of Rome & Bishop of Constantinople excommunicate each other -Argument over whether the pope has primacy among bishops -Argument over theology of the Trinity who can settle it? Eastern Orthodox Churches Catholic Church 4 th Crusade diverts to Constantinople and captures city -Temporary re-unification at point of sword -Lasting memories of Western treachery 1204 Eastern Orthodox Churches Catholic Church Round now Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras lift excommunications -Reconciliation, but still no union -Issue remains primacy not heresy Eastern Orthodox Churches Catholic Church

18 Orthodox and Catholic Pope Francis (of Rome) and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (of Constantinople) 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide Greek Orthodox Russian Orthodox And others Patriarch Bartholomew: first among equals for Orthodox Christians not in communion with the Pope

19 Eastern Catholic Churches St. Volodymyr Byzantine Rite -- Ukrainian 445 Washington Street, Santa Clara St. Mary Chaldean Rite (Assyrian) 109 N. First Street, Campbell St. Elias Melkite Rite -- Greek 4411 Hyland Avenue, San Jose St. Mary Syro-Malabar Rite (Knanaya: Indian) 324 Gloria Avenue, San Jose ~17 million Catholics are members of an Eastern Church Ukrainian Catholic Church Maronite Catholic Church And others In communion with the Pope

20 Christian Rites of equal right and dignity (CCC #1203) Source: