Disciple vs Apostle

[porthos11]

I’d recommend reading the section in the Catechism on the Church as “apostolic”:

CCC 857–865

As Deacon Jeff said the bishops are the successors to the apostles, but “apostles” in the strictest sense were those chosen witnesses of Jesus’ Resurrection and thus we don’t call bishops “apostles” in the same way.

But, there is a sense in which we all participate in the apostolic mission of the Church (i.e. being sent out to take the Gospel to the world around us).

^^ This.

The regular definition of “apostle” is one who is sent, but those deemed the holders of the Apostolic office, or the Apostles are those who meet the eyewitness criteria, and received their Holy Orders from Christ.

This means the original 12, to which Mathias was admitted to replace Judas, and St. Paul. Barnabas is also deemed Apostle in the liturgy of the Roman Rite, but this may be due to his heavy missionary activity alongside St. Paul, and his day is a Memorial rather than the more usual Feast.

When it comes to the Office itself, for the purposes of Apostolic succession and the determination of divine revelation, we limit the definition to these men, from which the Apostolic succession gets its source. We have a rather specific axiom: “Public revelation closed with the death of the last Apostle.” This means, with the death of St. John, there is no more additional divine revelation. So it’s specific. We are all disciples (followers), and we are called to be apostles (“sent”), but the time of the Apostles has long since closed.

 

[PJM]

I don’t know why in 30 years of being Catholic I had a hard time with this question. One of my 7th grade CCD students asked if we are deciples are we also apostles. I know an apostle is a teacher or messenger of the word; however I not sure we as Catholics call ourselves an apostle. I cannot find anything on line that answers my question.

Actually we ARE:

Allow me to explain; but first look at this Bible passage:
Mt 10: 1-4 [1] And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity.
[2] The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zeb’edee, and John his brother;
[3] Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
[4] Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

So we see here the terms are often synonymous & interchangeable:slightly_smiling_face:

The TERMS Apostles means “SENT FORTH”; and all of us; each of us according to the talents God has gifted US with; are morally obligated to share our Faith at least by the example of our lives; BUT many of us {I taught CCD /PSR for more than 10 years; an am still active in internet Apologetics.

You might want to share 1st Cor chapter 12 with your class [its SHORT]

May the HS continue to guide your path
PRAY very much

Thanks for YOUR Ministry!
Partick

 

[Angel_Bradford]

For clarification, I was taught there were only 12 apostles at any one time representing/refleceting the 12 tribes of Israel.