The Nature of the Church

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Franciscan

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I’m getting ready to start a lesson plan on the Church. I believe I need to stress the Church is BOTH a human institution and a divine mystery. But the stress needs to be on the fact that it’s a divine mystery because the human part is obvious and it is constantly pointed out.
Scripture says thta the Church is the Body of Christ, and the Spouse of Christ, the Kingdom of God and the “persecuted Lord”.
Is this not the most misunderstood aspect of Catholic theology?

I mean every modern day heresy goes back to a lack of understanding of the Church as “Christ in the World”.
A lack of understanding of the Magisterium as as Christ the infallible Teacherin today’s world.

If you dont accept what the Church teaches then your first mistake is your understanding of the nature of the Church.

Where am I going wrong?
 
It sounds like you are on the right track here. What is it you need help with?
 
CCC 863 The whole Church is apostolic, in that she remains, through the successors of St. Peter and the other apostles, in communion of faith and life with her origin: and in that she is “sent out” into the whole world. All members of the Church share in this mission, though in various ways. “The Christian vocation is, of its nature, a vocation to the apostolate as well.” Indeed, we call an apostolate “every activity of the Mystical Body” that aims “to spread the Kingdom of Christ over all the earth.”
 
Hi Franciscan,

It would be worthwhile to read the document of the Vatican II Sacred Council, Lumen Gentium, on the Church in the World. You can find it at
ewtn.com/library/COUNCILS/v2church.htm

This quotation seems to be particularly pertinent to your question :
It follows that though there are many nations there is but one people of God, which takes its citizens from every race, making them citizens of a kingdom which is of a heavenly rather than of an earthly nature. All the faithful, scattered though they be throughout the world, are in communion with each other in the Holy Spirit, and so, he who dwells in Rome knows that the people of India arc his members"(9*). Since the kingdom of Christ is not of this world(120) the Church or people of God in establishing that kingdom takes nothing away from the temporal welfare of any people. On the contrary it fosters and takes to itself, insofar as they are good, the ability, riches and customs in which the genius of each people expresses itself. Taking them to itself it purifies, strengthens, elevates and ennobles them. The Church in this is mindful that she must bring together the nations for that king to whom they were given as an inheritance,(121) and to whose city they bring gifts and offerings.(122) This characteristic of universality which adorns the people of God is a gift from the Lord Himself. By reason of it, the Catholic Church strives constantly and with due effect to bring all humanity and all its possessions back to its source In Christ, with Him as its head and united in His Spirit. (10*)
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Franciscan,

Two things. First, may I suggest that if you don’t have a copy of Pope Benedict XVI’s, “Introduction to Christianity” you either borrow on or buy one. In Part 3 I think you will find the answer you are looking for. ( I have thought for a long time now that this work should be the standard text for all RCIA programs). Another work by our Pope I think essential to answering your question is a work I cited in another thread. That work is, “Mary, The Church at he Source”. Pope Benedict XVI (then Cardinal Ratzinger) co authored this work with Hans Urs von BaLthasar. Perhaps these took works will not help you immediately with your lesson plans but I think they are important works to study in the long run.

The second point I want to make is want a professor taught us years ago, namely, all heresies are rooted in the denial of Christ Divinity or His Humanity. It’s pretty much what you were saying, it just goes further back to the original subject of these modern heresies - Christ.
 
TOME said:
Franciscan,

Two things. First, may I suggest that if you don’t have a copy of Pope Benedict XVI’s, “Introduction to Christianity” you either borrow on or buy one. In Part 3 I think you will find the answer you are looking for. ( I have thought for a long time now that this work should be the standard text for all RCIA programs). Another work by our Pope I think essential to answering your question is a work I cited in another thread. That work is, “Mary, The Church at he Source”. Pope Benedict XVI (then Cardinal Ratzinger) co authored this work with Hans Urs von BaLthasar. Perhaps these took works will not help you immediately with your lesson plans but I think they are important works to study in the long run.

The second point I want to make is want a professor taught us years ago, namely, all heresies are rooted in the denial of Christ Divinity or His Humanity. It’s pretty much what you were saying, it just goes further back to the original subject of these modern heresies - Christ.
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Thanks for the advice Tome Ill look it up .🙂
 
Franciscan said:
I’m getting ready to start a lesson plan on the Church. I believe I need to stress the Church is BOTH a human institution and a divine mystery. But the stress needs to be on the fact that it’s a divine mystery because the human part is obvious and it is constantly pointed out.
Scripture says thta the Church is the Body of Christ, and the Spouse of Christ, the Kingdom of God and the “persecuted Lord”.
Is this not the most misunderstood aspect of Catholic theology?

I mean every modern day heresy goes back to a lack of understanding of the Church as “Christ in the World”.
A lack of understanding of the Magisterium as as Christ the infallible Teacherin today’s world.

If you dont accept what the Church teaches then your first mistake is your understanding of the nature of the Church.

Where am I going wrong?
Click to expand...
I don’t see you going wrong at all, but, rather, you’ve hit the proverbial nail on its head. 🙂

You might find these articles helpful in preparing your lessons:

bringyou.to/apologetics/a45.htm

bringyou.to/apologetics/a46.htm

bringyou.to/apologetics/a131.htm

bringyou.to/apologetics/a44.htm

bringyou.to/apologetics/a47.htm

bringyou.to/apologetics/a48.htm
 
I don’t think you are going wrong either, but I don’t always see the subtleness in some errors.

One thought I had about your comment about the Church being both the bride and the Body of Christ is the one flesh union between Husband and wife. My wife’s body is my body and my body is her body. Two but one flesh in the image of God, Three Persons and One God (JPII Theology of the Body view).

Steve
 
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