Describing the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church is often described in two ways:
- the church as 'Body of Christ'
- the church as 'people of God'
Body of Christ
The description of the Church as the 'Body of Christ' has its basis in the writings of St Paul.
Christ is like a single body, which has many parts; it is still one body, even though it is made up of different parts. In the same way, all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, have been baptized into the one body by the same Spirit, and we have all been given the one Spirit to drink.
The relationship between the Church and Christ is the same as the relationship between the body and the head. Neither can survive without the other. The Church needs Christ, just as the body needs the head.
The comparison of the Church with the body casts light on the intimate bond between Christ and his Church. Not only is she gathered around him; she is united in him, in his body. Three aspects of the Church as the Body of Christ are to be more specifically noted: the unity of all her members with each other as a result of their union with Christ; Christ as head of the Body; and the Church as bride of Christ.
The Church includes everyone who has faith and has a duty to evangeliseTo preach in order to convince others to convert.. This means that the Church has a duty to share the word of God and educate others so that they might convert to the Catholic faith. The belief is that it is through the Church and Christ alone that humanity can find salvationHaving one鈥檚 sins forgiven and being granted eternal life..
it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body.
People of God
The Church is also described as the 鈥榩eople of God.鈥 Catechism of the Catholic ChurchThe summary of teachings, beliefs and rules of the Catholic Church. makes it clear that God does not belong to any one person or group, because God is the one who calls people to him. The people of God are those who have been chosen and called by God to him. An individual can become a member of the people through the Sacrament of Baptism.
The people of God also have a duty to follow the Ten CommandmentsThe list of rules, revealed by God to Moses, found in the Old Testament books of Exodus and Deuteronomy. The Bible refers to them simply as 鈥榮ayings鈥 or 鈥榮tatements鈥. Also known as the Ten Sayings or the Decalogue. of God and a duty towards fellow human beings. They have a missionA calling to go out and spread a faith and religious messages to others either at home or abroad.:
- to spread the Word of God, hope and salvation to the world
- to live as Christ did