Four Marks Of The Church Essay

One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. We say these terms at every mass. Do you know what they really mean, or do you just say them because you know it is what you say? These terms are actually the four marks of the Church. These four marks summarize the Church’s features and mission and accomplish this through the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is our duty as baptized Catholics to live out these marks every day. Now, the Church never said it would be easy, but they do give us great role models, the saints, who can help show us how to make these marks visible to the world. An example of a saint would be St. John Baptist De La Salle. St. John Baptist De La Salle was a priest who was born into a wealthy family, who lived out the marks of the Church while following his vocation to start schools and educate both poor and rich children with their education being rooted in faith. He originally started schools in Reims, France, but even after his death his institution– Lasallian Brothers– has spread out around the world. The first thing that needs clarification before we begin looking at how De La Salle lived …show more content…
The Church is one because it unites in charity, professing the faith, in the common celebration of worship, and in the Apostolic Succession. The Church is holy because even though we sin, it does not affect the Church’s holiness because it receives its holiness from God who is sinless. The Church is catholic because it exists for all people and is the means of salvation for all people. Finally, the Church is apostolic because Christ calls all Church members to share the Gospel of salvation. It is our goal and duty as Catholics to live out these marks every day and offers us the saints, John Baptist De La Salle, as role models for how to live out this