Adult Programs
Pastoral Asst for Faith Formation, Cheryl Brooten

Weekly Faith Formation bulletin article:

As part of both the Nicene and Apostles Creeds, we profess that we believe in the Holy Catholic Church. Actually, in the original Greek, the preposition “in” refers to the Holy Spirit, not the Church. “… we proclaim our faith not ‘in’ the Church but ‘about’ the Church—that is, in her existence, her supernatural reality, her unity, and her essential prerogatives. Here we profess that the Church is formed by Holy Spirit and that she is ‘his own proper work…’ The Church does not exist for herself, but for God.” To even begin the vast mystery of what we mean when we say ‘church’ will take some time. Today’s second reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is as good a starting point as any. Paul uses one of his favorite metaphors when he says the church is the Body of Christ. (Ephesians 1:22 or 4:12)

By body, Paul does not mean a corporate entity but a living, organic organism which includes anyone from any time who has ever been baptized into Christ. That the church, the Body of Christ, includes those who are no longer alive today has huge implications. We, the church of the 21st century, must still bear witness to and respect for the faith, beliefs and customs of all those who have gone before us. Their testimony, their virtue, their struggles form our roots and our foundation of faith. We ignore them at our own peril.

We need to remember this truth when we become frustrated and upset because all we can see is an archaic institution stuck in ages past. In Western culture, we are very much inclined, not towards humility, but towards wanting to assert our own version of reality. We often have too little respect for our ancestors or our history. But those who have gone before us still have voting rights in the Body of Christ. The democracy of the dead testifies to those beliefs that have preceded us. And in the future, our thoughts too will join the vast cacophony of voices that make up the Church. This is what makes the Church authentically catholic.

Quote taken from Henri de Lubac, The Splendor of the Church, 2 ed., translated by Michael Mason, San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 1999.


The Gift of Holiness: Living a Dynamic Catholic Life The conference will be held on Saturday, May 19th, at Kennedy Catholic High School, in Burien, WA. The day will consist of Mass with Archbishop Sartain, several “dynamic” talks by well-loved local priests, Eucharistic Adoration, praying the Rosary, opportunities to go to Confession, and so much more. We won’t just hear about “The Gift of Holiness”, we’ll experience it ourselves! My Catholic Faith Ministries 866-267-4113