1.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED: ARTICLE 9

The book is a complete explanation of
the 12 Articles of the Apostles’ Creed.

ARTICLE 9:
I BELIEVE THE HOLY
CATHOLIC CHURCH,
THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS

To purchase the Book, or for theological

inquiries (e-mails only), contact the author:
AUTHOR Rev. Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI
EDITION 1st Edition, Manila, May 19, 2013
PUBLISHER Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
Quality Catholic Publications
Isabella De Rosis St., Multinational
1708 Parañaque City, Philippines
Telefax (02) 828-2338
Tel. (02) 828-9509
sonsmaryphil@yahoo.com

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2. A CATECHIST’S PRAYER
Loving Father, giver of all that is,
help me to remember that every gift
I have comes from you. Expand my
vision so that I can appreciate your
goodness in the world around me.
Jesus, our Redeemer, you are
the path to the treasures of my
heart and soul. Strengthen my
commitment to be a catechist and
deepen my capacity to share your
truth with those in my care.
Holy Spirit, Love Divine, all life
and energy flows from you.
Illuminate my thoughts and
intensify my desire to grow ever
deeper in my faith.
I lift up my prayer to you, God—
Father, Son, and Spirit—in humility
and hope. Amen.
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 3. WHAT ARE THE
THREE PARTS OF THE
9TH ARTICLE?

The 9TH Article of the

Creed is divided into
three parts:
1. Nature and Mission
of the Church
2. The Four
Characteristics of
the Church
3. The Communion of
Saints

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4. NATURE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH:
What is the Church?
 The Church is the assembly of those who
believe in Jesus Christ, who are baptized, and
who are in communion with the Pope.
 The term Church
comes from the
Greek word
ekklesia,
meaning
“assembly.” The
Church is not
simply a building
or an institution,
but a community
of believers.
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5. NATURE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH:
What are the three requirements to belong to the Church?

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6. NATURE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH:
The three requirements to belong to the Church
1. TO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST: The first
requirement to join the Church is to believe that Jesus
is the Christ, as professed by St. Peter: “You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
Those who do not believe that Jesus is God cannot be
called Christians.
2. TO BE BAPTIZED: The second requirement to enter
the Church is to be baptized; as Jesus said: “Whoever
believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).
3. TO BE IN COMMUNION WITH THE POPE: The third
requirement to remain in the Church is to be united
with the Pope, because Jesus appointed Simon Peter
and his successors as the universal shepherds of his
Church, when he said: “You are Peter, and on this rock
I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18).
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7. NATURE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH:
What is the mission of the Church?
The mission of the Church is to establish among all peoples the
Kingdom of God. This is to be done by means of evangelization
and sacramentalization.
EVANGELIZATION SACRAMENTALIZATION
is the process of proclaiming the is the process of sanctifying our
Gospel to all peoples; it begins life by means of the Sacraments,
with the kerygma and continues that are instituted by Christ, and
with the catechumenate. the Sacramentals.

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8. NATURE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH:
What are the four symbols of the Church?
1) PEOPLE OF 2) BODY OF 3) BRIDE OF 4) FLOCK OF
GOD: because the CHRIST: CHRIST: because CHRIST: because
Church is because the the Kingdom of the Church is like
composed of Church is like a God is like a a community of
persons of different spiritual body, spiritual wedding, sheep, with Jesus
nationalities but with Christ as where Jesus is the Christ as her
united into one the head, and we groom and the good shepherd.
people. as the members. Church the bride.

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 9. THE FOUR
CHARACTERISTICS
OF THE CHURCH:
What are the four
symbols of the Church?

The true Church of

Christ is identified
by four
characteristics:

1. ONE,
2. HOLY,
3. CATHOLIC,
4. APOSTOLIC.

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 10. THE FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH:
Why is the Church ONE?
 The Church is one, as opposite to many, because
Jesus wants all his disciples to be united in one
community, under the guidance of the Pope. As he
said: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my
Church” (Matthew 16:18).
 The true Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic
Church; however, in the course of two thousand years,
many Christian Churches and Denominations have
separated.
 Ecumenism, a Greek word meaning “the common
house,” is the movement striving to unite all Christians
into the true Church. Jesus desires all his disciples to be
united as a family, as he said: “By this all men will know
that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John
13:35).
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11. THE FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH:
The Chronologocal Line

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 12. THE FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH:
Why is the Church HOLY?
 The Church is holy, as opposite to sinful, because it is
the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit
initiated the Church on Pentecost day, enriches the
Church with countless charisms, and will guide the
Church to her final destiny in Paradise.
 Although the Church is holy, some of her members
commit serious crimes and provoke scandals. Jesus
allowed Judas Iscariot to join the college of the
Apostles, although he knew he was a traitor, precisely to
give us a warning: that in every twelve shepherds, there
might be a bad one.
 Each of us should strive to achieve perfect holiness, as
recommended by St. Peter: “But just as he who called
you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: „Be
holy, because I am holy‟” (1 Peter 1:15-16).
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 13. THE FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH:
Why is the Church CATHOLIC?
 The Church is Catholic, as
opposite to national,
because she is universal,
as Jesus said: “Therefore
go and make disciples of all
nations” (Matthew 28:19).
 The term Catholic comes
from the Greek word
katholikos, which literally
mean “all-embracing,”
hence “universal.” The
Church does not identify
herself with any nation,
although she is present in
every country.
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 14. THE FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH:
Why is the Church APOSTOLIC?
 The Church is apostolic, as opposite to self-made, because it is
founded on the Twelve Apostles, as Jesus declared: “You are
Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church” (Mt. 16:18).
 The Apostolic Succession is the unbroken chain of ordinations
connecting all the bishops - and the deacons and priests ordained
by them - to one of the Apostles.

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15. THE FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH:
The Apostolic Succession of Popes

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 16. THE FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH:
Why is the Church also called ROMAN?
 The Church is also called
Roman because the two
greatest Apostles, Sts.
Peter and Paul, died as
martyrs in Rome. For this
reason, Rome became the
center of the Church and the
Bishop of Rome is
acknowledged as the Pope.
 On June 29, 64 AD, St.
Peter was crucified upside-
down on the Vatican Hill;
while St. Paul was
beheaded along the Ostiense
Way. Their tombs were
carefully preserved, and
enshrined with two basilicas.
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17. THE FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH:
What is the meaning of Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus?
 The Latin sentence Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus, means:
“Outside the Church there is no salvation.” The
expression refers only to those who, knowing that the Catholic
Church was founded by Christ, would refuse either to enter
or to remain in it.
 Obviously, it does not refer to those who ignore Christ
and his Church without fault of their own, lest all the
inhabitants of the Americas before 1492 (arrival of
Christopher Columbus), and of the Philippines before 1521
(arrival of Ferdinand Magellan), could not be saved.
 For instance, a Catholic who joins Islam for the sake of
marrying a Muslim woman: he cannot be saved because
he abandoned his faith knowing it was the true one. On the
contrary, an honest Muslim, who never had a chance to
meet Christ and his Church, but who nevertheless behaves
well and follows his conscience: he can be saved, by receiving
the baptism of desire.
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 18. THE COMMUNION
OF SAINTS:
Who are the Saints?
 The Saints are those who
are in the state of grace;
meaning, they are in
communion with God.
 The Communion of Saints is
the spiritual solidarity of those
who are in communion with
God, including those on earth,
Purgatory, and Paradise.
 It is the Holy Spirit that
creates the communion
among the Saints and allows
an exchange of graces among
them. For this reason, we pray
for the Souls in Purgatory and
ask the intercession of the
Saints in Paradise.
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 19. THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS:
What are the three states of the Church?
1. PILGRIM CHURCH: The Church on earth is called pilgrim, because
we Christians are on a spiritual journey towards Paradise.
2. SUFFERING CHURCH: The Church in Purgatory is regarded as
suffering, because the souls of the departed are being purified of
their temporal punishment.
3. GLORIFIED CHURCH: The Church in Paradise is considered
glorified, because the saints in Heaven are constantly praising God.

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 20. THE COMMUNION
OF SAINTS:
Who are the
Canonized Saints?
 The Canonized Saints
are those officially
declared by the
Church as in
communion with God in
Paradise.
 The term canonized
comes from the Greek
word kanon, meaning
“list,” because they are
enrolled in the official
List of Saints to be
venerated throughout
the world.
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 21. THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS:
What is the Process of Canonization?
The process of canonization is the procedure by which the
Church declares a saint. It comprises three steps:
Veneration Beatification Canonization
A virtuous person a virtuous person can a virtuous person can
can be venerated be venerated in public be venerated in public
in private. at the local level. at the universal level.

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 22. THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS:
What is the difference between adoration and veneration?
ADORATION VENERATION
is the worship reserved is the devotion reserved for
for God alone, and consists in the saints, and consists in
worshipping him as praising their virtues and
the Creator and Provider. asking for their intercession.

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