What is the Church?

6 min

Awaiting theological review

What you will understand today

What Christians mean by the Church — and why it is more than a building or an institution.

In simple words

The word church comes from a Greek word meaning those who are called out — an assembly. Before it is a building, the Church is people: everyone Jesus gathers together.

Paul calls the Church the Body of Christ: many members, one body, with Christ as its head. Every member matters, and every member needs the others.

Catholics believe Jesus founded his Church on the apostles, with Peter at their head. In the Creed they profess it to be one, holy, catholic — universal — and apostolic.

Key Bible passage

Four things the very first Christians did together — still the shape of the Church today.

⁴²And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts of the Apostles 2:42 · Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

Four marks of the Church

One
One faith, one baptism
Holy
Made holy by Christ — though full of sinners
Catholic
Universal: for every people
Apostolic
Built on the apostles

Did you know?

Early Christian source

The earliest known use of the expression the Catholic Church is in a letter by Ignatius of Antioch, around 107.

Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrnaeans 8(awaiting verification)

A common misconception

The Church is for perfect people.

In fact

The Church is holy because Christ is holy, but it is full of sinners and always in need of purification. Many Christians call it a hospital, not a museum.

A question to take with you

What has been your experience of the Church so far — and what would you like it to be?

One small thing for today

Find the Mass times of the parish nearest you. You do not have to go yet; just know where the door is.