The Church and its mission

Question 114

Which are the means instituted by our Lord to enable men at all times to share in the fruits of the Redemption?

The means instituted by our Lord to enable men at all times to share in the fruits of His Redemption are the Church and the Sacraments.

Question 115

What is the Church?

The Church is the congregation of all those who profess the faith of Christ, partake of the same Sacraments, and are governed by their lawful pastors under one visible head.

Question 116

Who is the invisible Head of the Church?

Jesus Christ is the invisible Head of the Church.

Question 117

Who is the visible Head of the Church?

Our Holy Father the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, is the Vicar of Christ on earth and the visible Head of the Church.

Question 118

Why is the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, the visible Head of the Church?

The Pope, the Bishop of Rome, is the visible Head of the Church because he is the successor of St. Peter, whom Christ made the chief of the Apostles and the visible Head of the Church.

Question 119

Who are the successors of the other Apostles?

The successors of the other Apostles are the bishops of the Holy Catholic Church.

Question 120

Why did Christ found the Church?

Christ founded the Church to teach, govern, sanctify, and save all men.

Question 121

Are all bound to belong to the Church?

All are bound to belong to the Church, and he who knows the Church to be the true Church and remains out of it cannot be saved.

A community of faith, worship, and mission

Questions 114, 115, 120

The lesson joins professing faith, receiving the sacraments, and pastoral governance. It is describing a community, not only a building or a private spiritual interest. Acts 2 depicts teaching, fellowship, shared prayer, and practical care. Compare these actions with the four verbs in question 120: teach, govern, sanctify, and save. They describe purposes to be served, rather than merely titles an institution possesses.

Christ, Peter, and pastoral service

Questions 116, 117, 118, 119

The distinction between invisible and visible head does not make the pope a replacement for Christ. The lesson identifies the Bishop of Rome with Peter's continuing pastoral office and the bishops with the apostles' succession. Lumen gentium 18–22 develops that relationship between the pope and the college of bishops. Read John 21 with its repeated question about love and command to feed the flock: the image places pastoral responsibility within service to Christ and his people.

What the statement about salvation means

Questions 121

Catechism 846–848 explains that salvation comes through Christ and his Church. It distinguishes knowingly refusing the Church from lacking knowledge through no fault of one's own. People in the latter situation who sincerely seek God and respond to grace can attain salvation. The historical answer should therefore not be turned into a blanket sentence against all non-Catholics. Nor does nominal membership remove the call to live in charity. The lesson concerns the seriousness of one's response to known truth.

Acts 2:37–47

The account links conversion and baptism with teaching, worship, fellowship, and care for those in need.

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

John 21:15–19

Jesus' charge to Peter places shepherding within love, following Christ, and personal responsibility.

15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

1 Corinthians 12:12–27

The body image explains mutual belonging and care among members with different functions.

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.