The First Mark: One

What does it mean to say the Church is One? What about Holy? Catholic? Apostolic? We say these in the Nicene Creed over and over again, but exactly what do they mean to us? Are they simply words we utter from our mouths, or do they have a deeper, theological and historical purpose?

The Church is One through her teachings, leadership, and faith.

Unity in faith originates in the people of the Church. Their faith comes from the time of Baptism, in which the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity are infused within them. Faith allows for the belief in the Holiness of the Church, her message, and her mission.

Unity in leadership is found in the hierarchy of the Church. There are priests and bishops all around the world fulfilling Christ’s mission to teach, sanctify, and govern. Bishops represent their people when communicating with the

Vatican. The Pope is the head of the entity of the Church on Earth, and represents her as such. The people of God are united under the Pope and his bishops.

Unity in teaching can be seen when a doctrine declaring a truth is issued. For example, if the Pope issued a doctrine on the Immaculate Conception, the bishops are responsible for teaching the doctrine to their people. In turn, it is the responsibility of the people of the Church to accept the doctrine as truth and include it in their belief of the Catholic faith. The Church is also united in teaching in that the same Eucharist is celebrated throughout the world, and has been for the last two thousand years. The Church teaches the same Sacred Scripture everywhere, and delivers it in the native tongue of each region.

Throughout the centuries, heresy, schism, and apostasy have ruptured the unity of the Church. Ecumenism, the belief of uniting the various Churches into one single Church, is stressed by the leaders of the Catholic Church. Christian’s are encouraged to pray for unity, as Christ intended to have one flock.