The answer lies within the Deposit of Faith - specifically, Sacred Tradition. The Eucharist, the Gospel, Sacred Scripture...all have been passed from generation to generation. How fascinating is it that the Eucharist we celebrate at Sunday Mass today has been handed down for over 2,000 years?
The original twelve continued ordaining members as Bishops, as seen with the election of St. Matthias, and deacons, as seen with St. Stephen. Why is this important? Well think, could twelve bishops each succeed in governing a diocese the size of a continent? Probably not. This is why the authority in which Christ ordained his Apostles is passed down to each bishop. However, the term "Apostle" is still reserved specifically for the original twelve. Bishops and cardinals today possess the same authority to "bind and loose" as the twelve Apostles, which can be seen in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which a bishop or priest forgives us of our sins, essentially "freeing" us.
How can we participate in the Apostolic mark of the Church? As humans, we are continually called by God in the universal call to holiness. Christ gave us the beatitudes, which outlined how to follow in a life of Christ. However, not everyone can just leave everything, and this is why we are only asked to give what we can. But for those few who are able to drop everything to follow God, they participate directly in the Apostolic mark of the Church by joining the clergy or in Holy Orders. There are also members of the faithful who go above and beyond, yet are not ordained as a member of the clergy or a member of Holy Orders. This special group is referred to as the laity, and their job is to "sanctify from within," or help to sanctify in their day to day life.
How can we participate in the Apostolic mark of the Church? As humans, we are continually called by God in the universal call to holiness. Christ gave us the beatitudes, which outlined how to follow in a life of Christ. However, not everyone can just leave everything, and this is why we are only asked to give what we can. But for those few who are able to drop everything to follow God, they participate directly in the Apostolic mark of the Church by joining the clergy or in Holy Orders. There are also members of the faithful who go above and beyond, yet are not ordained as a member of the clergy or a member of Holy Orders. This special group is referred to as the laity, and their job is to "sanctify from within," or help to sanctify in their day to day life.
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