Q147 Why does Mary have such a preeminent place in the communion of saints?
Mary is the Mother of God. She was united with Jesus on earth as no other human being was or could be – in an initimacy that does not cease in heaven. Mary is the Queen of Heaven, and in her motherhood she is quite close to us. [972] BecauseContinue Reading
Q146 What does the “communion of saints” mean?
The “communion of saints” is made up of all men who have placed their hope in Christ and belong to him through Baptism, whether they have already died or are still alive. Because in Christ we are one Body; we live in a communion that encompasses heaven and earth. [946-962]Continue Reading
Q145 Why does Jesus want there to be Christians who live their whole lives in poverty, unmarried chastity, and abedience?
God is love. He longs for our love also. One form of loving surrender to God is to live as Jesus did – poor, chaste, and abedient. Someone who lives in this way has head, heart, and hands free for God and neighbor. [914-933, 944-945] In every age individual ChristiansContinue Reading
Q144 What is the task of the bishops?
Bishops have responsibility for the local Church that is entrusted to them and a share in the responsibility for the whole -> CHURCH. They exercise their authority in communion with one another and for the benefit of the whole Church under the leadership of the -> POPE. [886-887, 893-896, 938-939]Continue Reading
Q143 Is the Pope really infallible?
Yes. But the -> POPE speaks infallibly only when he defines a dogma in a solemn ecclesiastical act(“ex cathedra”), in other words, makes an authoritative decision in doctrinal questions of faith and morals. Magisterial decisions of the college of bishops in communion with the Pope also possess an ecumenical council.[888-892]Continue Reading
Q142 Can bishops act and teach against the Pope, or the Pope against the bishops?
Bishops cannot act and teach against the -> POPE, but only with him. In contrast, the Pope can make decisions in clearly defined cases even without the approval of the bishops. [883-885, 880-890] Of course the -> POPE in all his decisions is bound by the Church’s faith. There isContinue Reading
Q141 What is the Pope’s responsibility?
As successor of St. Peter and head of the college of bishops, the -> POPE is the source and guarantor of the -> CHURCH’s unity. He has the supreme pastoral authority and the final authority in doctrinal and disciplinary decisions. [880-882, 936-937] Jesus gave Peter a unique position of preeminenceContinue Reading
Q140 Why is the Church not a democratic organization?
Democracy operates on the principle that all power comes from the people. In the -> CHURCH, however, all power comes from Christ. That is why the Church has a hierarchical structure. At the same time, however, Christ gave her a collegial structure as well. [874-879] The hierarchical element in theContinue Reading
Q139 What is the lay vocation?
The -> LAITY are sent to engage in society so that the kingdom of God can grow among men. [897 – 913, 940-943] A lay person is not a second-class Christian, for he shares in the priestly ministry of Christ (the universal priesthood). He sees to it that the peopleContinue Reading
Q138 How is the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church structured?
In the Church there are the -> LAITY and clerics (->CLERGY). As children of God, they are of equal dignity. They have equally important but different tasks. The mission of the Laity is to direct the whole world toward the kingdom of God. In addition, there are the ordained ministersContinue Reading
