THE TRINITY MAKES THE CHURCH ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC

VATICAN CITY, JUN 14, 2000 (VIS) - "The glory of the Trinity in the life of
the Church" was the theme of John Paul II's catechesis during the general
audience which was held this morning in St. Peter's Square in the presence
of 30,000 people.

   The Pope indicated that the glory of the Trinity makes the Church "one,
holy, catholic and apostolic. ... The Church is above all one" and "the
highest exemplar and source of the mystery is the unity, in the Trinity of
Persons, of one God, the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit."

   "The Church," he recalled, "is also holy. ... The concept of 'holy' has
its origins in the consecration that God accomplished in choosing His
people and offering them grace."

   The Holy Father affirmed that "the Church is catholic, sent to announce
Christ to the whole world in the hope that all the leaders of nations
gather together with the people of the God of Abraham. As Vatican Council
II confirms, 'the Church on earth is by its very nature missionary since,
according to the plan of the Father, it has its origin in the mission of
the Son and the Holy Spirit'."

   "Finally, the Church is apostolic. According to Christ's mandate, the
Apostles must go and instruct all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe what He
commanded."

   John Paul II highlighted that "the Church, one, holy, catholic and
apostolic is God's people, body of Christ and temple of the Holy Spirit.
These three biblical images clearly indicate the trinitarian dimension of
the Church."
AG/TRINITY:CHURCH/... VIS 20000614 (280)

 

1 John 4:3, "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."