Body of ChristFaith

Communion of saintsAuthority

MagisteriumApostolic tradition and succession

Protestant beliefsPopes and BishopsPriests

Virgin Mary

Key Word

Body of Christ -The belief that the Church is Christ’s body in the world continuing his work

The Catholic Church helping you to faith – why is this important?

-The Catholic faith remains the true faith

- The faith of the Church brings salvation

- Church guides people into faith

- Church supports people in their faith

The Catholic Church bringing you to salvation – why is this important?

- Without salvation you go to Hell

- Salvation brings eternal life

- Church gives clear guidance on how to achieve salvation

- Church gives opportunities for a second chance

Key Words

• Dogmas – the beliefs of the Catholic

Church

• Magisterium – the Pope and bishops

interpreting the Bible for Catholics today

• Papacy – the office of the Pope

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Apostolic Succession

• Jesus gave the Apostles his message and

the authority to begin the Church.

• The Church teaches that this message was

not just handed on in the Gospels, but also in

the oral message of the Apostles.

• Catholics believe that the tradition from the

Apostles has been handed down in the

Church through the Pope and the bishops.

This is known as the apostolic succession.

Why is apostolic succession important for

Catholics?

• Message of the Church = the message

Jesus gave to the Apostles.

• Unbroken link between the Church and

Jesus.

• It explains how the authority of the Pope

has come directly from the Apostles.

• It explains why the Church has the

authority to interpret the Bible.

The Magisterium

• It is the duty of the Church to interpret the Bible and

the Apostolic Tradition for Catholics today.

• This interpretation if carried out by the Pope and the

college of bishops.

• When the Pope and the college of bishops are

interpreting the Bible and Apostolic Tradition they

are called the MAGISTERIUM.

• The Pope and bishops are the ones who can define

the dogmas of the Catholic Church – the

Magisterium is the supreme authority for Catholics –

it tells them what to believe and how to behave.

Why is the magisterium important for

Catholics?

• The Magisterium addresses issues that

did not exist when the Bible was written

(e.g. contraception)

• The Magisterium provides clear guidelines

for how Catholics should be behave.

• The Magisterium ensures that the teaching

of the Church is updated.