The Church on Mission
From
the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified
Sent to
the Whole World (849-850)
Because
of Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations, the Church has been
divinely sent as "the universal sacrament of salvation" and must
preach the Gospel to everyone.
The
Church is missionary because (according to the Father's plan) she has her
origin in the mission of Son and Spirit. The Church exists to bring all men
into the communion of the Father, Son, and Spirit.
To Save
All (851)
God
"desires all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1
Tim 2:4). Therefore, the Church must go out to those who are seeking God and
bring them the Gospel. The Church must be missionary because she believes in
God's universal plan.
Led by
the Spirit (852)
The
Holy Spirit is the "protagonist" who guides the Church on her
missionary paths leading her to follow Christ's path of service and
self-sacrifice. "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church"
(Tertullian).
Failures
and Patience (853-854)
The
Church recognizes the great discrepancy between her message and her human
weaknesses. Only by walking the way of the cross can she extend Christ's reign.
This
missionary endeavor begins by proclaiming the Gospel to unbelievers, then by
establishing communities of believers, and finally by founding a local church.
This involves a process of enculturation, so that the Gospel takes flesh in
each culture. Only by degrees can the Church penetrate the culture.
The
Obstacle of Divisions (855)
The
missionary endeavor stimulates efforts to Christian unity because the divisions
among Christian churches is a serious obstacle to missionary activity. Because
of division, the Church cannot display its full Catholic unity.
The
Truths in Each Culture (856)
The
missionary task must appreciate those elements of truth which God has already
given to the unbelievers. Proclaiming the Good News should raise up this truth,
while purifying it from error and evil.
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