137. Jesus and the Apostles

Jesus and the Apostles

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 137

Ave Maria series

137  Why is the Church called apostolic?

The Church is called apostolic because she was founded by the apostles, holds fast to their Tradition, and is governed by her successors.  [857-860, 869, 877]

The Exhortation to the Apostles by James Tissot, Brooklyn Museum. 

The first Christians had no doubts about how to determine which was the true Church and which doctrines the true teachings of Christ. The test was simple: Just trace the apostolic succession of the claimants. Apostolic succession is the line of bishops stretching back to the apostles. All over the world, all Catholic bishops are part of a lineage that goes back to the time of the apostles. …..137

Jesus called the apostles to be his closes collaborators.  They were his eyewitnesses.  After his Resurrection, he appeared to them repeatedly.  He bestowed on them the Holy Spirit and sent them as his authoritative messengers to all the world.  They assured unity in the early Church.  They conferred their mission and authority upon their successors, the bishops, through the laying on of hands.  This process is called apostolic succession.  92

Twelve Apostles: (Greek apostolos=someone sent, messenger)  “The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him” (Matthew 10:2-4).

[857-860, 869, 877]

THE CHURCH IS APOSTOLIC

857 The Church is apostolic because she is founded on the apostles, in three ways:

- she was and remains built on "the foundation of the Apostles,"

(Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 21:14)³⁶² the witnesses chosen and sent on mission by Christ himself;(compare Matthew 28:16-20; Acts of the Apostles 1:8; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:7-8; Galatians1:1; etc.)³⁶³

- with the help of the Spirit dwelling in her, the Church keeps and hands on the teaching,(compare Acts of the Apostles 2:42)³⁶⁴ the "good deposit," the salutary words she has heard from the apostles;(compare 2 Timothy 1:13-14)³⁶⁵

- she continues to be taught, sanctified, and guided by
the apostles until Christ's return, through their successors in pastoral office: the college of bishops, "assisted by priests, in union with the successor of Peter, the Church's supreme pastor"(Ad gentes 5)³⁶⁶

You are the eternal Shepherd 
who never leaves his flock untended. 
Through the apostles 
you watch over us and protect us always. 
You made them shepherds of the flock 
to share in the work of your Son. . . .(Roman Missal, Preface of the Apostles I)³⁶⁷ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

The Apostles' mission

858 Jesus is the Father's Emissary. From the beginning of his ministry, he "called to him those whom he desired; . . . . And he appointed twelve, whom also he named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach."(Mark 3:13-14)³⁶⁸  From then on, they would also be his "emissaries" (Greek apostoloi). In them, Christ continues his own mission: "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."(John 20:21; compare Jn 13:20; 17:18)³⁶⁹ The apostles' ministry is the continuation of his mission; Jesus said to the Twelve: "he who receives you receives me."(Matthew 10:40; compare Luke 10:16)³⁷⁰ –CCC

859 Jesus unites them to the mission he received from the Father. As "the Son can do nothing of his own accord," but receives everything from the Father who sent him, so those whom Jesus sends can do nothing apart from him,(John 5:19, 30; compare Jn 15:5)³⁷¹ from whom they received both the mandate for their mission and the power to carry it out. Christ's apostles knew that they were called by God as "ministers of a new covenant," "servants of God," "ambassadors for Christ," "servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God."(2 Corinthians 3:6; 6:4; 5:20; 1 Corinthians 4:1)³⁷² –CCC

860 In the office of the apostles there is one aspect that cannot be transmitted: to be the chosen witnesses of the Lord's Resurrection and so the foundation stones of the Church. But their office also has a permanent aspect. Christ promised to remain with them always. The divine mission entrusted by Jesus to them "will continue to the end of time, since the Gospel they handed on is the lasting source of all life for the Church. Therefore, . . . the apostles took care to appoint successors (Lumen gentes 20 ; compare Matthew 28:20)³⁷³ –CCC

IN BRIEF

869 The Church is apostolic. She is built on a lasting foundation: "the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (Revelation 21:14). She is indestructible (compare Matthew 16:18). She is upheld infallibly in the truth: Christ governs her through Peter and the other apostles, who are present in their successors, the Pope and the college of bishops.

Why the ecclesial ministry?

877 Likewise, it belongs to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry that it have a collegial character. In fact, from the beginning of his ministry, the Lord Jesus instituted the Twelve as "the seeds of the new Israel and the beginning of the sacred hierarchy." (Ad gentes 5)³⁹⁵ Chosen together, they were also sent out together, and their fraternal unity would be at the service of the fraternal communion of all the faithful: they would reflect and witness to the communion of the divine persons.(compare John 17:21-23)³⁹⁶  For this reason every bishop exercises his ministry from within the episcopal college, in communion with the bishop of Rome, the successor of St. Peter and head of the college. So also priests exercise their ministry from within the presbyterium of the diocese, under the direction of their bishop.—CCC

JT  Apostles  The