RCIA Session 9 – The Marks of the Church – One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic

The Marks of the Church — One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic

RCIA – Week 9
This session forms part of a structured introduction to the Catholic Faith used in parish RCIA. It is intended to be read slowly and prayerfully, alongside participation in the life of the Church. This material is offered for formation and reflection. Reception into the Catholic Church always involves personal discernment and parish accompaniment.

Aim of this session

By the end of this session, participants should understand that:

  • Christ did not leave His Church unrecognisable
  • the Church possesses clear identifying marks
  • these marks are objective and visible
  • they allow the true Church to be distinguished from others
  • the Catholic Faith claims these marks in their full sense

This session answers the question:

How can the Church founded by Christ be recognised with certainty?

1. Why the Church Must Be Recognisable

If Christ founded a Church for all people and all ages, then that Church must be:

  • identifiable
  • visible
  • continuous

God does not ask humanity to search blindly.

The Church cannot be:

  • hidden for centuries
  • reduced to an idea
  • known only to individuals

Christ left marks, not riddles.

Penny Catechism

Q. How can we know the Church which Christ founded?
A. We can know the Church which Christ founded by the four marks of the Church.

2. The First Mark: One

The Church is One because:

  • she has one Lord
  • one faith
  • one authority
  • one visible unity

Unity is not uniformity, but it is real.

The Church is one in:

  • doctrine
  • sacraments
  • governance

Division contradicts this mark.

Unity does not mean every member is perfect.
It means the teaching is one.

Penny Catechism

Q. Why is the Church One?
A. The Church is One because all her members are united under one Head.

3. The Second Mark: Holy

The Church is Holy because:

  • her founder is holy
  • her teaching is holy
  • her sacraments give grace

Holiness does not mean:

every member is morally perfect

It means:

  • the means of holiness are present
  • sanctity is possible and real

The sins of members do not disprove holiness.
They prove the need for it.

Penny Catechism

Q. Why is the Church Holy?
A. The Church is Holy because Jesus Christ her founder is holy, because she teaches a holy doctrine, and because she offers the means of holiness.

4. The Third Mark: Catholic

The Church is Catholic, meaning:

  • universal
  • for all peoples
  • for all times

This refers to:

  • geographical universality
  • doctrinal fullness

The Church does not teach one faith in one place and another elsewhere.

Catholicity means:

  • the same faith everywhere
  • the whole faith, not part of it

Penny Catechism

Q. Why is the Church Catholic?
A. The Church is Catholic because she is universal, and because she teaches all nations and all ages the same doctrine.

5. The Fourth Mark: Apostolic

The Church is Apostolic because:

  • she was founded on the apostles
  • her teaching comes from them
  • her authority descends from them

Apostolicity requires:

  • continuity of doctrine
  • continuity of authority

A Church that:

  • changes essential teaching
  • breaks from apostolic authority

cannot claim this mark fully.

Penny Catechism

Q. Why is the Church Apostolic?
A. The Church is Apostolic because she was founded by Jesus Christ upon the apostles, and because she is governed by their lawful successors.

6. The Marks Must Exist Together

The marks are not optional.
They must all be present.

A body that is:

  • united but not apostolic
  • apostolic but not catholic
  • catholic in name but divided in doctrine

does not fully correspond to what Christ established.

The marks are not ideals.
They are signs of identity.

7. The Catholic Claim Examined

The Catholic Faith claims:

  • visible unity under lawful authority
  • holiness through sacraments and saints
  • universality of doctrine and mission
  • apostolic continuity of teaching and governance

These claims can be:

  • examined historically
  • tested doctrinally
  • compared honestly

They are not based on sentiment.

8. Common Objections Addressed

“Aren’t the marks just labels?”

They describe real, observable qualities.

“Doesn’t division exist within the Church?”

Personal disagreement does not equal doctrinal division.

“Can other communities have some of these marks?”

They may share elements, but not the fullness.

9. What Is Being Asked of You Now

At this stage, you are not asked to:

  • make a final commitment
  • reject others hastily

You are asked to consider this:

Which body today truly possesses all four marks as Christ intended?

That question is decisive.

10. Questions for the Week

Reflect quietly during the week:

  • Do I expect Christ’s Church to be recognisable?
  • Which marks matter most to me, and why?
  • Where do I see all four marks together?

11. Closing Summary

Christ did not leave His Church unmarked.

She is:

  • One
  • Holy
  • Catholic
  • Apostolic

The Catholic Faith claims these marks fully and visibly.

Next week we will ask:

Where does authority reside in the Church — and why?

Optional Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,
You did not leave us without guidance.
Give us clarity to recognise Your Church,
and humility to follow where truth leads.
Amen.