Lesson 13

The Church is Apostolic

  •                              One day Jesus went up the hill. He called to him those whom he desired; and they came to him. “And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim and to have authority to cast out demons”  (Mk. 3:13-17). Jesus built his Church on the foundation of the apostles and this is the reason why we call the Church as Apostolic. St. Paul says: “…built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the corner stone, in him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you alsoare built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God” (Eph. 2:20-22). The apostleswho were called to be the eye-witnesses of the Christ event and preachers of the salvific mission became his witnesses through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It was the witnessing and the proclamation of the apostles that formed the Church.

    The Faith Experience of the Apostles

     

                                The faith experience of the apostles is the basis of the Church. When Jesus asked, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus was pleased with this answer and he said:  Blessed areyou, Simon son of Jonah!.. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church…”  (Mt. 16:15-18). Representing all the apostles Peter made this proclamation of faith in the divinity of Jesus. Remember St. Thomas, the Father of our faith, also proclaimed his faith in the Lord Jesus saying “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28).  The apostles believed in Jesus as the Lord and God and proclaimed this faith with boldness to others.And those who listened to the proclamation accepted this faith. Thus the faith experience of the apostles became the basis of the Church, the community of believers

    The Missions of the Apostles

     

                                           God wanted to liberate Israel from the slavery in Egypt and lead them to the land of Canaan. He made plans to make them his own holy people.  God realized this plan by choosing some individuals and entrusting them with certain missions. They were the prophets, the Priests and the Kings  The prophets spoke to the people in the name ofGod and corrected them when they went wrong. The priests offered sacrifices to God forthe sanctification of the people. And the Kings gave leadership and defended Israel against the enemies. This triple mission which provided a kind of salvation – experienceto Israel was fully realized in Jesus who was to come. Jesus became a prophet, priest and King at the one and the same time.  Jesus, by anointing the apostles with the HolySpirit, handed over this triple mission to them. The apostles fulfilled their salvific mission,entrusted to them, through teaching the people, the prophetic mission; through sanctifying, the priestly mission; and through shepherding, the kingly mission The Bishops, who derived their authority from the apostles, share in the same mission. 

    The Teachings of the Apostles

     

                                                The apostles who were filled with the Holy Spirit preached the Good News ofsalvation to all the people. They affirmed that Jesus of Nazareth, whom the Jewscrucified and killed, God raised from the dead and to which they were witnesses (Acts 3:15).  Besides, they declared that Jesus, who, in the eyes of the Jews, had a veryhumiliating death on a cross, was the expected saviour and God gave him a nameabove every other name, making him Lord. The apostles made it clear that those who believe in Jesus and confess his name will be saved. Even when they had to sufferpersecution on account of this teaching, they continued to proclaim him boldly. Andthose who received the faith from the apostles also bore witness to him even in adverse circumstances.

    The Apostles and the Communities of Believers

     

                                                 The apostles who received the Holy Spirit went to various places proclaiming the Gospel. Wherever they preached the Gospel, communities of faith, sprang up  Thomas preached the Gospel in places like Persia and India. So the Churches in these places consider St. Thomas as the Father of their faith.

    The Apostolic Heritage of the Syro-Malabar Church

     

                               Our fore-fathers had the privilege of receiving the faith directly from St. Thomas,the Apostle. We, the members of the Syro-Malabar Church inherit this faith tradition.References like 'Mar Thomma Nazranikal' 'Mar Thomma Christians' are indicatives ofour apostolic tradition and heritage.  It was St. Thomas who confessed Jesus as Lordand God and expressed his readiness to go and die with him. The faith experience thatwe have received through the apostle St. Thomas is the apostolic foundation of the Syro-Malabar Church.

    The Bishops

     

                                       The Bishops in the Church are the successors of the apostles. They, through the power of the Holy Spirit given to them, are the authentic teachers of faith, the high  priests and shepherds. They are the shepherds of theLord's sheep entrusted to their care(The Bishops, No.2, 3).The Bishop is the head of the local Church,namely the diocese. In union with the Pope, a Bishopteaches, leads and sanctifies the people entrusted to his care in a diocese.

    The Major Archbishop

     

           Patriarchal Churches are local Churches having the self-governing power which is exercised in union with the Pope. The head of a Patriarchal Church is called a Patriarch. Besides the Patriarchal Churches
    these are also Major Archiepiscopal Churches having the same rights and powers as the patriarchal
    Churches. The Head of a Major Archiepiscopal Church is called a Major Archbishop. The Syro-Malabar Church
    was raised to this status in 1992. Mar Antony Padiyara became the first Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church with its head quarters in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam – Angamaly. In 1997 Mar Varkey Vithayathil
    was appointed as the Major Archbishop of the Syro- Malabar Church. The Primacy of the Pope It was in 2011 Mar George Cardinal Alencherry was elected as the Major Archbishop by the Syro- Malabar Bishops Synod.

    The Primacy of the Pope

     

                          Jesus himself gave the first place to SimonPeter among all the apostles chosen by him. Peter wasa witness to all the important events in Jesus life. Peterwho enjoyed the privilege of special consideration andlove of Jesus and who was also scolded by him oncertain occasions, was given the first place by Jesus in 83 founding the Church and in exercising the mission of the Church.We can see the Primacy of Peter in the Gospel of Mathew. Jesus promised that he would establish theChurch on Peter, the rock, and give him the Keys of the Kingdom of God. (Mt. 16; 17-19). So we know that Jesus appointed Peter as the first among the twelve apostles. Sowe should say that the Pope is the first among the Bishops in the Church as he is thesuccessor of Peter. The Pope is at the one and the same time the Bishop of Rome andthe head of the Universal Church. He has the authority to lead, sanctify and teach theUniversal Church. The first Vatican Council declared the Primacy of the Pope as afundamental truth. Through the encyclicals and apostolic instructions the Pope exercises his teaching authority over the entire Church.

    The Collegiality of Bishops

     

         Just as St. Peter and the other eleven apostles had apostolic fellowship, the Bishops who are the successors of the apostles and the Pope who is taking the place of St. Peter, have an apostolic mission and fellowship which is exercised in the leadership
    of the Church. The Pope is the Head of the council of Bishops. When the Bishops of the Church exercise their apostolic authority in union with the Pope, we see the collegiality of Bishops.
     
         The ecumenical councils also reflect the collegiality of Bishops.The Catholic Church is the Church that has received its faith from the apostles and is led by the Bishops, the successors of the apostles. Let us be proud of being part of this great Church and do our best to preserve, live and hand down this faith from generation to generation.

    Word of Godto Read and

    Meditate

     

    Eph : 2:17-22
     
     

    Word of God to Remember

     

    “You are citizens with the saints and also members
    of the hosehold of God, built upon the foundation
    of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus
    himself as the cornerstone”
    (Eph: 2:19-20).
     

    Let us Pray

     

    Lord, just as Moses led the Chosen people of God to
    the Promised Land, bless the Shepherds of our
    Church so that they may effectively lead your people
    towards the heavenly Jerusalem.
     

    My Resolution

     

    I shall pray for my Parish
    Priest and Bishop every day.
     
     

    To Think with the Church

     

       Just as, in accordance with the Lord's decree, St Peter and the rest of the
    apostles constitute a unique apostolic college, so in like fashion the Roman
    Pontiff, Peter's successor, and the bishops, the successors of the apostles, are
    related with and united to one another. Indeed, the very ancient discipline
    whereby the bishops installed throughout the whole world lived in communion
    with one another and with the Roman Pontiff in a bond of unity,
    charity and peace (Vat. II, The Church No. 22).
     
     

    To Know the Mother Church

     

    With a view to free the Mar Thomma Christians from the Latin jurisdiction, which
    lasted for about four centuries, and restore its individuality, Pope Leo XIII
    established a separate hierarchy for the Latin Catholics, in September 1886.
    Thereafter, the Mar Thomma Christians were brought directly under Roman rule
    on 20th May 1887. Thus, Kottyam and Trichur Vicariates were established. Later
    for better administration the Mar Thomma Christians were brought under three
    Vicariates - Trichur, Changanacherry and Ernakulam, on 28th July 1896. For the
    first time three sons of the soil were made Bishops by Rome: Mar Luis
    Pazheparambil in Ernakulam, Mar John Menacherry in Trichur, and Mar Mathew
    Makkil in Changanacherry. Further Changanacherry vicariate was divided in
    1911 in order to create the diocese of Kottayam, which was meant specifically
    for the Kn an a y a C a t ho l i c C omm unit y .

     

    Find out Answers

    How does the faith experience of the apostles become the foundation of the Church?

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    What are the functions of the Bishops, the successors of the apostles?

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    Write a short note on the apostolicity of the Syro-Malabar Church.

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    When does the council of Bishops express itself in the Church?

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    What do you mean by the Primacy of the Pope?

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