Pius X Catechism – The Ninth Article of the Creed: The Church In General

Location: Preliminary Lesson > The Apostle’s Creed > The Ninth Article of the Creed > The Church In General

Q1: What does the Ninth article: The Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, teach us?

A1: The Ninth Article of the Creed teaches us that Jesus Christ founded a visible society on earth called the Catholic Church, and that all those who belong to this Church are in communion with one another.

Q2: Why immediately after the article that treats of the Holy Ghost is mention made of the Catholic Church?

A2: Immediately after the article that treats of the Holy Ghost mention is made of the Catholic Church to indicate that the Church’s holiness comes from the Holy Ghost, who is the Author of all holiness.

Q3: What does the word Church mean?

A3: The word Church means a calling forth or assembly of many.

Q4: Who has convoked or called us into the Church of Jesus Christ?

A4: We have been called into the Church of Jesus Christ by a special grace of God, to the end, that by the light of faith and the observance of the divine law, we may render Him the worship due to Him, and attain eternal life.

Q5: Where are the members of the Church to be found?

A5: The members of the Church are found partly in heaven, forming the Church Triumphant; partly in purgatory, forming the Church Suffering; partly on earth, forming the Church Militant.

Q6: Do these various parts of the Church constitute one sole Church?

A6: Yes, these various parts of the Church constitute one sole Church and one sole body for they have the same Head, Jesus Christ, the same Spirit animating and uniting them, and the same end, eternal happiness, which some already enjoy and the rest hope for.

Q7: To which part of the Church does this Ninth Article principally refer?

A7: This Ninth Article of the Creed principally refers to the Church Militant, which is the Church we actually belong to.