The Four Marks of
the Catholic Church...


The ingredients, or "Four Marks" of the True Church, found by the "Words of Christ", and by "Reasoning" are:

A. ONE:
Christ's Church Must be One. It must be One in its founder, in its head, in its final aim, in its teaching, and in its government.

CHRIST said: "..and there shall be ONE Fold and ONE Shepherd"
John 10:16.
"I pray for them also who through their word shall believe in Me: that they all may be ONE...that they also may be ONE in Us".
John 17:20-21

REASONING: Common sense tells us that GOD cannot be the author of various opposing systems of religion, with over 28,000 Christian divisions in existence today. He is the author of truth, and truth is ONE.

Is Your Church One?

B. APOSTOLIC:
Christ's Church Must be Apostolic. It must go back to the time of the Apostles. Its officials must be able to trace back their authority through a direct and unbroken line to the Apostles.
CCC 77, 860-862, 1576, Deuteronomy 32:7, Matthew 28:20, Acts 20:28-32, 2Timothy 3:14

CHRIST said: "Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build My Church..."
Matthew 16:18.

REASONING: For 15 centuries there was only One Church. All other Churches go back in time for less than 500 years. They were founded by mere men or women 1500 years too late. Therefore, how could they be Apostolic in origin?

Is Your Church Apostolic?

C. CATHOLIC:
(Latin: Catholicus English: Universal or All Nations) Christ's Church Must be Universal. It must preach Christ's teachings to all men, in every nation, in every century.
CCC 830-856, Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8

CHRIST said: "Preach the Gospel to every creature...he that believeth not shall be condemned." Mark 16:16.
"Go therefore and teach all nations."
Matthew 28:19

REASONING: Christ came to bring salvation to all men in every nation. He established His Church to bring HIS message through every century into each nation. Therefore, His Church must be found in every century teaching all nations.

Is Your Church Universal?

D. HOLY:
It must have a Holy founder, Holy doctrine and produce Holy Members.
CCC 823-829

CHRIST said: "Sanctify them in the truth...And for them I sanctify Myself that they also may be sanctified in truth."
John 17:17-19.

REASONING: His Church has a Holy founder, since He is Christ Himself. He taught a holy doctrine, which has produced holy people in every age. Read the lives of the Saints!

Is Your Church Holy?

Christ's Church is in the world today. It is not hard to tell His Church from those founded by mere men centuries later. Only Christ's Church has these Four Marks.
Examine your Church to see if it has them all.

The greatest difference between Churches is:
GOD's Church has the Authority. Christ is the head. We are the body.
The Holy Spirit is the soul.


Written by Bob Stanley, July 25, 2000

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