Sarah Mitchell
The Four Marks of the Church, also known as the Attributes of the Church, are four distinctive adjectives of traditional Christian ecclesiology as expressed in the Nicene Creed: [We believe] in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. The word catholic is derived from the Ancient Greek adjective katholikos, meaning general or universal. Applied to the Church, the adjective catholic means that the wholeness of the Christian faith, full and complete, all-embracing, and with nothing lacking, is proclaimed to all people without excluding any part of the faith or any class or group of people. The Catholic Church is the only Church that can say One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic because it was founded by Jesus Christ himself.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| One | All members profess the same faith, have the same sacrifice and sacraments, and are united under the Pope |
| Holy | Founded by Jesus Christ, it teaches holy doctrines and provides the means of leading a holy life |
| Catholic/Universal | The wholeness of the Christian faith is proclaimed to all people; it is destined to last for all time and transcends cultures |
| Apostolic | Authority from Jesus to the Apostles is handed down in an unbroken line of successors |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Church is holy because it was founded by Jesus Christ
The Catholic Church is the largest Christian church in the world, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions and has played a prominent role in the history and development of Western civilization. The Catholic Church teaches that it is the "one true church", founded by Jesus Christ.
The Bible is central to all Christian traditions, but it was the Catholic Church that compiled and canonized the Bible as we know it today. The process of gathering and affirming the books of the Old and New Testaments took place over several centuries, and it was under the authority of the Church that the canon of Scripture was formalized. In 382 AD, at the Synod of Rome, Pope Damasus I confirmed the canon of the Bible, identifying which books were divinely inspired and authoritative for Christian teaching.
The Catholic Church holds that there is one eternal God, who exists as a "mutual indwelling" of three hypostases, or "persons": God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (also called the Holy Ghost), which together are called the "Holy Trinity". Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is the "Second Person" of the Trinity, God the Son. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God became united with human nature through the conception of Christ in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Christ is understood as being both fully divine and fully human, including possessing a human soul.
The Catholic Church is also distinguished by its belief in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. According to Catholic teaching, during the celebration of the Mass, the bread and wine become the actual Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the process of transubstantiation. This belief is rooted in Jesus' own words at the Last Supper: "This is my body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19).
The Church's role in compiling the Bible underscores the Catholic belief that Scripture and Sacred Tradition are both essential to understanding the fullness of God's revelation. While Scripture is the inspired word of God, the Church holds that Tradition guides the proper interpretation of the Bible through its teaching authority, or Magisterium.
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The Church is universal
The Catholic Church is one of the oldest institutions in the world and is also one of the most widespread. The Church is universal, or 'catholic', in two main ways. Firstly, the Church is catholic because all baptised people are part of it and it possesses the means of salvation. Secondly, the mission of the Church is universal because it has been sent to proclaim Christ to all of humanity.
The word 'catholic' is derived from the Ancient Greek adjective 'katholikos', meaning 'general' or 'universal'. It is associated with the Greek adverb 'katholou', meaning 'according to the whole', 'entirely', or 'in general'. Applied to the Church, the adjective 'catholic' means that the wholeness of the Christian faith, full and complete, all-embracing, and with nothing lacking, is proclaimed to all people without excluding any part of the faith or any class or group of people. The adjective can be applied not only to the Church as spread throughout the world but also to each local manifestation of the Church, in each of which nothing essential is lacking for it to be a true manifestation of the Church.
The Nicene Creed, established by the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, was elaborated on by the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD. The Nicene Creed includes the affirmation: "We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church." This ecumenical creed is today recited in the liturgies of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church (both Latin and Eastern Rites), the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, the Moravian Church, the Lutheran Churches, the Methodist Churches, the Presbyterian Churches, and the Anglican Communion.
The Catholic Church is the only Church that can say "One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic". This is because it is the only Church founded by Jesus Christ himself, who chose twelve apostles to lead his Church. The apostles understood how important visible leadership was, so they appointed successors to fill their roles after they died. This hierarchy of the Church is a visible sign of the continuity of the Church from the time of the apostles to today.
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The Church is apostolic
The Four Marks of the Church, also known as the Attributes of the Church, are four distinctive adjectives that describe traditional Christian ecclesiology. They are expressed in the Nicene Creed, which was completed at the First Council of Constantinople in AD 381. The four marks are: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.
The Catholic Church is apostolic because it was founded by Christ on the apostles and, according to His divine will, has always been governed by their lawful successors. The apostles were the closest collaborators of Jesus, his eyewitnesses, and his authoritative messengers to the world. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to them repeatedly and bestowed upon them the Holy Spirit. The apostles then conferred their mission and authority upon their successors, the bishops, through the laying on of hands. This process is called apostolic succession, which ensures the continuity of the teachings of Christ.
The pope and bishops share in Christ's ministry as priests, prophets, and kings. As priests, they celebrate the Eucharist and all the sacraments to lead their people to holiness. As prophets, they are the official teachers of the Church. And as kings, they speak with authority, just as Jesus did. This apostolic nature of the Church gives confidence that its teachings are rooted in Christ.
Pope Francis reminds us that belonging to the apostolic Church means being aware that our faith is anchored in the proclamation and witness of the apostles of Jesus. We are called to “go out” just as the apostles were, to proclaim Christ and his love to all mankind.
The Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, and the Assyrian Church of the East each claim to have preserved the original teaching of the apostles and have apostolic succession. Other Christian denominations, on the other hand, may hold that what preserves apostolic continuity is the written word or the recognition of the supreme authority of the apostolic scriptures.
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The Church is one
The Catholic Church is one because all its members, according to the will of Christ, profess the same faith, share the same sacrifice and sacraments, and are united under one and the same visible head, the Pope. The First Vatican Council noted the "Church herself, with her marvellous propagation, eminent holiness, and inexhaustible fruitfulness in everything good, her catholicity". The Church's unity comes from the undivided Trinity. Christ "reconciled all men to God by his cross" and restored the unity of all people. The Church is one because her soul is the Holy Spirit. "The Holy Spirit brings about the wonderful communion of the faithful" (Second Vatican Council). "There is one Father of the universe, one Lord of the universe, and also one Holy Spirit. There is also one virgin become mother, and I should like to call her 'Church'" (St. Clement of Alexandria).
The Catholic Church is the one true Church established by Christ because it alone has the marks of the true Church. The Nicene Creed, established by the First Council of Constantinople in 381, affirms the oneness of the Church: " [We believe] in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church." The phrase remains in versions of the Nicene Creed. The Augsburg Confession found within the Book of Concord, a compendium of belief of the Lutheran Churches, also teaches that "the faith as confessed by Luther and his followers is nothing new, but the true catholic faith, and that their churches represent the true catholic or universal church."
The Church also has a diversity of peoples, cultures, gifts, and offices, and particular Churches with their own traditions. This rich diversity does not oppose Church unity. The whole Church must be involved in this Reconciliation of all Christians. Our hope lies in Christ's prayer because this gift is beyond human powers. The Catholic Church accepts as brothers those who have faith in Christ and have been baptized. They have a right to be called Christians and be accepted as brothers (Second Vatican Council).
The Catholic Church is one because it is the sole Church of Christ, governed by the successor of Peter and the bishops in communion with him (Second Vatican Council). Only in the Catholic Church can the fullness of the means of salvation be obtained. To the apostolic college alone (with Peter as its head) did Our Lord entrust all the blessings of the New Covenant. All who belong to the People of God should be fully incorporated into this one Body of Christ (Second Vatican Council).
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The Church is infallible
The concept of infallibility in the Catholic Church is a complex and often misunderstood topic, even for some Catholics themselves. Essentially, the doctrine of infallibility asserts that the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, is immune from error in its definitive teachings on faith and morals. This belief is rooted in the idea that Christ founded the Church as a perfect society, intending it to be universal and unified in faith, government, and worship.
The doctrine of infallibility is closely tied to the authority granted to the apostles by Christ, particularly the promises made to Peter, as described in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. This is where the concept of papal infallibility originates. Catholics believe that the Pope, as the successor of Peter and the spokesman for the whole Church, is preserved from error when defining doctrines concerning faith and morals. This belief was formally proclaimed at the First Vatican Council in 1870.
It is important to clarify that infallibility does not mean the Pope is incapable of sin or error in all cases. Rather, it is believed that the Holy Spirit prevents him from issuing heretical teachings, even when speaking non-infallibly. Additionally, the doctrine of infallibility does not apply to new doctrines, which must conform to Sacred Scripture and Apostolic Traditions.
The infallibility of the Church is a matter of faith for Catholics, who believe that it provides clarity and certainty about morality and faith. However, it is challenging to prove or disprove this infallibility through science, logic, or reason alone. The acceptance of this doctrine often relies on shared axioms and a willingness to be convinced.
While the doctrine of infallibility is a cornerstone of Catholic dogma, it is not universally accepted within Christianity. Some Protestants and Anglicans may acknowledge the infallibility of certain ecumenical councils, but this recognition varies. The Eastern Orthodox Church, for instance, only accepts the first seven ecumenical councils as genuinely ecumenical, while Roman Catholics accept twenty-one.
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Frequently asked questions
One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.
All members of the Catholic Church profess the same faith, have the same sacrifice and sacraments, and are united under one and the same visible head, the Pope.
The Church is holy because it was founded by Jesus Christ, who is all-holy, and because it teaches, according to the will of Christ, holy doctrines, and provides the means of leading a holy life.
The Church is catholic because it is universal, transcending cultures and expressing itself through approved rites. It proclaims the wholeness of the Christian faith to all people without excluding any part of the faith or any group of people.
The Church is apostolic because it was founded by Christ on the apostles and, according to His divine will, has always been governed by their lawful successors.
