Chapter 5: Authority in the Church - Teaching and Governing

What is the difference between the Ordinary Magisterium and the Extraordinary Magisterium?

The Ordinary Magisterium is the regular, unanimous, and infallible teaching of the Pope and bishops on matters of faith and morals. The Extraordinary Magisterium refers to specific instances where the Pope or Pope & bishops teach infallibly on matters of faith and morals. The Extraordinary Magisterium is used to clarify what is taught by the Ordinary Magisterium.

Fourth Condition for Papal Infallibility

The Pope must be intending to use his authority to pronounce an unchangeable decision

Third Condition for Papal Infallibility

The Pope must be speaking ex cathedra, which means he is speaking as Pope, not merely as a bishop or member of the Church

First Condition for Papal Infallibility

The Pope must be speaking on matters of faith or morals.

Second Condition for Papal Infallibility

The Pope must be speaking to the whole Church, not a particular group or segment of the Church

Cathedral

The bishop's church and main church of a diocese or archdiocese; the seat of the bishop's authority.

Ordinary Magisterium

The normal, regular exercise of the Church's teaching office, and it, too, is always authoritative. It is the consistent, unanimous teaching on faith and morals by the bishops of the Church in union with the Pope. It can be exercised through papal encyclicals, synods, etc.

Hierarchy

The order of authority in the Church. The bishops united under the Pope as the true successors of St. Peter and the Apostles form this structure in the Church. It is their duty to teach the Faith, govern Christians in their dioceses, and administer the Sacraments.

Extraordinary Magisterium

The solemn and formal exercise of the teaching office of the Pope and the bishops and it is always authoritative. It is the definitive, explicit teaching authority of the Church on faith and morals in either the form of Papal Infallibility (when the Pope speaks ex cathedra) or an Ecumenical Council with papal approval.

Magisterium

The teaching office or authority in the Church. By Christ's command, all Christians are solemnly obligated to obey its teaching.

Infallibility

The truth that the Catholic Church, by the special help of the Holy Spirit, is kept free from any error in teaching us about what we must believe (faith) and how we must live (morals).

Pope

The visible leader of the Church and supreme leader of the Catholic Faith. He receives his authority from Christ as a successor of St. Peter. All Catholics are obligated to respect and obey him as the representative of Christ for the whole Church.

Doctrines of the Church

Things revealed by God that cannot be changed, even by those in authority in the Church. Examples include beliefs about the Blessed Trinity, the Incarnation, and the primacy of Peter and his successors; the Ten Commandments; the matter and form of the Sacraments.

Can a basilica be a cathedral?

Yes, but it might not be.

Can disobedience on discipline lead to disobedience on doctrine?

Yes. It chips away at one's belief in the Church's authority.

What are two doctrines that have been defined through Papal Infallibility?

1) The Immaculate Conception in 1854 by Pius IX 2) The Assumption in 1950 by Pope Pius XII

How many ecumenical councils have there been?

21

Ex cathedra

A Latin expression that means "from the chair" and refers to the authority of the Pope when he teaches infallibly.

Synod

A meeting of bishops of an ecclesiastical province to discuss the doctrinal and pastoral needs of the Church.

Basilica

An important church because of historical, spiritual, or architectural reasons.

Vatican I (1870)

Ecumenical Council declaring papal infallibility.

Disciplines of the Church

Governing rules of the Church that are changeable yet binding. Examples include days of fast and abstinence, Holy Days of Obligation, the length of the Eucharistic fast, the option of receiving Holy Communion in the hand or on the tongue, and the language in which Holy Mass is celebrated.

Diakonos

Greek term meaning Minister or Deacon.

Episkopos

Greek term meaning Overseer or Bishop.

Presbuteros

Greek term meaning Presbyter, Elder, or Priest.

Where did early Christians meet for worship?

Houses of middle-to-upper-class patrons.

What does it mean for the decisions of the pope to be "of themselves, and not by consent of the Church, irreformable"?

It means the Pope has the final say and the truth of what he is saying is based on the divine assistance promised to St. Peter and his successors by Jesus.

Servus Servorum Dei

Latin title for the Pope which means, "Servant of the servants of God."

Primacy

Means "first place."

Can bishops alone teach infallibly?

No. The only bishop who can alone teach infallibly is the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. When bishops in union with the Pope teach or proclaim on matters of faith and morals, they teach infallibly.

Impeccability

Not capable of sinning or liable to sin.

Obedience

Submission to the authorities of the Church in matters of doctrine and discipline.

Does submitting to Church authority enhance or restrict our freedom? Why or why not?

Submitting to Church authority enhances freedom because she teaches us the truth.

Bishops

Successors of the Apostles who have received the fullness of the priesthood. The spiritual leaders of Christians in their dioceses (geographical areas). They alone can ordain men to the priesthood and to the office of bishop. United with the Pope, they are the official teachers of the Faith in the world.

3 tasks of a bishop

Teach, sanctify, and govern.

Papal infallibility

Teaching of the Church defined by Vatican I in 1870 which holds that the Pope is infallible in his teaching when four conditions are met.