You are sent on your mission to proclaim the Good News as a member of a Church that is recognized by four characteristics or marks.

The Church is one, holy, catholic, apostolic.

The Church is one because it is united into one body in Christ Jesus by baptism. The Church is holy because it is called to follow Christ's holiness. The Church is apostolic because it is rooted in the witness of the Apostles. The Church is catholic because it is open to everyone everywhere who wants to follow Jesus. The fullness of the Church of Christ-the true church-is found in the Catholic Church.

Excerpt from Come, Follow Me 8 (second edition) by Rev. Berard Marthalter, OFM Conv. and Rev. Gerard P. Weber. © 1998: Benziger Publishing Company. Used with written permission of Glencoe/McGraw Hill, Woodland Hills, CA. All rights reserved. www.benziger.glencoe.com.