Credo 41 – We believe in [one] … apostolic Church

It all began with the resurrection of Christ. The apostles, called by name by Jesus himself, were those who bore witness in public to the life and mission of the Lord:

‘That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us — that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.’ (1 John 1:1-3).

They joined in Christ’s mission of preaching the Good News, and thus commissioned, were made pillars of the newly-born Church.

When we say that we believe that the Church is apostolic, we mean that we believe that it still participates in the same mission of Christ, through the apostles and bishops – their successors.

Even though by the laying on of hands (the apostolic succession) bishops are particularly responsible for preaching the truth about Jesus Christ and his redemptive mission, all the baptized share in various ways in the apostolic mission of the Church by virtue of the common baptism. We never stop being on the mission, until the Lord returns!