Images of The Church in Catholic Religion

Various images of the Church aid people to comprehend why and how God perceives the Church. We also have the images of the Church in order to find out what His church should be doing.“The Bible—both the Old and New Testaments—offers several other images of the Church. Each of these images helps us to understand more about our communion with other Catholics and our communion with God in the Persons of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit( Ava Maria Press).” The common themes regarding the images of the Church are the relationships the images of the Church have with each other. Even the Bible says “, The image of the church as the body of Christ is often applied to those who, through baptism, faith, and profession, belong to Jesus Christ. It demonstrates that the church is similar to an organism in which all are dependent on one another. The growth of the body is geared toward Christ, who as the head is Lord, standard, and goal(Colossians 1: 18).”

Furthermore the images of the Church are used to describe the Church. These images tell the mysteries of Christ’s relationship with His Church. “According to Paul, the church is built upon the foundation of Christ, "the chief cornerstone," as well as the apostles and prophets, whose words reveal Christ (Ephesians 2:20).”

In addition, Jesus often compares himself to a vine. "I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman."I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit( John 15:1)." Jesus initiates the metaphor with the vine and the branches to describe the intimate relationship Jesus has with His Church and disciples.“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned( CCC).”. This quote means that Jesus is the true vine while his followers are the branches and his father grows the vine. Lastly, the quote in the textbook means if Jesus’s disciples obey Him. Then they will finally bear fruit. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love( Ava Maria Press).”

The Church acts like the image during various events in the history of the Church. The “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adult( Ava Maria Press)” is an instance where the vines and branches are seen throughout history. This is the process where non Catholics receive sacraments of Baptism. The image of the Church is shown here because they are obeying the head of the Church in both cases. “On entering the People of God through faith and Baptism, one receives a share in this people's unique, priestly vocation: "Christ the Lord, high priest taken from among men, has made this new people 'a kingdom of priests to God, his Father.' The baptized, by regeneration and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are consecrated to be a spiritual house and a holy priesthood(CCC).”