Catechism of the Catholic Church

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854 By her very mission, "the Church . . . travels the same journey as all humanity and shares the same earthly lot with the world: she is to be a leaven and, as it were, the soul of human society in its renewal by Christ and transformation into the family of God." 351 Missionary endeavor requires patience. It begins with the proclamation of the Gospel to peoples and groups who do not yet believe in Christ, 352 continues with the establishment of Christian communities that are "a sign of God's presence in the world," 353 and leads to the foundation of local churches. 354 It must involve a process of inculturation if the Gospel is to take flesh in each people's culture. 355 There will be times of defeat. "With regard to individuals, groups, and peoples it is only by degrees that [the Church] touches and penetrates them and so receives them into a fullness which is Catholic." 356

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH

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SECTION TWO: THE PROFESSION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

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CHAPTER THREE: I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

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ARTICLE 9: "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH"

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Paragraph 3. The Church Is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic

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III. THE CHURCH IS CATHOLIC

Notes for the above paragraph:

351 GS 40 § 2.

352 Cf. RMiss 42-47.

353 AG 15 § 1.

354 Cf. RMiss 48-49.

355 Cf. RMiss 52-54.

356 AG 6 § 2.

English Translation of the Cathechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America © 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.

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