Catechism of the Catholic Church
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786 Finally, the People of God shares in the royal office of Christ. He exercises his kingship by drawing all men to himself through his death and Resurrection. 211 Christ, King and Lord of the universe, made himself the servant of all, for he came "not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." 212 For the Christian, "to reign is to serve him," particularly when serving "the poor and the suffering, in whom the Church recognizes the image of her poor and suffering founder." 213 The People of God fulfills its royal dignity by a life in keeping with its vocation to serve with Christ.
The sign of the cross makes kings of all those reborn in Christ and the anointing of the Holy Spirit consecrates them as priests, so that, apart from the particular service of our ministry, all spiritual and rational Christians are recognized as members of this royal race and sharers in Christ's priestly office. What, indeed, is as royal for a soul as to govern the body in obedience to God? And what is as priestly as to dedicate a pure conscience to the Lord and to offer the spotless offerings of devotion on the altar of the heart? 214
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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 2. The Church - People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy Spirit |
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I. THE CHURCH - PEOPLE OF GOD |
Notes for the above paragraph:
211 Cf. Jn 12:32.212 Mt 20:28.
213 LG 8; cf. 36.
214 St. Leo the Great, Sermo 4, 1: PL 54, 149.
English Translation of the Cathechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America © 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.
