https://pixabay.

com/photos/apostles-church-christianity-jesus-3281206/

1
 Table of Contents

Module Markers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Gospel Reading (3rd Week). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Formative Assessment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . … . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Starting Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

LESSON TWO: Church in History (Journey and Growth) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 7

A. Graeco-Roman Period (1st –7th Centuries) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . .. . .. 9

B. The Dominance of Church in the West (7th –13th Centuries) . . .. . . . . . .. . . 11

C. Great Western Schisms and the Transition to a Wider Mission

(13th- 19th Centuries) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . 13

D. The Church In the Industrial and Technological Age (19th-20th Centuries) . . 16

Enabling Assessment 2. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Gospel Reading (3rd Week). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Formative Assessment.. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . … . . . . . . . . . . 23

E. Marks of the Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Learning References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Gospel Reading (5th Week). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Formative Assessment.. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . … . . . . . . . . . . 30

Summative Assessment 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

-oOo-

2
 Module Markers
MEANING

GOSPEL READING
Each module starts with a Gospel activity. Bible verses are presented in text and
you should write a reflection about it. Guide questions for reflection are provided.
(Your respective teacher will determine if this will count towards your assessment grade).

MODULE OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES
You will see here the expected Course Learning Outcomes (CLO) and Topic Learning
Outcomes (TLO). This will provide an overview of what you should learn in the
module.

MODULE REQUIREMENTS
This section will show you the required activities/tasks that you need to
submit/accomplish.

STARTING ACTIVITY
This activity is designed to stir up your interest in the lesson to be discussed.
(Your respective teacher will determine if this will count towards your assessment grade).

LESSON PROPER
Contains the bulk of the learning activity. This will provide you with the content to
address the learning outcomes which are divided into subheadings.

ENABLING AND SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS

These assessments will allow you to deepen your understanding of the lesson. The
different assignments and quizzes will assure you of a quality teaching-learning
experience.

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
This opportunity (optional) to deepen one’s faith journey through a guided reflection-
based on the Gospel.

LEARNING REFERENCES
These are the materials used (sources of information) in the lessons. You may refer
to them to learn more about the topics discussed.

LESSON TIME
This will provide you an idea of how long the lesson and activities will take. DO NOT
BE ALARMED, this is simply a guide. There is no problem if you exceeded the time or
if you finished the lesson and activities ahead of time.

3
 Leader: Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
(Pause in a moment of silence.)

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(3rd Week)

GOSPEL READING

Matthew 13:47-53. “At the end of the age, the angels will come out and
separate the evil from the righteous."
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught
fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the
good into baskets but threw out the bad. So, it will be at the end of the age. The
angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into
the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ‘Have you
understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every
scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a
household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’ When Jesus
had finished these parables, he left that place."

Opening Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the Brothers,

teachers, and staff who help in building up our school.
Bless them with courage when their work becomes
difficult. May they continue to make our school a happy
and joyful place to go to. Amen. (Our Father… Hail
Mary… Glory be).

St. John Baptist de la Salle, pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!

https://www.quoteschristian.com/church.html

4
  DETACH PAGE FROM THE MODULE 

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT (Optional)

Student’s Name: _________________________ Student ID Number: _____________

Instruction: Write your Gospel reflection here.

Thoughts for reflection:

1. Life is constantly changing: so are we, and so is the Church. Sometimes we have little
patience with old ways and customs. But the storehouse of the kingdom contains many
treasures. Whatever truly helps people to respond to God is good and not to be
despised. What is your treasure here on earth?

Reflection
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

5
CLO1. Examine the basic characteristics of the Church as a community of disciples and
the sacraments by learning authentic discipleship in the light of church teachings
and scriptures.
CLO2. Analyze critically the role of the Church in the world today.
CLO3. Appreciate and value the role of every Christian as Christ’s disciple by zealously
embracing the church’s mission and sacramental life.

TLO1. Review of D-REED001 and an overview of the current course and be familiarized
with the online class course policies.
TLO2. Examine the basic characteristics of the Church as a community of disciples and
the sacraments by learning authentic discipleship in the light of Church teachings
and scriptures.
TLO3. Grasp the historical development of the Church since the time of Her birth.
TLO4. Appreciate and value the journey of the Church (trials and triumphs)

In this module, you are expected to:

a) Have a copy of the D-REED 002 syllabus
b) Use New Testament Bible
c) Keep in touched with your Journal (for spiritual enrichment)
d) Read the lessons; and
e) Submit the activities/assessment tasks required by your respective teacher in SB,
these may include:
 Gospel Reflection
 Starting Activity
 Enabling Assessments
 Summative Assessments

-oOo-

6
In our discussion on the journey of the Church, let us reflect and learn from this reading the
experience of the early Christian community.

(Acts 2:42-47) “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ instruction and communal life, to
the breaking of bread and the prayers. A reverent fear overtook them all,
many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles. Those who
believed shared all things in common; would sell their property and goods,
dividing everything based on each one’s need. They went to the temple area
together every day, while in their homes they broke bread. With exultant and
sincere hearts, they took their meal in common, praising God and winning
the approval of all the people. Day by day the Lord added to their number.
Those who were being saved.”

Guide questions:
1. Identify some salient features of their community life.
2. Comparing your personal experiences/ observations in our churches or communities
right now what can you comment on?

Lesson Two:
Church in History (Journey and Growth)

Overview
Here we will be able to discover the stories behind the lives of great men and women in the history
of Christianity, the struggles and failures that have contributed to the establishment of the church
founded by the apostles, that was the result of Jesus’ Preaching about the Kingdom of God. This
organization, a community of believers, living the one faith brought about by trust and confidence
to their master has now become a stronghold of people’s hope for the life to come. Come and
witness its journey, and let us live this legacy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the life of the Church, we shall witness the different triumphs and defeats, happiness and
sadness, and unity and division. As we journey together in looking at the Church in history
and embrace the values we can draw from each period, let us be reminded of our identity as
Christians. May we be able to appreciate therefore the knowledge that we learn in this
module.

7
Sacred Scripture

Peter the Rock. “When Jesus came to the neighborhood of Caesarea Philippi, He
asked His disciples this question: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They
replied, “Some say John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the
prophets.” “And you,” He said to them, “who do you say that I am?” “You are the
Messiah,” Simon Peter answered, “the Son of the Living God!” Jesus replied, “Blest are
you, Simon son of Jonah! No mere man has revealed this to you, but my heavenly
Father. I for my part declare to you, you are Rock,’ and on this rock, I will build My
Church, and the jaws of death shall not prevail against it. I will entrust to you the keys
of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you declare bound on earth shall be bound in
heaven; whatever you declare loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt. 16:13-
19)

The One Body of Christ. “You, then, are the body of Christ. Every one of you is a
member of it. Furthermore, God has set up in the church first apostles, second
prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, healers, assistants, administrators,
and those who speak in tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work miracles or have the gift of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Set your
hearts on the greater gifts” (1 Cor. 12:27-31)

Church Teaching
According to Catholic tradition, the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ. The New
Testament records Jesus' activities and teaching, his appointment of the twelve Apostles,
and his instructions to them to continue his work. The Catholic Church teaches that the
coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, in an event known as Pentecost, signaled the
beginning of the public ministry of the Church.

Apostles were the direct eyewitnesses. They "have heard" and "have seen with their own
eyes," "have looked upon" and even "touched with their hands" Christ, as the evangelist John
says in another passage. This human, first-hand, and "historical" witness to Christ is linked
to the witness of the Holy Spirit: "He will bear witness to me." In the witness of the Spirit of
truth, the human testimony of the Apostles will find its strongest support. And subsequently,
it will also find therein the hidden foundation of its continuation among the generations of
Christ's disciples and believers who succeed one another down through the ages.

The journey of the people is the journey of the Church. The gospels report on every page that
the essence of Jesus' sermon on salvation was the cheerful message of the Kingdome of
heaven. This message is a call for celebration among the followers of Jesus to preach and
proclaim its authentic content. This message lives in a particular situation time and
historical settings. The framework of the Church, which was established (indirectly) by Jesus
and handed upon to the apostles, finds itself in historical and political upheavals.

8
The Church in history is not static nor passive evolution of mare data's and personalities but
rather it is a historical process that certainly lives in the hearts and minds of people who are
both thirsty and excited, waiting patiently
for the Kingdom to come. It is not a mere
history of Kings, Popes but of peoples'
history who continue to live and re-live the
life of Christ amidst the challenges and
difficulties of life's historical situation. It is a
journeying church that looks forward to
changing and directions for its people. It is
a walking Church in the struggle and hope
of God's people. It is a listening Church that
carefully deliberates issues that concerns
her flock. It is a Church in action that
defends its people from the powerful
brought about by political, social, religious,
https://www.storylinemissions.org/the-
and cultural domination, oppression. It is a storyline-of-christian-church-history-30-
Church that responds to the call and signs minute-video/
of the time. It is not Church history but a
Church in history.

This chapter does not categorically present all the historical perspectives of the church nor it
will labor on basic historical proponents but merely take a glimpse of the Church that
journeys throughout the lives of its people. It will not be seen from a historian's point of view
but from the optic of an educator who merely sees the church in history. The division of this
Chapter is based on the writer's look at the church as a figure in molding perspectives
attune with God's mission, the coming of the Kingdom. There might be some important
details that must be seen and read in this chapter but we are just merely looking at simple
identity, characteristics, and how the church emerged from its original Jewish context and
developed into a worldwide phenomenon.
A. GRAECO-ROMAN PERIOD (1ST –7TH CENTURIES)

Christianity in Foreign Land

Jesus' mission was extended to the gentiles. The apostles carried among themselves the
task of proclaiming the good news. And in doing so, people from different places found their
proclamation of the good news
heartening and lived the ideals of
Jesus the Christ. This missionary
zeal of the apostles gave rise to
Jesus’ movement (Kee, 1998). Paul,
an astute follower of Christ, brought
Christianity further to the Gentile
countries. Regardless of their
https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2015/10/the-essence- culture, Jews and non-Jews adhered
of-missionary-christianity-understanding-the-first-age-in- to live in this new community.
christopher-dawsons-six-ages-of-the-church.html#post/0 Because of this, the followers had to
interpret the message about him in

9
the language and cultural form of the Hellenistic time. Various perceptions about Jesus were
told. This movement had encountered various difficulties with its teachings. Issues and
conflicts about the nature of this movement or community and its teachings stirred passions
of debates among the followers. To resolve the conflicts and heresies, the council of bishops
has to be called upon and the Church doctrines have to be clearly defined to answer false
teachings (for your knowledge see councils for some specific heresies that Church had
settled to answer).

“Gold Tested in Fire:” Persecution

At first, the Roman authorities did not so much pay
attention to the increasing number of the movement,
but long before Christians began to become the target
of extraordinary persecution. A series of persecution
began with Nero as the Roman emperor in the year 67.
It is believed that Peter and Paul were both killed in
Rome during the persecution of Nero. But one of the
worst of these was that of Diocletian. Christians
endured and even more became bolder of their
https://2guysreadinggibbon.wordpress.com/2011/0
adherence to the faith as if it was like a “gold tested in 9/20/henotikons-trisagions-justinians-being-a-
fire.” christian-gets-more-and-more-dangerous/

Constantine and the Edict of Milan (313)

Constantine succeeded Diocletian and he brought along with him his Christian mother who
later influenced him in the most remarkable decision. Through the Edict of Milan (313), he
granted Christianity a legal status and aligned even himself with the Church. He became an
instant supporter of the Christians even to the point that anybody who is not a Christian at
his time deserves to die. Christianity became a symbol of power. The subjugation of
Christianity to power created an immense problem among its followers such as power
struggles among its heads and impending divisions among its people. We saw a Church
from being a loose movement to a Church to having accorded power and privileges. Hence,
Christianity became the religion of the state.

The next centuries brought forth some

extraordinary Christian figures. The so-
called fathers of the Church began to
embark on extraordinary scholarship on
behalf of the Church. Jerome (ca. 345-
420), a monk, was the one who translated
the Bible from its original version into
Latin. This translation is called Vulgate,
which was later recognized as the official
translation of the Church. Augustine is
also one of them. He was from Northern
Africa. His life in excesses and pleasures
became the context of his theology, which
is found in his writings, the City of God
and Confessions, that even to this day still

https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/301952349986078879/ 10
influential. He then became the bishop of Hippo.
Monasticism
As Christianity became a legal religion, masses of people were baptized, yet it lost much of
its original identity. But for others, there are some ways to go back to the covenantal
identity of the church. Some of the devout Christians went ahead to form a new community
and dedicated themselves to God alone. They "fled from the World" (Fuga Mundi) and
cloistered their days with prayer, meditations, and work. They continue to fulfill the work of
the disciples by living a life of simplicity and penance. This gave rise to Monasticism. St.
Anthony of Egypt is credited as the founder of this new movement and St. Benedict made
structure into it by establishing a community of monks at Monte Cassino. The monks were
governed with a written rule of life, common prayer, and strenuous manual labor (ora et
labora). By copying the works of the fathers of the Church and the classics of western
civilization, the monks kept alive this tradition in an age in which the Roman empire was
crumbling. By the 9th century, the monasteries had become the centers of learning and their
abbots were powerful men.

B. THE DOMINANCE OF CHURCH IN THE WEST (7TH –13TH CENTURIES)

The Germanization of the Church

The effect of the entrance of the young German people into the Church was significantly
strong and influential (Franzen, 1968). They destroyed the culture and civilization of the
Roman empire. For nearly two centuries they continued to practice their pagan custom and
morals. During the second epoch, Boniface and Charlemagne created the necessary
conditions for the development of Western Christianity by helping to establish the union
between the Universal Roman Church and the Kingdom of Franks. The two helped the
Church by Germanizing the organizational forms of Christianity such as agrarian structure,
the sharp separation of classes into lower and higher clergy favored an aristocratic rule in
the church, right of the landowners, development of Christian knighthood.

This century was a great and exciting time that found an elevated expression in the
wonderful work of the Roman and Gothic world. Monastic orders continue to flourish; the
convent was the center of true religion. The monks make earnest with their religion and put
it into zealous practice.
East and West Schism
The two great centers of Christianity were
Rome (west) and Constantinople (east).
They are separated by theology and politics.
Those in the east often resented Roman's
claims to primacy. The crowning of
Charlemagne as the Holy Roman Emperor in
the year 800 brought about great
resentment from the east. There was a time

https://www.engagewithease.com/journal-24---
that Michael Cerularius, patriarch of ldquothe-great-schism-of-1054-cerdquo.html
Constantinople refused to accept the authority of

11
the pope. Another followed one bad decision. Diplomatic relations failed. Despite repeated
attempts at reconciliation, all hope was lost after the fourth crusade in which the city of
Constantinople was sacked by armies representing western Christianity. The result was the
break that divides the Roman and Orthodox churches to this day.

Gregorian Reform
The Church’s connection with the
state became so influential in which
the Church became increasingly
corrupted by secular forces.
Ecclesiastical offices were bought
(known as simony). Wealth was the
matter of the day, not faith. Church
property was passed on to the
children of priests or bishops
(celibacy was not yet mandatory in
the Church), and secular rulers
appointed bishops. The authority of
the pope over the Church had
https://www.ncregister.com/blog/2-great-lessons-
virtually disappeared. Pope Gregory for-young-men-from-st-gregory-the-great
VII came into the mess with a great
determination to reform the Church.
He strengthened the structure of the institution and added more power to the pope. Under
his papacy, the church developed many offices under his office (known as curia). With
Gregory VII as pope, the papacy was granted extraordinary powers within the Church, which
were further developed by Innocent III. These reforms also gave rise to the dominance of
the code of canon law. The rules of the Church were strictly codified in the canon law for
clarity in legal terms. The Church was defined more in institutional terms with the pope as
the supreme head and the laity and priests in totally subservient roles.

As historians would always say, these were some of the best and the worst days in the
history of the Church. The inquisition, under Innocent III, began its terrible chapter in
Church’s history. In this dark time of the Church, there was a bit bright ray of hope in the
persons of these two great men St. Francis (d. 1226) and St. Dominic (d. 1221). They both
manifested powerful signs of what Christian life was truly meant to be and both founded
orders of men interested in living the gospel in its pristine simplicity: the life of poverty,
prayer, preaching, and service. Moreover, these orders had dawned the Church for
theological renewal led by the Dominicans, Albert the Great and Thomas of Aquinas and the
Franciscans, Bonaventure and Duns Scotus.

The Avignon Exile

The power of the papacy came to a halt in 1303. Pope Boniface VIII had issued a statement
(called a bull, Unam Sanctam) declaring his authority over the French government. This led
to his arrest by the order of the French king, Philip the IV. After the date of the pope, a
French bishop and a friend of the king were elected pope. He took the name Clement V. He
moved his residence from Rome to Avignon in Southern France. Many French cardinals
were appointed in his papacy, and they, in turn, elected another Frenchman as pope, John

12
XXII, who moved all the papal offices to Avignon. At least seven French popes lived in
Avignon from 1309 to 1377. The papal concern became more with finances and taxation.
The popes lived in extravagance.

The end of the Avignon papacy and the return to Rome was a gradual process under the
papacy of Gregory XI who was influenced by an extraordinary woman of her time, St.
Catherine of Siena. This was also the time of the beginning of further internal conflicts in
the west.

C. GREAT WESTERN SCHISMS AND THE TRANSITION TO A WIDER

MISSION (13TH- 19TH CENTURIES)

Three Popes
Division seems normally happen to
a church that does not focus herself
to her true mission but to the self-
vested power. The Great western
Schisms were the aftermath of this
reality. This lasted from 1378-1417.
Urban VI who was elected as pope
at that time elicited a firm reaction
from the French cardinals when in
turn elected among themselves
Robert of Geneva as the Anti Pope
Clement VII. France, Scotland, and
Spain gave their allegiance to
Clement VII. Urban VI was supported
by England, Italy, Hungary, Poland,
and Germany (Lovasik, 1986). They
both excommunicated each other. A
council was held at Pisa, seeking to
choose a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Schism
compromise candidate
and unify the Church. Instead, the two popes already refused to let go of their authority, and
then there were three popes. Emperor Sigismund mediated the “war” within the Church and
called a council to meet at Constance. There, Martin V was elected pope.

“The Dawn is here”

From the 14th century and the first half of the 16th century, there was a great development
the happened in the entire world. This was the Renaissance Age. There were so many
changes in theology, philosophy, literature, and the arts. The spirit of liberation and changes
stirred the air. Also, great maritime cities sprang up along the coast of Italy (Lovasik, 1986)
which led to the easy transport of knowledge from one place to another. Teachings and
moral precepts of the church were put into question. Discoveries curiously inspired new
philosophies and ideas (Humanism).

One thing is clear at this very time: The Church was badly in need of reform. Unfortunately,
those in the Church with all the power to lead a reform seemed to be unable and have little

13
interest in this regard. With the hindsight provided by history we can see some of the
reforms that were necessary for the Church: (1) the need to return to the message of the
Gospel, (2) the need for reform in spirituality, (3) reform in the papacy, (4) reform within
ecclesiastical offices, and (5) and the relationship of the Church with secular governments.

The Reformation
Into the midst of this crisis stepped
one of the most important figures of
western Christianity, Martin Luther.
He was a Roman Catholic priest and
monk who was devoutly religious. On
October 1517 he posted his now-
famous Ninety-Five Theses on the
door of the castle church at
Wittenberg. Luther just saw himself
as a reformer, not an ambitious one
seeking a new form of Christianity.
The attempt of dialogue between him https://www.history.com/topics/reformation/reformation
and Church officials was not a
successful one. Later, he hardened his position and so the Church. He was ex-
communicated from the Church on January 3, 1520, and was protected by German royalty.
His theology spread rapidly. The following are his beliefs:

1. Salvation comes from faith alone (sola fide). In no way did a person merit his or
her eternal life with God through good works. It was grace alone that brought
salvation.
2. The Bible is the sole authority (sola Scriptura) in the life of the Christian. While
the Church traditions may be helpful, they are secondary to the Bible.
3. Luther recognized only two sacraments as having a biblical basis: the Eucharist
and Baptism. He believed that the mass should be said in the language of the
people. He did not believe in the celibacy for priests since it was not in the Bible.
4. He discredited all intermediaries between God and the believer. Thus there was
no need for the rosary, prayers to saints, statues of saints, indulgences, etc.
5. He emphasized the role of the laity in the Church and believed that all should
have access to reading God’s word.
6. Because he believed in the Bible, he stressed the importance of preaching.

Luther was not alone in seeking reform in the Church. In Switzerland, Ulrich Zwingli was
starting to get the Church back to its biblical roots and away from any beliefs not rooted in
the Bible. In France, John Calvin was well known for his teaching concerning predestination.
Meanwhile, in England, the reform was not so much on the matter of doctrines rather on the
vested interest of Henry VIII when the pope did not allow him to divorce his wife. And so, he
declared himself head of the Church in England and along with most of the bishops of the
country set himself against Rome. This marked the beginning of the Anglican Church.

14
 -oOo-

The Counter-Reformation
Not to be left out unable to defend herself, the
Catholic Church fought a furious intellectual and faith
battle against the reformation the Counter-
Reformation. The Catholic Church felt that the
emerging protest wrought havoc to its center and
portal. A program of reform is necessary to re-
evaluate the position of the Church. In 1537, an
ecumenical council was convened to draw up
eminent changes and affirmation of doctrines in the
Catholic Church. The Council of Trent clarified church
doctrines and condemned the corresponding errors of
https://coffeeshopthinking.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/cat
the reformers. The following principal doctrines were
holic-counter-reformation-reacting-or-reforming/ redefined and refined by the Council of Trent:

1. The basis of faith is contained in both scripture and tradition.

2. All the books of the bible are to be regarded as inspired by the
almighty God.
3. The sole infallible interpreter of the sacred Scripture is the
Catholic Church founded by Jesus Christ.
4. Faith and good works are both necessary for salvation.
5. Christ instituted each of the 7 sacraments.
6. The mass is both a sacrament and sacrifice.
7. All Church doctrines are contained in the deposit of Divine
Revelation and are an integral part of the religion founded by Jesus
Christ.

The Council of Trent inspired a period of reform within the Catholic Church that was badly
needed. The question remained as to why Church came only after she had been attacked
vigorously by the reformation movements. Even at Trent, the Church remained at the
defensive stance, instead of discerning where did she go wrong. Trent defined the life of the
Catholic Church for the next three hundred years.

Missions
To add new fervor to the Church, missionary expansionism began. To evangelize people, the
Church sent many missionaries to be the herald of the good news. Spain and Portugal
spearheaded these navigations. The treaty of Tordesillas signed by these two countries
affirmed their domination and divided the world into two. They installed bishoprics in their
subjugated territories, baptized and gave the natives a Christian name. It was also the time
of oppressions and conquest bringing with them the wisdom and the truth of the gospel; the
conquistadors used it as a form of manipulation and justified it by using the name of the

15
church.

D. THE CHURCH IN THE INDUSTRIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL AGE

(19TH-20TH CENTURIES)

The Enlightenment
The intellectual and religious upheavals
that had swept over Europe during the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries (the
renaissance, the reformation, and the
counter-reformation) helped gave rise to a
period known as the Enlightenment. The
thinkers of the enlightenment placed great
value on human thought as a science. All
things that can be known are things that
can be observed and studied. The human
mind cannot know anything about the
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment
“spiritual” realm of existence. Voltaire, a French philosopher, summed up the line of
thought of the time: “What our eyes and mathematics demonstrate, we must take as true.
In all the rest, we can only say: We are ignorant.” For some thinkers, Christianity had to be
rejected as a religion of revelation and authority. Likewise, for them, the mind was the only
true authority. These thinkers opened the world with great optimism on our humanity – our
human capacity to think and be creative. This line of thinking threatened not only the
institutions of the society but the Church as well for an obvious reason – it undermined
much of the authority of the Church and its basis – the Divine Revelation.

The enlightenment movement produced a significant turn of events, the French Revolution.
The Church was seen as an element of an old order of power, which need to be toppled. The
Church underwent extraordinary persecution during this revolution. This brought to an
eventual end to the hierarchical and feudal patterns of relationships which the Church’s
authorities had been enjoying. It did so at a terrible cost.

Vatican I
After many years of persecutions and
setbacks, the Church slowly climbed
back to the ladder to make a
considerable turnaround. The most
important Church figure during this
period was Pope Pius IX whose reign
encompassed such noteworthy events
as the definition of the Dogma of the

https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2012/10/12/historys-view-of-
vatican-ii/
16
Immaculate Conception, the publication of the "syllabus of errors," and the calling of Vatican
I. This ecumenical council took place between 1869-1870, which finally ensured and
defined the primacy and the infallibility of the Pope. The Pope is infallible in matters of faith
and morals upon which he speaks "ex-cathedra." The "syllabus of errors" condemned
rationalism, modernism, socialism, and communism.

The Industrial Revolution

The nineteenth century was best characterized as the age of industrialization.
Breakthroughs in technology had re-created the affairs of the world. The world began to
work in new and different ways. Sources of the wealth of the society were controlled by the
few and the masses of workers had terrible wages and working conditions. Karl Marx, the
thinker behind communism, came into this midst. He criticized the prevailing economic
order, Capitalism with its abuses and excesses as the source of alienation and oppression of
workers. He, thus, thought of a socialist order in which a worker contributes according to his
ability and receives according to his need. Religion, for Marx, functioned as an escape from
the real condition of the human person. It was him who said that religion is, “the opium of
the people.”

Amidst the challenges of the times, Pope Leo XIII, who was very much concerned with the
realities affecting the human person, wrote an encyclical called Rerum Novarum. In this
encyclical, he encouraged the development of trade unions, as well as just wages and
working conditions. He criticized both extreme capitalism and extreme socialism. In one
way or another, the pope conditioned the Church to become more involved in the quest for
social justice.

The Twentieth Century

During this period the Church has involved itself in a wide spectrum of affairs. It began
condemning “modernism,” which was an intellectual movement that sought to bring some of
the principles of the enlightenment to the Christian faith. Later, however, the Church
became open to modern ideas. There was a significant development in the areas of liturgy,
biblical studies, ecumenism, and social justice. Perhaps in the first half of the century, there
was an important encyclical called Divino Afflante Spiritu, written by Pope Pius XII, which
opened the doors for modern scholarship in Scripture and which effects are still being felt
today.

Another major action that the Church had taken was its war against communism particularly
of its atheistic and materialistic doctrines. The most significant highlight of the century was
the Second Vatican Council. It is considered by many historians to be the most important
event in Church history since the reformation. Because of its historical significance, we will
deal with it in the next part.

The Church became hierarchical and monarchial at one point in our history but she did
struggle a lot to go back to its original mission of service. The Church at that certain times
discriminated and oppressed its people because of power bestowed on her by the turn of
events, but by now the Church continues to journey with her people toward the realization of
the Kingdom of God here and now. The Church is still on the journey and will always be.

17
Second Vatican Council
There was much talk of reform in the Church and some small signs that it was on its way.
However, when Pope Pius XII died in 1958, little did the Church know that it was about to
embark on a new era of its history. The election of Angelo Roncalli as the new pope was
seen as a choice of moderation. He chose the name John XXIII, and from the beginning, he
gave a new direction to the papacy. He described himself as a shepherd and a priest. He
visited the sick, the elderly, and those in prison. Perhaps most importantly, John XXIII
believed in the goodness of the world and the possibilities of progress.
John XXIII was an optimist. He saw in human progress the hand of God. He believed that the
Church must open itself up to the modern world. He also believed that the divisions of the
church brought about in history by the schism of east and west and the reformation were a
scandal. Vatican II was to be different. Its purpose was not to condemn but to build up and
renew and help the church face the challenges of the twentieth century.

The Second Vatican Council met in four sessions from 1962 through 1965. The sessions
generally went from October to the beginning of December. Those who came to the council
included all bishops throughout the world and their advisors. Observers were welcomed from
the laity and the Protestant and Eastern Orthodox churches.

Pope John XXIII dies in June 1963 between the first and second sessions. Paul VI who
continued the council succeeded him, and under his leadership, not only its work but also its
spirit was maintained.

The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (also known as Lumen Gentium) is one of the
most important documents of the Council. This document describes the very nature and
meaning of the Church.

Since the Second Vatican Council different theological concepts, descriptions, and images of
the Church have developed. Some are the result of the Council’s deliberations, others
emerged out of the experience of very concrete situations in which the Church finds herself
today. It can be seen that a theology of the Church has emerged that reflects definite
changes in political, social, philosophical, and religious thinking.

18
https://brewminate.com/the-history-of-christianity-from-its-emergence-in-the-first-century-ce/
 (For the professor to decide)

Option 1:
ESSAY: As Christ’s disciple, how are you going to make His life visible in your
family? Share your story about your dreams and struggles.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

19
______________________________________________________________________________

Option 2:
Activity: Drawing your life-line
a) Instructions
1. Ask the students to draw their life-line.
2. After drawing their life-line, each year they will recall their happiest and saddest
moments in life.
3. They will choose one partner for their dyad.

Age (from 1 to present)

My lifeline is a story of my own life. It refers to my experiences of joy and sadness from the
time I was born until the present moment. In the quadrant graph above, indicate your age in
the horizontal axis (begin at the time you can recollect moments of joy and sadness until the
present time). The vertical axis indicates your moments of joy (positive axis) and your
sadness (negative axis).

20
In each year, recall one happiest moment of your life and one saddest moment. Describe
those moments in the box below.

Age Happiest moments Saddest moments

Dyad Sharing. Choose your partner and prepare to share your answers to the guide
questions.

b) Guide Questions
After recalling the saddest and happiest moments of your life, share them with your
partner with the following questions:
1. What do you feel after recalling the happiest and saddest moments of your life?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2. How do you see them in the light of faith (i.e., being aware of God’s blessings or
challenged during the difficult moments, etc)?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

3. What do you want to achieve in your life?

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
CLOSING PRAYER: I will continue, O my God, to do all my actions for the love of you.

St. John Baptist de la Salle, pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

21
 Leader: Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
(Pause in a moment of silence.)

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(3rd Week)

GOSPEL

Luke 17:20-25. “The kingdom of God is among you."

Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and
he answered, "The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed;
nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For the kingdom of God is
among you." Then he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will
long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will
say to you, 'Look there!' or 'Look here!' Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. For as
the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the
Son of Man be in his day. But first, he must endure much suffering and be rejected
by this generation."

Opening Prayer: Dear God, I want to

thank you for the friends I have. Thank you
for the fun times that we share. I hope our
friendship becomes stronger. Amen.
(Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be).

St. John Baptist de la Salle, pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!

22
  DETACH PAGE FROM THE MODULE 

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT (Optional)

Student’s Name: _________________________ Student ID Number: _____________

Instruction: Write your Gospel reflection here.

Thoughts for reflection:

1. When we listen to the news, we can easily feel overwhelmed, nothing seems to be
peaceful or joyful, God’s activity seems to have disappeared. However, God’s
presence and his kingdom is still active. Every time somebody acts out of love, there is
God’s kingdom.
2. Where there is justice, no matter how small, there is God’s kingdom; where there is
beauty, there is God’s kingdom. I ask myself: how do I see the world around me? Yes,
there is pain and suffering but can I also see God’s activity?

Reflection
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
23
 E. MARKS OF THE CHURCH (ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS
OF THE CHURCH)

The Faith We Profess

(as Catholic Christians)

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all
things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of
the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from
true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him,
all things were made. For us men and our salvation he came down from
heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became
man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death
and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the
Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the
Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his
kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from
the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and
glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one

baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection
of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

-oOo-

24
We know that Our Lord established a Church before He ascended into Heaven. He made St
Peter the head of that Church. But does that Church still exist? There are so many Churches
that call themselves Christian ... are they all the true Church? Is only one of them? Which
one?

Most true Christians accept as the basis of their faith those truths outlined in the Nicene
Creed. It is in that Creed that we learn the true marks (or indicia) of the True Church of Christ.

THE TRUE CHURCH IS ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC.

Only the Roman Catholic Church can validly claim all four marks. It is the Roman Catholic
Church which has always been and continues to be that Church which Jesus Himself
established almost 2000 years ago.

The Catholic Church is ONE

There is only one Christian Church,
united in faith, in worship, and
succession from the Apostles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPr95EPriSw
themselves. For the Church is the Body
of Christ Himself, and so is whole and
one as Christ's Body is whole and one.
Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic
Constitution on the Church
promulgated by the Fathers of the
Second Vatican Council, states that:

25
 http://adamncrawford.com/one-in-christ/
"The sole Church of Christ [is that] which
our Savior, after His Resurrection, entrusted to Peter's pastoral care, commissioning him
and the other apostles to extend and rule it... This Church constituted and organized as a
society in the present world, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the
successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that: "The Church is one: she acknowledges
one Lord, confesses one faith, is born of one Baptism, forms only one Body, is given life by
one Spirit, for the sake of one hope, at whose fulfillment all divisions will be overcome."

Of course, it is a sad fact that in the course of its history, rifts have arisen in the Church,
sometimes leading whole groups of the faithful to separate from the Church. This is a
scandal, unpleasing to God. Our Lord wishes that "all may be one" and all Christians must
strive towards and pray earnestly for that day when all Christians will be united in the Lord.

This does not, however, mean that a proliferation of denominations means the Catholic
Church is not one. All those separated from the Catholic Church remain part of her,
mysteriously. All those who receive Christian baptism belong to the Catholic Church! We all
look forward with hope to the day when we will share a meal at the one banquet table in the
presence of Our Lord.

The Catholic Church is HOLY

Lumen Gentium states further that: "The Church ... is
held, as a matter of faith, to be unfailingly holy. This is
because Christ, the Son of God, who with the Father and
the Spirit is hailed as "alone holy", loved the Church as
his Bride, giving himself up for her to sanctify her; he
joined her to himself as his body and endowed her with
the gift of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God."

The Church, then, is perfect and holy, the spotless bride

of Christ, the undefiled Body of Christ Himself, filled with
the Holy Spirit. The mysterious paradox is that the
https://www.pinterest.ph/legacyicon Church is holy and perfect, even though she is made of
s/devotional-items/ imperfect sinners!

The Church is holy: The Most Holy God is her author; Christ, her bridegroom, gave himself up
to make her holy; the Spirit of holiness gives her life. Since she still includes sinners, she is
"the sinless one made up of sinners". Her holiness shines in the saints; in Mary, she is
already all-holy." (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

The Catholic Church is CATHOLIC

"Catholic" in this sense is the "small-c" "catholic", which means "universal". The Church can
be found in St Peter's Basilica, in a suburban parish church, in a group of faithful in the
Amazon Jungle. But being one in faith and communion with the Church in Rome makes this
Church a universal collection of those "particular Churches". Particular Churches fall to the

26
care of Bishops, the pastors of the faithful, and
successors of the Apostles. Their communion with
each other and with the Bishop of Rome makes the
Catholic Church truly universal.

Pope Paul VI in his encyclical, Evangelii Nuntiandi,

states: "Let us be very careful not to conceive of the
universal Church as the simple sum, or ... the more or
less anomalous federation of essentially different
particular churches. In the mind of the Lord, the
Church is universal by vocation and mission, but when
she puts down her roots in a variety of cultural, social,
and human terrains, she takes on different external
expressions and appearances in each part of the
https://quotesgram.com/catholic-church-
world." quotes-after-loss/

"The Church is catholic: she proclaims the fulness of the faith. She bears in herself and
administers the totality of the means of salvation. She is sent out to all peoples. She speaks
to all men. She encompasses all times. She is "missionary by her very nature".
(Catechism of the Catholic Church)

The Catholic Church is APOSTOLIC

The Catholic Church validly claims succession from the Apostles themselves. All bishops of
the Catholic Church are ordained by bishops who themselves were ordained ... and so on ...
who themselves were ordained by the Apostles.
This passing on of the authority and mission of the
Apostles throughout time is guided by the Holy
Spirit who descended on the Apostles at
Pentecost and remains with the Church guiding
Her until the Lord comes again.

Other Churches, no longer in communion with the

Church of Rome, have also maintained Apostolic
Succession. The Orthodox Churches, certain of the
bishops of the Anglican Communion and the
bishops of the Society of St Pius X, although not in
communion with Rome, have maintained this
succession from the Apostles by ensuring that only
bishops in the Apostolic Succession may ordain
other bishops after the group has separated from
Rome.

"The Church is apostolic. She is built on a lasting

https://anastpaul.com/2020/02/23/quote-of-the-day-23-
foundation: "the twelve apostles of the Lamb". She
february-forsake-the-vanity-of-the-crowd-st-polycarp/
is indestructible. She is upheld infallibly in the
truth: Christ governs her through Peter and the other apostles, who are present in their
successors, the Pope and the college of bishops. (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

27
 LEARNING REFERENCES

Primary Sources:
New American Bible (NAB)
Christian Community Bible, Revised Standard Version (RSV)
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. (2005). Catechism
for Filipino Catholics. Makati: Word and Life Publications.
Acts and Decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines
(PCP II)
Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education.
(1994). Catechism of the Catholic Church (newsprint edition).
Manila: Word and Life Publication
Evangelii gaudium (Joy of the gospel).
Patambang, Salibay, and Valera. (2001). Sacraments, marriage,
and family life. Manila: National Bookstore.
Alonsozana, De Leon, Domingo, Ellema, Ramirez, Regis, Salibay,
Talamera, Valera. (Workbook) Christian Discipleship in the
Modern World. Pan Asia Book Exchange Inc., Quezon City,
Philippines

Additional Online Sources:

http://www.catholic-pages.com/church/marks.asp
https://www.sacredspace.ie/scripture/john-316-18
http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-
ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-
ii_enc_18051986_dominum-et-vivificantem.html
https://www.religion-online.org/book-chapter/chapter-14-the-
growth-of-the-church/
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-herkimer-
worldreligions/chapter/reformation-counter-reformation-and-
the-modern-period/

CLOSING PRAYER: I will continue, O my God, to do all my actions for the love of you.

St. John Baptist de la Salle, pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

28
 Leader: Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
(Pause in a moment of silence.)

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(5th Week)

GOSPEL READING

Matthew 22:34-40. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind."
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered
together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher,
which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "'You shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the
law and the prophets."

Opening Prayer: Dear God, make

us worthy, to serve our brothers
and sisters throughout the world
who live and die in poverty and
hunger. Give them by our hands
this day their daily bread, and by
our understanding love give peace
and joy. Amen. (Our Father… Hail
Mary… Glory be).

St. John Baptist de la Salle,

pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts,
forever!

https://pixabay.com/illustrations/love-jesus-prophet-holy-man-christ-1221444/

29
  DETACH PAGE FROM THE MODULE 

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT (Optional)

Student’s Name: _________________________ Student ID Number: _____________

Instruction: Write your Gospel reflection here.

Thoughts for reflection:

‘On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also’. St Paul once
said, that whatever I do without love is absolutely worthless. I look at the quality of my
love, and ask for a truly loving heart.

Reflection
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
____

30
Please read/review Church in History and fill-in the trials, triumphant experiences of the
Church on Her journey, and your realization/s and feeling on Her journey.

Triumphant Your Personal

Trials Experienced the
Period
Church in Her journey
experiences of the Realization/s,
Church in Her Journey feelings, etc.
1. Early Christian
2. Constantine Period
3. Germanization of
the Church
4. East and West Schism
5. Great Western Schism

6. Gregorian Reform
7. Reformation

8. Counter-
Reformation

9. Mission

10. Enlightenment

11. Industrial
Revolution

12. Vatican I

13. Church in the 20th

Century

14. Vatican II

CLOSING PRAYER: I will continue, O my God, to do all my actions for the love of you.

St. John Baptist de la Salle, pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

31