Many people hear the phrase “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church” each Sunday in the Creed but wonder what it truly means. These words are not just titles — they are signs of who the Church is in her very essence, as founded by Christ and sustained by the Holy Spirit.
The Church is One because it has one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. Though there are many cultures, languages, and traditions, the unity of the Church flows from Christ Himself. Saint Paul writes, “There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:4–5). This unity is not merely organizational — it is spiritual and sacramental. Even when Christians struggle with divisions, the call to unity remains a reflection of Christ’s own prayer “that they may all be one” (John 17:21).
The Church is Holy because her source is holy: God Himself. The holiness of the Church does not mean every member is perfect — far from it. Rather, the Church is the place where sinners are made holy through grace, prayer, and the sacraments. In her saints, we see what God’s holiness looks like when it takes root in human hearts. Holiness is not something we earn, but a gift the Church nurtures in us.
The Church is Catholic, meaning “universal.” From the beginning, the Good News of Christ was meant for all people, not one nation or culture. Wherever the Gospel is preached and the Eucharist is celebrated, there is the Catholic Church. This universality is both a breadth — open to every soul — and a depth — faithful to the fullness of truth handed down from the Apostles.
Finally, the Church is Apostolic because she stands upon the foundation of the Apostles whom Jesus chose and sent. Through apostolic succession, their authority and teaching continue in the bishops of today. The same Spirit that guided Peter and the Apostles guides the Church now, keeping her faithful to the truth of the Gospel through the ages.
To profess the Church as One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic is to profess our faith in God’s enduring presence in His people. These four marks remind us not of our own achievements, but of God’s faithfulness — the God who unites, sanctifies, gathers, and sends His Church into the world.
When we say the Creed, we are not describing an ideal Church — we are confessing a living mystery. May we love the Church as Christ loves her, and let His Spirit make us one in faith, hope, and love.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
