The Church: Part IV of John Paul II's Catechesis on the Creed

Here is the series of catecheses on the Church by Pope John Paul II. This is the fourth and final part of John Paul II's Catechesis on the Creed. This series follows John Paul II's Catechesis on the Holy Spirit and precedes his Catechesis on Mary. It began on July 10, 1991, and concluded on August 30, 1995, and includes 137 general audiences.

These audiences were available in book form from Pauline Books & Media, however, the book is now (unfortunately) out of print. You might be able to find it on Amazon.com or other such places where used books are available.

*Note: The headings are taken from John Paul II's The Church: Mystery, Sacrament, Community (Boston: Pauline Books & Media, 1998). All other chapter titles are taken from the Vatican website.

*Note #2: These General Audiences of John Paul II are not available in English on the regular part of Vatican website (under John Paul II's Audiences). However, they are available in a special section of the Vatican website.


The Mystery of the Church in the Plan of God

1. Christ Founded the Catholic Church (Jul. 10, 1991)
2. Christ's Call Establishes the Church (Jul. 20, 1991)
3. Christ and the Church Are Inseparable (Jul. 24, 1991)
4. God's Plan for the Church Is Eternal (Jul. 31, 1991)
5. The Church in the Old Testament (Aug. 7, 1991)
6. The Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Christ (Sep. 4, 1991)
7. The Church Is Also a Historical Fact (Sep. 11, 1991)
8. The Church Is Revealed in Parables (Sep. 18, 1991)
9. Parables Reveal the Church's Growth (Sep. 25, 1991)
10. The Birth of the Church at Pentecost (Oct. 2, 1991)
11. The Church Lives in the Trinity's Love (Oct. 9, 1991)
12. God Made a Covenant with Israel (Oct. 30, 1991)
13. The Church Is the New People of God (Nov. 6, 1991)
14. The Church Is Universal by Nature (Nov. 13, 1991)
15. The Church Is the Body of Christ (Nov. 20, 1991)
16. The Church Has a Sacramental Nature (Nov. 27, 1991)
17. Mary's "Yes" Is the Start of the New Covenant (Dec. 4, 1991)
18. Jesus Is the Bridegroom of His People (Dec. 11, 1991)
19. Christ Loves His Bride, the Church (Dec. 18, 1991)
20. The Spirit and the Bride Say "Come" (Jan. 8, 1992)
21. The Church Is a Communio of Love (Jan. 15, 1992)
22. The Church: A Communio of Prayer (Jan. 29, 1992)
23. The Church Lives in the Mystery of Communio (Feb. 5, 1992)
24. The Call to Holiness Is Essential for the Church (Feb. 12, 1992)
25. The Church Is a Priestly Community (Mar. 18, 1992)
26. Baptism: Entry into the Life of Grace (Mar. 25, 1992)
27. Confirmation Perfects Baptismal Grace (Apr. 1, 1992)
28. The Eucharist Is the Source of the Church's Life (Apr. 8, 1992)
29. Penance in the Ecclesial Community (Apr. 15, 1992)
30. Anointing Brings Spiritual Healing (Apr. 29, 1992)
31. Christ Made Marriage a Sacrament (May 6, 1992)
32. The Church Is a Prophetic Community (May 13, 1992)
33. The Church Bears Witness to Christ (May 20, 1992)
34. The Church Witnesses to Gospel Hope (May 27, 1992)
35. The Church Witnesses to Jesus' Love (Jun. 3, 1992)
36. The Role of Charisms in the Church's Life (Jun. 24, 1992)

The Ministry of Bishops

1. The Church Is a Structured Society (Jul. 1, 1992)
2. Bishops Are Successors of the Apostles (Jul. 8, 1992)
3. Bishops Are Consecrated by a Sacrament (Sep. 30, 1992)
4. Bishops Express the Unity of the Church (Oct. 7, 1992)
5. Bishops Teach, Sanctify and Govern (Oct. 28, 1992)
6. Bishops Are Heralds of the Gospel (Nov. 4, 1992)
7. Bishops Are Stewards of God's Grace (Nov. 11, 1992)
8. Bishops Govern Their Local Churches (Nov. 18, 1992)
9. Christ Builds His Church on Peter (Nov. 25, 1992)
10. Peter Strengthens His Brothers in Faith (Dec. 2, 1992)
11. Peter Is Charged with Feeding the Sheep (Dec. 9, 1992)
12. Peter Ranks First among the Apostles (Dec. 16, 1992)
13. Peter Allowed Gentiles to Be Baptized (Jan. 13, 1993)
14. The Bishop of Rome Is Peter's Successor (Jan. 27, 1993)
15. The Pope Exercises Supreme Jurisdiction (Feb. 24, 1993)
16. The Roman Pontiff Is the Supreme Teacher (Mar. 10, 1993)
17. The Successor of Peter Teaches Infallibly (Mar. 17, 1993)
18. The Holy Spirit Assists the Roman Pontiff (Mar. 24, 1993)

The Ministry of Priests and Deacons

1. Presbyters Share in Christ's Priesthood (Mar. 31, 1993)
2. Priests Exercise a Ministry of Preaching (Apr. 21, 1993)
3. Priests Sanctify through the Sacraments (May 5, 1993)
4. Priests Are Ordained to Celebrate Mass (May 12, 1993)
5. The Priest Is a Shepherd to the Community (May 19, 1993)
6. The Priesthood Requires Personal Holiness (May 26, 1993)
7. Priests Must Be Devoted to Prayer (Jun. 2, 1993)
8. The Eucharist Is at the Heart of the Priest's Spirituality (Jun. 9, 1993)
9. Priests Must Foster Devotion to Mary (Jun. 30, 1993)
10. The Priest Is Called to Be a Man of Charity (Jul. 7, 1993)
11. The Church Is Committed to Priestly Celibacy (Jul. 14, 1993)
12. Christ Is the Model of Priestly Poverty (Jul. 21, 1993)
13. Priests Do Not Have a Political Mission (Jul. 28, 1993)
14. Bishops and Priests Must Be United (Aug. 4, 1993)
15. Priestly Obedience Is an Act of Charity (Aug. 25, 1993)
16. Priestly Fraternity Means Cooperation (Sep. 1, 1993)
17. The Priest Must Serve Christ's Flock (Sep. 22, 1993)
18. The Harvest Is Great, but the Workers Are Few (Sep. 29, 1993)
19. Deacons Serve the Kingdom of God (Oct. 6, 1993)
20. The Deacon Has Many Pastoral Functions (Oct. 13, 1993)
21. Deacons Are Called to a Life of Holiness (Oct. 20, 1993)

The Role of the Laity

1. The Laity Have Full Membership in the Church (Oct. 27, 1993)
2. The Laity Fulfill Their Calling in the World (Nov. 3, 1993)
3. Jesus' Earthly Life Is a Model for the Laity (Nov. 10, 1993)
4. The Laity Answer God's Call in a Variety of Ways (Nov. 24, 1993)
5. Lay Spirituality Is Rooted in Christ (Dec. 1, 1993)
6. The Laity Share in the Priesthood of Christ (Dec. 15, 1993)
7. The Laity Witness to the Power of the Gospel (Jan. 26, 1994)
8. The Laity Work to Spread the Kingdom (Feb. 9, 1994)
9. The Laity Share in the Church's Saving Mission (Mar. 2, 1994)
10. Lay Charisms Build up the Church (Mar. 9, 1994)
11. Laity Witness to Christ in the World (Mar. 16, 1994)
12. Lay Groups Promote the Church's Mission (Mar. 23, 1994)
13. The Laity Are Called to Renew the Temporal Order (Apr. 13, 1994)
14. Human Work Involves Sharing in Christ's Mission (Apr. 20, 1994)
15. The Lord Sanctifies Those Who Suffer (Apr. 27, 1994)
16. The Church Sees Christ's Face in the Sick (Jun. 15, 1994)
17. Woman's Dignity Must Be Respected (Jun. 22, 1994)
18. Women Bear an Effective Witness to Faith (Jul. 6, 1994)
19. Women Are Essential to the Church's Mission (Jul. 13, 1994)
20. Mothers Share in God's Creative Work (Jul. 20, 1994)
21. Women and the Ministerial Priesthood (Jul. 27, 1994)
22. Married Life Is a True Way of Holiness (Aug. 3, 1994)
23. Single People Contribute to the Church's Holiness (Aug. 10, 1994)
24. Children Are a Special Gift to the Church (Aug. 17, 1994)
25. Young People's Involvement in the Lay Apostolate (Aug. 31, 1994)
26. The Elderly Can Devote Themselves to the Community or Parish (Sep. 7, 1994)
27. The Spirit Bestows Abundant Lay Charisms (Sep. 21, 1994)

Consecrated Life

1. Religious Intensely Live Their Baptismal Vows (Sep. 28, 1994)
2. The Spirit Continues Giving New Charisms (Oct. 5, 1994)
3. Jesus' Will Is the Origin of Consecrated Life (Oct. 12, 1994)
4. Prayer Is the Answer to the Vocation Shortage (Oct. 19, 1994)
5. Consecrated Life Is Rooted in Baptism (Oct. 26, 1994)
6. Gospel Counsels Are a Way of Perfection (Nov. 9, 1994)
7. Chastity for the Sake of the Kingdom (Nov. 16, 1994)
8. A Witness to Spousal Love for the Church (Nov. 23, 1994)
9. How Blest Are the Poor in Spirit! (Nov. 30, 1994)
10. Religious Offer Their Own Wills to God (Dec. 7, 1994)
11. Common Life Is Modeled on the Early Church (Dec. 14, 1994)
12. Prayer Is the One Thing Necessary (Jan. 4, 1995)
13. Religious Serve the Growth of God's Reign (Jan. 11, 1995)
14. A Witness to the World's True Destiny (Feb. 8, 1995)
15. Religious Life Can Greatly Assist Priests (Feb. 15, 1995)
16. The Role of Lay Religious in the Church (Feb. 22, 1995)
17. Women Religious Faithfully Serve Christ (Mar. 15, 1995)
18. The Holy Spirit Is the Soul of Community Life (Mar. 22, 1995)
19. Mary Shows the Nobility of Virginity (Mar. 29, 1995)

Missionary Activity and Unity among Christians

1. The Apostles Were Sent into the Whole World (Apr. 5, 1995)
2. The Church Is Missionary by Her Nature (Apr. 19, 1995)
3. The Church Preaches the Gospel to the End of Time (Apr. 26, 1995)
4. The Church Cannot Abandon Mission Work (May 3, 1995)
5. Missionary Activity Remains Urgent (May 10, 1995)
6. The Church Perseveres in Her Mission (May 17, 1995)
7. All Salvation Comes through Christ (May 31, 1995)
8. Local Churches Have a Missionary Task (Jun. 14, 1995)
9. The Church Shares the Hopes of the Human Family (Jun. 21, 1995)
10. Unity Results from Legitimate Diversity (Jun. 28, 1995)
11. All Must Strive for the Goal of Full Unity (Jul. 12, 1995)
12. Recognize the Importance of Prayer (Jul. 26, 1995)
13. Unity Is Furthered by Continual Renewal (Aug. 2, 1995)
14. Vatican II Praised Eastern Traditions (Aug. 9, 1995)
15. Dialogue with Reform Communities (Aug. 23, 1995)
16. Full Christian Unity Can Be Achieved (Aug. 30, 1995)

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