What are the four marks of the Church?

The four marks of the Church are one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. These are gifts Christ gave His Church and signs by which His Church can be recognized (CCC 811).

The Church is one. She has one Lord, professes one faith, receives one Baptism, and is united by the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:4-5; CCC 813). Christ founded one Church and prayed that His disciples would be one (Jn 17:21). Divisions among Christians are real wounds to this unity. Those born into separated Christian communities are not personally guilty for the original separations, and baptized Christians share a real, though imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church (CCC 818). Catholics must pray and work for full unity in truth and charity.

The Church is holy. Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her to make her holy (Eph 5:25-27). She possesses holy teaching, sacraments, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, and she produces saints in every age (CCC 823-829). Her members still sin, sometimes gravely. Their sins disfigure the Church's witness, but they do not remove the holiness Christ has given her. The Church continually calls her members to repentance and purification.

The Church is catholic. Catholic means universal or according to the whole. The fullness of Christ is present in the Church, and she has been sent to every nation, culture, and age (Mt 28:19-20; CCC 830-831). The Catholic Church possesses the fullness of the means of salvation entrusted by Christ, while elements of sanctification and truth are also found outside her visible boundaries (CCC 816, 819). These gifts themselves point toward full Catholic unity.

The Church is apostolic. She was founded on the apostles, preserves their teaching, and continues to be taught and governed by their successors, the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter (Eph 2:20; CCC 857). Apostolic succession protects the Church's sacramental life and public teaching across generations. Christ promised to remain with His Church until the end of the age (Mt 28:20).

When you profess the Nicene Creed at Mass, listen for these words: "one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church." They describe both what Christ has already given His Church and what Catholics are called to make visible through fidelity, holiness, and love.