The Second Mark: Holy

The Church is holy. Our Lord Himself is the source of all holiness: "The one Christ is mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in His body which is the Church" (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, #14). Christ sanctifies the Church, and, through Him, the Church is His tool that he uses for sanctification. Through the Church and the power of the Holy Spirit, our Lord gives us abundant graces, especially through the sacraments. Therefore, through its teaching, prayer and worship, and good works, the Church is a visible sign of holiness. Each member of the Church has been called to holiness. Through baptism, we have been freed from original sin, filled with sanctifying grace, immersed into the mystery of our Lord's passion, death, and resurrection, and incorporated into the Church. A visible sign of the Church's holiness is all of the Saints that the Church has produced for centuries. These Saints have done many holy things to help the Church spread the word of God.