Msgr. Pope on the Four Basic Pillars of the Christian Life

"On Sunday we read from the Acts of the Apostles and we do well to look back at the opening verse of that passage (Acts 2:42). There we discover a four-point plan that describes the Christian life. Of the life of the early Christians it is said,

   They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the
   fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42). 

"Here then are the four pillars of the Christian life. Before looking at them in detail, recall the context of this verse. Peter has just preached a sermon in which he warns his listeners to repent and believe the Good News. He says to them,

   "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who
   accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand
   were added to their number that day (Acts 2:40-41).

"Now they are baptized and in the Church of the Living of God. (Notice that the verse does not say that they said the 'sinners' prayer” to be saved; it just says that they were baptized.) Unlike some of our Protestant brethren, who hold a kind of 'once saved, always saved' mentality, we see that the text does not stop there. These new disciples now have a life to lead that will prepare them to meet God and help them to set their house in order."

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the four basic pillars of Christian life as reflected in the Acts of the Apostles (Apostolic teaching, the sacred gathering of the faithful, reception of the sacraments, and prayer). 

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: The Four Basic Pillars of the Christian Life (24 APR 17)