Act of Faith O my God, relying on thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.

Lesson 3: Structure What would a school be like without a principal? What would a town be like without police officers? What would the U.S. government look like without a president or congressmen?

Christ’s Orchestra

Precedent for Structure Ancient Israel had lots of structured, hierarchically organized parts. What were they?

Activity Book, p. 3 Church Structure Using the analogy of an orchestra, explain the structure of the Church. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Church Hierarchy The Church is set up as a hierarchy ultimately headed by Christ, whose earthly vicar is the Pope.

Three Parts of the Church Church Triumphant Church Suffering Church Militant aka The Pilgrim Church

Church Triumphant Those, whether embodied or disembodied, who are perfectly holy and reside in Heaven with God. This group includes the Saints (big S), both humans and angels.

Church Suffering The souls of all those who die in a *state of grace* but who are *imperfectly purified/sanctified* at the time of death are in Purgatory. Purgatory is better thought of as a state rather than a place. It’s a state of purification. Think of it as the completion of the process of becoming holy here on Earth.

Church Militant/Pilgrim Church Those of us here on earth who are baptized and members of Christ’s Church are currently being sanctified, becoming holier through the sacraments and good works.

Rules of the Church Ten Commandments Precepts of the Church Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy Canon Law

Ten Commandments

Precepts of the Church 1. You shall attend Mass on every Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation. 2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year. 3. You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season. 4. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church. 5. You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church.

Homework 1 Page Illustration of the Precepts of the Church

Act of Faith O my God, relying on thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.

Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy

Canon Law Canon law is the name for the Catholic Church's order and discipline, structures, rules, and procedures. The Catholic Church has two Codes: one for the Latin Church and one for the Eastern Catholic Churches. JPII promulgated the revised Code of Canon Law for the Latin Rite in 1983, and the revised Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches in 1990.

Homework Find something in Church Canon Law that interests you and write 1 page about it: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM

Act of Faith O my God, relying on thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.