Unit 6 Mr. Salter 1

 18 Wounds to Unity  19 Ecumenism  22 The Communion of Saints  23 The Saints: Models and Intercessors  24 Mary: The Perfect Model of Holiness  34 Salvation for Those Outside the Church  35 Who Needs Organized Religion?  36 Engaging the World  37 Engaging Modern Culture  38 The Church and Evangelization 2

 Assumption of Mary: The dogma that recognizes that the body of the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken directly to Heaven after her life on earth had ended.  ecumenism: The movement to restore unity among all Christians.  excommunication: A severe penalty that results from grave sin against Church law. The penalty is either imposed by a Church official or happens automatically as a result of the offense. An excommunicated person is not permitted to celebrate or receive the Sacraments.  fiat: Latin for “let it be done.”  heresy: The conscious and deliberate rejection of a dogma of the Church.  indulgence: The means by which the Church takes away the punishment that a person would receive in Purgatory.  Purgatory: A state of final purification or cleansing, which one may need to enter following death and before entering Heaven. 3

 schism: A major break that causes division. A schism in the Church is caused by the refusal to submit to the Pope or to be in communion with the Church’s members.  sola gratia: Central to the Reformation, this phrase means “grace alone,” which means that salvation comes through God’s grace alone rather than through any human effort. This sole focus on grace contradicts the truth that while God’s grace is ultimately the source of salvation, human beings can cooperate with it through their good works, or deny it.  sola scriptura: Central to the Reformation, this phrase means that “Scripture alone,” rather than Scripture and Tradition, should be the basis for Church teaching, in contradiction to the truth of Catholic teaching.  theologian: A person who studies theology. Theology is “the study of God”; the academic discipline and effort to understand, interpret, and order our experience of God and Christian faith; classically defined as “faith seeking understanding.”  theology: Literally, the “study of God”; the academic discipline and effort to understand, interpret, and order our experience of God and Christian faith.  Theotokos: A Greek title for Mary meaning “God bearer.” 4

 The Apostles urged unity among all Christians  Heresy ◦ A conscious and deliberate rejection of a dogma of the Church ◦ From Greek word – meaning “faction”, revealing heresies have led to establishment of opposing groups within the Church  Schisms ◦ A break of communion by refusing t recognize the authority of the Pope  The Eastern Orthodox Church (Byzantine) in Constantinople (excommunicated by Pope Leo IX)  Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox  The Church of Christ ◦ Having the four marks of the Church; truths 5

 The Protestant Reformation ◦ Broke from the Church to form ecclesial communities  Martin Luther, monk who criticized the selling of indulgences (95 Theses); followers are called Lutherans  Sola Scriptora (scripture alone)– Scripture alone contains the truth  Sola Gratia (grace alone) – salvation comes only through the grace of God, apart from any human effort  Other Protestant Churches  Calvinists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians 6

 Catholics and Other Christians  All Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholics  All Christians share elements of the truth:  Bible, grace, faith, hope and love, Gifts of the Holy Spirit  Non-Catholics Churches and Ecclesial Communities ◦ Eastern Orthodox Churches have maintained apostolic succession; not in full communion with Pope  The Ecumenical Movement ◦ Two goals (JPII-the ultimate goal is full unity and communion) : 1.Achieve mutual understanding 2.Cooperate in various fields(serving poor, biblical research)  Essential Elements of the Movement Toward Unity ◦ Commitment to the ecumenical movement (CCC p77-78) : 7

 Essential Elements of the Movement Toward Unity ◦ Commitment to the ecumenical movement (CCC p77-78) :  Growing in holiness through constant Church renewal  Conversion of the heart  Prayer with other Christians  Deeper knowledge of each other’s traditions  Formation of ecumenical dialogue among clergy, theologians  Collaboration in areas of service to all humanity  Live It! P. 77 ◦ We should:  Develop a solid understanding of our own faith  Be open to learning about other faiths and common truths 8

◦ The communion of saints refers to the Church (both living and dead) ◦ Latin sancti – “holy people”; sancta – “holy things”  Holy things are the Sacraments and Eucharist  Love brings communion to the body of Christ  Three Stages of Sanctification ◦ The faithful, followers of Jesus on earth (us) ◦ The faithful who have died and in purgatory ◦ The faithful who are in perfect holiness with the glory of God; seeing God as He is!  Pray It! p. 88 ◦ Words of saints an fill our need: Catherine of Siena, “Lord take me from myself and give me to yourself.”  Connecting Heaven and Earth in the Mass p. 89  Mass celebrates our prayer with the communion of saints 9

 Saints are the Face of Christ in the World ◦ All baptized are “saints”; the Church recognizes the Holy Spirit works in special ways with some ◦ Saints are a living reflection of the “face of Christ”  Satins are Models of Holiness ◦ Many examples of heroic witness and holiness ◦ Saints’ names are used by Catholics as a way of honoring through children  The Saints Intercede for Us ◦ Interceded means to ask; not to “pray to” ◦ Certain saints are known for “causes”, e.g.:  St. Anthony – lost items, St. Theresa of Avila - headaches  Honoring Saints through the Liturgical Year ◦ Sts. Have feast days to honor them; especially Mary the Mother of God  Dec 8-Immaculate Conception, Aug 15-Assumption  Catholic Wisdom p 91  Saints have offered to continue to make a difference after their death 10

 Mary’s Holiness and the Role of the Church ◦ Mary was perfectly holy; the destiny of the Church is to be like her, “holy and without blemish” ◦ Immaculate Conception - born w/o Original Sin  Mary’s Yes (fiat - yes) ◦ Annunciation – March 25 Mary’s perfect acceptance of her role in Salvation History  Mary Theotokos “ God bearer ”; model of faith ◦ Mary, ever-virgin, humble, obedient, “full of grace” ◦ Assumption in to Heaven (revealed in Revelations)  Mary, Holy Mother of the Church and Intercessor ◦ CC-patroness and mother of the Church  A Patron Saint for Teens p 92 ◦ St. Aloysius Gonzaga – became a Jesuit, died ministering to sick  Mary and Eve p 95 ◦ Mary the “new Eve”, saying yes rather than “no” to obedience 11

 Salvation is Offered to All People ◦ St. Cyprian “Outside the Church there is no salvation. – He cannot have God as Father who does not have the Church as mother.” ◦ The Church teaches that God will offer salvation, in a way that is known to God alone  Grace and Truth Outside Visible Boundaries of the Church ◦ The Holy Spirit acts outside the Church in un- understandable ways (only one baptism)  The Church’s Continuing Mission ◦ We are called to “go and preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to all people.”  Jesuits Volunteer Corps ◦ Young adults make a 2-year commitment to the missions 12

 The Social Nature of Humans and of Salvation ◦ Consider people who say “I don’t like organized religion”  Organized includes history, scholars, saints, structure, Tradition ◦ Humans are meant to be in community and relationship; we crave to “belong” ◦ Communion with God, includes community with the faithful ◦ We cannot save our self. “Where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst”  Communal and Individual Worship ◦ Liturgy is the self-expression of the Church; “We” as global, particular, local Church (heaven and earth) ◦ Personal /private prayer are important  Pray it! P 134 We share our prayer and lives with the ecclesia  Communal Worship in the Book of Revelation ◦ “Reveals” the Trinity on God’s throne and all creation worshipping the Lord on the throne 13

 Reading the Signs of the Times ◦ The church entrusted with task of handing on Apostolic Tradition via Scripture and Tradition ◦ The Church must be able to speak to each generation in a manner that “speaks” to the needs and situations  What are the “signs” / “needs” in your generation?  The Church in the Modern World p 138 ◦ Gaudium et Spes “There are many links between the message of salvation and culture.”  Pray It! P 139  Joseph is the patron saint of the Church; he raised and protected Jesus; the Church asks him to do the same for us 14

 Confronting the Culture of Death ◦ The Church has the responsibility to remain active and relevant to transform the modern world  JPII said Abortion and Euthanasia personify a Culture of Death; Christians must be about a Culture of Life  Human life is sacred because we are made in God’s image and likeness; must be treated with dignity  The Church and Politics ◦ Separation of Church and State does not mean that values and morality are not discussed in the public ◦ Social justice, human dignity are the foundation of a Christian perspective 15

 Faithful Citizenship p 142 ◦ USCCB reminded Catholics of their responsibility to promote the dignity of life of the human person; even by being active in politics  Catholic Wisdom p 141 ◦ World Youth Day 1989, Pope JPII – the youth are the first apostles and evangelizers to other youth  Examples of Evangelization ◦ Laity via married life; youth at school; religious orders in the missions and schools  Elements of Evangelization ◦ Redemptoris Missio - evangelize to:  Those who have not heard, active Christians, fallen away  What is Inculturation? ◦ Respecting the dignity of other cultures when sharing the Good News; incorporating traditional aspects of their life into their public life of the Church 16