Theology

Below are future chapters.  Current chapters will be moved above this text!

Chapter 1:  I Believe

God gives us grace to believe the truth that he reveals to us, especially through the revelation of his Son, Jesus Christ. 

• Faith is a supernatural gift of God which allows us to believe truths that God has revealed. 

• Faith is a free gift from God for those who choose to receive it. We may choose to reject the gift of faith. 

  • God reveals Himself to us in many ways and gives us the gift of faith to believe Him.

  • Student believe their parents about the date of their birth, because they trust their parents who love them. They can trust God in matters of Faith, because God loves them.

• The Creed is a summary of the beliefs of our Catholic Faith.

• How the Creed should affect our actions?

  • Prayer is essential for maintaining and growing in faith

Chapter 3:  Creator of Heaven and Earth

God created Heaven and earth out of nothing. We are made to love as God loves. The created world should remind us of the goodness of God and we must be stewards of creation. 

· God is the Creator of Heaven and Earth (of all that is, seen and unseen).

o Genesis 1:1-2:3

· God creates out of nothing. 

o Creator, create, creature, created…

· God alone is uncreated. He has no beginning and no end (He is eternal). God is the cause of all creation. 

o Divine Providence

· Man’s special role in the created world is to care for it and to use it wisely. 

o Stewardship

Chapter 29:  The Mother of God in our Lives

Mary is our mother and model, and she always leads us to her Son. 

· Jesus gave Mary to us to be our mother and model. 

· Mary is the New Eve and was bodily assumed into Heaven. 

· Mary intercedes for us. 

· The Rosary helps us to know Jesus and Mary better. 

· Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Chapter 24:  The Mystical Body

The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ. Jesus is the Head and all those who are baptized are members of the Body. The Communion of Saints includes the Church Triumphant (saints in heaven), Church Suffering (poor souls in purgatory) and Church Militant (baptized souls on earth). 

· What makes up a body?

o Discuss how all parts of a body are important and work together.

o Read St. Paul’s conversion and how Jesus identifies Christians as part of Himself.

· The Mystical Body of Christ

o Discuss who makes up the various parts of the Mystical Body and their part in it.

o Identify terms for the Communion of Saints.

o Identify Baptism as the condition for membership in the Mystical Body and confession to restore membership after mortal sin.

· Why did Jesus give us a Church?

o The Church “is God’s visible plan of God’s love for humanity.”

o The Church continues Jesus’ saving work on earth and is a sure guide to salvation.

o We love and pray for Christians who are separated from the Church.

o Our membership in the Church is strengthened by the Eucharist

Chapter 23:  The Giver of Life

God, the Holy Spirit is the love between the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit comes to us in many ways. 

The Holy Spirit descended upon Mary and the apostles in the upper room. 

· Immediately after the Holy Spirit descended, the Apostles could speak in many languages, Peter proclaimed the gospel, and over three thousand people were baptized. 

· The Holy Spirit is the love between the Father and the Son. 

· The Holy Spirit protects the Pope and all the bishops in union with the Pope from teaching error in matters of faith and morals. 

· The Holy Spirit fills our souls at Baptism and pours out His gifts at Confirmation.

Chapter 22:  Jesus Sends the Apostles

Jesus sent his apostles to continue his work through the power of the Holy Spirit and ascended into Heaven. 

· After His Resurrection, Jesus spent forty days with His disciples strengthening their faith, helping them to understand His teaching, and instructing them on how to spread the Gospel.

· Jesus gave His disciples the power to forgive sins.

· Jesus commissioned the apostles to continue His work through the Church He founded.

· Jesus forgave Peter and made him the visible head of the Church - the first Pope.

· Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit and ascended into Heaven.

Chapter 21: He is Risen

Through his death and Resurrection, Jesus defeated sin and conquered death. 

· The story of Jesus’ resurrection.

· The Resurrection tells us that Jesus is God and that those who follow Jesus and die in His friendship will be raised from the dead and live forever in Heaven. 

· Qualities of a glorified body: 

a) the body is subject to the will; 

b) the body is beautiful and spiritual; 

c) the body will no longer suffer and die. 

· The Easter Vigil Mass teaches us about the new life of Christ offered to us all

Chapter 20:  The Perfect Sacrifice

A sacrifice is a gift freely given to God out of love. Sacrifice has a long history in the Old Testament but was brought to perfection in the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. This same sacrifice is made present to us at every Mass and we have the opportunity to share in it. 

• Sacrifices of the Old Testament

  • Cain and Abel

  • Melchizedek, Abraham/Isaac (optional)

  • Passover

• ·The Perfect Sacrifice of the Mass

  • Comparison of Passover and Calvary

  • Trifold visual showing how the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary, in Heaven and at Mass are one and the same

• Jesus as our Mediator

  • Jesus, as both God and man, was the perfect mediator between the Creator and his creation. 

  • Jesus opened Heaven and redeemed man, offering him grace through baptism. 

  • Man could not make up for his sin and restore grace by the sacrifices he offered. Jesus was without sin and, therefore, could offer a pleasing sacrifice to God

Chapter 19:  The Acceptance of the Father's Will

Jesus accepted the Father’s will, even though he knew that doing so meant that he would die on a Cross. In love, Jesus died for all mankind and gives himself to us in the Eucharist. 

• Jesus knew and proclaimed that he would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.

•  At the Last Supper, Jesus instituted to Sacraments of the Eucharist and Holy Orders.

• The Agony in the Garden and the Crucifixion: Jesus accepted His Father’s will.

  •  “Father, if it is possible, take this cup away from me. Yet, not as I will, but as you will.”

  • “Father, into yours hands I commend my spirit.”

• From the Cross, Jesus gave us Mary to be our Mother.

  • “Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother.”

• The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary are:

  • • 1) The Agony in the Garden

    • 2) The Scourging at the Pillar

    • 3) The Crowning with Thorns

    • 4) The Carrying of the Cross

    • 5) The Crucifixion

Chapter 18:  Rejected by the Proud...As we prepare to begin Lent, we must reflect on the times that we have rejected Jesus.  What do we need to do to change?

Jesus gives us the truth but it is up to us whether or not we follow Him. 

· Jesus has a special fondness for ordinary people, the humble, and the poor.

o The Jews thought God showed favor through wealth, but Jesus taught that God has a special place for the poor and suffering.

· Jesus speaks the truth, but many people do not accept it.

o Jesus said we must eat his flesh to gain eternal life. This cause many people to turn away from Him.

· When confronted with the truth, man must choose to follow it or not to follow it.

o Those that hated Jesus chose not to follow the truth.

o Despite all the miracles, they plotted to have Jesus killed.

· When we commit sin, we are turning away from God.

o All sin committed is a rejection of God and of love of Him.

Chapter 16:  You are Forgiven

Only God can forgive sins. God is merciful and when we repent of our sins we will be converted and we will choose to forgive others, even our enemies. 

Another way, besides performing miracles, that Jesus showed He was the Son of God is by forgiving sin. Only God can forgive sin.

o Some people, the Pharisees, were upset Jesus was claiming to forgive sins because only God could do that. They did not believe that Jesus was God.

· Jesus is merciful; he is always ready to forgive sins.

o God desires to forgive us.

· To receive God’s forgiveness, we need to repent and ask for forgiveness.

o We need only to be sorry for our sins and go to confession. When we receive absolution we become a new creation in Christ.

· Mary Magdalene, Zacchaeus, and the good thief are some examples of people in the Gospel who converted.

· We are called to conversion and to forgive others.

o Jesus calls us to imitate God’s readiness to always forgive those who have hurt us. In accord to the measure we forgive others, God will forgive us.

Chapter 15:  The Father and I are One

Jesus is the Son of God, but must tell us little by little because this sounds like blasphemy.

• Jesus is True God and True Man

• This union of Human and Divine is known as the Hypostatic Union

Please review Family Guide pages 36-37 to follow along with what students are learning in the classroom.

Chapter 14:  The Kingdom of Heaven

Jesus preached about the Kingdom of Heaven, frequently through parables, and His apostles carried on this ministry after Jesus’ death. 

· Jesus was baptized, was tempted by Satan, and began his public ministry.

o Jesus gave us an example in being baptized and in overcoming Satan’s temptations.

· Jesus taught using parables.

o Parables are stories used to teach that frequently employ images to convey a message.

· The Kingdom of Heaven is the Church in heaven, in Purgatory, and on Earth-all those united with Christ in love.

o Catechism of the Catholic Church: Article 2816

· Jesus chose twelve apostles.

o After Jesus’ death these men continued Jesus’ ministry by Baptizing, preaching, and leading the Church Jesus founded.

Chapter 13:  The Holy Family

Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived a hidden life together, working and praying. 

· Thirty years of Jesus’ life were called “the hidden years.”

o Jesus lived an ordinary life at home with His parents.

o There was holiness in the everyday life.

· Joseph showed that he was willing to obey God even in difficult circumstances when he moved his family to Egypt to protect them and then back again to Israel when it was safe.

o The Holy Family trusted in God, even when it meant fleeing the country.

o The Holy Family obeyed God and returned to Nazareth when the time had come.

· Joseph was a carpenter and Mary cared for the house and family.

o Mary lived the life of an ordinary Jewish woman, caring for her family.

o Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived quiet lives of virtue.

· Jesus was found in the temple “doing His Father’s business.”

o The Holy Family went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover

o Even as a Child, Jesus wanted to fulfill His Father’s will.

· The Holy Family is a model for all families.

o We can imitate Jesus, Mary and Joseph in their hidden lives of virtue.

Chapter 12:  Born of the City of David

God became man for us to share in our weakness.

· The Incarnation: God became man so that we might share in His glory.

o Jesus is true God and true man and the second person of the Blessed Trinity.

o God became man so that he might experience our humanity.

· The story of the Nativity.

o After the Annunciation, Joseph took Mary as his wife.

o The census forced Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem.

o The Son of God was born in a stable.

· The Presentation in the Temple.

o According to Jewish law, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to be presented in the temple.

o Simeon predicts what will happen to Jesus and Mary.

o This is one of the seven sorrows of Mary.

Chapter 11:  In the Fullness of Time

The Blessed Virgin Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus who redeemed the world.

· Elizabeth and Zechariah were blessed in their old age with a child, John the Baptist.

o When it was Zechariah’s turn to offer incense in the Holy of Holies, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him his wife would bear him a son who he should name John.

o Zechariah doubted this, and was struck mute until the birth of his son.

· Gabriel announced to Mary that she was chosen to be the mother of the Savior, Jesus.

o Gabriel greeted Mary; “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” and told her that she would conceive a son and should name him Jesus, because he would be the Savior.

o Mary believed what the angel said, but did not know how it would come about since she was not yet married. Gabriel told her that she would conceive the child through the Holy Spirit. Mary replied: “Be it done unto me according to your word.”

· The visitation is the event in which Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. After Elizabeth greeted her, Mary sang a hymn of praise called the Magnificat.

o When Mary greeted Elizabeth, the child in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy and Elizabeth recognized that Mary was bearing the Lord in her womb.

o Mary thanked God for His goodness to her in her Magnificat.

· The Immaculate Conception: Mary was conceived without Original Sin and her soul was filled with grace as a special gift from God.

Chapter 10:  Prophets

God sent the prophets to speak God’s words to the people and give them hope.

· God sent prophets to the Israelites because the Israelites were worshipping false gods, marrying pagans, and wanting to be like their pagan neighbors. They needed to be reminded to live their covenant with God. 

· The prophets told the people to repent which means to change their lives. 

o Prophets

· Isaiah helped to prepare the Israelites for the coming of the Savior. 

o Isaiah

o Savior

· Jeremiah prophesied the exile and foretold the coming of the Messiah. 

o Jeremiah

· John the Baptist was the last and greatest prophet.

Chapter 9:  The Forming of God's People

God keeps His covenant to the Israelites, and is faithful to them even when they sin. 

· God provided manna, water, and quail for His people in the desert.

o The food kept the Israelites alive for the entire time they were in the desert.

o The Israelites still grumbled against God.

· God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments.

o Through the Ten Commandments, God established His covenant with the Israelites.

o The Ten Commandments taught them how to live.

· God commanded Moses to build the Ark of the Covenant to be the sign of God’s presence among the Israelites. Today Jesus is present to us in the Eucharist which is kept in the tabernacle in Catholic churches.

o The Ark was the focal point of their prayers and worship.

o God dwelt in the Ark

· God gave the Israelites earthly kings. David and Solomon were the greatest.

o God promised David that one of his descendants would be the Savior.

Chapter 8:  Moses Leads God's People

God uses Moses to set free His chosen people from their slavery to Pharaoh. Moses was able to perform the mighty deeds he did by the power of God working through him. 

Moses’ life from infancy up to standing before Pharaoh.

o When Moses was a baby his mom hid him in a basket and placed it on the river to try and save his life.

o He was found by Pharaoh’s daughter and grew up in Pharaoh’s household.

o Moses fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian but was called back by God through the burning bush to save the Israelites.

· God sent ten plagues upon Egypt as a sign of his power and as proof that Moses spoke on behalf of God.

o The plagues were an attempt to change the heart of Pharaoh to allow God’s chosen people to leave Egypt.

o Each time Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go God sent another plague upon Egypt.

· The tenth plague, the Passover, and the passage through the Red Sea.

o Moses gave specific instructions for the Passover; if the Israelites obeyed these instructions their first born children and animals would be spared.

o When the Passover was completed Pharaoh let the Israelite leave Egypt. When they arrived at the Red Sea, Moses split the sea in two using his staff.

Chapter 7:  The Chosen People

God’s promise to Abraham (that his descendants would be numerous, that his descendants would inherit a promised land and a blessing for all people would come from one of his descendants) was beginning to be carried out through Isaac, Jacob and Jacob’s twelve sons and was fulfilled in Jesus. 

· God called Abraham and tested him. Abraham responded in faith.

o God called Abraham out of his home country and then asked him to sacrifice his only son.

o Abraham had great faith in carrying out God’s commands. Even though God promised Abraham his descendants would be numerous and Abraham did not see how that would be fulfilled if he sacrificed his only son, Isaac.

· Esau sold his birthright and Jacob tricked Isaac for the blessing that belonged to Esau.

o The birthright gave the oldest son a larger share in his father’s inheritance.

o Esau sold his birthright to his younger brother for a bowl of stew.

o The blessing Jacob received was from God, it promised that all the recipient did would prosper, and it could only be given to one person.

· Joseph was sold into slavery and eventually all of Israel ended up in Egypt.

o Pharaoh made Joseph the 2nd in command and Joseph was responsible for managing the food supply.

o God used Joseph to save his family from famine and to carry out God’s promise to Abraham.

Chapter 6:  Fall from Grace

God allowed Adam and Eve to be tested so that their love could be a free choice. They failed this test and through original sin lost God’s gifts of grace and original justice and passed on these effects to all men. God brought ultimate good out of their sin by sending Jesus as our Savior. 

· Only those who have the gift of reason can take tests (a power of the soul).

o God allows us to be tested so we can learn what we need and know what we’ve learned.

o Love is not truly love unless it has been tested (we choose to love).

· Adam and Eve failed to love and obey when they were tempted by the serpent.

o Eve doubted God’s love and truth, believing the lie of the devil. Adam failed to protect Eve and also gave in to the sin. Their sin was pride and disobedience.

o Both Adam and Eve, our first parents, are equally guilty. They pass on original sin to all humans along with the weakness of concupiscence.

o God gave them chances to repent, but they gave in to blame and shame instead.

o They lost supernatural grace and the preternatural gifts.

· God can bring good out of any evil.

o God promised a Savior who would “crush the head” of the serpent.

o Jesus is the New Adam who brings us the life of grace.

o Mary is the New Eve who leads us to Jesus.

Chapter 5:  Made in His Image

Man was created in the image and likeness of God and has great dignity. He is created with a body and an immortal soul. Before the Fall, Adam and Eve had preternatural gifts and the supernatural gift of sanctifying grace. 

Everything in the world is created by God as good; but there is an order of value in creation.

o As we go up the Ladder, things are more complex and more like God.

o Man has body and soul; shares in the material and spiritual world.

· God created man in His image and likeness.

o Man’s immortal soul (created male and female) separates him from animals.

o The human soul has the ability to think, choose and love.

o Every human soul has great dignity.

· Before the fall, Adam and Eve had preternatural gifts.

o They would never be sick, suffer or die (impassibility and immortality).

o Their wills were strong (no concupiscence).

o They understood things more easily and clearly than we do now.

· The greatest gift God gave Adam and Eve was sanctifying grace.

We will start research for our saints for our Saint Presentations...more details coming soon!

Saint Wax Museum Checklist

____Tell who your saint is

____Tell Where/When they were born

____Tell about your family

____Tell Where they lived and what life was like there

____Tell How connected they were to God during different parts of their life (Conversion Moment)

____Tell How/Where/When did they die

____Tell What/Who are they patron/patroness of and why

____Any Relics?

____Tell How would they feel about today’s society in the United States (Be specific to what they are known for.)

___ Picture of your Saint

____Information is memorize in a speech

____Dressed as your saint (please do this at home/contact me to help with the limited costumes available in the Christmas costumes)

____Information is Organized

____Picture Timeline is use as a visual  (we will do this in class after speeches are written)

____Written Speech follows Grammar Requirements

____Written Speech follows Convention Requirements (punctuation, capitals, spelling, etc.)

____Written Speech has a bibliography