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Next class session is on Sunday, December 14th, at 9:15!
Reference Material
Reference Material
Session 4 - February 9th, 2025
Session 4 - February 9th, 2025
1.Opening Prayer
1.Opening Prayer
2. Report
2. Report
Have you been praying daily? Offering the "Lord let me be a Blessing" prayer?
Have you been praying daily? Offering the "Lord let me be a Blessing" prayer?
Questions from last session?
Questions from last session?
3. Housekeeping
3. Housekeeping
4. REVIEW
4. REVIEW
Why are we here?
Why are we here?
Prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Sacramentum - covenant oath swearing in God's Name
Covenant - I give myself to you, you give yourself to me --- God gives Himself to you and asks you to do the same in return
Different from contract
The Covenant establishes a Live-Giving Communion of Persons
Our hope and goal:
For you to learn more about our Catholic Faith so that, hopefully, you will continue to practice that Faith the rest of your lives.
Who is Jesus?
Who is Jesus?
Jesus is the Son of God, Messiah, Eternal Presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
Story of the Three Men asked to describe Jesus to get into Heaven.
How will you recognize Jesus?
The Bible
The Bible
The "Book of books"
One "leg" of the three "legs" of Sola Dei Verbum
- Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium.
- Example: Learning to play Baseball
14 Chronological Books
12 Historical Periods
7 Covenants
Bloodline of Jesus
5. What is The Catholic Church?
5. What is The Catholic Church?
a. What does the word "church" mean?
a. What does the word "church" mean?
Building
Society or group
"Denomination" like Nazarene or First Baptist
Family
Family of God
People of God
- Body of Christ
Definition:
The term church (A. S., cirice, circe; Mod. Ger., Kirche; Sw., Kyrka) is the name employed in the Teutonic languages to render the Greek ekklesia, ecclesia, the term by which the New Testament writers denote the society founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The term “Catholic Church” (Gk. katholike ekklesia) broadly means “universal assembly,” and [Saint Ignatius of Antioch, an early Christian martyr first] used it when writing to the Christians of Smyrna as a term of unity [around A.D. 107].
From <https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/was-the-early-church-catholic-or-just-christian>
The First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, called by Emperor Constantine I, marked a pivotal moment in the history of the term. This council formulated the Nicene Creed, which included the phrase “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church,” firmly establishing the term “Catholic” as an identifier for the true Christian Church.
From <https://aleteia.org/2023/10/16/why-catholic-a-brief-history-of-the-use-of-the-term>
c. What do you say the Catholic Church is?
c. What do you say the Catholic Church is?
Why do you want to be Confirmed in the Catholic Church?
d. What is the Catholic Church?
d. What is the Catholic Church?
There are no other Christian (Protestant) churches that are "The" protestant church
Churches outside of Christianity are "faith" or "teaching"
Buddhism, Hindu, etc.
- Founded by and founded on the Person of Jesus Christ
Not just His Teachings
Other Religions
Buddhism
Muslim
Hinduism
Jewish
Believe teachings, not person
Boy Scouts / Girl Scouts
Beliefs & actions
- Original group of Christians were called "The Way"
The would meet in secret, often in the catacombs
One of the reasons we have candles during Mass
They would celebrate an early version of The Mass, though it was not called that and the ceremony has evolved much over the centuries
- Eucharist
Truly the Body and Blood of the Foundation of the Church, Jesus Christ.
Source and summit of our Faith
Jesus, Peter down to Pope Francis and to Fr. Ben and Fr. Hasenoehrl
The Blessing
Forgot to talk about last time
- How do you join The Church?
Baptism - New Birth in to Catholic Family
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2028&version=RSVCE>
- Why do we have to follow "the rules?"
Obeying traffic laws
The rules are to get you to your destination
Breaking the Law of Gravity vs. Demonstrating the Law of Gravity
- Three Pillars of the Teaching Authority of the Catholic Church
Scripture
Tradition
Magisterium
Ex: Learning to play baseball
One
Holy
Catholic
Apostolic
Creed - What we Believe
Liturgy - Sacraments
Morality - The Life in Christ
Prayer
Did you know this about the Church?
There are four distinct qualities or MARKS of the Catholic Church. Discover what they mean and why they matter.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter,[a] and on this rock[b] I will build my church, and the powers of death[c] shall not prevail against it.[d].
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16%3A18&version=RSVCE>
10. This is the Church that Jesus started and sent the Holy Spirit to guide.
10. This is the Church that Jesus started and sent the Holy Spirit to guide.
9. The Catholic Church has relieved more suffering than any other group in history.
9. The Catholic Church has relieved more suffering than any other group in history.
We care for the sick, the lonely, the hungry, the homeless, the uneducated and the imprisoned.
8. We have history and mystery.
8. We have history and mystery.
The history of Christianity is Catholic.
For more than 1500 years there were no Baptists, Mormons, Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, or non-denominational Christians.
Today there are over 25,000 Christian denominations.
We have history and we have mystery.
Some things are a mystery and that is okay.
7. We have the Saints.
7. We have the Saints.
Some were rich, some poor, some educated, some not, some were young and some were old.
They have lived in every century, on every continent in every country.
They simply tried to be the best version of themselves while on earth.
Now they are in Heaven cheering us on!
6. We believe in the power of prayer.
6. We believe in the power of prayer.
At every moment there is Mass being offered somewhere in the world.
Our prayers make a difference.
5. Catholicism is the same all around the world.
5. Catholicism is the same all around the world.
You can go to any foreign country and attend Mass.
You may not understand the language, but you will recognize the parts of the Mass.
4. The Catholic Church is the premier defender of human rights.
4. The Catholic Church is the premier defender of human rights.
3. You need to be part of something bigger than yourself.
3. You need to be part of something bigger than yourself.
It’s about giving your life in service of others …out of love for our God.
2. We have the Eucharist.
2. We have the Eucharist.
Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist and we get to receive Him.
1.God gives each of us an invitation to believe in Him, hope in Him, and to love Him with all our hearts!
1.God gives each of us an invitation to believe in Him, hope in Him, and to love Him with all our hearts!
Will you accept His invitation?
7. The Body of Christ
7. The Body of Christ
Life-Giving Union by The Holy Spirit bringing forth New Life
Life-Giving Union by The Holy Spirit bringing forth New Life
8. Superheroes of the Week
8. Superheroes of the Week
Teenaged layman in the archdiocese of Milan, Italy known for creating a series of websites devoted to Church-related supernatural events (see links below). As a regular teenaged boy, he liked comics, computer programming, video editing, and related matters. He was known at his school for defending other kids, especially those with disabilities, from bullies.
Websites:
10 things you should know about Blessed Carlo Acutis
Born to a farm family. In his youth John taught other children their prayers and catechism. Ordained in 1815, though it took several years of study - he had little education, was not a very good student, and his Latin was terrible. Assigned as a parochial vicar to Ecully, France. In 1818 he was assigned to the parish of Ars-sur-Formans, France, a tiny village near Lyons, which suffered from very lax attendance. He began visiting his parishioners, especially the sick and poor, spent days in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, did penance for his parishioners, and leading his people by example. Had the gifts of discernment of spirits, prophecy, hidden knowledge, and of working miracles. Tormented by evil spirits, especially when he tried to get his 2-3 hours of sleep each night. Crowds came to hear him preach, and to make their reconciliation because of his reputation with penitents; by 1855 there were 20,000 pilgrims a year to Ars. Spent 40 years as the parish priest.
From <http://catholicsaints.mobi/calendar/4-august.htm#saint-john-vianney>
9. Spiritual & Corporal Works of Mercy
9. Spiritual & Corporal Works of Mercy
Matthew 25: 31-46
Matthew 25: 31-46
34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35h For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,
36 naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.
This week's Work of Mercy
This week's Work of Mercy
Bring some non-perishable food on Sunday that can be given to the needy.
10. Weekly Prayer
10. Weekly Prayer
Prayer for Priests by Saint John Vianney
Prayer for Priests by Saint John Vianney
God, please give to your Church today
many more priests after your own heart.
May they be worthy representatives of Christ the Good Shepherd.
May they wholeheartedly devote themselves to prayer and penance;
be examples of humility and poverty;
shining models of holiness;
tireless and powerful preachers of the Word of God;
zealous dispensers of your grace in the sacraments.
May their loving devotion to your Son Jesus in the Eucharist
and to Mary his Mother
be the twin fountains of fruitfulness for their ministry.
Amen.
From <https://www.dosp.org/our-faith/prayers/prayer-for-priests-by-st-john-vianney/>
12. Videos for this week
12. Videos for this week
Will you dare to be different?
Our culture is a bit of a mess. But we’re so used to it that sometimes we don’t even notice it. Learn how to recognize the mess and discover simple ways to do something about it.
What are you willing to do for your faith?
The first Christians were brutally persecuted for their faith, yet many people still converted to Catholicism. Why?
Did you know this about the Church?
There are four distinct qualities of the Catholic Church. Discover what they mean and why they matter.
Be inspired by the good work of the Church.
The Church isn’t perfect. But throughout history, it has fed more people, clothed more people, visited more imprisoned, cared for more sick people, and educated more people than any other institution on the planet.
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