Chapter 1: Faith in God “For us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things are and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom.

Chapter 1: Faith in GodChapter 1: Faith in God ““For us there is one God, the Father, from whom For us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things all things are and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus are and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are and through Christ, through whom all things are and through whom we exist.” whom we exist.”

(1 Corinthians (1 Corinthians 8:6)8:6)

I. Introduction• We live in a pluralistic society that can give rise to confusion about our We live in a pluralistic society that can give rise to confusion about our

Catholic identity.Catholic identity.• Christian and non-Christian faith communities are part of our everyday Christian and non-Christian faith communities are part of our everyday

lives.lives.• Our Catholic faith can easily become marginalized in contemporary Our Catholic faith can easily become marginalized in contemporary

society.society.• We live in a world in which many values and trends actively compete for We live in a world in which many values and trends actively compete for

our faith and trust.our faith and trust.• Value systems such as humanism, hedonism, agnosticism, and atheism Value systems such as humanism, hedonism, agnosticism, and atheism

present themselves as systems of belief and non-belief worthy to be the present themselves as systems of belief and non-belief worthy to be the foundations of human life.foundations of human life.

• Atheism, agnosticism, humanism, and hedonism are false creeds that Atheism, agnosticism, humanism, and hedonism are false creeds that focus our attention in the wrong places and lead us astray in our search focus our attention in the wrong places and lead us astray in our search for true happiness.for true happiness.

• Living a life based on faith in God is the true source of seeking meaning Living a life based on faith in God is the true source of seeking meaning and happiness in life.and happiness in life.

• The Catechism of the Catholic Church presents the essential teachings The Catechism of the Catholic Church presents the essential teachings of the Catholic faith authoritatively, systematically, and of the Catholic faith authoritatively, systematically, and comprehensively.comprehensively.

• The source of the teachings of the Catholic faith is Sacred Scripture and The source of the teachings of the Catholic faith is Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. They both pass on divine Revelation.Sacred Tradition. They both pass on divine Revelation.

• Our official Church teachers, which are called the Magisterium of the Our official Church teachers, which are called the Magisterium of the Church, authentically interpret and pass this revelation on to us.Church, authentically interpret and pass this revelation on to us.

The four main parts, pillars, or foundations of

the Catechism are:• The Profession of Faith The Profession of Faith

(The Creed)(The Creed)

• The Celebration of the The Celebration of the Christian Mystery Christian Mystery (Worship: Liturgy and (Worship: Liturgy and Sacraments)Sacraments)

• Life In Christ (Moral Life In Christ (Moral Living)Living)

• Christian PrayerChristian Prayer

II. What difference does having faith in God make in a person’s

life? • We are constantly seeking happiness We are constantly seeking happiness

and grasping for salvation. Yet so often and grasping for salvation. Yet so often people are looking in all the wrong people are looking in all the wrong places.places.

• “ “ True happiness is not found in riches True happiness is not found in riches or well-being, in human fame or power, or well-being, in human fame or power, or in any human achievement-however or in any human achievement-however beneficial it may be-such as science, beneficial it may be-such as science, technology, and art, or indeed in any technology, and art, or indeed in any creature, but in God alone, the source creature, but in God alone, the source of every good and of all love” of every good and of all love” (CCC, 1723).(CCC, 1723).

III. Our Search for Happiness – Our Search for Our Search for Happiness – Our Search for GodGodSecularismSecularism: is a view of the world that focuses : is a view of the world that focuses exclusively on the natural world and holds that exclusively on the natural world and holds that the only means of knowing truth is through the the only means of knowing truth is through the

natural sciencesnatural sciences..• Modern forms of secularism: 1.Atheism: is the denial of the reality of

God. The word atheism has its roots in the Greek words a + theos, meaning “godless”

2.Agnosticism: claims not to believe in anything that cannot be verified by the senses. Claims that no one can know for sure whether there is a God or not.

Continuation…3. Secular humanism: makes humans the 3. Secular humanism: makes humans the

measuring rod of all existence, not God measuring rod of all existence, not God the Creator. It glorifies the human person the Creator. It glorifies the human person and human achievement to the point that and human achievement to the point that they exclude any religious faith.they exclude any religious faith.

4. Hedonism: is the worldview that 4. Hedonism: is the worldview that focuses on “pleasure” as life’s most focuses on “pleasure” as life’s most fundamental value. The acquisition of fundamental value. The acquisition of sex, money, possessions, and alcohol are sex, money, possessions, and alcohol are various examples of hedonism. various examples of hedonism.

• We believe that “by natural reason man We believe that “by natural reason man can know God with certainty, on the can know God with certainty, on the basis of his works” basis of his works” (CCC 50).(CCC 50).

IV. The Desire for God:• IV. IV. The Desire for GodThe Desire for God::• The human heart and mind direct us to God.The human heart and mind direct us to God.• God constantly seeks us and directs us to God constantly seeks us and directs us to

discover and develop a personal relationship with discover and develop a personal relationship with Him.Him.

• According to Saint Augustine, “You have created According to Saint Augustine, “You have created us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”restless until they rest in you.”

• We have an unquenchable thirst for happiness. We have an unquenchable thirst for happiness. We seek love and understanding.We seek love and understanding.

• Other things we seek such as possessions, Other things we seek such as possessions, pleasure, or prestige do not make us fully happy. pleasure, or prestige do not make us fully happy. We always seem to need more.We always seem to need more.

• Only God, who made us, can fulfill the insatiable Only God, who made us, can fulfill the insatiable hunger in our hearts for happiness, love, and hunger in our hearts for happiness, love, and understanding.understanding.

• Our inquisitive minds are in search of Our inquisitive minds are in search of truth. We want to know the answers to truth. We want to know the answers to such questions as: such questions as:

• What is the meaning of Life?What is the meaning of Life?• Why am I here?Why am I here?• Where am I going?Where am I going?• Where does the world come from?Where does the world come from?• What is worth living and dying for?What is worth living and dying for?• What happens at death?What happens at death?• God is the answer to all of these God is the answer to all of these

questions.questions.

Proofs or arguments people have used to explain their decision to believe in God:

1.1. The existence of countless The existence of countless religions-various sacrifices and religions-various sacrifices and rituals, prayers and meditations, rituals, prayers and meditations, beliefs and religious laws.beliefs and religious laws.

2.2. The beauty, immensity, and The beauty, immensity, and symmetry of the world – God symmetry of the world – God made all things and keeps them made all things and keeps them in existence. in existence.

3. The human search for and openness to truth 3. The human search for and openness to truth andand

beauty show that we have a spiritual nature.beauty show that we have a spiritual nature.• Spiritual activities such as loving, thinking, Spiritual activities such as loving, thinking,

choosing, understanding – can only have their choosing, understanding – can only have their origin in a spiritual being of infinite goodness.origin in a spiritual being of infinite goodness.

• We can love, even to the point of giving our We can love, even to the point of giving our lives for another.lives for another.

4. Personal experience points to the presence of a4. Personal experience points to the presence of a

“ “power” in our midst.power” in our midst.• By reflecting on our own experiences of awe By reflecting on our own experiences of awe

and wonder in the face of a beautiful sunset or and wonder in the face of a beautiful sunset or a newborn infant.a newborn infant.

• AiAimm: To explore God’s continuous presence : To explore God’s continuous presence with us.with us.

• ObjectiveObjective: How did God make Himself : How did God make Himself known?known?

• ActivityActivity: Journal Reflection #2: “In times : Journal Reflection #2: “In times past, God spoke in partial and various past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, He spoke to prophets; in these last days, He spoke to us through a Son, whom He made heir of us through a Son, whom He made heir of all things and through whom He created all things and through whom He created the universe, who is the refulgence of His the universe, who is the refulgence of His glory, the very imprint of His being, and glory, the very imprint of His being, and who sustains all things by His mighty who sustains all things by His mighty word.” (Hebrews 1:1-3)word.” (Hebrews 1:1-3)

Divine Revelation• Revelation:Revelation: God’s free gift of making himself known God’s free gift of making himself known

and giving himself to us by gradually communicating and giving himself to us by gradually communicating his won mystery in deeds and words. “Revelation is his won mystery in deeds and words. “Revelation is essentially God’s self-communication, an invitation essentially God’s self-communication, an invitation to enter a dialogue of friendship.”to enter a dialogue of friendship.”

··  Christians believe that God has walked and talked Christians believe that God has walked and talked

with us. with us. ··  That God has revealed himself to us.That God has revealed himself to us.• ··  That the fullest expression of God’s love and That the fullest expression of God’s love and

• communication to us is the gift of his Son, Jesus communication to us is the gift of his Son, Jesus • Christ. Christ.

• Stages of Revelation: God, from the very beginning, invited us to live in a covenant, or intimate communion, with Him. We call the story of God’s invitation and the human response to that invitation, “Salvation History.”

Salvation History begins with … …• 1st stage - God’s generous creation of the world and

our first parents, whom the creation story names Adam and Eve. After the disobedience of Adam and Eve, which is referred to as “Original Sin,” God remained faithful. God did not abandon humanity and continued to invite humanity to live in friendship and communion with Him. He promised to save us from our sin and redeem us, giving us hope of eternal life. God revealed this plan of salvation through a series of covenants.

•22ndnd stage - stage - NoahNoah: Sin shattered God’s original : Sin shattered God’s original plan and divided the unity of humanity into plan and divided the unity of humanity into many separated and even hostile peoples. many separated and even hostile peoples. Through a covenant with Noah, God reached Through a covenant with Noah, God reached out to a divided humanity. His purpose was to, out to a divided humanity. His purpose was to, ‘gather into one the dispersed children of ‘gather into one the dispersed children of God.” (John 11:52)God.” (John 11:52)

•33rdrd stage - stage - AbrahamAbraham: The covenant : The covenant established by God and the patriarch Abraham, established by God and the patriarch Abraham, the father of the Jewish people and our father the father of the Jewish people and our father in faith. God said, “I will maintain my covenant in faith. God said, “I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants after you with you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting pact, to throughout the ages as an everlasting pact, to be your God and the God of your descendants be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” (Genesis 17:7) The descendants of after you.” (Genesis 17:7) The descendants of Abraham were “called to prepare for that day Abraham were “called to prepare for that day when God would gather all His children into when God would gather all His children into the unity of the Church.” the unity of the Church.” (CCC 60)

• 4th stage - Moses and the People of Israel: After the era of the Patriarchs, God taught and guided His people through Moses. He revealed the Laws of the Covenant to Moses and the Israelites so that “they would recognize him and serve Him as the One, living and True God, the provident Father and just judge, so that they would look for the promised Savior.” (CCC 62)

• 5th stage - Prophets: Through Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and other prophets, God continued to unveil the mystery of his plan for us. The prophets spoke of the Messiah, who would come and establish a new and everlasting covenant in the hearts of all humans.

• 66thth stage - stage - Jesus ChristJesus Christ: The mediator : The mediator and fullness of God’s revelation. The and fullness of God’s revelation. The final Word of God, God’s own Son. He final Word of God, God’s own Son. He lived among us, teaching us in words we lived among us, teaching us in words we could comprehend and actions we could could comprehend and actions we could observe. He is the fullness of God’s observe. He is the fullness of God’s revelation. In Christ God has established revelation. In Christ God has established his covenant forever. To meet Jesus is to his covenant forever. To meet Jesus is to meet the Father and the Spirit. Jesus meet the Father and the Spirit. Jesus completed the Father’s plan of salvation completed the Father’s plan of salvation by means of His passion, death, by means of His passion, death, resurrection, and ascension.resurrection, and ascension.

Chapter One: Part 2Aim: To Explore Faith as a Response to God.Objective: What are the Qualities of Faith?

I. The Passing on of Divine Revelation: Today, God’s saving plan speaks to us through the

Sacred Scriptures and the Sacred Tradition of the Church. They are both a single sacred deposit of faith and are intimately

united to each other.A. Sacred Scripture: • Is composed of 73 books in total. (46 in the Old

Testament and 27 in the New Testament.) • It is the inspired written Word of God in which He

speaks to us in a human way.• Is written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. • It teaches the truth about God’s revelation to us.

This means that God is the author of Sacred Scripture.

• The Holy Spirit worked in and through the human authors.

• The Old Testament passes God’s revelation on to us through the Hebrews, or Israelites.

• The inspired writings of the Old Testament record a rich story of how ….– God rescued the Israelites out of Egypt, led them

to the Promised Land, and formed them into a nation and a religious community.

– This people grew to know and worship the one true God, despite their many failings to abide by God’s covenant.

– God’s magnificent love and faithfulness testify to His promise to save all of humanity by way of a Messiah, whom we believe is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became one of us.

• The New Testament passes on to us the revelation of God made known through Jesus Christ. The writings center on Jesus’ life and teachings and the faith of the early Christian community formed in His name.

• The New Testament Gospels….– Are the very heart of the Bible. – Provide the prime witness to the life and

teachings of Jesus Christ.• B. Sacred Tradition: Is the living transmission of

divine revelation through the community of God’s people, The Church.

Tradition hands on the Word of God which…..

• The Lord and Spirit gave to the Apostles.• The Apostles entrusted this deposit of Faith

to the whole Church. • The successors of the apostles (bishops and

pope), helped by the Holy Spirit, faithfully preserve, explain, and spread it throughout the world.– This Sacred teaching authority of the

Church is called the Magisterium from the Latin word magister, meaning “teacher.”

– We find this living Tradition in the Church’s teaching life, and worship.

II. Faith: Responding to God• We come to recognize and respond to God’s

revelation because of the gift of faith.• Faith is a gift from God. • It is “the realization of what is hoped for

and evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

• It calls us to a total life commitment to our loving God and to a resounding “yes” to the truths he has shared with us in Christ our Lord.

• The response is possible only by grace and the help of the Holy Spirit.

III. Qualities of Faith:

• Faith is grace: faith is God’s free gift to us. The Holy Spirit imparts the gift of faith to us. Because of faith we can believe God’s revealed truths because He Himself revealed them to us.

• Faith is a free, human act: no one is forced to embrace faith against his or her will. God invites us to freely respond and cooperate with His free gift of grace.

• Faith is certain: Faith is founded on the Word of God. It invites us to grow in and understand God’s word to us.

• Faith is the beginning of eternal life: faith is necessary for Salvation. When we cooperate with faith, we are on the right path to eternal life.

• Faith is a virtue, a power, and a good habit: Faith attracts and binds us to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in a relationship of love. It strengthens us to live with conviction, commitment, and trust in God’s love for us.

• We do not believe alone. Faith is more than the personal act of an individual believer.

• As a gift from God, faith comes through the Church.• “It is through the Church that we receive faith and

new life in Christ by Baptism.” (CCC168)• Believing, professing, and living our faith is an act

of the Church, the community of God’s people.• We are called to live and profess our faith as a

member of the People of God.• The Church professes its belief in the Creed.• A Creed is a statement of belief. The word creed is

derived from the Latin term “credere” which means, “to believe.”

• The Apostles’ Creed as well as the Nicene Creed are the two main creeds of the Church

IV. The Creeds of the Church:

• The Apostle’s Creed dates back to 390 A.D. The beliefs it summarizes are rooted in the beliefs passed on to us by the apostles.

• It is based on an early baptismal creed used in Rome in 2nd century A.D.

• It is rooted in Apostolic faith. • The Nicene Creed originated from two

important councils of the Church: The Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 and the First Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381.

• The Nicene Creed is professed at Mass.

• The substance of both Creeds include 3 fundamentals: – The almighty and eternal God created all that

exists.– Jesus Christ is the Son of God made flesh. Born of

the Virgin Mary, He died for our salvation and rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. He will come back at the end of time to judge the living and the dead.

– The Risen Lord sent the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Blessed Trinity, to give life to the Church. Through this one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, Christ gives us the grace we need to reach eternal life.

• When we say, “I believe,” we are making a personal act of faith.

• When we pray, “We believe,” we are professing our faith as a community of faith.