Unit 2: We Believe in the Holy Church

UNIT 2: WE BELIEVE IN THE

HOLY CHURCH

HOLINESS A holy person sees and responds to God

in both big and small ways. A holy person sees the possibilities for good in every situation.

When we are holy, we feel fully alive. When we are not holy, something in us is either dead or asleep.

CONT. Holiness is also a means to possess

divine power, spiritually pure, and God helps us grow in holiness.

6 ATTRIBUTES TO HOLINESS 1. Being called and calling others When we can make a difference in the

world, and we actually do make a difference

2. BELONGING AND INVITING OTHERS TO BELONG When we feel that we belong, we are

more likely to share our gifts and talents, reaching out to others and giving our best.

When we do this we are working at reaching our full potentials.

3. BEING NOURISHED AND NOURISHING OTHERS When we see what we can do and do it. When we see what we cannot do, we

place our trust in the Lord. When we get the strength and support

we need to live life to the fullest.

4. BEING FREED AND FREEING OTHERS Jesus offers people freedom and share

that freedom with others. He told us those who have been

forgiven to go and forgive others He tells us that if we wish to be forgiven

we must be willing to forgive

5. BEING HEALED AND HEALING OTHERS When we accept help and healing when

we need it and offer help and healing when we can.

God heals us in the ways that we need to be healed and to be holy means knowing when we need help and asking for it.

6. BEING FAITHFUL AND ENCOURAGING FAITHFULNESS IN OTHERS

Jesus tells us to love, to be faithful and committed to one another because he loves us all equally.

When we try to keep commitments and help others do the same

SUMMARY Everyone is called to holy. It is our choice if we choose to be holy. God created us with a combination of

gifts to make us different from others. By using these gifts, we help each other

belong, and reach our full potentials. We can only be holy by being ourselves.

8PT PARAGRAPH Thesis: Why are the 6 attributes of

Holiness important? OR Why do we want to be holy?

1. Pick 1 attribute in which you are strong in (provide 2 examples and 1 explanation)

2. Pick 1 attribute in which you are weak in (provide 2 examples and 1 explanation)

Conclusion

THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS An outward sign and/or action

representing God’s love and saving grace.

They are “living” encounters with God. “Sacramentum” is a Medieval Latin word

that means “oath,” coming from the Latin “sacra” (to devote) and “mentum” (-ment)

Any time we experience an event or thing through which we encounter God, can be considered a sacrament.

CONT. Sacraments are highly symbolic All the sacraments were instituted by

Christ Sacraments bring about what they

symbolize Ex. Baptism – symbolizes the soul being

cleansed of Original Sin at the same time God is making the cleansing happen

THE SIGNIFICANCE The Church celebrates these seven

events to show the different aspects of holiness.

These sacraments give us strength and courage as we try to become holy.

Every stage of Christian life touches upon one of these sacraments.

CONT. Some adults have not participated fully

in all seven sacraments, or have stopped focusing on growth in their faith, this results in their retention of a childish faith.

You need to learn and reflect to grow in your understanding of the faith.

IT NEEDS TO DEVELOP LIKE YOUR MUSCLES!

SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION 1. Baptism 2. Eucharist (Communion) 3. Confirmation

SACRAMENTS OF SERVICE Holy Orders Matrimony

SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Reconciliation (Confession) Anointing of the Sick (Last Rites)

INITIATION These are the starting points for our lives

as Christians. They welcome people in the community

of the Church. They are entering a covenant with God They must promise to love God and

God’s people They must accept forgiveness and forgive They must reach out to all those that are

in need You are expected to give something to it.

SIGNS AND SYMBOLS OF INITIATION Water – main symbol of baptism; sign of

cleansing, renewal, death and rebirth; sign of immersion into God’s life as expressed in JC.

White Garment – given to a person after he or she comes out of the waters of baptism to mean that the person is now “clothed in Christ.”

CONT. Light – sign that Christ brings light to

the life of a baptized person. The Laying of the Hands – signs of the

gift of the HS; represents the sharing of love, strength, support, and encouragement.

CONT. Oil – sign of strength, beauty, health and

healing; sign of abundance and joy. Bread and Wine – sign of our thanks and

of our wish to offer ourselves to God; sign of God’s faithfulness.

BAPTISM This washes away Original Sin which

was committed by Adam and Eve. This is the first introduction to the

Catholic faith. Christ has called his death and

resurrection, his baptism. This is the plunging into death and

resurrection of Christ

CONT. Baptism is usually initiated by the

parents on behalf of their child. God parents are chosen to help raise the

child in the Catholic faith. Baptismal promises are made by

parents and God parents for us. The promises are renewed each year at

the Easter Vigil

EUCHARIST This is when we receive the body and

blood of JC. When we take part in the Eucharist we

do 3 things: 1. celebrate God’s abundant love and

faithfulness 2. we offer all that we are and all that

we do to God 3. We commit ourselves to care for and

be at peace with one another

CONT. The Eucharist reenacts the Last Supper,

when JC sat down with his Apostles. This sacrament involves

transubstantiation where the bread and wine turn into the body and blood of JC.

This is not symbolic as Catholic we believe that the wine and bread actually do become the body and blood of Christ.

CONT. 2 Consecration is when Christ is actually

made present through transubstantiation.

There have been points in history where the Lord has actually been made present in the Blessed Sacrament.

CONT. 3 Many Eucharistic miracles have

occurred during times of weakened faith Many have taken place a result of

someone not believing that Christ is actually present

CONFIRMATION Is when the candidate is accepted into

the Catholic faith as an adult and when the Holy Spirit comes to us to strengthen the gifts that we received at baptism.

It means that the candidate is fully aware of the full responsibilities of being a Christian and that they accept Christ and His teachings.

This usually occurs during the Easter season

CONT. Candidates are referred to as

Catechumenate They choose a sponsor, who is a person

that they know and respect to help them in their journey through the Catholic faith.

The word sponsor comes from the same root as “responsible, someone who guarantees or promises.”

CONT.2 This person will travel with the

candidate on a journey to Christian maturity and will help the candidate to accept the gifts of the Holy Spirit and encourage the candidate to demonstrate the Fruits of the Holy Spirit in their family lives.

STEPS TO CONFIRMATION

1. the laying of the hands on the candidate is when the Holy Spirit is asked to enter the person

2. anointing of the candidates forehead in the sign of the cross with Chrism (olive oil with balsam blessed in a special mass) it is a symbol of strength and the “fragrance of Christ”

3. a sponsor places a hand on the shoulder of the candidate as a sign of spiritual support

CONT. 4. the Bishop administers the

sacraments because he is considered the successor to the apostles, who bore witness to Christ.