Chapter 4- Redemption Flashcards
How do churches help Catholics to worship?
They provide a space where Catholics can meet together during the most important service of mass. They provide a space for individual prayer as the church is a quiet peaceful place that inspires people to pray for God.
The design and decoration of the church shows devotion to God and helps people feel that God is respected. Statues of saint encourage Christians to follow their examples. Images like the stations of the cross inspire christians to reflect on Jesus’ suffering. Side chapels provide a quiet space for believers to pray
Compare churches built before and after 1965
As a result of the second Vatican council there is a difference
Before 1965 churches were built: facing east towards Jerusalem where Jesus died and rose again. In the shape of a cross as a reminder of the cross on which Jesus died. With the altar on the east wall, Priest said service in Latin and had back towards the congregation
After 1965: mass said in language of country, altar more towards the centre of the church and seats for the congregation some or all the way around the altar- involved in the audience
What are the main features of the church?
Lectrun- where readings are given (at least two per mass), OT and NT, christ is truly present when the word of God is proclaimed, prominent place in the church so that people can see and clearly hear the word of God
Crucifix- model or image of the cross with Jesus on it, reminds christians of the suffering he had to go through, it inspires gratitude and love for all that Christ has done for humanity. Gratitude expressed in the Eucharist
Altar- place of sacrifice where the bread and wine are offered to God, the bread and wine becomes the body and blood of christ, christ is truly present on the altar offering himself to God on behalf of humanity. In return the father strengthens the lives and faith of the believers when they receive communion
Tabernacle- box where the consecrated bread is kept after the mass. Houses the real presence of christ so many Catholics like to pray in front of it, inspires a deep sense of peace reminds that Christ is still caring for them. Given to people who cannot attend mass so they can still reciebe holy communion
Differences between using an altar v table in mass
Altar: place of sacrifice and thanksgiving, most important altar is the cross, the congregation joins in with giving thanks for christ’s sacrifice. The use of the altar at Mass is a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice is being made again
Table: where food is eaten from, reminds the congregation of a reenactment of the last supper ,Jesus gave himself to his disciples in the form of bread and wine, giving his disciples a shared effect of the sacrifice. Reminder of this belief
Crucifix v cross v risen christ
Christians view Jesus’ death and resurrection as one event. However some Christians prefer to focus on one part of Jesus’s death and resurrection over the other. Hence why they might prefer to use either the risen christ, cross, or crucifix
Crucifix: Jesus on cross crucified, reminder of Jesus’ suffering enduring for the love of humanity. Helps christians to feel grateful for his sacrifice and love. Re-enacts the sacrifice of his death
Cross: cross without Jesus, symbol of Chris’s victory over death as he’s risen off the cross, emphasises his resurrection and that Christians should be people of new life
Risen Christ: focuses on christ as the risen glorified saviour. Emphasises Jesus’ resurrection and how important it was, reminds christians that during holy communion they receive the body blood and soul and divinity of the risen christ
Explain the relationship between sin and free will
God made all creation perfect but God also gave humans the gift of free will because God wants them to actively choose him rather than following him as they don’t have a choice. Sin has broken the relationship between God, humanity and the whole of creation so God the Son became Jesus to help the perfect relationship with God to be restored. Humans can use their free will to sin-any thought or action that rejects the will of God. Catholic church teaches that all people are born with the tendency to commit sin- inbuilt tendency called original sin
How does the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus restlre the relationship between God and humanity
Jesus’ death: Jesus lived his life in total obedience to the will of God the father. His death helped to restore the relationship between God and humans that had been broken by sin
Jesus’ resurrection: This destroyed the ultimate power of sin and death. And helped to restore the harmony of creation. Three days after his death he was brought back to life. People could overcome sin
Jesus’ ascension: helped to restore the cosmic order by making the world perfect . 40 days after his resurrection he rose to heaven
What is the significance of Jesus’ death and burial?
Jesus redeemed humanity through his total obedience to God and made up for the sins of humanity so people could be brought back to a relationship with God, through the sacrifice of his death. He continued to show love when he was suffering such as the way he forgave his executioners. When he died he joined everyone who had died before him and God is with everyone after they die
What is the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection?
Jesus’ resurrection made life after death possible by destroying the ultimate power of sin and death. When Jesus was resurrected all those who had died before him rose up to heaven with him,
What is the significance of Jesus’ ascension ?
Ascension shows that Jesus is with the father sharing his glory for all eternity. Jesus promised to send his spirit to all people to allow Jesus to work in and through his believers. Gives believers faith that they will be also raised to heaven, the whole of creation had been restored
Explain salvation in the present, past and future
In the past: Jesus’ death and resurrection were essential to humanity’s salvation and defeated the ultimate power of sin and death and made it possible for people to enter heaven after they died. Some people think this makes salvation complete
In the present: salvation is an ongoing process, sin still exists and people have the choice to accept salvation through Jesus by resisting the temptation to sin and accepting forgiveness when they sin
The Holy Spirit guides people to work towards salvation.
In the future: salvation will be completed at the end of time, when the kingdom of God is established, the power of sin and death will be completely destroyed. All persons will be able to experience the glory of Christ and the experience of heaven. Final victory of God’s grace
Explain redemption and salvation in the liturgy
Catholics believe that redemption is an ongoing process because Christ is offered again to the Father during mass. Christ’s offering of himself is reenacted. Catholics receive the body and blood of christ and christ enters their lives to give them grace and the strength to resist sin. This helps them get closer to salvation. The mass is a chance to experience the heavenly banquet and the mass inspires christians to worl towards salvation in their everyday lives
Explain Jesus and redemption
Jesus is sometimes described as the example, the restorer and the victor. This is because he set a good example for others to follow, he restored the relationship between God and humanity and he was victorious over the power of sin and death
Explain redemption
Redemption is an ongoing process that people have to be willing to accept. This idea is expressed in the passages in the Bible that describe the resurrection, accession and coming of the holy spirit
Explain St Irenaeus’ metaphor
The event that created the need for salvation is when Adam and Eve disobeyed God eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The event that helped to bring salvation is Jesus’ death on the cross. St Iraneus represents this with the tree of the cross. His metaphor explains the parallel between these events
Adam and eve disobeyed God by eating from the tree and their rejection of God broke humanity’s relationship with God and created death by separating humans from God
Jesus obeyed God by dying on the tree, and Jesus’ acceptance of God restored humanity’s relationship with God. The tree of the cross brought life by offering the possibility of eternal life in heaven to all people
