Mission of the Catholic Church Flashcards
What are monks and nuns?
Monks and nuns are people who commit themselves fully to religious life.
What world religions have monks?
Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.
What is a monastry and convent and what can be found inside one?
A building in which monks live in a community and a convent is a building in which nuns live in a community. Inside there are places for prayer and worship such as a church chapel or temple, dormitories, cloisters (an enclosure with covered walkways), a dining room, a library and an infirmary (small hospital).
Who is comsidered to be the founder of monasticism in the west?
St. Benedict
What are the two religious orders a monk and nun can join?
Contemplative - involving living in a hidden life of work and prayer, which involves monks and nuns spending much of their day in silence, believing that one should not speak unless it is necessary.
Apastolic - involving working in the community (often teaching, nursing, caring for the sick, poor or elderly).
What three things do monks and nuns have a duty to do everyday?
Pray, meditate and work
What three vows are made by all monks and nuns?
Obedience, which is the promise to obey Christ who is represented by the senior member of the monastery.
Poverty, which is the promise that they will not own anything.
Chastity, whcih is the promise that they will not have any sexual relation or get married.
Before taking the final step to becoming a monk or nun, what three stages does the person go through?
- Becoming a postulant. This involves spending time living at the monastry while not being bound by vows and being free to leave at any time.
- Becoming a novice monk or nun. For around a year he/she begins to participate fully in the monastery.
- They then take temporary vows and then after a few years they make their perminant vows, which are binding for life.
What does a lay person mean?
A normal member of the Church (not ordained)
Plural = the laity
What is the role of a chaplain?
Perform religious services
Give religious and emotionsl support to others
Found in hospitals, prisons, schools, police, armed forced etc
Usually a lay person but may be a priest
May be Christian or from any faith
What is the role of a prison chaplain?
To support staff at the prison and support the prisoners through their time in prison.
What is poverty?
Poverty is not having enough money to meet basic daily needs.
What is Catholic Social teaching?
The belief that Christians have a responsibility to continue Jesus’ mission by calling for change in society and taking action to work for it. To help the poorest and weakest in society.
What is the aim of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP)?
To tackle poverty in all its forms through the provision of practical assistance to those in need. They provide a range of additional services such as furniture stores, support centres, providing accommodation to vulnerable people, disability projects, soup runs, children’s camps and various holiday schemes amongst others.
What is CAFOD?
It is the overseas development and relief agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
CAFOD works with people in the third world to tackle poverty and promote justice, and helps them get access to the resources they need to become self-reliant.
• CAFOD also helps people in England and Wales to understand the causes of third world poverty, and challenges the government and international organisations through campaigns to make sure their policies benefit people living in poverty.
• CAFOD works with people regardless of their religion, ethnic origin, gender or politics.
