Mission Of The Catholic Church Flashcards
What is the mission of the Catholic Church?
- Spread the Word of God.
- Baptise people into the Catholic Church.
- Teach Christ’s teachings to all.
Give some generic examples of Jesus’ teachings:
Sacrifice, To always have faith in him, Love thy Neighbour, Forgivness, Selflessness, Courage, Respect, Peace, Honesty
What is a Catholic Priest?
A priest is an ordained religious leader of the clergy who has been appointed by the bishop and received the Sacrament of Holy Orders, and can now be in Persona Christi.
What is the ceremony during which someone bedomes a priest?
Ordination
What do Catholics beleive happen to priests when they are ordained?
His soul undergoes a change and he is
forever marked as a priest.
True or False:
Catholics only accept men to be priests.
True
What are the two promises that a priest makes during his Ordination?
- Obedience to the local bishop
- A promise to remain celibate (meaning he will not marry or have sexual relations) so that
he can dedicate himself to serving God.
What does giving up marriage and family symbolise?
It is a powerful sign to the world that Jesus Christ is worth living for and sacrificing for.
Most priests become parish priests, but what may some priests choose to become?
Some priests choose to be educators working in schools, colleges and universities and others become missionaries (they go to other countries to promote Christianity). Some choose to become monks.
The priesthood is not simply a job to be carried out, but what else does this unique position include?
It involves an invitation from God (a calling) to serve God and others.
The priest acts “in the person of Christ’ – what happens during the Eucharistic Prayer which represents this?
He speaks in first person, and recites Jesus’ words of the Last Supper, for example when he says, “This is my body, given up for you.”
Do priests get paid?
Yes, parish priests get a modest monthly salary from the parish as well as their meals and
accommodation. Priests live simple lives as they do not have a family, but their salary
enables them to buy necessities like a car, clothes, books, computers, TV and so on.
What do priests do for fun?
A priest can do anything he wants for fun, as long as it is in line with a Christian life. Many
priests play golf, basketball and numerous other sports. Most priests enjoy movies, plays,
reading and every other imaginable entertainment.
How do you become a priest?
After being accepted as a candidate, the potential priest goes to a special training college called a seminary for between six and nine years (depending on his educational
background) to prepare for the priesthood.
During his time in the seminary, what undergraduate degrees may a priest take?
Philosophy, Theology or Ethics, as it is important that he is at least as well educated as the people he serves.
How does a man truly know that he has a calling to the priesthood?
The only way to really know that you have a calling to the priesthood is to go to the seminary and try out.
What qualities might a potential priest need?
A good candidate for the priesthood is a practicing, believing Catholic who attends Mass at least weekly, prays every day, obeys God’s commandments, and tries to serve others. He
must be mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy and open to serving God and willing to
learn and grow.
Why do you think the Catholic Church will not allow women to be priests?
According to the Catholic Church’s doctrine/theology, priests are supposed to represent the likeness of Jesus, who is a male figure. Therefore, they believe that women aren’t suitable to act ‘in Persona christi’.
What are monks and nuns?
Monks and nuns are people who commit themselves fully to religious life.
How does the lifestyle of monks and nuns look like?
They live very simple, humble lives,
What is the word used to describe the action of living in an ancient and simple lifestyle?
Monasticism
What gender do the words ‘monks’ and ‘nuns’ refer to?
‘Monk’ refers to men, whilst ‘nun’ refers to female monastics.
Monks and nuns were amongst which group of people during the Middle Ages?
The most educated people
Monks are found in many different religions - give some examples?
Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism
True or False:
A monk may or may not also be a priest.
True
What is a monastery?
A monastery is a building in which monks live in a community.
What is a convent?
A convent is a building in which nuns live in a community.
Monstaries and convents usually have a dedicated place for prayer and worship, including:
A church, chapel, or temple.
What other places may a monastery/convent have other than a place of worship?
Dormitories, cloisters, a dining room, a library and an infirmary.
What is a domitory?
A large bedroom for a large group of people.
What are cloisters?
Enclosures with covered walkways.
What is ain infirmary?
A small hospital
What is Catholic monasticism based upon?
The rules of St Benedict, who is considered as the founder of monasticism in the West of the world.
When was St Benedict born, and when did he pass away?
480-547 CE
Monks ans nuns choose to belong to one of two orders - what are these?
Contemplative or Apostolic
What does a contemplative order involve?
A contemplative order involves living a hidden life of work and prayer, which can involve monks and nuns spending much of their day in silence, believing that one should not speak
unless it is necessary.
What does an apostolic order involve?
An apostolic order involves working in the community (often teaching, nursing, caring for the sick, poor or elderly).
Whichever order the join, all monks and nuns follow which laws and duties?
Whichever order they join, all monks and nuns follow the law of generosity (that they should always help others) and all have a duty to pray, meditate and work every day.
What promise do monks and nuns make to be commited to monastic life?
Monks and nuns make a promise to be committed to monastic life, entailing ‘death to the self and worldly matters and life to God’. They commit themselves to the monastery until death, at which point they will be buried in its cemetery.
What are the three vows that Catholic monks and nuns make:
Obedience, Poverty, Chastity
What is meant by monastic obedience?
The promise to obey Christ (represented by the senior member of the monastery).
What is meant by monastic poverty?
The monk oe nun cannot own anything
What is meant by monastic chastity?
The monk cannot have a sexual relationship nor get married.
What must a potential monk or nun must first become?
A postulant
What does being a postulant invlove?
This involves spending time living at the
monastery while not being bound by vows, and being free to leave at any time.
After being a postulant, what does the person then become?
After this period, the postulant becomes a novice monk or nun for around a year, during which time he/she begins to participate fully in the monastery.
After the novice takes temporary vows, do they make their permanant vows after a few years?
Yes, and these are bound to life.
What is a vocation?
A strong feeling of suitability or a ‘calling’.