Redemption Flashcards
How are Catholic churches useful for Catholics?
- They can worship together (particularly at Mass)
- Or they can pray alone
How does the design and decoration of Church help Christians?
- Helps to aid and inspire worship
- By encouraging Christians to reflect on God & on their faith
How do images help to aid & inspire worship?
- E.g. Stations of the Cross
- inspires Christians to reflect on Jesus’ sufferings
How do statues of saints help to aid & inspire worship?
- Inspires Christians to follow their examples
How do side chapels help to aid & inspire worship?
- Smaller areas where believers can pray in a quiet space
Why do churches built since 1965 place more emphasis on the position of the altar?
- Is the focal point of the Mass
How were pre-1965 Catholic churches built?
- facing east towards Jerusalem (city where Jesus died and rose)
- in the shape of a cross
- altar against east wall (however congregation didn’t feel involved as a result)
How are c.1965 Catholic Churches built?
- ensured that all congregation can join in with mass
- altar towards centre of church
What are the main features of a Catholic church?
- Lectern
- Altar
- Crucifix
- Tabernacle
What is the significance of the lectern?
- OT readings remind Christians how God has guided people from beginning
- NT readings tell Christians about Jesus’s life
- In a prominent place so congregation can hear the word of God
- Jesus -> Word made flesh -> Christ present in readings
What is the significance of the altar?
- Place of sacrifice -> where the bread & wine is offered to God
- Link to Christ’s sacrifice -> death -> bread & wine consecrated
- Christ present on altar -> offered to Father on behalf of humanity
What is the significance of the tabernacle?
- houses Real Presence of Christ -> Catholics like to pray in front of it
- inspires peace -> reminder that Christ is still caring for us
- host saved in tabernacle for those who are too ill to attend Mass
Why may some churches prefer to use an altar?
- Place of sacrifice & thanskgiving
- most important altar is the cross on which Jesus died -> link to consecrated bread & wine
Why may some churches prefer to use a table?
- Re-enacts Last Supper -> Jesus told disciples to eat Body & drink Blood (‘given up for you’)
- therefore Jesus was sharing his sacrifice w/ disciples -> table is a reminder of this belief
Why may some Catholics prefer to use a crucifix?
- Reminder of Jesus’s sacrifice -> for humanity -> therefore Catholics use as a sign of their appreciation
Why may some Catholics prefer to use a cross (without Jesus’s figure)?
- symbol of Christ’s victory over sin & death -> not on cross because he has risen
- preferable to use than religious art depicting Jesus
- emphasises resurrection & that Christians should be people of new life
Why may some Catholics prefer to use a ‘Risen Christ’?
- reminder of what Catholics receive in communion
- similar to the cross; emphasises importance of resurrection
What is the relationship between free will & sin?
- People can sin because God gave humans free will
- Catholic Church teaches original sin (all people are born bound to commit inbuilt sin)
- Sin broke the relationship between God, humanity & the whole of creation
How did Jesus’ death restore the relationship between God, humanity & creation?
- Jesus lived his life in total obedience to the will of God the Father
- Therefore this helped to restore the relationship between God & humans that had been broken by sin
How did Jesus’ resurrection restore the relationship between God, humanity & creation?
- Jesus showed total obedience -> stopped from going to hell
- Therefore his resurrection destroyed the ultimate power of sin & death & restored harmony of creation, in order to help people to overcome this in order to be w/ God after death
How did Jesus’ ascension restore the relationship between God, humanity & creation?
- 40 days after resurrected -> Jesus in heaven to take his place along God as Son of God
- Helped to restore cosmic order -> by making creation as perfect as God intended it to be
What do the four steps signify?
- That life no longer ends at death
- Hope that like Jesus that will resurrect and be eternal w/ God
What are the four steps that Jesus took to redeem humanity, relationship between God & the whole of creation?
- Death
- Burial
- Resurrection
- Ascension
What is the significance of Jesus’ death & burial?
- Death redeemed humanity (total obedience) -> continued to show love in suffering
- Christians believe when Jesus was buried he joined everyone who died before him -> therefore God is with us even in death
Give a quote to show how Jesus’s resurrection is central to faith
- “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” - 1 Corinthians 15:17
What is the significance of Jesus’ resurrection?
- Made life after death possible -> by destroying power of sin & death
- When resurrected those who died before Jesus rose to heaven w/ him
What is the Catholic significance of Jesus’ resurrection?
- Appeared to followers in a locked room -> proof that he had risen from dead
- For Catholics, resurrection accounts in Bible show the resurrection actually happened -> rather than myths in Genesis creation
What is the significance of Jesus’ ascension?
- Jesus is w/ Father -> glory shared for eternity
- before ascension Jesus promised to send his Spirit to all people
- gives believers faith that they will also be raised up to heaven (Jesus’ rising up w/dead, relationship restored)
Why is salvation possible?
- Jesus redeemed humanity through his death
What does salvation mean for Christians?
- Saved from sin & eternal separation from God
What are the focuses of liturgy in Mass?
- Redemption
- Salvation
What is the significance of salvation in the past?
- Jesus’ death & resurrection essential to humanity’s salvation (defeated sin & death)
What is the significance of salvation in the present?
- Catholics believe redemption & salvation are ongoing processes -> sin and death still exist (original sin) however can be overcome because of resurrection
- Holy Spirit therefore guides people to work towards salvation
What is the significance of salvation in the future?
- Salvation will be completed at the end of time
- sin and death destroyed when Kingdom of God fully established
- then all believers can share Christ’s glory & joy of heaven -> final victory of God’s grace
What is the significance of redemption & salvation in the liturgy?
- Catholic belief -> redemption ongoing -> because Christs offering to Father on cross is re-enacted in Mass
- Holy Communion -> Catholics receive Body & Blood -> nourishment of Christ for grace & resist sin -> closer to salvation
- Mass is a chance to experience heavenly banquet
What is the heavenly banquet?
- Celebration of complete salvation -> Everyone in heaven has a meal together -> therefore Mass inspires Christians to work towards salvation in everyday life
What is the difference between redemption & salvation?
- Redemption -> making up for everyone’s sins to bring humans back into relationship w/ God
- Salvation -> freedom from sin which allows humans to be w/ God eternally
Why is Jesus described as the example, restorer & victor?
- Set an example to follow
- Restored relationship between God and humanity
- Victory over sin & death
How does Mark 15 show Jesus as the example?
- Went through w/ crucifixion (obedience) -> example
How does Mark 15 show Jesus as the restorer?
- After death the temple veil that separates holy part of Church tore in two -> death broken down barrier between God & humanity -> restorer
How does Mark 15 show Jesus as the victor?
- presence of God during suffering as a human to become share victory of sin & death -> victor
How does John 20 reflect the resurrection, ascension and coming of the Holy Spirit?
- Mary didn’t recognise Jesus after he appeared to her post-resurrection
- Suggests he entered a new creation
- Reflects idea that redemption changed creation making it more perfect
How does Acts 1 reflect the resurrection, ascension and coming of the Holy Spirit?
- After Jesus ascended to heaven, two angels told the disciples he would return in the future
- Shows that Jesus will complete redemption when sin & death defeated at end of time
How does Acts 2 reflect the resurrection, ascension and coming of the Holy Spirit?
- On Pentecost (50 days after resurrection), apostles filled w/ power of the Holy Spirit
- Shows that the HS gave apostles ability to teach about Jesus -> so people can accept redemption
What is a metaphor?
- A word or phrase that is applied to something else to suggest the two things are similar
How does St Ireneaus use metaphors?
- Metaphor of a tree to compare the event that created the need for salvation (Adam and Eve disobeying eating from tree of the knowledge of good & evil)
- w/ the event that brought about this salvation (Jesus’ death) -> represented by a ‘tree’ of the cross in which Jesus obeyed God by dying on the tree that restored relationship & brought eternal life
How does St Anselm use metaphors?
- Compared Jesus’ death w/ idea of paying ransom to free a slave
- Anselm said after Adam & Eve, humanity became slaves to sin
- Only way to atone (make up) for this is by showing total obedience -> Jesus did the same -> equivalent to paying ‘ransom’
What are the strengths of St Irenaeus’ thoughts on salvation?
- Helps to show parallels between fall of Adam & Eve and Jesus’ death
What are the weaknesses of St Irenaeus’ thoughts on salvation?
- Not all Christians agree w/ Irenaeus’ interpretation of Adam & Eve
What are the strengths of St Anselm’s thoughts on salvation?
- Reflects idea that many Christians see themselves as slaves to Christ (now they are no longer slaves to sin)
What are the weaknesses of St Anselm’s thoughts on salvation?
- Not clear on who the ‘ransom’ is paid to
- Some Christians think this implies there is someone greater than God
What do Christians believe about conscience?
- Voice of God in their heart and soul
- Guides them to make the right choices
Give a quote to help explain the meaning of conscience
- “Conscience is the most secret core & sanctuary of a man… alone with God, Whose voice echoes in his depths… conscience reveals that law which is fulfilled by love of God & neighbour.”
- Shows that the Church believes conscience is the voice of God, which prompts people to show love towards others & obey God’s law
What are the two sides of conscience?
- Natural instincts (natural law -> Catholics instinctively do good & avoid evil)
- Conscience has to be ‘educated’ (Ability to do the right thing is only achieved with enough teaching from the Church)
What does the Catholic Church teach about conscience?
- people shouldn’t ignore what they believe God is telling them in their hearts
- natural law means that all people instinctively know what the right thing to do is
- listening to others can help a person to understand the effects of their actions in order to be confident in them using conscience correctly
What is Mass in terms of redemption?
- Mass is a re-enactment & celebration of Jesus’ death, through which humans are redeemed
- Through the Mass, Catholics believe that they are brought closer to Christ, accept redemption, and are given the power & grace to resist the temptation to sin
What are the most central points of the Mass?
- Gospel reading
- Eucharistic prayer
What happens during the start of Mass & what does it mean?
- Catholics apologise to God and each other for their sins
- Strengthens relationship w/ God & each other, as they accept that God has forgiven & redeemed them
What happens during the readings & what does it mean?
- At least 2 readings are given from the Bible, w/ one always taken from the Gospels
- Readings remind Catholics that God has guided his people
- Through the Gospel, Jesus shows in his words & actions how God loves, heals, restores & forgives all people
What happens during the start of the Eucharistic Prayer and what does it mean?
- Priest repeats words that Jesus said at the Last Supper
- Command to eat & drink enables Christians to share in Jesus’ offering made to God on the cross
What happens at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer & what does it mean?
- Jesus in now truly present in Bread & Wine -> ‘Do this in memory of me’ -> Eucharist reality and not past event
- Offered up to God the Father -> renewal of new covenant that restores relationship between God & humanity at Jesus’s death
What do Catholics believe about the ‘source’ in the “source and summit” of Christian life at Mass?
- offering of Christ on the cross is highest form of prayer to God
What do Catholics believe about the ‘summit’ in the “source and summit” of Christian life at Mass?
- Body & Blood give life to soul, just as normal food gives life to human body
- offering Sunday Mass is reflective of ‘keep holy the Sabbath day’, as it celebrates the day of resurrection
What do Orthodox Christians believe about the Eucharist?
- SImilar to Catholics (consecration)
- however different -> mass has to be celebrated with others unlike one priest alone -> emphasis on ritual -> consecration behind iconostatis (screen that divides holy part of church from congregation because consecration is too holy to be seen)
What do Anglican Christians believe about the Eucharist?
- some similar to Catholics (consecration)
- some not in belief of consecration
- universal belief that Christ is present
What do Quakers believe about the Eucharist?
- No celebration of Eucharist
- Belief that Christ present in Spirit, who inspires actions
- No sacraments as belief that whole life is sacrament
What is the Blessed Sacrament?
Christ is truly present in the consecrated Bread & Wine
What are the words of institution?
- words Jesus said at the Last Supper (e.g. “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you)
- bread & wine look the same but the reality of what they are changes -> e.g. ‘this is my body’ is said instead of ‘this symbolises my body’
- by taking Christ’s Body & Blood, his followers are able to share in the redeeming effects of his death & resurrection
What is Agnus Dei?
- prayer said shortly before communion (e.g. “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us…”
- Last Supper -> passover meal celebrating Jews’ escape from Egypt (God ordered Jews to mark doors w/ blood to save themselves of Angel of Death)
- Jesus is the new Lamb of God -> sacrifice of death -> Agnus Dei reminds Christians of this
What is Eucharistic adoration?
- belief of bread & wine shown in prayers & rituals used in Mass in the way the Blessed Sacrament is respected & honoured by Catholics
- some Catholics receive Communion on tongue rather than hand to remind them they are receiving Jesus
- Eucharistic Adoration shown in service of Benediction
What is the service of Benediction?
- service where consecrated Bread put on display in a monstrance (large holder)
- Real Presence of Christ praised & congregation blessed w/ Real Presence
