Redemption Flashcards
Lectern
Reading standard, from where Bible readings are given.
Lectern features
Readings from the Old Testament remind Christians how God has guided his people from the beginning, while readings from the New Testament tell Christians about Jesus’s actions and teachings.
As Jesus is the Word of God made flesh, Christ is truly present when the word of God is proclaimed
How were Catholic Churches built before 1965?
Facing east towards Jerusalem, as this is the city 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 against the east wall - before 1965 the Mass was said by the priest in Latin, who’d speak quietly and with his back to the audience,so people attending Mass didn’t feel involved in his service
After 1965, how were Catholic Churches built:
To ensure as many people as possible can see and join in with the Mass
With the altar more towards the centre of the church, and seats for the congregation some/all the way around the altar
Main purposes of church(for Catholics):
1) To provide a space where they can meet to worship together. Mass is centred around the altar, so the altar should be the central focus of the church.
2) To provide a space for individual prayer. This means that the church should provide a quiet, peaceful space inspiring people to pray to God
Most important service in Catholic worship
Mass
What images inspire Christians to reflect on Jesus’s suffering
Images like the Stations of the Cross
Features churches have to help and inspire worship
Statues of saints
Stations of the Cross
Side chapels
Significance of side chapels in church
Side chapels are smaller areas where believers can pray in a quiet place
Altar
Place of sacrifice, from where the bread and wine are offered to God at Mass
Features of altar
During the consecration this offering joins with Christ’s offering of himself to the Father through his death on the cross, and the Bread and Wine becomes the Body and Blood of Christ.
Christ is truly present on the altar, offering himself to the Father on behalf of humanity
Main parts of a Catholic Church
Lectern
Crucifix
Altar
Alternative uses to altar(to emphasise the Last Supper and Jesus’s crucifixion)
A table
How a table remembers the Last Supper and Jesus’s crucifixion
Using a table of Mass is a reminder for how at the Last Supper, Jesus gave himself to his disciples in the form of bread and wine, showing he was giving them a suare in the effects of his sacrifice.
Alternatives to crucifix
Cross
Risen Christ
Cross symbol
A cross without the figure of Christ on it.
Cross significance
Christ not being on the cross a symbol of his victory over sin and death.
Christians wary about portraying Jesus through art may prefer to use a cross.
Risen Christ significance
Focuses on Christ, as the risen, glorified Saviour.
Reminds Catholics in Holy Communion, they receive the Body, Blood,Soul and Divinity of the Risen Christ
Original sin
The Catholic Church teach all people are born with the inbuilt tendency to commit sin
Significance of Jesus’s death, resurrection and ascension
Restored relationship between God and humans that had been broken by sin - life after death possible
Jesus’s resurrection helped to restore the harmony of creation.
Jesus’s resurrection and ascension helped restore cosmic order, making the whole of creation as perfect as God intended it to be.
Evidence Jesus’s resurrection is of central importance to the Christian faith
“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”1 Corinthians 15:17
Significance of Jesus’s ascension
Shows Jesus is with the Father, sharing his glory for all eternity.
Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, he promises to spend his Spirit to all people- Jesus continues to work in through his believers.
Jesus’s ascension gives believers faith they’ll also go up to heaven
Quote showing Jesus continued to show love even in his death and burial
Luke 23:34- he forgave his executioners
Significance of Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection(for the dead before him)
Christians believe when Jesus died and was buried he joined everyone who had died before him, showing God’s with Christians even in death.
When Jesus was resurrected, all those who’d died before had rose up to heaven with him.
Salvation-
People saved from sin and eternal separation from God
What do Catholics believe about salvation
Catholics believe while Jesus’s death and resurrection defeated the ultimate power of sin, people still have to resist the temptation to sin and accept forgiveness when they do sin. This means they believe salvation is an ongoing process. Christians believe the Holy Spirit guides peiple to work towards salvation.
Beliefs about salvation in the future
Salvation will be completed at the end of time when the Kingdom of God is fully established, as the power of sin and death will be completely destroyed and believers can share in the glory of Christ and joy of heaven.
Christian views about salvatioh in the past
Some Christians believe nothing else is needed for salvation: Jesus’s death and resurrection made salvation complete.
Heavenly banquet
The victory celebration that will happen when salvation is complete- everyone in heaven joining for a meal
How does the Mass inspire salvation?
The Mass inspires Christians to work towards salvation in their everyday lives by giving them a chance to experience what the heavenly banquet will be like.
Jesus as the example
Mark 14-15 shows Jesus knew how much suffering his crucifixion would cause him, but he still went through with it to show obedience to God,
Jesus as the restorer
Mark 15 tells how, after Jesus died, in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem the vell that separated the holiest part of the Temple from the rest tore in two, showing Jesus’s death broke the barrier between God and humanity.
Jesus as the victor
Mark 15 shows how Jesus was victorious over the pain, suffering and death as a human due to bringing the presence of God into these experiences.
Where is redemption due to the resurrection, ascension and coming of the Holy Spirit shown?
John 20:1-18
Acts 1:6-11
Acts 2:1-4
John 20:1-18 teachings on redemption
When Jesus first appeared to Mary after his resurrection, she didn’t recognise him immediately. This suggests Jesus, while physically present, was also different, entering a new creation, showing the idea redemption changed creation to make it more perfect.
Acts 1:6-11 teachings on redemption
After Jesus ascended into heaven, two angels told the disciples he would return in the future, showing Jesus will complete the redemption of the world at the end of time with sin and death completely defeated.
Acts 2:1-4 teachings on redemption
On the day of Pentecost(fifty days after his resurrection), the apostles were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, giving them the courage to teach people about Jesus for them to accept his redemption.
St Irenaeus tree metaphor
Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the tree, breaking humanity’s relationship with God, but Jesus obeyed God by dying on the tree, restoring humanity’s relationship with God.
Tree of knowledge of good and evil brought death, separating humans from God, while the tree of the cross offered the possibility of eternal life in heaven to all people.
St Anselm metaphor
In the slave trade, a slave could be freed if someone paid a ransom to their owner,After the fall of Adam and Eve, humans became slave to sin and Jesus atoned for this by showing total obedience to God, which paid a ransom for all humans to be freed by the effects of sin.
St Irenaeus metaphor strengths
Strengths:Helps to show the parallels between the fall of Adam and Eve and Jesus’s death
Weaknesses:
Not all Christians agree with St Irenaeus’s interpretation of the story of Adam and Eve
St Anselm metaphor strengths and weaknesses
Strengths:
Reflects ideas many Christians see themselves as slaves/servants to Christ rather than sin
Weaknesses:
Not clear who the ransom’s paid to, implies to Christians of someone being greater than God
Catholic Church teachings on conscience
People shouldn’t ignore what they believe God is telling them in their hearts.
Natural law means all people instinctively know what the right thing to do is
Listening to others helps a person understand the effects of their actions, as well as to be confident they’re interpreting their conscience correctly
Offertory
The bread(hosts) and wine brought to the altar by members of the congregation as signs of thanksgiving
What do Catholics when they gather at the start of Mass?
That Christ is present among them when they gather together.
Readings
Two readings at least are given from the Bible, with one always taken from the Gospels
Eucharistic Prayer key features
During the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest repeats the words Jesus said at the Last Supper.
To command to eat and drink enables Christians to share in Jesus’s offering made to God on the cross.
At the end of the prayer, Jesus is truly present in the Bread and Wine.
Communion
When Catholics receive the Body and Blood of Christ
Why do Catholics believe the Mass is the summit of Christian life:
The offering of Christ on the cross is the highest form of prayer to God: as the Mass re-enacts Christ’s sacrifice, it’s the highest form of prayer for a Christian
The Mass celebrates and re-enacts the most important event in Christianity,
Why is rhe Mass source of Christian life?
Christ’s Body and Blood gives life to the soul, just as normal food gives life to the human body.
Orthodox Christians beliefs on Eucharist
Like Catholics, they believe Christ is fully present in the consecrated Bread and Wine
Differences to Catholicism:
The Eucharist is celebrated with the community, a Catholic priest can say Mass on his own
The consecration takes place behind the iconostasis - a screen dividing the holy part of the church from the congregation
Anglican Christians beliefs on Eucharist
Christ is spiritually present but the Bread and Wine don’t literally become the Body and Blood of Christ.
Quakers and Salvation Army understandings of the Eucharist
These groups don’t celebrate any form of Eucharist.
They don’t practise the sacraments as they believe the whole of life is a sacrament.
They believe Christ is present through the Spirit, who inspires their prayers and actions.
Nonconformist Christians on Eucharist
The Eucharist is a memorial of the Last Supper(purpose to remember Last Supper and its importance)
Christ present in particular in the Bible’s readings
Christ enters people’s lives when they receive communion.
The words of institution
The words Jesus said at the Last Supper and when these words are said in the consecration of the hread and wine, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ.
Words said in Last Supper/Eucharistic Prayer
“This is my body, which shall be given up for you”
“This is the chalice of my blood”
Agnus Dei
Prayer said shortly hefore Communion, refers to the Jews’ escape from Egypt as God ordered each Jewish household to kill and eat a lamb, which saved them from being killed by the Angel of Death.
Significance of Agnus Dei
Jesus is the new Lamb of God, because the sacrifice of his death saved humanity from the ultimate power of sin and death
Eucharist Adoration
A short service in which the real presence of Christ is adored and praised, not part of Mass
Benediction
A service where the consecrated Bread is put on display in a monstrance and lifted by the priest(congregation kneel to show respect, also where Eucharistic adoration is shown. The smoke coming from incense as it’s burnt symbolises prayers/smoke going to God.
How do Catholics believe Christ is present in the Mass:
1) The consecrated bread
2) God’s word(Bible readings)
3) The priest(acts in persona Dhristi)
4) The worshippers, as the Body of Christ(the Church)
