The Magisterium Flashcards
What is The Magisterium?
•The Council of the Catholic Church made up of the Pope and the bishops given the gift of the Holy Spirit to help make right decisions and understand the word of God
•They give answers to modern day issues that may not have existed when the Bible was written
Why do Catholics believe in the Magisterium?
•”you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church”-Catholics believe the Pope continues the succession of St Peter and the bishops continue the work of the disciples giving them connection to Jesus’ teachings and authority over others
How does belief in the Magestiruum influence a Catholic’s life?
Catholics Christians will look to the teachings of the Magisterium to fully understand the message of God in our everyday lives
What is the ordinary magisterium?
•The day to day role of the Pope and the Bishops
•They write letters and share teaching to with the Church to encourage faith or give instructions
•e.g. Pope Francis wrote an open letter to the world called Laudato Si where he said “care for our common home”
How does the ordinary magisterium impact a Catholic’s life?
They become inspired by such letters and teachings to make positive changes such as helping the environment through recycling
What is the extraordinary Magisterium (conciliar)?
•This is when the bishops and the Pope meet as the general council and explore big issues in the life of the Church
•Hence the name, this type of Magisterium does not happen very often
•e.g.in the 1960s they met up at the Vatican as the Pope wanted to “throw open the windows of the Church” as it was seen to be separate from the world and other religions
What is the extraordinary magisterium (pontifical)?
•A rare form of extraordinary Magisterium where the Pope makes his own declarations
•Here, the Pope makes a teaching “ex cathedra” which means “from the throne of Peter”
•The Pope is believed to continue the succession of Peter and meaning he teaches without error when it comes to matters of faith and morality
How does the belief in the extraordinary magisterium influence a Catholic’s lives?
Catholics may rely on the teachings of the Pope and the Bishops for a source of doctrinal guidance
