Triune God Flashcards
What are the key beliefs in the triune God?
- only one God
- within one god there are three persons: the father, the son, and the holy spirit
- three persons are all God
- three persons are equal but not same
- The trinity is a mystery
What is a quote from deuteronomy 6:4 showing the belief in one god?
” The lord is one”
What were John the Baptist’s aims?
- prepare people for coming of Messiah
- wanted people to publicly promise to be a better person
- wanted people to repent
Why was John the Baptist important to Christianity?
- first formal indicator that messiah was coming
- baptised Jesus
What was heard when Jesus came from during his baptism?
- God was heard saying, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased”
Why was Jesus’ baptism important?
- shows God is three persons - father, son, and holy spirit
- three persons are separate yet united
- Jesus realised he was son of God
- beginning of sacrament of Baptism
Quote from Galatians 4:6 on Baptism?
“Because you are children of God, God has sent the spirit of his Son into your hearts”
What didnearly Christians do for the Sacrament of Baptism?
- Jesus ordered apostles to baptise followers
- early christians baptised by being submerged under water
- symbolises joining with Jesus after his death
- rising out of water symbolises Jesus’ resurrection - starting new life as christian
What is the importance of Catholic Baptism?
- person becomes member of Catholic Church
- original sin cleansed
- person joins with Jesus’ death and resurrection
- God promises person will join in heaven after death
Why don’t Quakers accept Baptism?
- don’t regard some activities as more sacred than others, nor do they believe that any particular ritual is needed to get in touch with God, so they don’t believe in sacraments practiced
- Don’t believe bible is word of God
What are examples of Magisterium teachings?
- doctrine of incarnation
- sex before marriage is wrong
What is apostolic authority?
- the belief that Jesus gave 12 apostles authority to lead Catholic church
- “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church” Matthew 16:19
What happened at Pentecost?
- apostles received special power (charisma) from Holy Spirit to use for good of the church
- pope and bishops are part of unbroken direct chain going back to 12 apostles and Jesus
Why do the pope and bishops hold councils?
- to discuss important issues
- make decisions and new teachings
Why are Catholics expected to take magisterium teachings teriously?
- authority has come from Christ himself
- Magisterium is guided by God to make correct teachings
What does infallible mean?
- When a pope makes an official doctrine, he can choose to declare it infallible - meaning it cannot be wrong
What is the Nicene Creed?
- statement of Catholic beliefs
- recited today
- originally from council of Nicaea, 325 CE
What are the key teachings from the Council of Nicaea
- Son is eternally begotten from the father. Begotten - to bring something of the same nature about
- son is consubstantial with the Father - made of same substance as father - no difference in nature and both eternal
What are the main teachings of the Council of Constantinople?
- Jesus is fully human and fully god
- Holy Spirit is third person of the trinity
What does St Augustine add to our understanding of the trinity?
- Love can’t exist on its own (needs a person who loves, a person who is loved, and the love itself)
- So father and son love each other
- Holy spirit is love that unites father and son
- trinity is three persons united in love
- Holy spirit pours gods love into hearts of believers
What are the differences Augustine and LaCugna added to our understanding
Augustine - inner relationship of trinity is essential
LaCugna - outward effects are important (heaven)
What is mission?
- sending people out to help others through charity work
Why do the Catholic Church send missionaries?
- to work with people in poverty by providing medical care, education etc
What is evangelism?
- preaching love of God to others
- evangelists want others to experience joy, peace, and love they experience as Christians
What are some quotes on evangelism and mission?
- “If you see charity, then you see trinity” - St Augustine
- “Those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also” - John 1 4:20
What is prayer?
- When we open our heart and mind to God
What is traditional prayer?
- Prayers passed down over generations
- Our Father, Hail Mary
What are the strengths of traditional prayer?
- familiar words and phrases brings comfort to people who want to focus on God
- prayers already have words laid out
- useful at times when people don’t feel like praying but know it is most important
What is spontaneous prayer?
- done suddenly or without any set format, involves choosing own words to say
What are the strengths of spontaneous prayer?
- Believed it comes from heart and reflects how the person is feeling
- more sincere than traditional prayer as it reflects persons individual relationship
What are the Psalms Music used in the Liturgy?
- Book of poems praising God
- Often set to music during worship/mass
- Makes us feel holy, reflective
- e.g The Lord is My Shepherd
What is plainchant?
- Ancient form of song from 100CE
- Unaccompanied by musical instruments
- Latin
- Male voices only and limited range of notes
- Ceates a sense of mystery, peaceful
- E.g. Our Father, Hail Mary
What are traditional hymns?
- Religious songs used by generations
- Accompanied by an organ
- Makes people feel more involved/ part of a community
- It can be uplifting
What is contemporary worship?
- Modern worship songs used since 1960s
- Uses modern instruments
- Uplifiting, lively
- Encourages youth to enjoy mass
- E.g. Here I Am to Worship
What are mass settings?
- Parts of mass that should be sung not said
- Simple contemporary melodies
- Encourages youth and anyone can join in
- E.g. Alleluia, The Gloria
Why is music important in worship?
- Brings us closer to God
- Expresses God’s greatness
- Makes worship more beautiful, joyful or solemn
- Unites people - gives a sense of community
- Creates a sense of mystery… of God’s presence
- Helps us feel involved
What is the eucharist?
“Thanksgiving” to God
What are the acclamations?
Statements which praise God with great enthusiasim
What is the Sanctus?
Hymn praising God’s holiness
What is consecration?
The bread and wine becoming the body and blood of christ
What are the key points of the Gloria?
- Hymn praising God’s glory and greatness
- Aims to convey thankfulness to God for his care and love
- Many different versions
- Not said during Advent and Lent
What are the key points of the Sanctus?
- Hymn praising God’s holiness
- Repetition of ‘holy’ three times reminds us of Triune God
- Said or sung before Eucharistic prayer
- Not used during Advent and Lent
What are the key points on the alleluia?
- Hymn of joy and triumph
- Greets christ as word of God
- Not used during Lent
- Said or sung to introduce Gospel of every mass
What are the key points of the mystery of faith?
- Said immediately after consecration
- Recognises mystery that Jesus is present through consecration
- Said or sung wholeheartedly
- Recognises that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection shows the depth of God’s love for all people
What are the different postures during prayer and what do they show?
- With joined hands - sign of asking, request for help from God
- With open hands - sign of praise and acceptance of all that God will send
- Sitting - believer is prepared to listen to God from a position in which no physical discomfort will distract them
- Standing - Shows respect for the authority of God and acceptance that God has permitted that person to be there
- Bowing - shows believer reveres God and acknowledges God to be great
- Genuflecting - sign of respect, acknowledgement of Christ’s presence
- Kneeling - The person is submissive to the will of God
- Standing with arms raised above head - praise of greatness of God, focuses on God in heaven
