Unit 1 Flashcards
“to call out of”
Ekklesia
Community of faith
Church
The movement and activities which seek to promote religious unity within the Christian Church and among all people of the world
Ecumenism
Contact with the mystery of God; begins as a freely given gift from God
Faith
A statement of the Church’s beliefs issued at the first ecumenical council at Nicaea in 325 and later confirmed at the Council of Constantinople in 381
Nicene Creed
The first ecumenical council of the Church; resulted in the first Christian doctrine: the Nicene Creed
Council of Nicaea
A belief held and taught by the church
Doctrine
A central truth of the Church
Dogma
How is faith a human act?
It is a response to God’s gift; a surrendering of ourselves to God
How can faith begin?
- with a single life changing event
- may begin with the commitment of parents to raise their children in a way that is shaped by Christ
How can we nourish our faith?
- prayer
- study
- reflection
- regular reception of the sacraments
- the need to be exercised in loving action
Why do we need community in order to grow in our faith?
So we can grow in our faith and truly come to know and understand the God that is love
What are the formal structures of the Church?
- creeds
- doctrines
- rituals
What do the formal structures of the Church do for both individuals and communities?
establish, express, and maintain their identities as believers
Who defines and explains the formal structures so that individuals and communities of the church may understand them better?
The Church’s Magisterium
Why can faith and Church membership not be separated?
where the Church is, God is
What are the essential characteristics of Christ’s kingdom?
unity and true peace
Why don’t Catholics form new denominations whenever they have a disagreement?
we must remain together, challenging and submitting to one another out of love
Why is the Church one?
the unity in the Trinity of one God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Which of the Church’s structures support unity within the Church?
???
What is the relationship between the Church and the kingdom of God?
the Church is Christ’s partner in giving birth to the kingdom of God
T of F
The Church is holy because it is the Body of Christ.
T
What does holiness mean and what is it rooted in?
“to be set apart,” its roots are in God
What is idolatry?
the practice of honoring or revering a creature instead of God: satanism, power, pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, or money
What are the three aspects of Catholic faith and practice that give form to holiness?
- the moral teachings of the Church
- the evangelical counsels and the witness of those who live by them
- thee sacraments
What are the three evangelical counsels?
- poverty
- chastity
- obedience
T or F
The greatest witness to and support for holiness within the Catholic Church comes from dioceses and parishes in the celebration of the sacraments.
T
What are three things we are saying when we describe the Church as “Catholic?”
- she is for all people
- “the universal sacrament of salvation”
- it is whole or complete
What does the word “catholic” mean?
universal
To say that the Church is catholic, is to say it is ____________.
whole
What makes up the whole of Revelation?
- all of Scripture
- the teachings of the Apostles
- understanding and witness of Christians from all times and all places
one of the earliest Christian heresies that stresses the importance of secret knowledge passed on to a secret few
Gnosticism
What is the role of the pope?
- gives voice to the universal mission and vocation of the Church
- calls Catholics everywhere to remember their responsibility to all of God’s people
- remember that there are certain Church teachings which cannot be adapted to suit local culture
What does the word apostolic mean?
having been sent
Why is the Church called apostolic?
it has been sent into the world by Christ
What are the three ways the Church remains faithful to its apostolic nature?
- recognizing it is built upon the foundation of the Apostles who were appointed by Jesus
- following the guidance of the Holy Spirit
- accepting the continued guidance of the Apostles through their successors
the practice of blending all religions and faith traditions into one
syncretism
How does syncretism affect the Church in the first centuries?
the Church was enriched and challenged and new beliefs from different cultures were brought into Christianity
T or F
The scriptures cannot be directly applied to our language, culture and age without interpretation.
T
What is the bishop’s primary responsibility in a diocese?
interpreting and handing on the apostolic tradition within his own diocese and keep his diocese united with the universal Church
