Unit 3 Flashcards
What are ecumenical councils?
Gathering of the Church’s bishops from around the world convened by the Pope
Ecumenical councils do what?
Develop the vocabulary and the process to express the depth, breadth, and meaning of sacred truths
Four things about the Council of Nicaea
- one of the most significant councils
- declared that Jesus is truly God
- declares that God the Son is “of the same substance as” God the Father
- countered Arianism
What did the Council of Chalcedon declare?
That Jesus has two natures: divine and human which are undivided and inseparable
What is a creed?
Summary statement of beliefs or a profession of faith
What is the Nicene Creed?
Summary statement of Christian belief that was originally formulated at the first council of Nicaea in 325 AD
Why is the Nicene Creed significant to Christianity? (4)
- statement of beliefs or profession of faith
- recited at mass
- how we respond in faith to the liturgy of the word
- creed bonds with one another and supports us on the journey of faith
What does the Nicene creed say about God?
- God is the beginning and end of everything
- God is creator, not created
- there is only one God
- God is Trinitarian
- God is almighty
Monotheism
Belief and worship in only one God
What do we recall when we begin our personal and communal prayer with the sign of the cross?
By the grace of baptism we are to share in the life of the Holy Trinity
The Holy Trinity is the most central _________ of our faith
Mystery
What is a mystery?
Specific doctrine or teaching revealed by God that is beyond human understanding
What do the mysteries of faith require?
Trust: confidence in someone or something
Faith: belief and loyalty to God
What is the Church’s understanding of the Holy Trinity?
- the trinity is one
- the three persons are distinct from one another
- the divine persons are intimately related to one another
What does the church mean by the Trinity is one?
- not three gods, but one God in three persons
- Father Son and Holy Spirit are all God—whole and entire
- there are not three separate consciousnesses, wills, or intelligences within God
What does it mean that the three persons are distinct from one another?
The father is not the son, nor the son the father
What does it mean that the divine persons are intimately related to each other?
The three persons are of one nature or substance
Who and what is the imminent trinity?
God the Father (Arche)- source of all being knowledge and love
God the Son (Logos)- the divine word
God the Holy Spirit (Pneuma)- love of the Father and Son breathed out
What is the theology of the imminent trinity?
- God’s inner life is considered to be the communion of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
- there is only one God
- when the trinity acts, the two other persons also act
- though the persons are distinct, they do not act apart from one another
What do we say about God when we profess him as our father?
- he is the source of all life
- he is all powerful and wants to be in an intimate, loving relationship with us
- all creations exists because of God
- we are his children
Why is the term “father” used for God instead of “mother”?
- identifies first person of the trinity with the second person (God the FATHER and God the SON)
- Jesus used the word abba, which means father
- addressing God as father helps us identify our relationship with him as parent-child
- arose from the patriarchal culture of that time
What does creation tell us about God?
- God creates from nothing
- God creates what he wants
- What God made is good
- God is greater than his works of creation
What does it mean that God created from nothing?
God didn’t use any preexisting thing or need any help to create
What does it mean that God creates what he wants
Creation is not left to fate or blind chance; God made his creatures because he wanted to share his being, goodness, and wisdom
What does is mean that God is greater than his works of creation?
God is outside of his creation, yet at the same time, he is present to it
What does it mean that God supports his creation?
God’s providence leads and guides us to our final end
What is true about the Holy Spirit?
- active since the time of creation, speaking to God’s people and anointing Jesus for his mission to redeem and save us
- has spoken though the prophets
- not fully revealed until after Jesus’ death and resurrection
The Holy Spirit proceeds from…
The father and the son
In the Old Testament, the spirit was…
The creative aspect of God
The Holy Spirit is the source of…
Inspiration and power
What are two jobs of the Holy Spirit?
- make God’s presence known in the community
- be an advocate who empowers and inspires
Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will come as a Paraclete. What is a Paraclete?
Someone on our side to help and strengthen us
What are common images of the Holy Spirit?
- wind
- Rays of light
- dove
- fire
What is the first and highest gift of the Holy Spirit (because it is the perfection of faith)
Wisdom
What’s does the gift of understanding allow?
Us to grasp, in a limited sense, the essence of the truths of the Catholic faith
What is counsel?
Perfection of the cardinal virtue of prudence; helps us judge how best to act by intuition
What is fortitude?
Gives us strength to follow through on actions suggested by the gift of counsel; virtue that helps martyrs allow themselves to suffer for their faith
What is knowledge?
The perfection of faith; allows us to see the circumstances of our lives the way God sees them
What is Piety!
A desire to worship God and serve him out of love
What is fear of the Lord?
Gives us the desire not to offend God, and the certainty that God will offer the grace we need in order to not offend him
