Unit 4 - Redemption

Question 1

Why did the Second Vatican Council decide that there needed to be revisions to Church Architecture?

Answer 1

They thought that the current layout excluded people too much and everyone should be invited into the Mass

Question 2

Give a quote that links to the church being the heart of the Catholic faith

Answer 2

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are a gathered in my name I shall be there”

Question 3

What were churches like before 1965?

Answer 3

1. Churches were built facing east towards jerusalem where Jesus taught, suffered and died
2. Masses were said mostly in silence, with small sections of Latin and the priest had his back to the people
3. Churches were in the shape of a cross

Question 4

What were churches like after 1965?

Answer 4

1. Altar brought forward to the middle with pews facing towards it
2. Focussed on inclusivity
3. Vastly decorated with paintings and statues to remind people of God’s glory and his role in their lives
4. Mass said in English
5. Stations of the Cross introduced to help people focus on Jesus’ sacrifice

Question 5

What is the true altar for Catholics?

Answer 5

The cross on which Jesus gave his life

Question 6

Why is the mass focussed around the altar?

Answer 6

People remember and join in Jesus’ sacrifice to God through the Eucharist in mass and the altar is a place of thanksgiving where that sacrifice happens

Question 7

Why do some Christian denominations use a table instead of an altar?

Answer 7

A table symbolises joining Jesus and his disciples at the Last Supper when they receive ‘food for the soul’

Question 8

What are we reminded of through the crucifix?

Answer 8

Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity and his omnibenevolence in order to do that for us, it is an active reminder that he paid the price for us

Question 9

What does the cross focus on?

Answer 9

It shows God’s power and his triumph over death, it emphasises this turning point in history

Question 10

Why may someone say that the Risen Christ statue is the best representation of Jesus?

Answer 10

It depicts his suffering and glory in one image

Question 11

How can salvation be seen as a past event?

Answer 11

Some people believe that salvation occurred at the point of Jesus’ death and resurrection, at that moment God decided who would receive salvation and there is nothing we can do to gain or lose it

Question 12

How can salvation be seen as a present event?

Answer 12

Some people believe that we have to earn our salvation through our actions, we do this by constantly accepting Jesus’ sacrifice and bearing witness to it, during our time on Earth which means that it is an ongoing process

Question 13

How can salvation be seen as a future event?

Answer 13

Some people believe that salvation will only be completed at the end of time at the time of Jesus’ second coming, this is when sin and death will be completely destroyed and lose their power over humanity

Question 14

How does mass link to the Heavenly Banquet?

Answer 14

Mass is believed to be a chance to experience what the Heavenly Banquet will be like

Question 15

Describe St Irenaeus’ metaphor of salvation

Answer 15

The metaphor of two trees: the first tree is the Tree of Knowledge which Adam ate from, this caused humanity to fall out of God’s favour and out of that close relationship with him; the second tree is the cross which Jesus dies on, this tree restored humanity to this close relationship with God

Question 16

Describe St Anselm’s metaphor of salvation

Answer 16

The metaphor of the slave trade: when humanity feel out of God’s favour we became slaves to sin and death, Jesus paid the price and made up for this by sacrificing himself on the cross, he paid the ransom

The Exultet (Holy Saturday):
"Destroying the chains of death"
"To redeem a slave, Thou didst deliver up Thy son"

Question 17

How is salvation present in the liturgy?

Answer 17

We are offering Jesus up to God again and we offer ourselves up to God as well, as we receive his Body and Blood we have the power to resist temptation, through this we become worthy to join in Christ’s sacrifice and ask for forgiveness

Question 18

What do Christians think conscience is?

Answer 18

God’s voice working through the Holy Spirit in us to tell us what is right and wrong

Question 19

Why do all people know (deep down) what’s right and wrong?

Answer 19

We are made in the image of God - imago dei - and therefore we share his qualities, one of these is searching for the truth

Question 20

Paraphrase the following references:
CCC 2039
CCC 1782
Gaudium et spes

Answer 20

1. The idea of conscience does not contradict the belief of natural moral law because it is the inner voice of God
2. People have the right to act according to their conscience at any time , even if it goes against the teachings of the Church because it is the inner voice of God and they should not be stopped or prevented
3. The more people who follow their conscience, the better society gets because it unites the people of God and makes them a tool to carry out his will

Question 21

What are the three stages of spiritual life?

Answer 21

1. Purification
2. Illumination
3. Union

Question 22

What are the Words of Institution?

Answer 22

These are the words spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper which started the Eucharist and are repeated at Mass