Grace and Redemption

Mr. PerrottiTheology ll

Chapter 5 - 3

Grace of Redemption

• Grace means the blessings that come from above.• Grace in this context is something that is God-given,

made possible only by Jesus Christ and none other• It is God's gift of salvation granted to sinners for

their salvation• Common Christian teaching is that grace is

unmerited mercy (favor) that God gave to humanity by sending his son to die on a cross, thus delivering eternal salvation

Types of Grace

• The greatest Gift of all is our God’s Self-Gift to us, which is called Uncreated Grace, sending his son to redeem us from sin!

• In a sense, every gift of God is a "grace“• Created Grace –

– Natural Grace’s – Food, Shelter – our physical life!– Sanctifying Grace - which the Sacrament of Baptism places

on the human soul. – It sanctifies the soul thus enabling her to commune with

God– This grace is permanent unless forfeited by mortal sin.

Types of Grace

• Created Grace – -Actual grace is a temporary supernatural aid from God- It enlightens the human mind and strengthens the will-God enabling us to carry out a specific good work according to the Divine Will

Types of Grace

• Cause and Effect – Though distinct, Uncreated Grace and created

grace are related as Cause and effect– Each Self-communication of God to humanity

produces a corresponding created grace.– There is a cause and the responding effect is Grace

from God!

The Basic Work of the Church

• To bring salvation to His people through his Word and Sacrament.

• Providing the Sacraments so that we His Church may carry out His mission described in his teachings.

• The church is the body of Christ • The church is guided by the word of God• Christ is the Head of the Church• The work of the Church is done by its members.

What is a Sacrament?

• A sacrament is a visible sign instituted by Jesus Christ in order to give use grace and to make us holy.

• A sacrament is a spiritual covenant between God and man

• In every sacrament three things are necessary: – the outward sign (Water, oil, laying of hands)– the inward grace (absolution, receiving Christ through

the Eucharist)– Divine institution

Divine Institutions

• The Divine Institutions– Volition: God gave mankind volition, the right and ability to

make choices, good and bad (free will)– Marriage: God had planned that one man and one woman

would join in a union; marriage provides the authority and stability for morality and the family

– Family: The family is the first and most important classroom and training ground for society. The family provides the security, the heritage, the perpetuation of morality without which no society can survive

– Nationalism: God planned that people would live in groups called nations.

God’s Visible signs of Grace

• The Seven Sacraments• Baptism - a sacrament of admission to

the Christian Church– Baptism is also called christening but for others

the word "christening" is reserved for the baptism of infants.

– God grants us Sanctifying Grace as he welcomes us into his Church.

CONFIRMATION

• The Gift of the Holy Spirit• As Catholics we confirm our Baptism and

become “soldiers of Christ”• We enter the Church as Adults• We take new names as a symbol of our change

and acceptance of our Baptism.• First Confirmation was on Pentecost Sunday

“The Eucharist”

• Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ!– “Take and eat this is my body…..take and drink this is my

blood”– Given to us by Jesus at the Last Supper.– The name given to the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar– The Church honors the Eucharist as one of her most

exalted mysteries– That in the Eucharist the Body and Blood of

Jesus are present for the nourishment of our souls, by reason of the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ,

Reconciliation

• “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven.”– The Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation (also

known as Penance, or Penance and Reconciliation) has three elements: conversion, confession and celebration. In it we find God's unconditional forgiveness; as a result we are called to forgive others.

– God forgives our sins and returns our soul to a state of Grace!

What is sin?

• Sin is any word, action, thought, attitude, intent, or emotion, etc., that goes against the Holy God - against His Word and His Holy Spirit. we turn our back on God.

• The Types of Sin: The Catholic Church uses the words "venial" and "mortal" to express certain characteristics of sin.

Types of Sin

• All sin requires a turning away from God, even if only for a moment, venial sins and mortal can be measured by the degree to which one turns away. Mortal sin severs our communion with God; the gravity of mortal sin is so great that one must turn fully away from God's grace in order to commit it.

Types of Sin

• The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that a mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man.

• A venial sin allows charity to remain, though it wounds and offends it.

• Mortal Sin:– The object of the sin is grave matter (it violates the 10

commandments)– The sin is committed with full knowledge (one knows the

act violates God's law)– The sin is committed with complete and deliberate

consent---it is a choice.

Sin Continued

• All mortal sins must be confessed and absolved to leave one's soul in a state of grace. But, if confession is temporarily impossible, there are other means of receiving absolution.

• Venial sins do not set us in direct opposition to the will and friendship of God. They do not need to be confessed; they do require repentance. But the Church teaches (rightly) that venial sin is evil, and if repetitive disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin.

Seven Deadly Sins (Vices)• Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the

grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity.

• Envy is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation.

• Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires.

• Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body.

• Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath.

• Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness.

• Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work.

• Defined by Pope Gregory

Seven Heavenly Virtues• When Pope Gregory defined the seven deadly sins that we should

avoid, he also included a counter-balancing set of values that we should espouse and adopt. These are:

• Faith is belief in the right things (including the virtues!).• Hope is taking a positive future view, that good will prevail.• Charity is concern for, and active helping of, others.• Fortitude is never giving up.• Justice is being fair and equitable with others. • Prudence is care of and moderation with money.• Temperance is moderation of needed things and abstinence from

things which are not needed.

Song of Reconciliation - Ashton, Becker, Dente

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzSbbldJ488.com

REALLY LISTEN TO WORDSReconciliation allows us to stay in God’s Grace

To claim our place in His KingdomNot to be taken for granted!

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

• “Let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord”

• Is administered both to the dying and to those who are gravely ill or are about to undergo a serious operation, for the recovery of their health and for spiritual strength.

• The anointing of the sick conveys several graces and imparts gifts of strengthening in the Holy Spirit against anxiety, discouragement, and temptation, and conveys peace and fortitude

• These graces flow from the atoning death of Jesus Christ, for "this was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, ‘He took our infirmities and bore our diseases’“

• References made in the Gospel of Mark Ch. 6:13

Holy Orders

• “Do this in memory of me” – Christ at the Last Supper. Called apostles servants of God!

• The Sacrament of Holy Orders is the continuation of Christ's priesthood, which He bestowed upon His Apostles; thus, – the Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to the

Sacrament of Holy Orders as "the sacrament of apostolic ministry."

Holy Orders

• In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, a man is incorporated into the priesthood of Christ, at one of three levels: the episcopate, the priesthood, or the diaconate.– The Episcopate - A bishop is a man who is

ordained to the episcopate by anothHe stands in a direct, unbroken line from the Apostles, a condition known as "apostolic succession."er bishop.

Holy Orders

• The Ordination of Priests – The second level of the Sacrament of Holy Orders

is the priesthood.– No bishop can minister to all of the faithful in his

diocese, so priests act, in the words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as "co-workers of the bishops.“

– The chief duties of the priesthood are the preaching of the Gospel and the offering of the Eucharist, and most of the sacraments.

Holy Orders

• The Ordination of Deacons– The third level of the Sacrament of Holy Orders is

the diaconate.– Deacons assist priests and bishops, but beyond

the preaching of the Gospel, they are granted no special chrism or spiritual gift.

– The permanent diaconate was restored in the West by the Second Vatican Council.

– Married men are allowed to become permanent deacons.

Marriage

• Catholic marriage, also called matrimony.– it is ordinarily celebrated in a Nuptial Mass.– "The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a

woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.

– Council of Trent – made marriage a sacrament of Jesus based on Scripture and the actions of Christ Ministry.

Sacraments in General

• Sign’s of formal Grace• Help us keep our relationship with God• Give us spiritual food and direction so we can

be saved.• Were given to us by Jesus while he was on

earth.• Administered first by the Apostles, then by

those ordained.

7 Sacraments to "Your Grace Is Enough" by Chris Tomlin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F57wQXEVRMI.com