reed lecture 2 midterm

3

The Apostles’

Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth

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I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

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He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

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and born of the Virgin Mary

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He suffered under Pontius Pilate

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was crucified, died

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and was buried

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He descended to the dead (hell)

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On the third day he rose again.

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He ascended into heaven

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and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

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He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

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I believe in the Holy Spirit

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the holy Catholic Church

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the communion of Saints

18

the forgiveness of sins

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the resurrection of the body

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and life everlasting

AMEN 21

I. Meaning of the Creed

“Creed” derived from the Latin “credo” meaning “I believe.”

Used to denote a summary or concise statement of doctrine formulated and accepted by a church.

Not meant to cover the whole field of Christian faith, but to fortify believers against the teaching of heretics.

Heresy - knowing and willful rejection of the orthodox doctrines of faith by a baptized person

II. The 2 Principal Catholic Creeds

1. Apostles’ Creed is the oldest creed and forms the basis for most other creeds. General creed of the Christian Church from the middle of the 2nd century (140 A.D.).Not only used as a test of Christian doctrine, but also used by catechists in training and instructing candidates for admission to the Church.

II. The 2 Principal Catholic Creeds

2. Nicene Creed - promulgated by the first Council of Constantinople in 381.It confirmed the faith of Nicea, the first Ecumenical Council held in 325

III. Functions of the Creed

a) Summary of Beliefs – summary of catholic truths needed to communicate and instruct in the Gospelb) Pledge of Loyalty – to God and to the churchc) Proclamation of Identity – as disciples of Christ reborn in the Spirit within His body, the Church

Whoever says "I believe" says

"I pledge myself to what we believe."

Communion in faith needs a common language of faith,

normative for all and uniting all in the same

confession of faith. CCC185

Whoever says "I believe" says

"I pledge myself to what we believe."

Communion in faith needs a common language of faith,

normative for all and uniting all in the same

confession of faith. CCC185

1. The first divine Person and the wonderful work of creation2. The second divine Person and the mystery of his redemption of men3. The third divine Person, the origin and source of our sanctification.“

CCC190

IV. PARTS OF THE CREED

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; (The 1st article)And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; (The 2nd)Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary, (The 3rd)Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, died, and was buried. (The 4th) He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; (The 5th) He ascended into Heaven, And is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; (The 6th) From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. (The 7th) I believe in the Holy Spirit, (The 8th) The Holy Catholic Church, The Communion of Saints, (The 9th) The forgiveness of sins, (The 10th) The resurrection of the body, (The 11th) And life everlasting. Amen. (The 12th)

V. Articles of the Creed

ARTICLE I"I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY,

CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH"

• For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption. When we cry ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God…” (Rom 8:15-16)

• Jesus taught us to call God Abba = an Aramaic word (the language that Jesus spoke); it is the familiar and familial word for father; a term of intimacy and endearment

• For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption. When we cry ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God…” (Rom 8:15-16)

• Jesus taught us to call God Abba = an Aramaic word (the language that Jesus spoke); it is the familiar and familial word for father; a term of intimacy and endearment



God the Father as the Almighty•God’s might is universal, for God who created everything also rules everything and can do everything.•God’s power is loving, for He is Our Father•God is mysterious – only faith can discern it when it is made perfect in weakness

God the Father as the Almighty•God’s might is universal, for God who created everything also rules everything and can do everything.•God’s power is loving, for He is Our Father•God is mysterious – only faith can discern it when it is made perfect in weakness


CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH" God the Creator of Heaven and Earth•Creation – the foundation of all God’s saving plans, the beginning of the history of salvation that culminates in Christ.•Gen 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth.” – Meaning (1) the eternal God gave a beginning to all that exists outside of himself (2) He alone is creator (create – Hebrew bara)

God the Creator of Heaven and Earth•Creation – the foundation of all God’s saving plans, the beginning of the history of salvation that culminates in Christ.•Gen 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth.” – Meaning (1) the eternal God gave a beginning to all that exists outside of himself (2) He alone is creator (create – Hebrew bara)


CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH" The Mystery of Creation•God creates by wisdom and love – it proceeds from God’s free will; he wanted to make his creatures share in his being, wisdom and goodness.•God creates out of nothing – God needs no pre-existent thing or any help in order to create•God creates an ordered and good world – “You have arranged all things by measure and number and weight.” (Wis 1:20)

The Mystery of Creation•God creates by wisdom and love – it proceeds from God’s free will; he wanted to make his creatures share in his being, wisdom and goodness.•God creates out of nothing – God needs no pre-existent thing or any help in order to create•God creates an ordered and good world – “You have arranged all things by measure and number and weight.” (Wis 1:20)



• God transcends creation and is present to it – God is greater than all his works, God is present to his creatures

• God upholds and sustains creation – God does not abandon his creatures

• God transcends creation and is present to it – God is greater than all his works, God is present to his creatures

• God upholds and sustains creation – God does not abandon his creatures

ARTICLE 2“I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, His only Son, our Lord; ”

Jesus – Hebrew – God saves; His name expresses both his identity and missionChrist – comes from the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah which means “anointed”; it became the name proper to Jesus because he accomplished perfectly the Divine mission that Christ signifies

Jesus – Hebrew – God saves; His name expresses both his identity and missionChrist – comes from the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah which means “anointed”; it became the name proper to Jesus because he accomplished perfectly the Divine mission that Christ signifies

ARTICLE 2“I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, His only Son, our Lord; ”

Only Son of God – a title given to the angels, the chosen people, the children of Israel, and their kings; an adoptive sonship that establishes a relationship of particular intimacy between God and His creature; Jesus was designated Son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead. (Rom 1:3; Acts 13:33)Lord – In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Hebrew name YHWH, by which God revealed himself to Moses is rendered as Kyrios – Lord – the usual name by which to indicate the divinity of Israel’s God

Only Son of God – a title given to the angels, the chosen people, the children of Israel, and their kings; an adoptive sonship that establishes a relationship of particular intimacy between God and His creature; Jesus was designated Son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead. (Rom 1:3; Acts 13:33)Lord – In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Hebrew name YHWH, by which God revealed himself to Moses is rendered as Kyrios – Lord – the usual name by which to indicate the divinity of Israel’s God

ARTICLE 3 "HE WAS CONCEIVED BY THE POWER OF THE

HOLY SPIRIT, AND BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY"

• The Incarnation – “the Word became Flesh” (Jn 1:14) = the Son of God assumed a human nature in order to accomplish our salvation in it.

• Jesus is true God and true man – He became truly man while remaining truly God


HOLY SPIRIT, AND BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY"• Jesus is Conceived by the Power of the Holy

Spirit – The Holy Spirit is sent to sanctify the womb of the Virgin Mary and divinely fecundate it, causing her to conceive the eternal Son of the Father in a humanity drawn from her own.

• Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary – Mary was enriched by God with gifts appropriate for a mother of the Savior. “Hail Mary full of grace…” (Lk 1:28)


HOLY SPIRIT, AND BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY"MARIAN DOGMA1) Divine MotherhoodMary's divine motherhood was proclaimed at the Council of Ephesus in 431.Various names are used to describe Mary's role as mother of Jesus. She is called "Mother of God" which translates the more accurately stated greek term "Theotokos" or "Birthgiver of God."


HOLY SPIRIT, AND BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY"2) Perpetual VirginityAlthough never explicated in detail, the Catholic Church holds as dogma that Mary was and is Virgin before, in and after Christ's birth. It stresses thus the radical novelty of the Incarnation and Mary's no less radical and exclusive dedication to her mission as mother of her Son, Jesus Christ. Vatican II reiterated the teaching about Mary, the Ever-Virgin, by stating that Christ's birth did not diminish Mary's virginal integrity but sanctified it .



3. Immaculate Conception – the dogma of the Immaculate Conception states "that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege from Almighty God and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, was kept free of every stain of original sin."



4. The Assumption – The dogma states that "Mary, Immaculate Mother of God ever Virgin, after finishing the course of her life on earth, was taken up in body and soul to heavenly glory."

ARTICLE 4 "JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED, AND WAS BURIED"

JESUS’ PASCHAL MYSTERY

(Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection)Here: Paschal comes from the Aramaic word pasha which means “passover”. Mystery is understood as truth that is still unfolding or continuously understood.

ARTICLE 4 "JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED, AND WAS BURIED"The Gospels portray Jesus as coming into conflict with the religious powers for the following reasons:1.He associated with outcasts and sinners (such as tax collectors and prostitutes) and therefore, by insinuation, was a sinner himself.2.He was accused of not observing the law of Moses; for example, he healed the sick on the Sabbath day.3.He spoke of God in the most intimate terms as His Father, His “Abba”4.He was accused of being a threat to the security of the nation

ARTICLE 4 "JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED, AND WAS BURIED"Characteristics of Christ’s Suffering and Death

A. It is Redemptive

Mark 10:45; Rom. 3:24-25a; Jn. 13:1;

Jn. 15:13; Mt. 26:28; Titus 2:14

Jesus’ Passion and Death is redemptive- his ultimate service in the Kingdom.


B. It is to “expiate the sins of the people”

Hebrew 2:17; 1Cor. 5:7; Gal. 1:4;

1Cor. 11:25; Rom. 5:6; Eph. 5:2; 1Thes. 5:10

Jesus shares the Father’s love for us sinners.


C. It is FOR US sinners

1Cor. 15:3; Jn. 1:29; Mt. 5:38-42; Mt. 5:44

Christ died for our sins.

1.Because of our sinfulness

2.To show us and empower us to overcome sin and its effects

ARTICLE 5"HE DESCENDED INTO HELL. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN"CCC 636 By the expression "He descended into hell", the Apostles' Creed confesses that Jesus did really die and through his death for us conquered death and the devil "who has the power of death" (Heb 2:14).CCC 637 In his human soul united to his divine person, the dead Christ went down to the realm of the dead. He opened heaven's gates for the just who had gone before him.

ARTICLE 5"HE DESCENDED INTO HELL. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN"The resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ, a faith believed and lived as the central truth by the first Christian community.Through Jesus’ resurrection: (1) Christ’s works and teachings are confirmed (2) Christ opens for us the way to a new life (effects of resurrection to Christian faith)

ARTICLE 5"HE DESCENDED INTO HELL. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN"

THE MEANING AND SAVING SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESURRECTION

651 "If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” The Resurrection above all constitutes the confirmation of all Christ's works and

teachings. All truths, even those most inaccessible to human reason, find their justification if Christ by his

Resurrection has given the definitive proof of his divine authority, which he had promised.

ARTICLE 5"HE DESCENDED INTO HELL. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN"

THE MEANING AND SAVING SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESURRECTION

653 The truth of Jesus' divinity is confirmed by his Resurrection. He had said: "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he."523 The Resurrection of the crucified one shows that he was truly "I AM", the Son of God and God himself.

ARTICLE 6 "HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER"

• Ascension – “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.” (Mk 16:19)

• Seated at the right hand of the Father – Jesus shares in the glory and honor of God’s divinity

ARTICLE 6 "HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER"

CCC 667 Jesus Christ, having entered the sanctuary of heaven once and for all, intercedes constantly for us as the mediator who assures us of the permanent outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

ARTICLE 7 "FROM THENCE HE WILL COME AGAIN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD"

Judgment Day – at the end of the world, Christ will come in glory to achieve the definitive triumph of good over evilParousia – In the New Testament the second coming of Christ at the end time is called Parousia (1 Cor 15:23, 1Thes 2:19, 3:13)

ARTICLE 8"I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT"

• Spirit – from the Hebrew “ruah”, from the Latin “spiritus” which means breath, wind; therefore the Spirit is the Breath of God

• Spirit of God – Paraclete; from the Greek word “parakletos” which means advocate.

• The Spirit of God is consubstantial with the Father and the Son, with the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. (CCC 685)


Gifts of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1831)1.wisdom2.understanding3.counsel4.fortitude5.knowledge6.piety7.fear of the Lord


CCC 747 The Holy Spirit, whom Christ the head pours out on his members, builds, animates, and sanctifies the Church. She is the sacrament of the Holy Trinity's communion with men.

ARTICLE 9"I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH"

CCC 777 The word "Church" means "convocation." It designates the assembly of those whom God's Word "convokes," i.e., gathers together to form the People of God, and who themselves, nourished with the Body of Christ, become the Body of Christ.


FOUR MARKS OF THE CHURCH

CCC 866 The Church is ONE: she acknowledges one Lord, confesses one faith, is born of one Baptism, forms only one Body, is given life by the one Spirit, for the sake of one hope (cf. Eph 4:3-5), at whose fulfilment all divisions will be overcome.



CCC 867 The Church is HOLY: the Most Holy God is her author; Christ, her bridegroom, gave himself up to make her holy; the Spirit of holiness gives her life. Since she still includes sinners, she is "the sinless one made up of sinners." Her holiness shines in the saints; in Mary she is already all-holy.



CCC 868 The Church is Catholic [universal]: she proclaims the fullness of the faith. She bears in herself and administers the totality of the means of salvation. She is sent out to all peoples. She speaks to all men. She encompasses all times. She is "missionary of her very nature" (AG 2).



CCC 869 The Church is Apostolic. She is built on a lasting foundation: "the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (Rev 21:14). She is indestructible (cf. Mt 16:18). She is upheld infallibly in the truth: Christ governs her through Peter and the other apostles, who are present in their successors, the Pope and the college of bishops.

ARTICLE 9"I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH“THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS

CCC 960 The Church is a "communion of saints": this expression refers first to the "holy things" (sancta), above all the Eucharist, by which "the unity of believers, who form one body in Christ, is both represented and brought about" (LG 3).

ARTICLE 9"I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH“THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS

CCC 962 "We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always [attentive] to our prayers" (Paul VI, CPG # 30).

ARTICLE 10"I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS"

CCC 976 The Apostle's Creed associates faith in the forgiveness of sins not only with faith in the Holy Spirit, but also with faith in the Church and in the communion of saints. It was when he gave the Holy Spirit to his apostles that the risen Christ conferred on them his own divine power to forgive sins: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

ARTICLE 10"I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS"

CCC 986 By Christ's will, the Church possesses the power to forgive the sins of the baptized and exercises it through bishops and priests normally in the sacrament of Penance.987 "In the forgiveness of sins, both priests and sacraments are instruments which our Lord Jesus Christ, the only author and liberal giver of salvation, wills to use in order to efface our sins and give us the grace of justification”.

ARTICLE 11"I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY"

CCC 1016 By death the soul is separated from the body, but in the resurrection God will give incorruptible life to our body, transformed by reunion with our soul. Just as Christ is risen and lives for ever, so all of us will rise at the last day.

ARTICLE 12"I BELIEVE IN LIFE EVERLASTING"

CCC 1052 "We believe that the souls of all who die in Christ's grace . . . are the People of God beyond death. On the day of resurrection, death will be definitively conquered, when these souls will be reunited with their bodies" (Paul VI, CPG # 28).


CCC 1053 "We believe that the multitude of those gathered around Jesus and Mary in Paradise forms the Church of heaven, where in eternal blessedness they see God as he is and where they are also, to various degrees, associated with the holy angels in the divine governance exercised by Christ in glory, by interceding for us and helping our weakness by their fraternal concern" (Paul VI, CPG # 29).


CCC 1056 Following the example of Christ, the Church warns the faithful of the "sad and lamentable reality of eternal death" (GCD 69), also called "hell."1057 Hell's principal punishment consists of eternal separation from God in whom alone man can have the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.


CCC 1060 At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. Then the just will reign with Christ for ever, glorified in body and soul,

and the material universe itself will be transformed. God will then be "all in all“

(1 Cor 15:28), in eternal life.


CCC 1062 In Hebrew, amen comes from the same root as the word "believe." This root expresses solidity, trustworthiness, faithfulness. And so we can understand why "Amen" may express both God's faithfulness towards us and our trust in him.

Write a line or two that you like most in the Apostles’ Creed. Why?Inspired by the Apostles’ creed, write a short prayer as a sign of what you believe in. [4 to 5 lines only]

reed lecture 2 midterm

Spiritual