Apostle's Creed is the faith of the Church professed personally by each believer.
Nicene (Niceno-Constantinopolitan) Creed is the faith of the Church confessed by the liturgical assembly of believers.
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The Apostles' Creed |
The Nicene Creed |
| I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. | We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen |
| And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; |
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: |
| Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, |
by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. |
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Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, died and was buried: He descended into hell, |
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. |
| The third day He rose again from the dead, | On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; |
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He ascended into heaven; Seated at the right hand of God, the Father almighty, From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. |
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. |
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I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Holy Catholic Church, The Communion of Saints, The forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body, And Life everlasting. Amen |
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. AMEN. |
1. Baptism: comes from the Greek baptizein which means to "plunge" or "immerse". The plunge into the water symbolizes the catechumen's burial into Christ's death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as "a new creature." 2 Cor 5:17, Gal 6:15
Infant baptism is the norm. Done by a Priest or Deacon.
Two Godparents, of which one must be Catholic, that pledge to give moral guidance to that child throughout his entire life.
Baptized with water and oil. Anointing with sacred chrism, perfumed oil, signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2. Eucharist (First Holy Communion)
Eucharist comes from the Greek words eucharistein and eulogein which recall the Jewish blessings
that proclaim God's works: creation, redemption, and sanctification.
Holy Communion is the partaking of the bread and wine, as Jesus did at the Last Supper, that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood.
Latin Church reserves admission to Holy Communion to those who have attained the "age of reason" (about
age 8) and have been baptized within the Church.
3. Confirmation
Also called the sacrament of Christian maturity.
Post-baptismal anointing with sacred chrism by a Bishop "confirms" and completes the baptismal anointing.
Performed at the "age of discretion"; usually age 13.
Candidates have a sponsor.
Occurs after initial instructions and learning about the faith.
Eastern Orthodox Church calls this Chrismation, includes Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. Both can be done by a Priest.
Jn 20:22, Acts 2:1-4
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) incorporates Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist.
4. Penance and Reconciliation
Called sacrament of penance since it consecrates the sinner's personal steps of conversion...
Called the sacrament of confession because of the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest.
Involves:
Contrition - sorrow of the soul for the sins committed, together with resolution not to sin again.
Confession of sins to a priest - Jn 20:23, 2 Cor 5:18
Penance - couple Hail Mary's and a few Our Father's.
at least once a year, no communion after a mortal sin unless confession, before First Holy Communion. [There are mortal and venial (everyday) sins.]
Indulgences are the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been
forgiven.
5. Anointing of the Sick - is given to those who are seriously ill by anointing them on the forehead and hands with duly blessed oil (Roman Rite). Over the centuries it was conferred more and more exclusively on those at the point of death, hence received the name "Extreme Unction".
"Heal the sick." Mt 10:8, Mk 6:13, James 5:14-15
Usually followed by communion. Jn 6:54
6. Holy Orders - sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time.
It is the sacrament of apostolic ministry: episcopate (bishop), presbyterate (priest) and diaconate (deacon). Eph 4:11
Bishops follow in the tradition of the Apostles.
"Orders" comes from the Roman meaning of a governing body. Heb 5:6
Based on Old Testament views of a tribe set aside and incorporates a life of servitude.
Catholic bishops and priests are "married" to the Church. In Eastern Rite, only bishops are celibate.
7.Matrimony
God himself is the author of marriage. Gen 2:18, Eph 5:25-26, Eph 5:31-32, Ruth, Tobit
Sacrament is mutually conferred upon each spouse by expressing their consent before the Church. The priest receives
the consent in the name of the Church and gives the blessing of the Church.
Mixed marriage is between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic.
Disparity of cult is between a Catholic and a non-baptized person.
Both require the express permission of an ecclesiastical authority.
Requires the baptism and education of the children in the Catholic Church.
Divorce Mt 10:11-12
Annulment is not divorce at all. Rather, it is the determination that the proper elements of a valid, consummated, sacramental marriage was never met in the first place.
That a permanent, faithful union for the mutual, interpersonal growth of both parties and for the procreation
and education of children did not exist.
Holy Spirit
Salvation through grace
Way of Christ is summed up in the Beatitudes. Mt 5:3-12
Sin and forgiveness.
Human virtues - attitudes and habits
Christian virtues of faith, hope and charity, inspired by the example of the Saints.
Spiritual gifts and fruits
Communion of Saints
10 Commandments
Personal relationship with the living and true God.
Prayer as God's gift
Prayer as covenant
Prayer as communion
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Introductory Rites: song, greeting, penitential rite, prayer
Liturgy of the Word : Old Testament reading, New Testament reading, Homily, Profession of Faith, prayer
Liturgy of the Eucharist: preparation of altar, offertory, presentation of bread and wine, consecration, communion
Concluding Rite: blessing, dismissal
The Pope - Successor of Peter, currently it is John Paul II.
The most famous and best known prophecies about the popes are those attributed to St. Malachy. In 1139 he went to Rome to give an account of the affairs of his diocese to the pope, Innocent II. While at Rome, he received the strange vision of the future wherein was unfolded before his mind the long list of illustrious pontiffs (given mystical titles) who were to rule the Church until the end of time. The current Pope is Labor Solaris (Labor of the Sun), and the Next is the Glory of the Olive. The final Pope of is to be Petrus Romanus (Peter the Roman) or Peter II.
Also where they hang the portraits of the Popes in St. Peter Cathedral's , there is currently only room for
2-3 more.
sacred deposit of the faith = scared scripture + tradition. 1 tim 6:20,2 tim 1:12-14
Lent
Saints & Canonization - (Worship God, Honor Saints) Beatification and Canonization honors people who lived
lives according to Christ and meet other requirements. "Canon" implies "on the calendar" which
means the Saint is given a Feast Day (Day of Honoring).
Blessed Virgin Mary:
Mother of the Incarnate Word, and Mother of the Church. Mary is acknowledged and honored as being the Mother
of Jesus. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians. Mary
intercedes for us. Miraculous Medal.
363 Apparitions:
Fatima - The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, appeared six times to three shepherd children near the
town of Fatima, Portugal between May 13th and October 13th in 1917. Appearing to the children, the Blessed
Virgin told them that She had been sent by God with a message for every man, woman and child living in our century.
3 parts of the message: 1) vision of hell, 2) prophesizing the outbreak of WWII and Russia, and 3) "3rd
secret" given only to the Vatican and was recently revealed to be the prophesizing of the shooting of Pope
John Paul II.
Medjugore - 17 million visitors - town of peace in war-torn Bosnia. Appears every month.
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Rosary - prayers along within reflection on the Mysteries.
The Joyful mysteries direct our souls towards neighbor, the Sorrowful mysteries to our love of self, and the Glorious mysteries lead us to a greater love of God.
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The Joyful Mysteries: (Mon and Thu; and the Sun's from 1st Sun of Advent until Lent.) 1. The Annunciation 2. The Visitation 3. The Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ 4. The Presentation at the Temple 5. The Finding at the Temple |
The Sorrowful Mysteries: (Tue and Fri; and the Sun's of Lent.) 1. The Agony of Christ in the Garden 2. The Scourging at the Pillar 3. The Crowning with Thorns 4. The Carrying of the Cross 5. The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord |
Glorious Mysteries: (Wed and Sat; and the Sun's from Easter until Advent.) 1. The Resurrection of Our Lord 2. The Ascension of Our Lord 3. The Coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles 4. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary 5. The Coronation of the Virgin Mary |
How to Pray the Rosary
1.While holding the crucifix make the Sign of the Cross and then recite the Apostles Creed.
2.Recite the Our Father on the first large bead.
3.On each of the three small beads recite a Hail Mary for an increase of faith, hope and charity.
4.Recite the Glory Be to the Father on the next large bead.
5.Recall the first Rosary mystery and recite the Our Father on the next large bead.
6.On each of the adjacent ten small beads (also referred to as a decade) recite a Hail Mary while reflecting on the mystery.
7.On the next large bead, recite the Glory Be to the Father. The Fatima decade prayer may also be said.
8.Each succeeding decade is prayed in a similar manner by recalling the appropriate mystery, reciting the Our Father, ten Hail Mary's, the Glory Be to the Father, and the Fatima decade prayer (optional) while reflecting on the mystery.
9.When the fifth mystery is completed, the Rosary is Customarily concluded with the Hail, Holy Queen.
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Our Father: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen |
Hail Mary: Hail, Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women, And blessed is thy fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God Pray for us sinners, Now and at the hour of our death. Amen |
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Glory Be: Glory be to the Father And to the Son And to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning Is now, and ever shall be; World without end. Amen |
Fatima Decade Prayer: O my Jesus, Forgive us our sins, Save us from the fires of hell; Lead all souls to heaven, Especially those in need of thy mercy. Amen |
The Apocrypha: A collection of prophets and writings which are not commonly agreed by the major sects but included
by the Catholics.
Second Vatican Ecumenical Council was entrusted to guard and present better the precious deposit of Christian
doctrine in order to make it more accessible to the Christian faithful and to all people of good will.
Catechesis is the totality of the Church's efforts to make disciples, to help men believe that Jesus is the
Son of God so that believing they might have life in his name, and to educate and instruct them in this life, thus
building up the body of Christ.
The Church obliges the faithful to take part in the Liturgy on Sundays and feast days and, prepared by the sacrament
of Reconciliation, to receive the Eucharist at least once a year, if possible during the Easter season. => twice-a-year
Catholics (Christmas and Easter)
Catholic and Lutheran difference: Luther concluded salvation comes through faith alone. Catholic Church talk
about faith and good works: "By grace alone, ..., we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit who renews
our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works."
Catholic and Anglican difference: The Pope wouldn't grant King Henry VIII a second annulment so formed his own
church with the ArchBishop of Canterbury as the head.
References and Links:
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, created from Extraordinary Synod of Bishops in 1985
Catechism online: http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/ccc.html
Catholicity.com - http://www.CatholiCity.com/default.html
Christopher's Baptism web page: http://www.oocities.org/Stephen_Reeve/Christopher/Baptism/baptism.htm
Stephen's webpage: http://www.oocities.org/Stephen_Reeve/Faith/faith.htm
Rosary: http://marianhr.bc.ca/rosary.html
The Vatican on line. http://www.vatican.va/
Medjugore - http://www.medjugorje.hr/ulazaken.html