Holy Trinity - Our Catholic Faith




Our Catholic Faith - What and Why We Believe - Anointing the Sick Mk. 6:12-13 – anointed with oil many sick, cured them Jm. 5:14 – presbyters pray over sick, anoint, sins forgiven - Apostolic Succession 2 Chr. 19:11 – high priest is over you in everything of Lord’s Mal. 2:7 – seek instruction from priest, he is God’s messenger Eph. 2:20 – church built upon foundation of apostles & prophets Eph. 4:11 – God gave some as apostles, others as prophets … 1 Cor. 12:28–29 – God designated in church: apostles … Acts 1:20 – let another take his office Acts 1:25–26 – Matthias takes Judas’ apostolic ministry 1 Tim. 3:1, 8; 5:17 – qualifications for bishops, priests, & deacons 1 Tim. 4:14 – gift conferred with the laying on of hands 1 Tim. 5:22 – do not lay hands too readily on anyone Acts 14:23 – they appointed presbyters in each church 2 Tim. 2:2 – what you heard from me entrust to faithful teachers Titus 1:5 – appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed - Baptism REGENERATIVE BAPTISM Jn. 3:5, 22 – born of water & Spirit; Apostles begin baptizing Tit. 3:5 – saved us through bath of rebirth & renewal by Holy Spirit Acts 2:37-38 – repent, be baptized, receive gift of Holy Spirit Acts 22:16 – get selves baptized and sins washed away 1 Cor. 6:11 – you were washed, sanctified, justified Rom. 6:4 – baptized into death; live in newness of life 1 Pet. 3:21 – baptism … now saves you Heb. 10:22 – heart sprinkled, bodies washed in pure water INFANT BAPTISM Jn. 3:5; Mk. 16:16 – baptism required for entering heaven Rom. 5:18-19 – all are born with Adam’s sin & need baptism Mk. 10:14 – let children come; to such belongs the kingdom Lk. 18:15 – people were bringing even infants to him … Col. 2:11-12 – baptism has replaced circumcision Jos. 24:15 – as for me and my house, we will serve Lord Mt. 8:5ff. – servant healed because of centurion’s faith Mt. 15:21ff.– daughter healed because of Canaanite woman’s faith Lk. 7:1f. – just say the word, and let my servant be healed Acts 16:31 – believe in Lord Jesus you & house will be saved Acts 16:15 – she was baptized, with all her household Acts 16:33 – he and all his family were baptized at once 1 Cor. 1:16 – I baptized the household of Stephanas St. Hippolytus of Rome (c. 215 AD): “Baptize first the children; and if they can speak for themselves, let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them.” The Apostolic Tradition, 21. Origen (post 244 AD): “the Church received from the apostles the tradition of giving baptism also to infants.” Commentary on Romans 5, 9. In 252 AD, the Council of Carthage condemned the opinion that infants must wait until the eighth day after birth to be baptized, as was the case with circumcision. St. Cyprian of Carthage, Letter 64 (59), 2. - Celibacy Eph. 5:21-33 – marriage is good: holy symbol of Christ & church Mt. 19:12 – celibacy praised by Jesus, who was celibate Jer. 16:1-4 – Jeremiah told not to take wife & have children 1 Cor. 7:8 – St. Paul was celibate 1 Cor. 7:32-35 – celibacy recommended for full-time ministers 2 Tim. 2:3-4 – no soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits 1 Tim. 5:9-12 – pledge of celibacy taken by older widows - Church Mt. 16:18–19 - upon this rock I will build my Church Mt. 18:17–18 - if he refuses to listen even to Church … Mt. 28:18–20 - go baptize and teach all nations Mt. 16:16 - go to whole world and proclaim gospel Lk. 10:16 – whoever hears you, hears me; rejects you, rejects me Jn. 14:16, 26 – Holy Spirit w/ you always, teach/remind everything Jn. 16:12 – Spirit of truth will guide you to all truth 1 Tim. 3:15 – Church is the pillar & foundation of truth CHURCH IS BODY OF CHRIST Col. 1:18 – he is the head of the body, the church 1 Cor. 12:20–27 – you are Christ’s body, individually parts of it Eph. 5:30 – we are members of his body Rom. 12:4–5 – though many, we are one body in Christ 1 Cor. 6:15 – don’t you know your bodies are members of Christ THE CHURCH MUST BE ONE Jn. 10:16 – there shall be one fold and one shepherd Eph. 4:3-6 – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God & Father Rom. 16:17 – avoid those who create dissensions 1 Cor. 1:10 – I urge that there be no divisions among you Phil. 2:2 – be of same mind, united in heart, thinking one thing Rom. 15:5 – God grant you to think in harmony w/ one another Jn. 17:17–23 – I pray that they may be one, as we are one Jn. 17:23 – that they may be brought to perfection as one 1 Cor. 12:13 – in one spirit we were baptized into one body Rom. 12:5 – we, though many, are one body in Christ Eph. 4:4 – one body, one Spirit, called to one hope Col. 3:15 – the peace into which you were called in one body St. Cyprian (c. 250 AD): “God is one and Christ is one, and one is His Church, and the faith is one, and His people welded together by the glue of concord into a solid unity of body. Unity cannot be rent asunder, nor can the one body of the Church, through the division of its structure, be divided into separate pieces.” On the Unity of the Church 23. Tertullian (197 AD): “We are a society with a single religious feeling, a single unity of discipline, a single bond of hope.” Apology 39,1. St. Hillary (4th c.): “In the Scriptures our people are shown to be made one; so that just as many grains collected into one and ground and mingled together, make one loaf, so in Christ, who is the heavenly Bread, we know there is one body, in which our whole company is joined and united.” Treatise 62, 13. APOSTOLIC CHURCH Jn. 15:16 - Jesus chose special men to be his Apostles Jn. 20:21 – Jesus gave the Apostles his own mission Lk. 22:30 – Jesus gave them a kingdom Mt. 16:18 – Jesus built Church on Peter, the rock Jn. 10:16 – one shepherd to shepherd Christ’s sheep Lk. 22:32, Jn. 21:17 – Peter appointed to be chief shepherd Eph. 4:11 – church leaders are hierarchical 1 Tim. 3:1, 8; 5:17 – identifies roles of bishops, priests, deacons Tit. 1:5 – commission for bishops to ordain priests AUTHORITATIVE CHURCH Mt. 28:18-20 – Jesus delegates all power to Apostles Jn. 20:23 – power to forgive sin 1 Cor. 11:24 – power to offer sacrifice (Eucharist) Lk. 10:16 – power to speak with Christ’s voice Mt. 18:18 – power to legislate Mt. 18:17 – power to discipline St. Irenaeus (c. 200 AD): “… the Church, having received this preaching and this faith, although she is disseminated throughout the whole world, yet guarded it, as if she occupied but one house. She likewise believes these things just as if she had but one soul and one and the same heart; and harmoniously she proclaims them and teaches them and hands them down, as if she possessed but one mouth.” Against Heresies 1, 10, 2. Eusibius of Caesarea (4th c.): “But the brightness of the Catholic Church proceeded to increase in greatness, for it ever held to the same points in the same way, and radiated forth to all the race of Greeks and barbarians the reverent, sincere, and free nature, and the sobriety and purity of the divine teaching as to conduct and thought.” Ecclesiastical History 4, 7, 13. St. Augustine (392 AD): “The Catholic Church is the work of Divine Providence, achieved through the prophecies of the prophets, through the Incarnation and the teaching of Christ, through the journeys of the Apostles, through the suffering, the crosses, the blood and death of the martyrs, through the admirable lives of the saints…. When, then, we see so much help on God’s part, so much progress and so much fruit, shall we hesitate to bury ourselves in the bosom of that Church? For starting from the apostolic chair down through successions of bishops, even unto the open confession of all mankind, it has possessed the crown of teaching authority.” The Advantage of Believing 35. INFALLIBLE CHURCH Jn. 16:13 - guided by Holy Spirit into all truth Jn. 14:26 - Holy Spirit to teach & remind them of everything Lk. 10:16 – speak with Christ’s own voice 1 Tim. 3:15 – church called “pillar and foundation of truth” 1 Jn. 2:27 – anointing of Holy Spirit remains in you Acts 15:28 – Apostles speak with voice of Holy Spirit Mt. 28:20 – I am with you always St. Irenaeus (c. 200): “For where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; and where the Spirit of God, there the Church and every grace. The Spirit, however, is Truth.” Against Heresies 3, 24, 1. PERPETUAL CHURCH Is. 9:6–7 – of Christ’s government there will be no end Dan. 2:44 – God’s kingdom shall stand forever Dan. 7:14 – his kingdom shall not be destroyed Lk. 1:32, 33 – no end to Christ’s kingdom Mt. 7:24 – Jesus is like a wise man who built his house on a rock Mt. 13:24–30 – let wheat & weeds grow together until harvest Mt. 16:18 – gates of hell will never prevail against Christ’s church Jn. 14:16 – Holy Spirit will be with you always Mt. 28:19 – 20 – I am with you all days - Confession Mt. 9:2-8 – Son of Man has authority to forgive sins Jn. 20:23 – whose sins you forgive/retain are forgiven/retained Jn. 20:22 – breathed on them, “receive Holy Spirit” (recall Gn. 2:7) 2 Cor. 5:17-20 – given us the ministry of reconciliation Jm. 5:13-15 – prayer of presbyters forgives sin Mt. 18:18 – whatever you bind & loose on earth, so it is in heaven - Confirmation Acts 19:5-6 – Paul imposed hands on baptized, received Holy Spirit Acts 8:14-17 – laid hands upon them, they received Holy Spirit 2 Cor. 1:21-22 – put seal on us & given Holy Spirit in our hearts Eph. 1:13 – you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit Heb. 6:2 – instruction about baptism & laying on of hands - Contraception Gn. 1:27-28 (Gn. 9:1; 35:11) – be fruitful and multiply Ps. 127:3-5 – children gift from God, blessed is a full quiver 1 Chr. 25:4-5 – God gave 14 sons & 3 daughters to exalt him 1 Chr. 26:4-5 – God indeed blessed Obed-Edom with 8 sons Hos. 9:10-17 – Israel is punished with childlessness Ex. 23:25-26 – blessings promised: no miscarrying, barrenness Dt. 7:13-14 – you will be blessed: no male or female barrenness Gn. 38:9-10 – Onan killed for spilling seed on ground Dt. 25:5-10 – penalty for defying Levirate law: not death Lv. 20:13 – if man lies with man, put to death (wasting seed) Note: no penalty prescribed for lesbian actions or relations between single man & single woman (Dt. 22:28-29) Lv. 20:15 – if man lies with animal, put to death (sterile sex) Lv. 20:16 – if woman lies with animal, put to death (sterile sex) Lv. 21:17-20 – crushed testicles is called a defect & blemish Dt. 23:1 – no one who is castrated shall enter the assembly Dt. 25:11-12 – punishment for potential damage to genitals Rom. 1:25-27 – natural function of women (= childbearing) 1 Tim. 2:11-15 – women saved through the bearing of children Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias/Saphira slain – withholding part of gift Gal. 6:7 – God is not mocked – accepting pleasure, denying fruit Mt. 21:19, Mk. 11:14 – Jesus cursed fruitless fig tree Gal 5:20, Rv. 9:21, 21:8 – Greek pharmakeia = abortifacient potions 1 Cor. 6:19-20 – body temple of Holy Spirit, glorify God in body - Divorce and Remarriage Mal. 2:14-16 – for I hate divorce, says the Lord Mt. 5:32-33 – to divorce or marry divorced wife is adultery Mt. 19:4-6, 9 – to divorce wife and remarry is adultery Mk. 10:11-12 – if either divorces and remarries = adultery Lk. 16:18 – to divorce & remarry or marry divorced = adultery Rom. 7:2-3 – wife consorts = adulteress if living, but not if dead 1 Cor. 7:10-11 – if wife separates, stay single or reconcile - Eucharist, Real Presence of Christ Jn. 6:35–71 – Eucharist promised Mt. 26:26ff. (Mk. 14:22ff., Lk. 22:17ff.) – Eucharist instituted 1 Cor. 10:16 – Eucharist = participation in Christ’s body & blood 1 Cor. 11:23–29 – receiving unworthily = guilty of his body & blood Ex. 12:8, 46 – Paschal lamb had to be eaten Jn. 1:29 – Jesus called “Lamb of God” 1 Cor. 5:7 – Jesus called “paschal lamb who has been sacrificed” Jn. 4:31–34; Mt. 16:5–12 – Jesus talking symbolically about food 1 Cor. 2:14–3:4 – explains what Jesus means by “the flesh” Ps. 27:2; Is. 9:18–20; Is. 49:26; Mic. 3:3; 2 Sm. 23:15–17; Rv. 17:6, 16 – to symbolically eat & drink one’s body & blood = assault St. Ignatius (110 AD): “(heretics) abstain from Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the Flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ” Letter to Smyrnaeans 6, 2. St. Justin Martyr (150 AD): “… not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but … as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by him, and by the change of which our blood and flesh is nourished, is both the Flesh and Blood of that incarnated Jesus.” First Apology 66, 20. St. Irenaeus of Lyons (195 AD): “He (Jesus) has declared the cup, a part of his creation, to be His own Blood, from which he causes our blood to flow; and the bread, a part of creation, He has established as His own Body, from which He gives increase to our bodies.” Against Heresies 5, 2, 2. St. Cyril of Jerusalem (350 AD): “He himself, therefore, having declared and said of the Bread, ‘This is My Body,’ who will dare any longer to doubt? And when He Himself has affirmed and said, ‘This is My Blood,’ who can ever hesitate and say it is not His Blood?” Catechetical Lectures: Mystagogic 4, 22, 1. St. Cyril again: “Do not, therefore, regard the bread and wine as simply that, for they are, according to the Master’s declaration, the Body and Blood of Christ. Even though the senses suggest to you the other, let faith make you firm. Do not judge in this matter by taste, but be fully assured by faith, not doubting that you have been deemed worthy of the Body and Blood of Christ.” ibid 4, 22, 6. - Fasting (1 Tim. 4:3) Mk. 7:19 – Christ declared all foods clean 1 Tim. 4:4-5 – everything created by God is good Dan. 10:3 – Daniel refused to eat choice foods for 3 weeks Mt. 9:15 – Christ’s followers will fast once he is gone Mt. 6:16-18 – Jesus gave regulations concerning how to fast - Father, Call no man Father? (Mt. 23:9) Acts 6:14, 7:2 – St. Stephen calls Jewish leaders “fathers” Acts 21:40, 22:1 – St. Paul calls Jerusalem Jews “fathers” Rom. 4:16-17 – Abraham called “the father of us all” 1 Cor. 4:14-15 – I became your father in Christ through gospel 1 Tim. 1:2 – my true child in the faith Tit. 1:4 – my true child in our common faith Heb. 12:7-9 – we have earthly fathers to discipline us Lk. 14:26 – if anyone comes to me without hating his father … 1 Thess. 2:1 – we treated you as a father treats his children Philem. 10 – whose father I became in my imprisonment 1 Jn. 2:13, 14 – I write to you, fathers, because you know him - Health and Wealth Gospel? Mt. 10:38 – no “take cross and follow me” = not worthy of me Rom. 8:16-17 – heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him Rom. 8:18 – present suffering nothing compared w/ future glory Phil. 1:28-29 – granted to believe, also to suffer for him Col. 1:24 – filling up what is lacking in Christ sufferings Heb. 12:5-7 – whom God loves, he disciplines as sons Heb. 12:11 – discipline seems painful, but brings righteousness 1 Pet. 1:6 – for a while you must suffer various trials 1 Pet. 2:19-21 – suffering = grace; Jesus suffered as our example - Hell Is. 33:11, 14 – who of us can live with the everlasting flames Mt. 25:41 – depart, you accursed, into the eternal fire Mt. 25:46 – these will go off to eternal punishment Lk. 3:16-17 – the chaff he will burn in unquenchable fire 2 Thess. 1:6-9 – these will pay the penalty of eternal ruin - Holy Orders Acts 20:28 – Holy Spirit appointed you overseers, to tend church Lk. 22:19 – do this in memory of me Jn. 20:22 – As Father sent me, I send you … receive Holy Spirit Acts 6:6 – the apostles prayed and laid hands on them Acts 13:3 – they laid hands on them & sent them off Acts 14:22 – they appointed presbyters in each church 1 Tim. 4:14 – gift received through laying on of hands of presbyterate 2 Tim. 1:6 – gift of God you have through imposition of hands Tit. 1:5 – appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you - Holy Spirit a Person, Not a Force Jn. 14:26 – “he will teach you all things” Acts 8:29 – “And the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go up …’” Acts 13:2 – “Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me …’” Rom. 8:27 – “Spirit intercedes for the saints …” 1 Cor. 2:11 – no one understands thoughts of God, but Spirit 1 Cor. 12:11 – Spirit apportions to each as he wills Eph. 4:30 – “do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, …” - Homosexuality Gn. 1 – complementarity of sexes reflects God’s inner beauty Gn. 2 – transmission of life through total self-donation – one flesh Gn. 19 – original sin deteriorates to Sodom’s sin, destroyed Lv. 18:22 – called abomination, cut off from people (v. 29) Rom. 1:27 – called unnatural, shameful, and a perversity 1 Tim. 1:10 – those who engage in such acts called “sinners” - Jesus, Divinity of Jn. 1:1 – the Word was God Jn. 1:14-15 – glory of Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth Jn. 8:19 – if you knew me, you would know my Father Jn. 8:58-59 – I assure you, before Abraham was, I AM Jn. 10:30-33 – the Father and I are one (See Ex. 3:14, 20:7, Lev. 19:12, 24:14-16) Jn. 10:38 – the father is in me and I am in the Father Jn. 12:45 – whoever sees me sees the one who sent me Jn. 14:8-12 – whoever has seen has seen the Father Jn. 20:28 – Jesus accepts Thomas’s “my Lord and my God” Col. 2:9 – in him dwells whole fullness of deity bodily Acts 20:28 – church of God he acquired w/ his blood Eph. 1:7 – in him we have redemption by his blood 1 Jn. 1:7 – blood of his Son Jesus cleanses from all sin Tit. 2:13 – glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ - Mary Lk. 1:28, 30 – angel: “full of grace, found favor with God” Lk. 1:40 – Elizabeth: “most blessed among women” Lk. 1:48 – Mary: “all generations will call me blessed” Mother of God Lk. 1:43 – Elizabeth calls her “mother of my Lord” = God Mt. 1:23 – virgin bear a son, Emmanuel = “God is with us” Lk. 1:35 – child born will be called holy, the Son of God Gal. 4:4 – God sent his Son, born of a woman Assumption Gen. 5:24 – (Heb. 11:5) – Enoch taken to heaven without dying 2 Kgs. 2:11 – Elijah assumed into heaven in fiery chariot Mt. 27:52 – many saints who had fallen asleep were raised 1 Thess. 4:17 – caught up to meet the Lord in the air 1 Cor. 15:52 – we shall be instantly changed at last trumpet Rom. 6:23 – for the wages of sin is death Rev. 11:19-12:1 – ark in heaven = woman clothed with sun Immaculate Conception Lk. 1:28 – hail full of grace (highly favored) Lord is with you Lk. 1:30 – you have found favor with God Lk. 1:37 – for with God nothing shall be impossible Gen. 3:15 – complete enmity between woman & Satan, sin Ex. 25:11-21 – ark made of purest gold for God’s word Lk. 1:47 – my spirit rejoices in God my savior Perpetual Virginity Lk. 1:34 – how can this be, since I do not know man Lk. 2:41-51 – age 12, Jesus evidently only son of Mary Mk. 6:3 – “the son of Mary” not “a son of Mary” Mt. 27:56 – Mary the mother of James & Joseph is also Jn. 19:25 – Mary the wife of Clopas Jn. 19:26 – entrusted Mary to John, not a younger sibling Jn. 7:3-4 – brothers advise like elders: “go to Judea, manifest self” Mk. 3:21 – set out to seize him, “he is out of his mind” Mt. 28:20 – I am with you always, until end of age 1 Tim. 4:13 – until I arrive, attend to reading, teaching … 1 Cor. 15:25 – he must reign until has enemies underfoot Lk. 1:80 – John in desert until day of his manifestation Ex. 13:2; Nb. 3:12 – consecrate first-born that opens womb Ex. 24:20 – first-born among your sons you shall redeem - Matrimony Mt. 19:5 – leave father & mother, join wife, two become one flesh Mk. 10:7-12 – what God joined together, no man separate Eph. 5:22-32 – union of man & wife image of Christ & Church 1 Thess. 4:4 – acquire a wife for yourself in holiness & honor - Peter, Primacy of Mt. 16:18 – upon this rock (Peter) I will build my church Mt. 16:19 – give you keys of the kingdom; power to bind & loose Lk. 22:32 – Peter’s faith will strengthen his brethren Jn. 21:17 – given Christ’s flock as chief shepherd Mk. 6:7 – angel sent to announce Resurrection to Peter Lk. 24:34 – risen Jesus first appeared to Peter Acts 1:13-26 – headed meeting which elected Matthias Acts 2:14 – led Apostles in preaching on Pentecost Acts 2:41 – received first converts Acts 3:6–7 – performed first miracle after Pentecost Acts 5:1–11 – inflicted first punishment: Ananias & Saphira Acts 8:21 – excommunicated first heretic, Simon Magnus Acts 10:44–46 – received revelation to admit Gentiles into church Acts 15 – led first council in Jerusalem Acts 15:17 – pronounces first dogmatic decision Gal. 1:8 – after conversion, Paul visits chief Apostle Gal. 2:11–14 – I opposed Cephas to his face, for his hypocrisy. Peter’s name always heads list of Apostles: Mt. 10:1–4; Mk. 3:16–19; Lk. 6:14–16; Acts 1:13 “Peter and his companions” – Lk. 9:32; 8:46; Mk. 16:7 Spoke for Apostles – Mt. 18:21; Mk. 8:29; Lk. 12:41; Jn. 6:69 Peter’s name occurs 195 times, more than all the rest put together - Prayer REPETITIOUS PRAYER 1 Kgs. 18:25-29 – example of vain repetition: call Baal for hours Mt. 26:44 – Jesus prayed a third time, saying same thing again Lk. 18:13 – collector kept beating breast & praying: be merciful Rev. 4:8 – repeat day & night, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord” 1 Thess. 5:17 – pray without ceasing INTERCESSORY PRAYER TO SAINTS Rom. 15:30 – join me by your prayers to God on my behalf Eph. 4:3 – pray for us 2 Thess. 1:11 – we always pray for you 2 Thess. 3:1 – finally, brothers, pray for us Eph. 6:18 – making supplication for all the saints & for me Tob. 12:12 – angel presents Tobit & Sarah’s prayer to God Rev. 5:8 – angel offers prayers of the holy ones to God Mk. 12:26-27 – he is God of the living, not of the dead Mk. 9:4 – Jesus seen conversing with Elijah and Moses Lk. 23:43 – this day you will be with me in paradise Rev. 6:9-11 – martyrs under altar want earthly vindication Heb. 12:1 – we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses Lk. 16:19-30 – departed rich man intercedes for brothers Rev. 20:4 – saw the souls of those who had been beheaded Wis. 3:1-6 – the souls of the just are in the hand of God 1 Tim. 2:1-7 – offer prayers, petitions for all men 1 Pet. 2:5 – be a holy priesthood to offer sacrifices through Christ Mk. 10:18 – only God is good Mt. 25:23 – well done my good and faithful servant Jn. 10:11-16 – I am good shepherd; one flock, one shepherd Jn. 21:15-16 – feed my lambs, tend my sheep Eph. 4:11 – he gave some as apostles …. others as pastors Heb. 3:1, 7:24, 9:12 – Jesus eternal high priest; one sacrifice 1 Pet. 2:5 – be a holy priesthood to offer sacrifices through Christ Rev. 1:6, 5:10 – he made us a kingdom of priests for God - Purgatory Mt. 5:48 – be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect Heb. 12:14 – strive for that holiness w/o which cannot see God Jam. 3:2 – we all fall short in many respects Rev. 21:27 – nothing unclean shall enter heaven 1 Jn. 5:16-17 – degrees of sins distinguished Jm. 1:14-15 – when sin reaches maturity gives birth to death 2 Sam. 12:13-14 – David, though forgiven, still punished for sin Mt. 5:26 – you will not be released until paid last penny Mt. 12:32 – sin against Holy Spirit unforgiven in this age or next Mt. 12:36 – account for every idle word on judgment day 2 Macc. 12:44-46 – atoned for dead to free them from sin 1 Cor. 3:15 – suffer loss, but saved as through fire 1 Pet. 3:18-20; 4:6 – Jesus preached to the spirits in prison 2 Tim. 1:16-18 – Paul prays for dead friend Onesiphorus - Relics 2 Kgs. 13:20-21 – contact with Elisha’s bones restored life Acts 5:15-16 – cures performed through Peter’s shadow Acts 19:11-12 – cures through face cloths that touched Paul - Saints VENERATION OF SAINTS Tob. 12:16 – Tobiah & Tobit fall to ground before Raphael Mt. 18:10 – angels in heaven always behold face of God (We venerate angels because of their great dignity, which comes from their union with God. Saints also are united with God.) 1 Jn. 3:2 – we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is 1 Thess. 1:5-8 – you became an example to all the believers Heb. 13:7 – remember leaders, consider/imitate their faith and life COMMUNION OF SAINTS Eph. 1:22-23 – he is head of the church, which is his body Eph. 5:21-32 – Christ is head of church, savior of the body Col. 1:18, 24 – he is the head of the body, the church 1 Cor. 12:12-27 – if one suffers, all suffer; if one honored, all rejoice Rom. 12:5 – we are 1 body in Christ, individual parts of one another Eph. 4:4 – one body, one Spirit, called to one hope Col. 3:15 – you were called in one body Rom. 8:35-39 – death cannot separate us from Christ Rom. 12:10 – love one another with mutual affection 1 Thess. 5:11 – encourage, build up one another Gal. 6:2 – bear one another’s burdens Gal. 6:10 – let us do good to all, especially those in family of faith - Salvation HAVE YOU BEEN SAVED? Past Event (I have been saved) Rom 8:24 – for in hope we were saved Eph. 2:5, 8 – by grace you have been saved through faith 2 Tim. 1:9 – he saved us, called us, according to his grace Tit. 3:5 – he saved us through bath of rebirth, renewal by Holy Spirit Present Process (I am being saved) Phil. 2:12 – work out your salvation with fear and trembling 1 Pet. 1:9 – as you attain the goal of your faith, salvation Future Event (I will be saved) Mt. 10:22 – he who endures to the end will be saved Mt. 24:13 – he who perseveres to the end will be saved Mk. 8:3-5 – whoever loses his life for my sake will save it Acts 15:11 – we shall be saved through the grace of Jesus Rom. 5:9-10 – since we are justified, we shall be saved Rom. 13:11 – salvation is nearer now than first believed 1 Cor. 3:15 – he will be saved, but only as through fire 1 Cor. 5:5 – deliver man to Satan so his spirit may be saved Heb. 9:28 – Jesus will appear second time, to bring salvation ASSURANCE OF SALVATION? Mt. 7:21 – not everyone saying “Lord, Lord” will inherit Mt. 24:13 – those who persevere to the end will be saved Rom. 11:23 – remain in his kindness or you will be cut off Phil. 2:12 – work out your salvation in fear and trembling 1 Cor. 9:27 – drive body for fear of being disqualified 1 Cor. 10:11-12 – those thinking they are secure, may fall Gal. 5:4 – separated from Christ, you’ve fallen from grace 2 Tim. 2:11-13 – must hold out to end to reign with Christ Heb. 6:4-6 – describes sharers in Holy Spirit who then fall away Heb. 10:26-27 – if sin after receiving truth, judgment remains - Scandals in the Church Jer. 32:32-35 – OT leaders & priests offered child sacrifices 2 Kgs. 23:7 – OT cult prostitutes in the temple of the Lord Jn. 4:22 – in spite of their infidelity, salvation is from Jews Mk. 14:43-46 – Judas betrayed Jesus Mk. 14:66-72 – Peter denied him Jn. 20:24-25 – Thomas refused to believe his resurrection Mk. 14:50 – they all left him and fled in garden of Gethsemane Rom. 3:3-4 – will their infidelity nullify fidelity of God? No! 2 Tim. 2:13 – if we are unfaithful, God remains faithful Mt. 13:24-30 – parable of the weeds among the wheat Mt. 13:47-48 – parable of net that collects good and bad - Second Coming, Time Unknown Mt. 24:44 – be prepared, Jesus coming at unexpected hour Mt. 25:13 – stay awake, you know neither the day nor hour Mk. 13:35-37 – watch, unknown when lord of house coming Lk. 12:46 – master will come at unexpected day and hour 1 Thess. 5:2-3 – day of Lord will come like thief in night 2 Pet. 3:9-10 – day of Lord will come like a thief Rev. 3:3 – if not watchful, will come like a thief Mt. 24:36 – no one but Father alone knows day and hour - Sin, Original Gn. 2:16-17 – the day you eat of that tree, you shall die Gn 3:11-19 – God’s punishment for eating of the tree Rom. 5:12-19 – many became sinners through one man’s sin 1 Cor. 15:21-23 – by a man came death; in Adam all die Eph. 2:1-3 – we all once lived in the passions of our flesh - Statues Ex. 25:18-19 – make two cherubim of beaten gold Num. 21:8-9 – Moses made bronze serpent and put on pole 1 Kgs. 6:23-29 – temple had engraved cherubim, trees, flowers 1 Kgs. 7:25-45 – temple had bronze oxen, lions, pomegranates - Tradition BIBLE ALONE OR BIBLE PLUS TRADITION? 1 Cor. 11:2 – hold fast to traditions I handed on to you 2 Thess. 2:15 – hold fast to traditions, whether oral or by letter 2 Thess. 3:16 – shun those acting not according to tradition Jn. 21:25 – not everything Jesus said recorded in Scripture Mk. 13:31 – heaven & earth shall pass away, but my word won’t Acts 20:35 – saying of Jesus not recorded in gospels 2 Tim. 1:13 – follow my sound words; guard the truth 2 Tim. 2:2 – what you heard entrust to faithful men 2 Pet. 1:20 – no prophecy is a matter of private interpretation 2 Pet. 3:15–16 – Paul’s letters can be difficult to grasp & interpret 1 Pet. 1:25 – God’s eternal word = word preached to you Rom. 10:17 – faith comes from what is heard 1 Cor. 15:1-2 – being saved if you hold fast to the word I preached Mk. 16:15 – go to whole world, proclaim gospel to every creature Mt. 23:2-3 – chair of Moses; observe whatever they tell you St. Althanasius (360 AD): “let us note that the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which the Lord gave, was preached by the Apostles, and was preserved by the Fathers. On this was the Church founded; and if anyone departs from this, he neither is nor any longer ought to be called a Christian….” Four Letters to Serapion of Thmius 1, 28. Origen (c. 230 AD) “The teaching of the Church has indeed been handed down through an order of succession from the Apostles, and remains in the Churches even to the present time. That alone is to be believed as the truth which is in no way at variance with ecclesiastical and apostolic tradition.” Fundamental Doctrines 1, preface, 2. TRADITION CONDEMNED? 1 Cor. 11:2 – commends them for following Apostolic tradition 2 Thess. 2:15 – commands them to keep traditions 2 Thess. 3:16 – shun those acting not according to tradition - Wine, Drinking Prov. 20:1 – wine is a mocker, unwise to be led astray by it Is. 25:6 – God will provide feast of rich foods & choice wines Is. 5:11 – woe to those rise early & run after strong drink Is. 5:22 – woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine Lk. 7:33-34 – Son of Man eats & drinks: behold Jn. 2:2-9 – miracle at Cana: water turned into good wine Eph. 5:18 – do not get drunk with wine, that is debauchery 1 Tim. 5:23 – drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach - Works FAITH ALONE OR FAITH PLUS WORKS? Jam. 2:24 – a man is justified by works and not by faith alone Jam. 2:26 – faith without works is dead Gal 5:6 – only thing that counts is faith working in love 1 Cor. 13:2 – faith without love is nothing Jn. 14:15 – if you love me, keep my commandments Mt. 19:16-17 – if wish to enter into life, keep commandments GOOD WORKS Mt. 7:21 – not lord lord, but he who does the will of father Mt. 19:16-17 – to have life, keep the commandments Jn. 14:21 – he who keeps my commandments loves me Rom. 2:2-8 – eternal life by perseverance in good works Gal. 5:4-6 – nothing counts but faith working through love Eph. 2:8-10 – we are created in Christ Jesus for good works Phil. 2:12-13 – work out salvation with fear and trembling Jas. 2:14-24 – a man is justified by works & not faith alone JUDGED ACCORDING TO DEEDS Rom. 2:5-8 – God will repay each man according to his works 2 Cor. 11:15 – recompense accord to what did in body 2 Cor. 11:15 – their end will correspond to their deeds 1 Pet. 1:17 – God judges impartially according to one’s works Rev. 20:12-13 – dead judged according to their deeds Col. 3:24-25 – will receive due payment for whatever you do Home \| About Us \| Mass Info \| Ministries \| Religious Education \| Deepen Your Faith \| Photos \| Homilies \| Contact Us