chapter 1 test // theology 12

3 main mysteries of the faith

the trinity, incarnation, the Eucharist

characteristics of a mystery

supranational

structure in which mysteries are expressed

paradox; “both/and”

both/and

Jesus is both God & man; Mary is both mother & virgin; God is both 1 & 3; the cross is both death & life

goal of Christian spirituality

human flourishing, striving for holiness

3 different kinds of persons

divine, angelic, human

human

pure spirit, body & soul, intellect & will, finite/limited

soul

received at conception, immortal

angelic

pure spirit, finite/limited, intellect & will, soul, immortal

divine

pure spirit, intellect & will, eternal

imago dei

“image of God” (revealed in Genesis)

(Jesus is) the way

the way to Heaven & God

where is intellect oriented

towards truth

where is will oriented

towards good

what is our vocation 

beatitude

sin

has distorted the image of God but not destroyed it; “loving what God hates, and hating what God loves”

fundamental sin

selfish self-love (ex. greed)

goal of the end of life

union with God

why do we desire God?

we are created by God & for God

God created us to…

know Him, love Him, and serve Him so we can be happy with Him forever in Heaven

2 ways we know God exists

reason & revelation

our knowledge of God is

finite

divine attributes of God

omnipresent, omnipotent, omnibenevolent, omniscient

omnipresent

everywhere

omnibenevolent

all-good

omnipotent

all-powerful

omniscient

all-knowing

apophatic

emphasizes what God is not

cataphatic

emphasizes what we can know about God

God became flesh

for our salvation, love, & so that we may be partakers of the divine nature

charism

gifts that should be used to help others

grace

“… the free & undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life”

(CCC 1996)

sanctifying grace