Church Hierarchy-questions you need to work on

Bishop

successor to the apostles, head of a diocese, fullness of sacrament of ordination

Priest (other religions)

one who sacrifices, mediator between God and man

Prophet

one who speaks the word of God

Priest (Catholicism)

coworkers with their bishop, assist in particular parishes

What is the role of the Church?

to give us access to Christ’s life even after his ascension- ministry, healings and teachings

Explain Christ’s three offices: 

Priest:

Jesus offered himself up as the ultimate sacrifice to atone for our sins and is a mediator between God and man because he is 100% man and God-he is the witness

Explain Christ’s three offices: Prophet

Jesus represents God’s word through his teachings and witness

explain christ’s three offices: king

christ is king over universe and creation and his reign is one of service and sacrifice clearly seen in his crucifixion

What is the point of the hierarchy of the Church?

to govern the church, and guide the church towards the common good-salvation for all

What is the Ecclesial Ministry?

explicit ministry of the church- those ordained to serve it. they are given power and authority to be christ’s emissaries because of ordination. ministers are called personally by christ and this ministry is a service

How does the ministerial priesthood’s authority correlate to the three offices of Christ?

bishops authority to sanctify comes from Christ’s priesthood, their authority to teach comes from Christ’s prophetic office and their authority to govern comes from Christ’s kingship

Explain the three levels of ordination:

Bishop-

fullness of the sacrament charism(special gift given by holy spirit for a purpose) take place of Christ himself

explain three levels of ordination: priest

co workers with their bishop, assist bishops in their diocese in particular parishes- only have authority from what the bishop gives them. main job is to give greater access to sacraments

explain three levels of ordination deacon

assist priests in parishes primarily with preaching and teaching

What is the role of the Pope?

The Pope leads the universal Church. The visible source and foundation of the unity of the bishops and the faithful. He leads the universal Church on earth through primarily governing and teaching.

Explain the episcopal college: what two ways does it have authority? 

The episcopal college is the college of all of the bishops in the Church. It has supreme and universal authority over the Church. It has solemn authority in an ecumenical council which is the council of all of authority

Explain what the lay vocation is

directing temporal affairs according to God’s will- temporal affairs are worldly things that affect the Church(money, politics)

Explain how the baptismal priesthood can participate in Christ’s three offices-priest

Priest- Laity can offer their entire lives as a spiritual sacrifice. In the mass, a lay person can be a lector or an acolyte

Explain how the baptismal priesthood can participate in Christ’s three offices prophet

 Witnesses, to teach to lead others to faith

• Evangelization- The proclamation of Christ by word and testimony of life

Explain how the baptismal priesthood can participate in Christ’s three offices-king

 Lay people can govern over themselves

• Control your sins and temptations

• Your intellect governs your will and passions

What are the two kinds of punishment and where do you go for each one? 

eternal-H E L L , temporal-purgatory

Be able to explain how these passages: 2 Maccabees 12: 38-46 relate to purgatory

 He prays and offers sacrifices for those who died in sin. If there is no way to be purified after death then there is no reason to pray for their dead. Thus this passage provides scriptural evidence for purgatory

Be able to explain how these passages:1 Corinthians 3:12-15 relate to purgatory

In this passage, Paul describes a purifying fire that people will be saved through. This fire must be talking about purgatory as it cannot refer to Hell because people are not saved through Hell. It cannot be Heaven as it mentions that one will suffer through the fire and there is no suffering in Heaven.

How does scripture describe Hell? 

Fiery Furnace”, “unquenchable fire”, and lake of fire and sulfur

What are the differences between particular judgement and the last judgement?

Particular judgement is personal as it is just you and Jesus while the last judgement is communal. You also have a body at the last judgement

What four events happen at the last judgement?

1. Christ comes again in glory

2. The bodies of the dead resurrect and are glorified. They then reunite with your soul

3. Every man’s truth is laid bare and is then judged by Christ

4. Heaven and Earth are re-created into a new Heavens and a new Earth that is perfect and glorified

Be able to explain the parable of the ten virgins relate to last judgment

Christ doesn’t know them, shows that entering Heaven is a relational endeavor. You always need to be ready as you do not know when your time will come.

Be able to explain the parable of the separating of the sheep and the goats and how they relate to the last judgement

The king separates the sheep from the goat. They are separated based on what they did to the least of their brethren as what you did for them is what you did for the King. Christ identifies himself with the lowest of the low. Connecting the two stories together, we see this relational dynamic of Heaven. One must be in relationship with Christ and Christ with him. This relationship is through how we treat the lowest of the low. Christ recognizing us in eternity is contingent on our recognition of Him in the lowest of the low.

What is Heaven? 

• Eternal relationship with God and each other

• In Heaven, one lives “in Christ” while retaining their identity

• It is the ultimate end and desire of all of the deepest human longings

• It is the state of perfect happiness

How does one go to Heaven? 

1. Repentance

2. Baptism

3. Faith in Christ

4. Eucharist

What do we know about Heaven? What does scripture promise about Heaven? 

1. We will be with Christ

2. We will be like Christ

3. We will have “Glory”

4. We will have some kind of food, feast, or entertainment

5. We will have some kind of governance and authority

What prevents someone from going to Heaven? 

Mortal sin, not accepting the Lord’s mercy