Unit 1 Ecclesiology

What is the dogma of the Holy Trinity?

The Trinity is three persons in one divine substance; they are all fully God, each person is distinct from each other, defined by their relationships.

Define Ecclesiology.

The study of the Church.

What is a sacrament?

A sign of grace instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church by which divine life is dispensed to us.

Who are the 'people of God'?

The people whom God has called together to become His children through faith and Baptism.

What does Ekklesia mean?

Assembly (Greek).

Which Divine Persons are fully and truly God?

All of the Divine Persons are fully and truly God.

How are the three Divine Persons distinguished?

They are distinguished through their relationships with each other.

What does it mean that the Father begets the Son?

The Father is the origin of the Son; the Son is begotten of the Father.

How does the Holy Spirit proceed?

The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.

What does the revelation of the Holy Trinity teach us about God?

It teaches us that God is Love; love describes who God is, but God is Love itself.

Why are we made in the 'image and likeness' of God?

We are made to love and for relationship, having an immaterial soul, intellect, and free will.

What is the last end of the human person?

The last end of the human person is perfect communion with God and all the blessed in Heaven.

Why is the Church called a 'mystery'?

The Church is called a mystery because it surpasses the capacity of the finite, and we cannot comprehend it fully.

What does it mean when the Church is called the 'People of God'?

The Church is a community that shares a common identity.

What is the 'Mystical Body of Christ'?

The Church is united with Christ through his body, with Christ as the head and the Holy Spirit as the soul.

What does it mean to say the Church is the 'Temple of the Holy Spirit'?

The Church is a visible structure of 'living stones'; God dwells in it in a unique way.

What does it mean to say the Church is the 'Bride of Christ'?

Christ and the Church are in a personal relationship; Christ is the bridegroom and the Church is the bride.

Why is the Church referred to as the 'New Israel'?

The promises to Israel are fulfilled in the Catholic Church which is the 'new' Israel.

What does it mean that the Church is the 'Family of God'?

God the Father is the Father, the Son is Master of the House, and the faithful are the children of the family.

What is the 'Sacrament of Salvation'?

The Church is a sign of man's union with God and one another, and the cause of that union.

Why is the Church called a 'Perfect Society'?

Because she possesses all the means necessary (the fullness of truth and grace) to achieve her end (the salvation of souls).

Who is the Head of the Church?

Christ is the Head of the Church.

Who is the visible head of the Church?

The Pope is the visible head of the Church.

Who is the Soul of the Church?

The Holy Spirit is the Soul of the Church, uniting and giving life.

Who are the members of the Mystical Body of Christ?

The members are the people of God (the faithful and members of the church).

List five common themes among the images of the Church.

The Church is divine and human, both spiritual and visible, a communion of persons, one, and holy.