Unit 1 Study Guide - Praying/Scripture - Thunell

What is prayer?

Prayer is a vital and personal relationship with the living and true God.

Why is prayer necessary for a relationship with God?

We must give God our attention and time to develop a real relationship with Him.

What is Divine Revelation?

God's personal revelation of Himself and truths we could not know unless He chose to reveal them.

What are the two ways Divine Revelation is transmitted?

Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

What is Scripture?

The divinely inspired Word of God through which God speaks to humanity.

What is Tradition?

The living Tradition of the early Church that helps us understand and interpret Scripture.

How do Scripture and Tradition work together?

Scripture gives us God's Word, while Tradition helps the Church understand and faithfully interpret it.

What is Divine Inspiration?

The gift of the Holy Spirit that guided human authors to write Scripture as God's true Word.

What are the two ways Scripture is inspired?

God is the divine author, while human writers are true human authors who wrote through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Who is the ultimate author of Scripture?

God is the divine author.

Who are the human authors of Scripture?

The human writers who used their own abilities to write, collect, and edit Scripture under God's inspiration.

Does Divine Inspiration mean the human authors did not really write Scripture?

No. God inspired them, but they remained true human authors who used their own abilities.

What does Scripture teach?

Scripture faithfully teaches the truth God wanted written for the sake of our salvation.

Why is Scripture called a privileged site of God's presence?

God speaks to us and reveals Himself through Scripture.

What is the Catholic canon of Scripture?

The official collection of books recognized by the Catholic Church as inspired Scripture.

How is the Catholic Old Testament different from the Protestant Old Testament?

Catholics include seven Deuterocanonical books that Protestants generally do not include.

What are the seven Deuterocanonical books?

Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees.

Why does the Catholic Church include the Deuterocanonical books?

They were part of the scriptural tradition received by the early Church and were used by early Christians.

How many books are in the Catholic Bible?

73 books.

How many books are in the Catholic Old Testament?

46 books.

How many books are in the New Testament?

27 books.

What is the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition?

A more word-for-word Catholic translation used for academic study.

What is the New Jerusalem Bible?

A thought-for-thought Catholic translation used in Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.

What is exegesis?

The process biblical scholars use to determine the meaning of a biblical text.

What is the literal sense of Scripture?

What the human author intended by the words they wrote.

What must be considered when determining the literal sense?

Genre, history, context, language, and the author's intention.

What is the spiritual sense of Scripture?

The deeper meaning of Scripture beyond its literal meaning.

What are the three spiritual senses of Scripture?

Allegorical, moral, and anagogical.

What is the allegorical sense of Scripture?

How Scripture points to Christ through symbols, metaphors, and typology.

What is the moral sense of Scripture?

What Scripture teaches us about how we should live.

What is the anagogical sense of Scripture?

How Scripture relates to heaven, eternal life, and our relationship with God.

What are the five senses of Scripture?

Literal, spiritual, allegorical, moral, and anagogical.

How are the five senses of Scripture organized?

The literal sense and the spiritual sense; the spiritual sense includes allegorical, moral, and anagogical meanings.

What is salvation history?

The story of God's saving action over time as He continually invites humanity into covenant relationship.

What is a covenant?

An exchange of self that forms a family bond: "I am yours and you are mine."

When does salvation history begin?

At creation.

Where does salvation history culminate?

In Jesus and the New Covenant established through His death and Resurrection.

What are the six major covenants of salvation history in order?

Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus. (A-N-A-M-D-J)

What was the covenant with Adam and Eve?

God offered humanity the promise of eternal life.

What was the covenant with Noah?

God promised never again to destroy all life on earth with a flood.

What was the covenant with Abraham?

God promised to make a great nation from his descendants through whom the whole world would be blessed.

What was the covenant with Moses?

God freed the Jewish people from slavery and made them His special possession.

What was the covenant with David?

God promised that the Messiah would come from David's descendants.

What is the New Covenant through Jesus?

Jesus establishes a covenant with all humanity and calls people to do God's will from the heart.

What is the purpose of the covenants?

They show God progressively forming a relationship with humanity and leading people toward salvation.

What are the four forms of prayer represented by ACTS?

Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.

What is Adoration?

Praising God for who He is.

What is Contrition?

Repenting and expressing sorrow for our sins.

What is Thanksgiving?

Thanking God for His gifts and blessings.

What is Supplication?

Asking God for what we or others need.

What is the difference between petition and intercession?

Petition asks for our own needs; intercession asks for the needs of others.

What are the three expressions of prayer?

Vocal, meditative, and contemplative.

What is Vocal Prayer?

Prayer expressed through words, often using memorized or communal prayers.

Why is vocal prayer natural for humans?

Because we are body and soul, so we pray in a bodily and verbal way.

What is Meditative Prayer?

Prayer that involves reflection and seeking God's meaning, often using Scripture or another sacred text.

What is Contemplative Prayer?

Spending time peacefully in God's presence and resting with the One who loves us.

What is the goal of knowing God?

To love Him, follow Him, become like Him, and ultimately be united with Him.

How does Scripture help us know God?

God reveals Himself through His Word, allowing us to know Him personally.

What should we do when distracted during prayer?

Gently turn our attention back toward God without becoming discouraged.

What is Lectio Divina?

A way of praying through Scripture by listening, responding, and resting in God's Word.

What does Lectio mean?

Read.

What does Meditatio mean?

Meditate or reflect.

What does Oratio mean?

Pray or respond to God.

What does Contemplatio mean?

Contemplate or rest in God's presence.

What are the four steps of Lectio Divina in order?

Lectio, Meditatio, Oratio, Contemplatio.

What happens during Lectio?

Read a passage of Scripture slowly and attentively.

What happens during Meditatio?

Reflect on the passage and notice what God may be saying.

What happens during Oratio?

Respond to God through prayer.

What happens during Contemplatio?

Rest quietly in God's presence and receive His love.

What is the purpose of Lectio Divina?

To dialogue with God through His Word by listening, responding, and resting in Him.

Can Lectio Divina be practiced alone?

Yes, it can be practiced alone or in community.

What is Ignatian Meditation?

A form of prayer using imagination and the senses to enter into a Scripture story and encounter God.

Who is Ignatian Meditation associated with?

St. Ignatius of Loyola and his Spiritual Exercises.

What is the first step of Ignatian Meditation?

Pray for guidance.

What is the second step of Ignatian Meditation?

Review the biblical narrative or story.

What is the third step of Ignatian Meditation?

Ask God for the grace you hope to receive.

What is the fourth step of Ignatian Meditation?

Pray through the story by placing yourself inside the scene.

What is the application of senses in Ignatian Meditation?

Use imagination to engage with the scene through sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste.

How does Ignatian Meditation end?

Have a conversation with Jesus as one friend speaks to another.

What is the review of prayer in Ignatian Meditation?

Reflect on what stood out most and what happened during the prayer.

What is the purpose of Ignatian Meditation?

To enter Scripture personally and listen for how God is speaking to you.

What are the four sections of the Old Testament?

Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Books, and Prophetic Books. (P → H → W → P)

What is another name for the Pentateuch?

The Torah or Law.

What are the five sections of the New Testament?

Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Pauline Letters, Non-Pauline Letters, and Revelation. (G → A → P → N → R)

What are the four Gospels?

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

What is Acts of the Apostles?

The historical book describing the early Christian Church and the work of the apostles.

What are the Pauline Letters?

Letters traditionally associated with St. Paul.

What is the difference between the Old and New Testaments?

The Old Testament prepares for God's saving work; the New Testament centers on Jesus and the New Covenant.

What are the three levels of conversation?

Conversation with God, conversation with oneself, and conversation with others.

What does conversation with God involve?

Listening and responding to God honestly in prayer.

What does conversation with oneself involve?

Reflecting honestly on your thoughts, feelings, experiences, and response to God.

What does conversation with others involve?

Sharing faith and experiences with others and considering how God calls us to love them.

What should prayer ultimately lead us toward?

Knowing and loving God so deeply that we become united with Him and become "another Christ."

What does "another Christ" mean?

Becoming more like Christ by knowing, loving, and following Him.