RE EXAM

Vocation

Vocation is the life calling of every human being. It has many elements including, work, personal growth and development and possibly marriage. Vocation as a life calling is much broader than a job. It has its origins in the Latin word vocatio or 'a call' or a 'summons'.

Creation

the universe and the various forms of life were created by God out of nothing

Work (Christian)

is something that everyone has been created to do. This includes any way that a human being participates in God's creative activity even the most ordinary everyday activities.

Recreation

Renewing one's personal energy, prevent stress and tension

Chastity

The ability to harmonise sexual thoughts, feelings and desires. It is the growing ability to see others as God does. This means seeing beyond an individual's sexuality to the whole person God loves.

Discernment

The ability to recognise or understand something, someone, or some course of action more fully and deeply than ever before. This process often leads to a decision

Eucharist

A sacred celebration where the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ.

Spiritual sacrifice

are "offerings" or "sacrifices" a follower of Jesus offers to the Lord. This could include prayers, good works, money, praise and your body

Prophet

A biblical person was called by God to speak on God's behalf.

Salvation

God's saving action on behalf of the human race that destroys the power of original sin and empowers people to overcome the effects of original sin.

Subdue

Means developing the goodness in creation, rather than dominate the earth and exploit its resources

Christian vocation

is to put others first as Jesus did when he exercised his mission as priest. The Christian vocation is to speak out on behalf of the poor and the powerless as Jesus did when he fulfilled his mission as prophet. The Christian vocation is to exercise stewardship over all creation as Jesus did when he fulfilled his mission as king

Procreation

Parents cooperate in God's creation of their children.

Marriage

a loving and life-giving relationship between two people for the rest of their lives.

Sacrament

A visible sign of the invisible presence and action (grace) of God.

Priest

Ordained ministers who serve the spiritual needs of God's people. These leaders serve God's community in three ways:

bearing witness to Jesus,

leading the community,

celebrating the Sacraments.

Apostolate

This term has been consistently used to refer to the work accomplished by ordained ministers, consecrated religious or lay people.

Celibate

An unmarried state based on sexual self-denial 'for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven'.

Deacon

A special group who help Priests (or the Bishop) with his responsibilities of teaching, sanctifying and governing the Church.

Holy Orders

is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees or grades: bishop, priest, and deacon.

Poverty

owning nothing personally in imitation of the poverty of Christ. Surrendering all goods and earnings to the Church and depending on the Church for support

Obedience

imitating Christ who gave his entire life to obeying God the Father, by placing one's talents, and even one's choice of how best to use those talents, at the complete disposal of the Church.

Hell

A state of separation from God

Lent

Lent is a special time set aside for Christians to reflect on their lives and their relationship with Christ and his mission on earth.

Purgatory

Before people can enter Heaven they must be 'purified' of their sins. This 'purification' process is called 'purgatory'.

Requiem Mass

Mass for the dead. 'Requiem' means 'eternal rest'.

Spiritual discernment

Spiritual discernment is a process by which a person in faith and love tries to discover God's will in a situation.

What is the kingdom of God

Jesus announced the Kingdom of God as

- coming with power to free people from sin and the domination of evil.

- offers relationship with God and the promise of eternal life with God.

- not a place, exists where people acknowledge God's Lordship over them and allow themselves to be transformed by the power of God's love.

Who are single people advised to speak to? Single people are encouraged to seek a spiritual director

a priest, religious or lay person

How does spiritual discernment help one to discover their vocation?

The church provides spiritual guidance for vocational discernment

Who are single people advised to speak to?

Single people are encouraged to seek a spiritual director - a priest, religious or lay person - in making their life decision

Where are a couple discerning a call to marriage asked to attend. Why?

Those discerning a call to marriage are asked to attend marriage preparation classes well before their wedding, or even before their engagement, to ensure they have made the correct decision

Who are others discerning a religious vocation asked to consult?

Asked to speak with a spiritual director who has experience in helping to guide people through the process of knowing and following God’s will in this regard

Why can some people fail to recognise their vocation?

Self centeredness

Low self esteem

Failure to value creation, society and family

Focus on status and income

How do people accept Gods saving Grace

People accept the power of God's saving grace in their lives (Christian salvation) by fulfilling two conditions:

• repentance means turning away from sin and turning to God

• belief in the Gospel.  accepting as true all the teachings of Jesus.

How did Jesus demonstrate the saving power of God?

Jesus demonstrated that God's saving power is offered to everyone in order to live the Christian life. Many miracles, such as healing miracles, demonstrated what the kingdom can do within people.

How do people experience salvation in their daily lives

Salvation:

- gradually empowers people to overcome all human weaknesses and failings

- guides people towards true answers to basic human questions • heals deep personal hurts

- Strengthens the marriages of those who pray, worship and live as Jesus taught

- consoles the seriously ill and the dying

- forgives sins

- replaces inner conflict with peace

What was the role of priests in the old testament

The basic responsibilities of Old Testament priests was to act on behalf of the Jewish people to help them reconcile wth God They offered sacrifices

How was Jesus a priest

Sacrificed himself to God

Priest as a christian vocation

- Someone who makes sacrifices on behalf of people

- Prays for the sake of others (Intercession)

- Mediator between God and Humanity

- We do this when we pray for others, say grace before a meal, bless your kids, go to Church etc.

Offering every part of their life to God

Prophet as a christian vocation

Summoned by God to speak the word of God on Gods behalf by speaking up and acting on behalf of the poor and oppressed in society thus building God's Kingdom here on earth

King as a christian vocation

Lead people to God

Charisms

- Gifts from God

Mastering oneself

Servant king

How did jesus institute a new preisthood

By telling his Apostles to 'do this in remembrance of me', during the last supper, Jesus instituted them as a new priesthood.

He, instead of offering up animals to God offered up himself, therefore allowing priests from now on to do the same - using his body and blood (Eucharist and Wine) as a sacrifice to God, Jesus fulfilled in him-self the Old Testament priesthood, becoming the "supreme High Priest."

how do Christians share in the mission of Jesus as priest

They offer these spiritual sacrifices to God the Father by living in ways that keep God's commandments. This includes trying to:

• show love to other family members

• care for anyone who has a special need

Eg.

- the poor and sick

- the rejected

- the discouraged

• be just and fair in how they treat others

• fulfil their responsibilities and commitments

What was the role of prophet in the old testament?

proclaim the word or teaching of God and to speak in God's name to others. criticise and call others to work to change what was bad or evil in their society, challenging whatever was contrary to God's law.

What was the role of king in the Old Testament???

Old Testament kings were meant to be servants of God who was the real king of Israel.

They were meant to lead people to God and show them how to follow the commandments

What was jesus' mission as king and how do we share in it

Jesus' mission as king was to establish the rule of God in the world. He came to promote a society that reflected God and the values of God. This would be a society of love, goodness, faithfulness, forgiveness and care for those with special needs.

We can share in this mission by promoting God's rule of love and goodness that destroys evil in the world - bringing order and harmony to God's creation

Matthew 20:28

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

What was God's original plan for marriage? How was it ruined?

God revealed that marriage was meant to be a loving and life-giving relationship between one man and one woman for the rest of their lives. Our reason for existence is to be loved by God and to return that love in the service of God and others

This plan was destroyed by Original Sin due to there now being an influx of greed, selfishness, lack of will, cruelty, etc.

What are Gods two purposes of marriage

- The sexual expression of married love for one another

- The procreation of children

How did Jesus renew Gods original purpose of marriage

in Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus raised the importance of marriage to having the significance to be a sacrament.

In what ways does the Sacrament of Marriage strengthen and guide people in their life together?

Through the Sacrament of Marriage, Jesus strengthens married people so that, for example, they can:

• face the daily problems that arise in marriage

• reopen communication when there is tension

• renew their marriage commitment

• forgive each other

• support each other

• overcome temptations to be unfaithful, such as a sexual attraction to someone else.

how do Baptised people confer the Sacrament of Marriage upon one another

Baptised couples confer the Sacrament of Marriage upon one another when they exchange the vows of marriage before a priest or deacon and two other witnesses. It is then that Christ consecrates the love between them.

How does Jesus support his followers through ordained priesthood?

he established his special community, the Church

• instituted ways through which he could continue to teach and guide them

• instituted the seven sacraments through which they could receive special spiritual gifts, and nurture those gifts.

What is the Sacrament of Holy Orders?

Sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his Apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time. It is the sacrament of Apostolic ministry.

Includes three degrees

Bishop

Priest

Deacon

What is a bishop

A bishop is a priest who heads a diocese and is called an "ordinary" because he promotes order, and is in charge The pope is the bishop of Rome

How did Abraham hear the call to God

Abram heard the command of God to leave behind the life he knows and God will one day bless the entire world through him. How this will happen, and why, is a mystery to him. Nevertheless, he has faith in God and obeys. God later changes his name to Abraham.

How the personal call to ordained ministry is discerned

To recognise the Spirit's action, several things are required:

• praying daily

• receiving Holy Communion, through which Jesus strengthens the influence of the Spirit

• drawing on the gifts the Sacrament of Confirmation which all relate to providing guidance

• growing in understanding of the teachings of Jesus.

How do priests serve

Teaching the Gospel through

homilies during the Mass, helping parents prepare for the baptism of their children, teaching in various ways and within various contexts, consoling the sick, accompanying those seeking to discover the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their lives etc.

‘Sanctifying’ to become holier

- Blessing rosary beads

- Eucharist etc.

Guiding the community

- calling community members to help with the works of the parish

- ensuring that the parish is properly administered •

- caring for community members with special needs, such as those who are

– troubled

– sick

– dying

– in prison

What is celibate love?

The first requirement for developing the gift of celibate love is for the priest to centre his life upon Jesus. the second requirement for developing celibate love is to exercise it within the community the priest is called to serve.

- eg. eaching out to all people he can in this community through home visitations,

What gifts are people given to help them follow their vocation

Many people have the gifts needed for marriage. Some have the gifts to be good parents as well as being married. Some have the gifts needed to live singly and even to devote their lives entirely to the service of others. God also provides the gifts for other careers

How does rest contribute to Gods creative activity

Rest and recreation is important in order to: •  renew one's personal energy •  prevent stress and tension • help protect people from becoming so involved in business and other career activities that they lose sight of the importance of relationships and other normal human activities.

How does work contribute to Gods creative activity?

Work includes any way that a human being participates in God's creative activity even the most ordinary every the most ordinary every-day activities.

those unable to work, can all participate in God's work of bettering and perfecting the world.

Moral Principles

These help people work out 'right and wrong'. Moral choices created by God. These include Natural Law and the 10 Commandments.

Natural Law

Laws that apply to all people because they are part of human nature and accessed by reason.

Decalogue

Another word for "The Ten Commandments" In Greek "Decalogue" means the ten words.

Adultery

Adultery occurs when a married person has sexual relations with someone who is not their spouse (ie. wife or husband).

The Old Law

Also called the Torah. It is found in the first five books of the Old Testament.

New Law

As part of the New Covenant Jesus gave a new law to empower his followers to live as God called.

This consists of 4 elements:

Sharing with all who believe in Christ.

Charity divine love, the Sacraments.

Sermon on the Mount.

The two Great Commandments of Jesus.

Freedom

The ability to overcome internal and external pressures in order to make responsible moral choices.

Charity

The power of divine love for Christians to love God above all else and to love others for God's sake

Sacrament

Efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to people.

Beatitudes

These identify the attitudes of Jesus. There are eight of these. The First Beatitude is "Blessed are the poor in Spirit. The kingdom of heaven is theirs" Matthew 5:3

Grace

The free and undeserved help that God gives people to respond to his call to become children of God and share in the divine life