BL2: THE ACT AND SYMBOL OF FAITH: FIDES QUA AND FIDES QUAE

FAITH

assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1)

FAITH IS THE ASSURANCE OF THING HOPED FOR…

• Assurance is the same as essence or substance

• Faith is the essence or substance of what we hope for (salvation, eternal happiness, or eternal life)

• We defined substance or essence as that through which a person “is ” and “ acts.”

  • Faith is believing in action

FIDES QUA

• faith is a free, personal, and ecclesial act of submitting entirely to God in confidence

• Faith in action

Examples of Fides Qua:

• Doctrine: Bible study

• Worship: Mass

• Morals: Acts of Charity

FAITH IS THE CONVICTION OF THINGS UNSEEN

• We did not come to believe on our own.

• The Church from generation to generation hands on the apostles’ confession of faith

FIDES QUAE

• The apostles’ confession of faith becomes a symbol preserved and transmitted to deepen our faith

• Content

Examples of Fides Quae:

• Doctrine: Trinatarian and Christological Dogmas

• Worship: Liturgical Creeds

• Morals: Decalogue and Beatitudes

THE TWO-FOLD FORMS OF FAITH

• The substance or essence of how we believe

• The conviction that what we believe is true and necessary

The substance or essence of how we believe (fides qua)

• Act

• I believe

• Subjective

The conviction that what we believe is true and necessary (fides quae)

• Symbol

• I believe in

• Objective

fides qua and fides quae

Are paradoxes but complement each other

I BELIEVE = WE BELIEVE

• Faith is not an isolated act.

• “We” connotes a singular identity or communion with what the Church believes

CREEDS

• Latin word “credo” meaning belief

• Condensed formulas of faith that developed over a course of time

• Contemplated, passed on, celebrated, and lived out

• Makes I believe = We believe possible

example of creeds

•  Apostles’ Creed

• Nicene creed

what does the number 12 signify?

• Based on the number of apostles handpicked by Christ, it signifies “completeness.”

APOSTLES CREED

• Oldest authoritative doctrinal formulation of the Church’s belief in the Holy Trinity

• Ancient roman baptismal symbol

• Basis of catechumenal instruction and a baptismal confession of faith since 2nd century

NICENE CREED

• Arose out of a defensive struggle against heresy of Arianism

• Arose out of a defensive struggle against the heresy of Macedonian

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH

1. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord

3. Who was conceived by the power the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary

4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

5. He descended into hell. The third day he arose again from the dead.

6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead

8. I believe in the Holy Spirit

9. the holy catholic Church, the Communion of Saints

10. the forgiveness of sins

11. the resurrection of the body

12. And in life everlasting

FAITH IS A RELATIONSHIP

The believer’s act of faith does not terminate in the propositions but in the realities which they express.

There are 3 Gods just as there are 3 divine persons

False

“Agency” and “subjectivity” distinguish a person from a substance

True

• "agency" and "subjectivity" highlight a person's ability to think, feel, and act independently, which sets them apart from a "substance," which lacks consciousness and self-awareness.

• Person signifies perfectly nature

• Agency and subjectivity are one: manifestation of our nature, using our body and soul

Natural revelation discloses the Holy Trinity as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

False, natural revelation shows God's existence through nature, but the Holy Trinity is revealed only through Scripture and divine revelation.

It is the Holy Spirit who revealed that God is a substantial unity of 3 divine persons

False, It was Jesus

Jesus is a human person

False, Jesus is a divine person with two natures

WO INTERNAL ACTIVITIES

• Knowing

• Loving

Knowing

Intellect

Loving

Free will

God’s ___ is his ___

existence, essence

THE 5TH WAY: GOVERNANCE OF THINGS

• Cosmological argument

• “Cosmos” is from the Greek, kosmos, meaning order

• Purpose driven

Purpose driven

All things (intelligible and non-intelligible) are directed by God toward their purpose or goal

examples of purpose driven

• Bird migration

• Rain cycle

• Human body systems

• Planetary systems

DIVINE MISSION

Came from the latin word missio and procedere which means sent

DIVINE MISSION HAS TWO TYPES

1. DIVINE PROCESSION

2. CREATION EX NIHILO

DIVINE PROCESSION

• source: exituse

• end/goal/purpose: reditus

exitus

Kung galing tayo sa Diyos, tayo ay babalik din sa Diyos

reditus

returning God’s wisdom and goodness by glorifying Him

CREATION EX NIHILO

Returning to God’s wisdom and goodness

CREATION EX NIHILO AND DIVINE PROCESSION

Created effect of God’s wisdom and goodness

What am I?

1. substance

2. persons

substance

Human being possesses an individual substance if corporeal and spiritual substances

persons

Possession of a rational soul enable the human person to think and act freely and knowingly

2 types of what am i

• body

• soul

• spirit

body

That which expresses the soul and the spirit

soul

• That which animated the body (vegetative, appetitive, and rational)

• Lahat ng may buhay

spirit

Part of the soul that communicates with God

THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE 1ST CREATION ACCOUNT (MYTH)

• Who are we?: Created in God's image and likeness (imago dei)

• Purpose: be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it (stewardship)

THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE 2ND CREATION ACCOUNT (MYTH)

• Who are we?: created by God from the dust and breathed with life

• Purpose: placed in the garden of Eden to till it

refers to the content of faith

The mysteries of the Holy Rosary contain the essential points in the life and ministry of Jesus. Why is this Fides Quae?

emphasizes the active faith of believers as they personally engage in practicing mercy during these seasons

The faithful commonly practice spiritual and corporal works of mercy during the Lenten and Advent seasons. Why is this Fides Qua?

expresses the specific doctrine that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit share the same divine essence and exist together eternally

The Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are coeternal and consubstantial. Why is this Fides Quae?

personal faith and intention of individuals who perform this gesture as an act of devotion and belief in God's presence and protection

Making the sign of the cross when passing by cemeteries and hospitals. Why is this Fides Qua?

conveys specific teachings and doctrines about eternal life that the Church affirms

The dogmatic teaching on eternal life. Why is this Fides Qua?