Theology II - Final Study Guide

we love Jesus

Typology

Things in the Old Testament that point to things in the New Testament (and vice versa).

School Year Theme

“Fear not, for I am with you.” Isaiah 41:10

Magisterium

The teaching authority of the Church that consists of the pope and the bishops; they are responsible for spreading the Good News to all the world’s nations, as Jesus commended the Apostles to do at The Great Commission. Their teachings are guided by the Holy Spirit.

The Sacrifice of Isaac

God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a burning sacrifice on Mt. Moriah, but just when he was about to, God stopped him and said that he had proved his faithfulness, and was pleased with him.

Signs of the Covenants

Creation: Sunday, Noahic: rainbow, Abrahamic: circumcision, Sinai: Passover/10 Commandments, Davidic: temple, and Eucharistic: Eucharist.

Protoevangelium

The first Good News of a Savior, Genesis 3:15, which can be summarized like this; God will create opposition between Satan and Mary, and between sin and Jesus; Jesus will defeat and overcome sin and be a savior to all. This is the first time in the Bible that God brings news of a savior and promises to save humanity.

Inerrant

Without error

Sacred Tradition

The spoken teachings of the Church, with some examples being the Sacraments, Mass, priests, saints, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, etc.

Deposit of Faith

The beliefs of our faith passed down through generations with Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture.

Sacred Scripture

The written word of God; “God’s love story” for us. Commonly known simply as “The Bible.”

Martyr

Someone who dies for the faith of the Catholic Church. Some examples of these include St. Stephen (the first martyr who was stoned to death), St. Peter (who died on an upside-down cross because he didn’t feel worthy to die the same way Jesus did), and St. Paul.

Saint

Someone who has died and gone to heaven, and it has been confirmed by the Church. They are proof that we can overcome sin in our lives, and everyone in the church (all of us) is called to be a saint. One example is Blessed Carlo, who will soon be canonized as a saint.

Fiat

Mary’s yes to God and agreeing to be the mother of Jesus with her own free will. Can be found in Luke 1:38.

Annunciation

The event when the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would have Jesus.

Epiphany

The event when the three wise men visited the stable a little bit after the birth of Jesus (celebrated on January 6th).

Assumption

The event when Mary’s body and soul were taken up into heaven at the end of her earthly life. She is now the Queen of Heaven and is seated at her son’s right hand. This was because she was sinless, so therefore she didn’t suffer death.

John the Baptist

The son of Elizabeth (Mary’s cousin) and the man who baptized Jesus.

Presentation

The event when Mary and Joseph brought the young Jesus to the temple to present him to God the Father, as Jewish tradition followed. There, they encountered St. Simeon and St. Anna, who recognized Jesus as the Savior.

Incarnation

The fact that the Son of God assumed human nature and dwelt among us to accomplish our salvation; this makes Jesus both fully human and fully divine.

Nazareth

The place Jesus was raised and where it was recognized He was from.

Bethlehem

The place where Jesus was born and where David was from, which is fitting as Jesus was of the line of David (and all of the Old Testament mediators) on Joseph’s side.

Messiah

Hebrew word for “anointed one,” and the title given to the Savior, Jesus.

David

Son of Jesse and King of Isreal after Saul; mediator of the Davidic Covenant and author of the Psalms. He is also from Bethlehem.

The Gospel of Matthew

The gospel written by Matthew; includes the infancy narratives and was primarily written to the Jews to show them how Jesus was the Son of God.

The Gospel of Luke

The gospel written by Luke; includes the infancy narratives and was primarily written to the Gentiles to show them that God was the true God and that Jesus was sent to save everyone.

Magi

The three men (named Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar) who visited Jesus at the Epiphany and brought Him gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Dogmas of Mary

There are four recognized dogmas of Mary: 1. The Immaculate Conception, 2. Theotokos, meaning Mary is the “Mother of God,” 3. Prepetual Virginity, meaning the Virgin Mary remained a virgin for her entire life and her birth was possible by the Holy Spirit, 4. Assumption of Mary.

Immaculate Conception

The event when Mary was conceived without original sin and concupiscence and was full of grace, as she was called. This was declared in 1854 by Pope Pius IX and is celebrated on December 8th.

New Eve

Mary is the New Eve as her fiat reversed Eve’s original sin.

Egypt

Nation where the Israelites were kept as slaves (the plagues), and where Jesus and his family fled to in order to stay safe from Herod’s orders to kill the babies.

Jerusalem

The religious and political capital at the time of Jesus, also the city where the temple was located (Presentation, Finding in the Temple).

Baptism of Jesus

Jesus was Baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River to identify with sinners, to accept his mission and to be a model for what we need. The Holy Trinity was present at this baptism as well: God the Father was there as a voice who said, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased,” Jesus was there being baptized, and the Holy Spirit was there as a dove.

Temptations in the Desert

Jesus went into the desert for 40 days and nights to fast and prepare for his ministry and mission. While there, the devil temped him 3 times, and temped by every sin, but He resisted the devil by responding with Scripture each time the devil told Him to do something, proving we can resist temptation too. The first temptation was to turn rocks into bread to feed Him, representing sins of the flesh. The second was to throw Himself off the temple to prove He was God, representing sins that get you all the credit without the suffering. Finally, the third temptation was to worship the devil to gain all of the kingdoms in the world and their power, representing sins of acquiring wordle fame.

Wedding at Cana

Jesus began his public ministry when he was 30 years old, and His first miracle which began his mission was at a wedding with Mary and his disciples in Cana. The couple ran out of wine before the three days of celebration were over, so Mary asked Jesus to do something. After Mary told the servants to “Do whatever he tells you,” they got him six stone jugs of water and Jesus turned them into jugs of wine.

Transfiguration

Peter, James and John witnessed Jesus transformed in his glorified form with Moses and Elijah on Mt. Tabor. There, a cloud formed (Holy Spirit) and the voice of God said, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” This proved Jesus’ divinity, fulfilled the law and prophets, and brought hope to the apostles of a resurrection after his death.

Isaiah

Book of the Bible that tells of the teachings of the major prophet Isaiah. For example, in Isaiah 53, it is written that the Messiah “become a suffering servant,” which was fulfilled at the Agony in the Garden. Also in Isaiah 53:4-5, it says, “Yet it was our pain that he bore, our sufferings he endured. We thought of him as stricken, struck down by God and afflicted, But he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed.” This was fulfilled though Jesus’ Passion.

The Last Supper

On Holy Thursday, Jesus gathered all of his disciples to celebrate Passover with Him. First, he washed all of their feet (known as the Washing of the Apostles’ Feet) to show them how to love as He did and become a servant to others. Then that night was the Institution of the Eucharist, which was also the First Mass. Jesus took the bread and wine and turned it into His body and blood, saying “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me…This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” This is the new and everlasting covenant which helps us to live because we have Jesus in our souls. The Last Supper also instituted the priesthood.

The Agony in the Garden

After the Last Supper, Jesus took Peter, James and John to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. This marks the beginning of Jesus’ Passion, as he started to feel the physical, psychological, and moral pain for all of our sin, temptations, and sufferings. Here, the devil temped Jesus to not feel our sufferings but Jesus resisted him and said, “Father, let this suffering pass from me, but not my will but your will be done.” He was also experiencing hematohidrosis (sweating blood) in the garden.

Holy Thursday

The day before Jesus’ crucifixion when the Last Supper and the Agony in the Garden took place.

Passion

Jesus’ suffering for our sins that took place over a series of narratives (Passion Narratives): The Agony in the Garden, the Arrest and Sanhedrin Trial, the Scourging, and the Trial at the Praetorium.

Eucharist

The body and blood of Jesus Christ that is offered at Mass. It is one of the two most powerful forms of intercession.

Redemption

The act of reclaiming someone or something in exchange for payment of a debt. Jesus won this for us from sin by His Death and Resurrection, paying the price for our sins with His life.

*Paschal Mystery

One event of Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection, and ascension that won us redemption. We celebrate this at every mass. First is the Passion, when Jesus suffered the pain of our sins and was scourged. This shows us how much He loves us because although He didn’t want to, He suffered the pain of our sins to earn us redemption. Next came His Death, when He was crucified and died on the cross. The Way of the Cross shows how Jesus will help us carry our sufferings (because He already did on the cross), the Good Thief story show us that we are all worthy of God’s mercy and will receive it if we ask for it, and that by dying Jesus justifies our relationship with God and atones for our sins. Then, the Resurrection was when three days later, Jesus rose form the dead and walked on the earth in His glorified state for 40 days. This shows that Jesus is truly God, Heaven is open and the way to it is self-denial, and we can now do miraculous things. The first fruit of the transcendental Resurrection is the forgiveness of sins, and Jesus will forgive us if we ask because all sins are forgivable. Finally, there was the Ascension, when Jesus went up to heaven.

Good Friday

The day following Holy Thursday when Jesus died. The events of this day include the Scourging, the Trial at the Praetorium, the Way of the Cross, and the Crucifixion.

Pontius Pilate

Roman procurator/governor of Judea who put Jesus to death, although not willingly. He initially was torn between his conscience and politics, so he sent Jesus’ case to Herod; after finding nothing wrong Herod sent him back to Pilate. Pilate’s wife had a dream that Jesus was a holy man and told him not to crucify Him, so Pilate went to the Praetorium and allowed the crowd to release one prisoner (as it was the custom for Passover): Jesus or Barabbas, a notorious murderer. When the crowd said to crucify Jesus, Pilate sentenced him to death and then washed his hands, as if to not take responsibility for his death.

The Way of the Cross

Jesus carried his cross from the Praetorium to Mt. Calvary and feel three times along the way. Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry the cross too. A prayer meditation on this is the Stations of the Cross.

The Crucifixion

Jesus’ hands and feet were nailed to the cross and he was slowly suffocated from 12-3pm (He died at 3pm). Mary the Mother of God, Mary Magdalene, and John were at the foot of the cross. Jesus was being crucified next to two other criminals, the “good thief” (named St. Dismas) and the “bad thief.” St. Dismas asked for forgiveness by saying “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” while the bad thief did not. Jesus told St. Dismas that “Amen I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise,” showing us how we should ask for God’s mercy. Then, Jesus gave Mary to John, saying, “Behold your mother” before he died.

Holy Saturday

The day Jesus descended into hell and brought the Old Testament righteous people up to heaven.

Easter Sunday

The day when the Resurrection took place (Jesus raising from the dead) and is sometimes simply called the “third day.” Mary Magdalene went to the tomb but his body wasn’t there, making her the first person to witness the resurrection. She went and told the apostles this, then Jesus appeared to them and showed them his wounds. This is factual as more than 500 people witnessed Him alive after his death, and it shows how Jesus is victorious over sin, Satan, and death.

Our Father

Prayer derived from Matthew 6:9-13 that tells us how to pray as Jesus said. Another title for this prayer is The Lord’s Prayer.

Jesus

The Son of God and Savior who became man and died for our sins. He is the model of prayer. His main message was that “the kingdom of God is at hand” and that everyone should “repent and believe in the Gospel.” (Mark 1:15).

Mass

The highest form of prayer when the Church community prays in union with Christ Himself in the paschal mystery. One can “lift up” a mass to an intention they have and make it a powerful prayer.

*Ideal Prayer Appointment

In order to really have a good, fruitful conversation with God, you must set up your appointment right. It should take place early in the morning in a quiet, solitary place with no distractions. Hold this meeting to the same level of importance as you would if you were meeting with the president; you want to give all your attention to God and set any and all distractions aside. It’s also important to bring a Bible (the written Word of God; how God speaks to you during prayer) and a prayer journal (to document what God says to you) along with you to pray as well.

*Jesus Gives His Mother to the Church

At the crucifixion, Jesus gave Mary to John, saying “Behold your mother.” Here, John represents the Church and Jesus is giving the Church His Mother; this is why we call Mary “Our Blessed Mother.” This is why we can ask for Mary’s intercession and look up to her because she is our spiritual mother in heaven.

*Redemptive Suffering

One type of prayer is when someone enters into the suffering of Christ for the purpose of offering that suffering for someone else. Since Christ’s suffering led to the resurrection (this stems from the paschal mystery), any suffering we have can also lead to a resurrection; Christ brought good out of suffering in this way. To do this, when you are suffering (this can be anything), say “I lift up my suffering for…” and then name your intention. This unites your suffering with Christ and is a very powerful prayer.

5 Steps in the Process of Prayer

There are five important things to do while praying: 1. Acknowledgment and Praise, recognizing God as our God and ourselves as His children and giving thanksgiving to Him. 2. Listening and Revelation, reading Scripture and listening for God’s message to you. 3. Realism and Repentance, being your honest self with God and confessing all of your sins until you can attend the Sacrament of Confession. 4. Petition and Intercession, asking God for things in your life (Petition) and for thing for other people (Intercession). 5. Response and Resolution, respond to God’s word for you and do what He has told you.

Intercession

Praying for other people and things in others’ lives; the two most powerful forms of these are the Eucharist and the Rosary.

Adoration

The act of adoring Christ and receiving all the blessings He gives us.

Confession

The Sacrament which one confesses their sins and asks for forgiveness from God though a priest. One can also apologize for sins in regular prayer until the next time they can go to Confession.

Lectio Divina

Directly meaning “divine reading,” this is a form of meditative prayer when one picks a line of Scripture and focuses on the words to look for what God is saying.

Apostle

One who is sent forth on a mission. Jesus gathered 12 (because of the 12 tribes of Isreal; establishing a new people of God) and gave them the job of building the Church and let the people know that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The twelve were Peter (who used to be named Simon), James son of Zebedee, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas. He chose them in Mark 3:13-19, and then they spent 3 years with Him before He died. Then after He resurrected Jesus gave them authority at the Great Commission. Then for the next 10 days the Apostles went to Jerusalem in the upper room and devoted themselves to prayer.

The Ascension

When Jesus went up into heaven on Mt. Olivet in front of the Apostles. With His last words (Acts 1:8) he gave them a road map to spread the Gospel to David’s Kingdom (Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria) and the Gentiles (the ends of the earth). This is found in Scripture in Acts 1:9.

The Great Commission

Not long before the Ascension Jesus have the Apostles the mission of making disciples by baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to teach them to obey everything He told the Apostles. He also promised that He would be with them always through the Church. This can be found in Matthew 28:18-20.

Pentecost

Meaning fiftieth day, this occurred 50 days after the Resurrection and 10 days after the Ascension. This is when the Holy Spirit fell upon the Apostles and disciples and when the public ministry of the Church began. The Holy Spirit gave them the courage to preach the Gospel to all of the crowds and also gave them the ability to speak in different languages so all would understand. Peter, now that he wasn’t scared to speak to large crowds, told the people to repent and be baptized to accept Jesus as their Messiah. Then 3000 people were baptized.

Birth of the Church

The blood and water the poured from Jesus’ side on the cross marked the official birth of the Church through His self-sacrifice. The blood (red rays) represented the Eucharist, and the water (blue rays) represented Baptism. Similarly to how Eve was made from Adam’s side, the Church was made from Christ’s side. This also shows that it was indeed Christ who started the Catholic Church, and therefore He cannot ever be separated from it.

Gentile

Someone who is not Jewish and therefore has to convert to the Christian faith.

Holy Spirit

The third person of the Trinity (the love between the Father and the Son) who came down upon the Apostles at the Pentecost and guides the Church today through the pope and bishops and is how Jesus’ promise of always being with us is possible. The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Mystical Body of the Church and inspired Scripture, as well as helps us interpret it. The Holy Spirit also makes the Sacraments possible and empowers us to build the Church.

Peter

Withe the name meaning “stone,” this Apostle used to be called Simon and is also the first pope. He is the “rock” of the Catholic Church who was given authority over the disciples and the Church as a leader and Christ’s representative. He was also given the power of binding and loosing, or making decisions in the Church. This authority is called the Primacy of Peter, or the Papacy. Some proofs of his authority include how he chose Mattias as the 12th Apostle, spoke at Pentecost, healed a crippled man, and defined the Church’s teachings at the Council of Jerusalem. He was martyred by being crucified upside down.

Pope

The head of the Church and the highest position in the Church’s hierarchy. The first was Peter, as proven in Matthew 16:18-20, and our current one is Leo XIV. This person proclaims the Gospel to the world and shepherds the Bishops and the Faithful.

Matthew

Apostle of Jesus and martyr who used to be a tax collector and wrote the first of the four Gospels.

John

Apostle of Jesus who wrote the last of the four Gospels and the Book of Revelation. He also stayed with Jesus at his crucifixion. He is the only Apostle who did not die a martyr’s death.

Disciple

Follower of Jesus who is baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and who was taught and teaches the Word of God. These people make up the Church, as Jesus wants all of the Church to be His disciples and spread the word of God.

Paul

Raised a devout Jew called Saul and was favored among them, as he persecuted the Christians. However, on the way to Damascus to arrest some of Jesus’ followers he had a conversion through seeing Jesus; he was blind and regained sight. From then on, his mission was to spread Christianity to the Gentiles in the Mediterranean region as he spoke Greek and Latin. He wrote most of the New Testament letters. He was beheaded in Rome in 64 AD.

*Formation of the Catholic Church

Jesus formed the Catholic Church through four steps. 1. The Choosing of the Twelve Apostles. Jesus picked the twelve to continue his mission after he went to heaven to bring us into communion with God, and they were the first priests and bishops. Today’s bishops have the same authority as the Apostle’s did as well. 2. The Great Commission. Jesus told all his Apostles to make disciples of all nations while in his resurrected state, giving them authority and showing them how to build the Church. 3. The Ascension. Jesus went to heaven and promised the Holy Spirit would come to them. He also guided the Apostles of who to preach to (the whole world). 4. Pentecost. This is when the Holy Spirit actually came upon the Apostles and gave them what they needed to go out and make disciples as Jesus commanded them to.

**One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church

God’s instrument of salvation that is both human and divine. It is human as we, imperfect humans, make up the Church and sometimes misrepresent it, even though we’re all called to live like Christ. It is also divine as Jesus and the Holy Spirit work through the Church via. the Sacraments, the Bible, Tradition and the teachings of the Church. There are also four pillars of the Church: 1. One, meaning that we are all united into one family through our beliefs and teachings. 2. Holy, as we are called to be holy and Jesus is attached to the Church and is made by God. 3. Catholic, meaning universal, showing how anyone who wants to be Catholic can be. 4. Apostolic, representing how the Church is built upon the Apostles, and we stay true to their teachings. The Church is also the fullness of truth and gives us all the tools we need to go to heaven and be saints.

Apostolic Succession

The ensuring that the line of the Apostles and the hierarchy of Bishops continue through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

Hierarchy

Sacred order of authority in the Church that Jesus set up when he called the 12 Apostles to lead the Church, with Peter as their head (Pope).

Kingdom of God

The everlasting Perfect Communion with God and each other that is both in heaven and through the Church, which is the Kingdom of God on earth.

Matthias

The 12th Apostle appointed after Jesus’ Ascension and is the replacement of Judas.

The Catechism

The teachings of the Catholic Church written out.

Council

Gathering of the Church’s leaders to discuss the Church’s doctrine. The most recent of these was the Second Vatican Council. Another was the Council of Trent, which confirmed the Church’s teachings in response to the Protestant Reformation. This lasted from 1545-1563.