Unit 7 Intro to Catholicism Test Review

Consolation

Deep interior joy and peace. In the Prayer to the Holy Spirit, we ask God to know what is truly right and to rejoice always in His consolation.

Grace

A participation in the life of God that introduces us into the Trinitarian life. By Baptism, the Christian not only participates in the grace of Christ, but he/she also receives the life of the Holy Spirit who breathes clarity into him/her and who forms the Church.

In other words, grace is God's divine life in us. The fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit are graces from God, which are planted and bearing fruit. Grace is necessary to overcome the challenges of our earthly pilgrimage, enter into our heavenly homeland, and is required for our salvation. Heaven is nothing more than eternal happiness in perfect union with God, which is what grace does for us now.

There are two types of grace: sanctifying and actual grace.

Sanctifying Grace

A stable and supernatural disposition that perfects the soul itself to enable it to live with GOD, to act by his love. It is God's divine life within us that makes holiness possible as we live daily life. Sanctifying grace is received in the sacraments and is the state of soul by which we participate in God's life. It is permanent until we commit mortal sin.

Actual Grace

God also acts through many actual graces, to be distinguished from habitual grace which is permanent in us. Actual graces are particular graces in particular moments and allows us to do good and avoid evil. God never violates our free will.

Communicate

A theological term describing how God gives or distributes His grace to us.

Sacrament

An efficacious sign of grace instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which grace is dispensed to us. Sacraments are celebrated through visible rites that signify and make present the graces proper to each one. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions.

Humans are body and soul—sacraments are profoundly human. Jesus gives supernatural meaning to ancient human practices. Sacraments could be ritualized and handed on by his apostles and disciples to nourish the life of the Church. Grace comes purely from God, but we participate in the sacraments. God loves us and respects our free will. The Sacraments are outward signs of inner grace, necessary for salvation, and remind us that we are sacred temples for God.

Why are sacraments important?

Humans have God-shaped holes in their hearts. Our hearts long for infinity, meaning nothing in creation will ultimately satisfy us; only God can do that. The Sacraments are how we allow God into our hearts.

They were also instituted by Christ to give us grace (i.e. God's divine life), and we need it to survive our pilgrimage to heaven. They bind us to each other and to Christ himself. Humans are a "liturgical" people: we live by rituals, traditions, and common practices as forms of worship (celebrities, values, historical events, etc.). If life is not built upon Jesus Christ, it will be something else.

Efficacious

Refers to the fact that the Sacraments confer the grace they signify. These explain that the Sacraments are not just symbolic, but that they also work ex opere operato.

Disposition

The attitude and preparation of a person that indicates his or her readiness to receive a Sacrament. An improper disposition impedes the work of sacramental grace and may involve sacrilege.

Sacraments of Initiation

Sacraments that lay the foundation of Christian life. We are born anew in the Sacrament of Baptism, strengthened in the Sacrament of Confirmation, and given the food of eternal life in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Sacraments of Healing

Sacraments that restore our bodies and soul through Christ's work of healing and salvation—the Sacraments of Penance (aka Reconciliation/Confession) and the Anointing of the Sick (aka extreme unction/last rites).

Sacraments at the Service of Communion

Holy Orders (priesthood) and Holy Matrimony (marriage).

Liturgy

A word from Greek term meaning "the work of the people." Common prayer that intentionally units the Body of Christ to each other and to Christ Himself in worship of God the Father.

Ex opera operato

A Latin phrase that literally means, "by the very fact of the actions being performed." This is a guarantee that if we are properly disposed, we will receive grace through the Sacraments regardless of the personal sanctity of the person celebrating the Sacrament because it is really Christ who is acting through the minister.

Indelible Character

A permanent (indelible) mark imprinted on our soul at Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders that gives the person a greater share in the priesthood of Christ. Because it is indelible, it can never be removed and can be received only once.

Matter

The physical sign of a Sacrament with which or to which something is done in order to confer grace.

Ex. Matter of Baptism - water

Form

The necessary ritual words of the sacramental that make the physical signs (matter) indicators of something much deeper.

Ex. Form of Confirmation - "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Minister

The person who performs the sacramental act. Christ is ultimately the minister of every Sacrament, but he works through the Church and the visible actions of human ministers.

Recipient

The ones who receive the sacrament, and therefore the grace contained within.

Priestly office of Jesus

We are baptized into the threefold office of Jesus. Firstly, we are baptized a priest, meaning we can offer sacrifice on behalf of the people. This is referred to as the "common" priesthood and is not the ordained priesthood.

Prophetic office of Jesus

Secondly, we are baptized a prophet, meaning we can speak to the people on behalf of God (preach).

Kingly office of Jesus

Thirdly, we are baptized into the kingly office of Jesus, who is ruler of heaven and earth. When we are baptized, we become adopted sons of God, meaning we will receive our inheritance of heaven when we die.

Concupiscience

Mankind's inclination to sin.

Prudence

One of the Cardinal Virtues; prudence refers to the ability to discern the most suitable and moral course of action (right-judgement).

Justice

One of the Cardinal Virtues; justice refers to the observance of the divine Law and demands the rendering to God and each person his or her due (right relationships).

Fortitude

One of the Cardinal Virtues; fortitude ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in doing good (courage).

Temperance

One of the Cardinal Virtues; temperance aims at the moderation of pleasure and the use of material goods in light of man's ultimate good. Strengthened by this virtue, the will is enabled to control instinct and regulate natural desires (self-control).

Faith

The theological virtue by which one believes in all that God has said and revealed to man and that the Church proposes for belief.

Hope

The theological virtue by which one desires the happiness of eternal life with God by placing his or her trust in Christ's promises and relying on the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Love

Also referred to as charity. Love is the theological virtue by which a Christian loves God above all things for his own sake and loves his neighbor as himself for the love of God.

Exorcism

An act whereby the Church, publicly and authoritatively, asks in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be liberated from the power of the Devil and withdrawn from his dominion. Christ performed exorcisms, and the Church has received the power and office of exorcising from him. The rite of baptism includes exorcism.

Godparent

A person or persons responsible for helping the young Christian grow in their faith. At Baptism, recipients are given Godparents. The requirements for becoming a godparent are this: be a practicing Catholic, be over the age of 16, and agree to help raise the child in the Catholic faith. If there is only 1, they must meet all requirements. If there are 2, the other does not have to be a practicing Catholic, but they still must agree to help raise the child in the faith.

Baptism in Emergency

Anyone can baptized as long as they intend to confer the Sacrament, pour water over the recipient's head, and recite the Trinitarian formula of the Rite of Baptism. This type of baptism is performed on a recipient who is close to dying and has not previously received the Sacrament.

Baptism by Blood

A type of baptism performed on someone who is martyred for the Christian faith before he or she could receive the Sacrament. The effects of martyrdom are the complete remission of sin and the title to immediate entrance into heaven.

Baptism by Desire

A type of baptism where "Those who through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by his grace, try in their actions to do His will as they know it through the dictate of their conscience—those too may achieve eternal salvation."

Sacred Chrism Oil

Chrism is Greek for "anointing." It is oil mixed with balsam and is consecrated by a bishop to signify the gift of the Holy Spirit. Chrism is used in the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.

Confirmand/confirmandi

A person preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmand is singular, and confirmandi is plural.

RCIA

An acronym for Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Here, adults receive all three sacraments of initiation. RCIA is the formal process of converting to Catholicism. For many Catholics, Baptism and the other sacraments of initiation happen at a very early age. But some adults, though not raised Catholics, choose to become Catholic and enter into full communion with Christ and His Church.

Catechumen

From the Greek for "one being instructed." This new convert wants to become Catholic and is preparing.

Catechumenate

The time of preparation for catechumens to enter full communion with the Church (prayer, study, etc.).

Sponsor

The one who presents the catechumen to the Church and helps them prepare for the sacraments of initiation and promises to help them stay faithful to God once they are Catholic.

Celebrant

Bishop, priest, or deacon who presides at a liturgical function.

Lent

The 40 days of preparation starting from Ash Wednesday and ending at Easter. The name "Lent" comes from the Middle English "Lencten," which means spring. Easter is the day where Jesus resurrected from the dead. Before his public mission, he had prayed and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Like him, we pray and fast to prepare for our ongoing mission. Lent consists of 40 days and 6 Sundays, but we do not do penance on Sundays. Those between the ages of 18 and 59 are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting consists of 1 meal and 2 snacks that together do not equal 1 meal. People 14 and up must abstain from meat on Fridays and Ash Wednesday. During Lent, we should intentionally grow in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Ash Wednesday reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for us and that we are only on pilgrimage to our true home heaven. We also remember that we are dust and we shall return to dust when the ashes are placed on our foreheads.

Prayer

During Lent, we should spend more time in prayer, listen more to God, and challenge ourselves in holiness.

Fasting

During Lent, we should give something up, whether it be food, apps, or luxuries, for both the greater glory of God and for the good of our souls.

Almsgiving

During Lent, we should give what we have to help others, such as money, time, talent, generosity, kind words, etc.

What does the Church teach about racism? Why?

The Church recognizes three forms of racism: racist ideas and theories, acts of racial discrimination, and systemic racism. They consider all forms to be evil because racism violates the basic dignity of the human person, who is made in God's image and likeness, and denies the unity of the human family. Therefore, it is a sin.

What happens to the soul at Baptism? What are the four elements for a valid baptism?

Baptism gives me a share in Christ's identity: permanently makes me an adopted son of God, gives me sanctifying grace for the first time and an indelible character, makes me a Christian and a member of the Body of Christ, unites me to all other Christians.

It infuses the theological/supernatural and cardinal virtues into my soul, making me more like Jesus. It washes away all my sins, removes the state of Original Sin, saves me, and prepares me to receive the other sacraments, but concupiscence remains.

The four elements for a valid Baptism are water; the Trinitarian formula ("I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit); a bishop, priest, or deacon as minister (i.e. those ordained with Holy Orders); and the one being baptized as the recipient.

What happens to the soul at Confirmation? What are the four elements for a valid confirmation?

Confirmation gives a share in Christ's strength, matures baptismal graces, imparts an indelible character, empowers us to be witnesses (i.e., to spread the Gospel with my life), gives us grace to persevere in the faith despite all life's hardships, and therefore completes Baptism.

What is Confirmation?

The Sacrament of Initiation by which God passes on the grace of Pentecost and perfects the grace received in Baptism. In Baptism we receive a share in the divine life and the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity (love); in Confirmation, we receive increased gifts of the Holy Spirit, which strengthens us to serve the Church and draw others to the friendship of God.

The four elements for a valid Confirmation are sacred chrism oil and the laying on of hands, "Be sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit," bishops as ministers (and priests, if the local bishop delegates them), and confirmand and confirmandi as the recipient(s).

What is the minister also called?

The minister is also called the celebrant because the sacraments are joyful occasions of God sharing his divine life with us (even though it may be painful, such as confession). Therefore, we state that the minister "celebrates" the sacraments.