theology final exam

sign

something tangible that points to the existence of another reality

symbol

a sign with a feeling, like a kiss; a sign that points to another reality and partly contains the reality to which it points

sacrament

a visible/tangible sign of God’s saving love enacted by Jesus through him community, the church

ritual

expressive gestures which embody meaning, especially those which define us according to the mind of our community

transubstantiation

change of the whole reality of the bread into Christ’s body and the whole reality of the wine into his blood, so that only the external appearances remain

ex opere operato

by the work done: the grace of the sacrament comes thru the sacramental rite validly performed, not the merits of the minister or recipient

sin

failure to live up to God’s call to love. acting out of self-interest in a way that damages others

mortal sin

deadly offense that “kills” one’s relationship w God, until one repents

theological virtues

central qualities in the life of the Spirit: faith, hope, and love (relating directly to God)

cardinal virtues

“hinge” good habits such as prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance

fundamental option

a person’s basic moral stance—the commutment of the heart either to self or to covenant with God

character

A person’s consistent pattern of moral behavior

conscience

the inner call to love good and avoid evil, and the process of analyzing what is the right or wrong action in a concrete situation

resurrection

the “awakening” of a person from death to unending life

purgatory

a process for the purification of those who die imperfectly converted to love of God

benedictus

blessed one

postulant

to knock; one who wants to become a monk

novice

stays in novitiate for 2 months the rule is red to them, then stays for 6 months then rule is red again, stay for 4 months, rule is read again then can be received into the community

novice’s after a year promise…

stability, fidelity to monastic life, and obedience

anamnesis (1)

memorial that makes present

last supper (2)

new passover meal and new covenant

communion (3)

the community is transformed more fully into the body of Xt

St Thomas considered that the deepest goal of the Eucharist was…

the unity of the Church

Nourishment and Festivity (4)

symbolized by bread and wine

Eucharist means thanksgiving (5)

it is our duty and our joy, at all times and in all places, to give you thanks and praise holy Father, through JC your only son

Sacrifice (6)

making holy; total self offering

Fortaste of Messianic Banquet (7)

when we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, until you come again

sacramental actions

visible signs of God’s saving love. J makes these signs by means of the community, the church

1st level sacrament

J is the sacrament of God; outward sign

2nd level sacrament

J is no longer visible so he left the church as his sacrament; instituted by Xt

3rd level sacrament

within the greatest sign (The Church), J and the Church use other signs; to give grace

thru people signs J =

still healing, forgiving, nourishing

effective signs

they effect what they signify

Why 7?

everything in the world CAN be a sing/sacrament but these particular 7 connect crucial moments of salvation history with crucial moment of our lives

what are the 7 sacraments

baptism, confirmation, eucharist, penance and reconciliation, anointing of the sick, holy orders, matrimony

definite set of visible signs lets us…

be sure of God’s love and forgiveness

mysterion

something hidden or secret found in scripture

sacramentum

the “sacred oath” taken by a recruit joining into the Roman army, was 1st applied to Xtn initiation rituals of baptism and eucharist by Tertullian 3rd C

Peter Lombard 12th C defined a sacrement as…

a sign of something sacred that is capable of conveying the grace of which it is the sign

Lateran Council IV (1215) counted ___ sacraments

7

Luther said only baptism and eucharist bc…

must be word of divine promise with sign attached

liturgy

our public action, the way we carry on J’s work of redemption in plain sight

church is most visible when…

it is gathered. hence having as much community as possible for sacramental actions

the fullness of God’s saving action is best felt when…

people and priest give a high quality “sign”

adding scripture readings to all sacraments reminds us that…

we are not the prime movers. God' speaks/God’s signs

7. inward grace

the loving God offering to us a relationship of friendship, a sharing in the divine life and our accepting the relationships

are sacraments the only source of Gods grace?

no. they are peak moments, high points.

8. all sacraments lead us to…

worship God, return our thanks and trust to God.

saving worship thru sacraments

the love of God comes down to us and our perfect worship goes up in J

9. straining two the future. the sacramental actions of J come…

from eternity where he is already at the right hand of the Father, tho we experience those signs today

sacraments of initiation

baptism, confirmation, eucharist

sacramentals

extensions of sacraments (ex: white garments, candle, holy water)

baptism

bath of water

baptism purpose

to bring into Church and life of God; receive HS

baptism meaning

new life; give a share in Life of God

pre-catechumenate

step 1: period of inquiry

rite of catechumenats

step 2

rite of election

step 3: first Sunday of lent

sacraments of initiation (OCIA/RCIA)

step 4: baptism, confirmation, 1st communion

period of mystagogia

step 5: last step

Foley baptism: is a ___ creation; ____ from Adam

new; different

Foley Baptism: is ______ into body of Xt

incorporated

Foley baptism: baptism =

complete assurance of Xts appearance

Foley Baptism: declares…

acceptance of God’s love

anointed with oil by?

bishop

baptism in west vs east

west = reserve anointing for bishop

East = priests preside over all 3

confirmation purpose

Spirit gives gifts and sends us out to witness the faith

reconciliation aka

confession/penance

why must catholics confess their sins to a priest?

J forgave sins and demanded that disciples forgive

2nd century penance

one repentance for serious sin; Order of Penitents (OoP)

4th-7th C penance

decline of public penance, emergence of new form from Irish monks: repeatable private penance aka Irish private penance (IPP)

Post Vatican 2 penance

emphasizes God’s mercy and role of Church community

faith and christian morality

being a Xtn means that one should live a Xtn way of life

B Haring called out our Fundamental Option as

basically free act of faith, not momentary choice or a single action but the overall direction of the many differing decisions and actions

fundamental option for God shows…

love of God and love of neighbor as the NORMS for guiding particular actions

by these NORMS, certain acts fail to measure up and we call that

sin

classic necessary conditions for a mortal sin

grave matter, sufficient reflection, full consent of the will

venial sins

weakens relationships with GOd but does not end it

vatican 2 invited Catholic moral theology to not just use law sections but…

see how scripture narratives form character

ethics of being

what kind of person should I be?

saints living and dead =

further models, revealing power of God’sgrace to transform lives

ethics of being formed by…

small decisions that shape you and future decisions.

stories that you pay attention to…

shape your character

theological virtues =

charity, faith, hope

cardinal virtues =

fortitude, justice, prudence, temperance

virtues =

good abilities/habits, patterns of excellent actions oriented toward good purposes

ethics of doing

what should I do about X?

ethics of doing: for the individual

form a correct conscience and act accordingly

conscience pt 1

inner call to love good and avoid evil + general moral principles specifying the goods to pursue and evils to avoid

conscience pt 2

the entire process of analysis and reflection prior to act of judgment

conscience pt 3

the act of judgment itself, about the rightness or wrongness of things to be done or not done

conscience is not pt 4

a gut feeling or a guilt feeling, but mainly an aspect of reasoning

conscious is not pt 5

superego, formed early by internalizing commands of elders

four Ds of conscientious decision making

Dig for facts, Deliberate among alternative, Decide, Do what you have decided

law metaphor as synthesized by st. Thomas…

an ordinance of reason for the general good

a) eternal law

divine reason’s plan of governance

b) natural law

known through reason

c) human law

taxes, speed limits, etc

d) divine law (in scripture)

10 commandments, beatitudes

commandments =

guardrails, minimums to keep folks from hurting themselves or others