tho simple turms

Theology

1. Faith seeking understanding (St. Anselm)

2. The disciplined exploration of what is contained in Revelation

Human Being

a body with a soul

Imago Dei

Image of God

3 Components of the Image of God

1. Reason/Intellect

2. Free Will (aka "Will" and "Freedom of Will")

3. Ability/Capacity to Love (Love=choosing the highest good of the beloved & giving the total gift of self)

God

that than which no greater can exist (St. Anselm)

Revelation

an unveiling

Sacred

holy; set apart for a purpose

Divine Revelation

God's revealing/unveiling of God's Self to humanity (thru 2 sources or "fonts")

Image: Divine Revelation

Font

a word calling forth the image of a fountain of water springing up to quench thirst and bring life

Image: Font

2 fonts of Divine Revelation THE DEPOSIT OF FAITH IS CONTAINED IN THESE 2 TOGETHER

1. Sacred Scripture

2. Apostolic Tradition

Sacred Scripture

the Bible (only)

Apostolic Tradition

EVERYTHING the Apostles taught/handed down about Jesus, His life and His ministry--much is now written, but in the first decades after Jesus' Ascension it was delivered orally.

This is important because as times change, knowing how Jesus wanted some things that happened during His earthly life handled helps us figure out how to handle modern-day concerns even though He did not speak directly about them. Can you think of an example?

Apostle

1. one of the 12 men selected by Jesus to continue His ministry after He returned to His Father

2. the Bishops are the descendants of the 12 Apostles

Image: Apostle

apostle ("lowercase")

1. an eyewitness to the life and ministry of Jesus--these include women, children and men other than the 12

2. one who is sent forth from the Master

Disciple

one who follows the way of their Master

(think of the Master as the teacher and the disciples as the students)

Roman Catholic Church (RCC)

the institution which continues in an unbroken (continuous) manner the ministry of Jesus conveyed by the teachings of the 12 Apostles

catholic

universal (indicating that all are to be welcomed, regardless of status and the belief of the RCC that salvation is universal, i.e. available to all humanity, though none are forced to accept it and some might choose to refuse it--this belief is not shared by all Christians)

Faith

believing something on the basis that it is GOD who reveals it (i.e., "because GOD said so")

Belief

a specific idea considered to be true

(some beliefs turn out to be correct and others incorrect)

Truth

an accurate depiction or articulation of reality--Christians believe that all truth has Jesus, the Word of God, as its source

3 theological virtues

Faith, Hope & Charity (charity also known as love)

(these are given as a gift from God, especially at our Baptism)

Love

1. choosing the highest good of the beloved;

2. giving the total gift of self

Trinity

the mysterious communion of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit

Mystery (theological)

something humans only know because God reveals it

Communion

to be fully known and yet truly loved

Apostolic Succession

The passing down of the truths of Christian faith and authority over the Church from Christ to his 12 Apostles, then from the 12 Apostles to the bishops. The line of Apostolic Succession is unbroken in the RCC. This fact is the basis for our understanding that the RCC is the guardian of the FULLNESS of Truth.

Image: Apostolic Succession

Sin

1. a rupture in relationship with God

2. choosing something other than God

Salvation

deliverance from the eternal consequences of sin (i.e. rescue from damnation--does not remove temporal consequences of sin)

Virtue

A habitual and firm disposition to do good

Morality

concern by an individual or group about the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong

Ethics

principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong--many institutions or professions adopt a "code of ethics" which support best practices and the purposes of the institution and which correlate with the constitution or governing document for that institution

Conscience

1.this is a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act that he is going to perform (CCC 1778)

2. The aboriginal Vicar of Christ--John Henry Cardinal Newman

3. The dignity of the human person implies and requires uprightness of moral conscience (CCC 1780)

4. This enables one to assume responsibility for the acts performed (CCC 1781)

5. Formation and education of this is a lifelong task (CCC 1784)