TCF 11_Q3

The ==Church== is one of the %%most precious gifts from God to humanity%%. Indeed, the Church cannot save us. However, it possesses the ==means of salvation==.
The Catechism for Filipino Catholics states that the ==Church== is the %%first great living work of the Holy Spirit%%. This is evidenced by the Acts of the Apostles chapter 2, which talks about ==Pentecost==, a Jewish harvest festival.
On the tenth day after Jesus' public ascension, His followers gathered in a room near the temple and the ==Holy Spirit came down to form the Church==. The birth took place in ==Jerusalem== and was marked by %%supernatural signs, a powerful sermon, and overwhelming response.%%
The disciples of Pentecost experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit in ==Acts 2:1-13==, which had a great significance for those who know God. The ==sound of the wind== symbolized the %%mysterious presence of the Spirit%%, the ==tongues of fire== symbolized %%purification and cleansing%%, and the ==miraculous speech== symbolized the %%worldwide flow of the Gospel%%.
Peter - first leader of His Church
The powerful sermon made by an unlikely preacher, ==Peter==, contains three elements:

Peter declared that these events were the %%fulfillment of prophecy (Acts 2: 14-21)%%.

%%opens their eyes to the truth that Jesus of Nazareth is Lord and Christ (Acts 2: 22-35)%%.

the people were told to %%repent and be baptized (Acts 2:37-39)%%.
The ==Pentecost== received an overwhelming response, with %%three thousand Jewish%% people %%baptized and receiving the Holy Spirit%%. ==God's qualities== were highlighted, such as %%wise, patient, faithful, loving, and sending the Holy Spirit to draw us, win us, change us, and live in us.%%
With that significant event in our faith, the Church was established. The ==Church== prior to its creation was already a part of the %%Holy Trinity's plan%%. It was a plan that was born in the ==Father's heart==.
The ==Church== was %%instituted by Christ%%, the Son of God. In fulfilling the Father's will, Jesus Christ brings in the ==Kingdom of Heaven== here on earth. Those %%who received Christ's teachings also received the Kingdom per se.%%

Jesus called %%both men and women%% to become ==His disciples and to share his life and mission==. Jesus spoke of an %%intimate communion%% with his followers: "Live on in me, as I do in you . . . At the Last Supper, Jesus promised %%not to leave his disciples orphans%% (cf. Jn 14:18). The Church is born of this ==personal communion== between Jesus and his disciples (cf. CCC 787-95).
The Church is the ==Body of Christ==, made %%mystically into His own body by communicating his Spirit to his brothers and sisters%%. "Mystical" does not mean "unreal" but rather ==a reality not limited to sensible appearances==. It is %%accessible to faith alone%% because it belongs to ==God's salvific plan== revealed in the Gospel.
Christ’s “body,” then, can refer to:

the ==physical body== of the historical Jesus, assumed at the Incarnation (cf. Jn 1:14); or
his ==Eucharistic body==, making sacramentally present to us the Person of the Risen Christ in his saving sacrifice; or
his ==mystical body==, the Church, the faithful united to Christ as their Head, and united and vivified by His Spirit.

Persecution was rampant during the early Christian Church, forcing Christians to either denounce Christ or hide.
The %%first persecution%% of the Church took place under ==Emperor Nero in 67 AD==, when he %%ordered the burning of Rome and passed the blame to the early Christians%%. This persecution was general throughout the Roman Empire and increased the spirit of Christianity, with ==St. Paul and St. Peter being martyred.==

Filipinos are free to practice the Christian faith, protected by the law, and the struggles of the first Christians give us reasons to celebrate and appreciate our faith. Filipinos can show their appreciation for the Christian faith by practicing it and applying its teachings in their everyday lives, such as attending the Holy Mass, participating in sacramental and liturgical activities, helping the poor, and being a voice of the voiceless.
<<T2: The Filipino Catholic<<

The Philippines celebrated the ==500th anniversary of Christianity== in 2021, which has had a great impact on the lives of the Filipino people. To identify what it means to be a "Filipino Catholic", the Catechism for Filipino Catholics suggests selecting a series of ==five predominant Filipino characteristics== together with ==five essential traits of Jesus Christ==%%.%% This will define the Filipino Catholic as well as show that to become more deeply Christian is to become more %%truly%% and %%authentically Filipino%%.

Filipinos are family-oriented, drawn from their families for a ==sense of belonging==, ==stability==, and ==security==. Jesus exemplifies this %%by leading us to his mother and offering us to be his brothe%%r by ==Baptism==.

Filipinos are known for ==being gracious hosts and grateful guests==. They love to serve the best and invite unexpected visitors to eat with them, just like Jesus who is the Eucharist.

Filipinos are known for their kundiman, %%a sad Filipino song that focuses on wounded love%%. Jesus, the Suffering Servant of the prophet Isaiah, is portrayed through Filipino images of ==Padre Hesus Nazareno==, the ==Santo Entierro,== or ==the Sacred Heart==. He is seen as a %%healing and forgiving Savior%% who understands our weaknesses, our failures, and our feelings of depression, fear, and loneliness.

Filipinos are bayani-oriented and natural hero followers of Jesus Christ, who is seen as the %%Conqueror of the world by his mission as prophet, king, and priest%%. He was sent by the Father to bring glad tidings to the poor and proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and release to prisoners. He also made the Kingdom of God present among his people by his teaching and signs.

Filipinos are spirit-oriented, believing in supernatural beings and spirits. Jesus the %%"miracle-worker"%% promises to send his Spirit to his disciples to give them new life, and the Holy Spirit draws us into a community where superstition and enslaving magic are overcome by authentic worship of the Father.

Filipinos are known for their strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is intimately intertwined with Christ Jesus. The Catechism for Filipino Catholics teaches the significance of Marian's devotion and piety, and the "family altar" witnesses Mary as the mother of Jesus and our spiritual mother. Mary is at the center of our being family-oriented, celebration-oriented, Bayani-oriented, and spirit-oriented. She is venerated as the %%Mater Dolorosa, the Sorrowful Mother,%% whose =="Perpetual Help"== is sought through popular novenas and devotions. The many Lourdes "grottos" testify to Filipino attraction to her many apparitions, and her devotion has helped many simple Filipinos remain Catholics.