Theology Final 9th

1. Justice – Giving others what is due to them

2. Temperance – Moderation of desires

3. Fortitude – Courage to do the right thing despite challenges

4. Prudence – Wise decision-making

5. Church – The Body of Christ, the people of God

6. Infallibility – The Pope speaks without error on faith/morals in certain conditions

7. Mystery – A reality filled with God’s presence

8. Hierarchy – Pope → Cardinals → Bishops → Priests → Deacons → Religious → Laity

9. Apostle – One who is sent (12 Apostles chosen by Jesus)

10. Catholic – Universal; the Church is open to all

11. Sin – A failure to love God and others

12. Love – Willing the good of the other

13. Virtue – A habitual disposition to do the good

14. Conscience – The inner voice guiding moral decisions

15. Grace – God’s life and love within us

✝ CHURCH + ECCLESIOLOGY

• Four Marks of the Church:

  • One → Unity in faith and leadership

  • Holy → Guided by the Holy Spirit

  • Catholic → Universal

  • Apostolic → Founded on the Apostles

• Church Origins:

  • Matthew 16:18 → Peter = Rock of the Church

  • Apostolic Succession = Unbroken line of bishops from the Apostles

• Infallibility:

  • Ex Cathedra = “From the chair,” official declarations

  • Ecumenical Councils = Gatherings of bishops

  • Must align with Scripture & Tradition

• Hierarchy:

  • Pope → Bishops → Priests → Deacons

  • Laity = All baptized non-ordained

• Ecumenism:

  • Seeks Christian unity

  • Rooted in shared Baptism

✉ ST. PETER & ST. PAUL

• Peter

  • First Pope

  • Crucified upside down

  • Leader in Acts of the Apostles

• Paul

  • Missionary journeys

  • Wrote letters (Epistles)

  • Martyred (beheaded)

  • Focus on Gentiles, inclusion

  • Themes: grace, suffering, joy, forgiveness

💒 SACRAMENTS

• Efficacious symbols → They do what they represent (because Christ works through them)

• Types:

  • Initiation: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation

  • Healing: Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick

  • Service: Matrimony, Holy Orders

• Matter, Form, Minister:

  • Example: Eucharist

    • Matter: Bread and wine

    • Form: “This is my body...”

    • Minister: Priest

• Forgive sin?

  • Baptism, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick

• Simple things?

  • Jesus used ordinary things (bread, water, oil) to show God works in the everyday

⚖ SIN & MORALITY

• Natural Moral Law = God’s law written on our hearts

• Conscience = Formed voice of reason, helps choose right

  • Types: Informed, lax, scrupulous

• Root of All Sins:

  • Cupiditas (selfish desire)

  • Superbia (pride)

• Forming Conscience:

  • Scripture + Church teaching

• Rational Soul Powers:

  • Intellect

  • Will

  • Passions

• Are we predestined for Hell?

  • No, we have free will

• Venial vs. Mortal Sin:

  • Mortal = serious, full knowledge, full consent

  • Venial = damages, but doesn’t cut off relationship

• Realignment:

  • Through Beatitudes, Sacraments, and the Church

• POCH in Jurassic Park (Temptation + Virtue)

  • Power, Pleasure, Wealth, Honor → Classic substitutes for God

• St. Thomas Aquinas’ 4 Substitutes:

  • Wealth, Pleasure, Power, Honor

• 3 Sources of Morality:

  • Object, Intention, Circumstance

  • Intrinsically evil act can never be justified (e.g., torture)

🧠 PHILOSOPHY

• Deontology – Duty-based ethics

• Utilitarianism – Greatest good for greatest number

• Virtue Ethics – Becoming a good person through habits

🤔 COMMON QUESTIONS

• Do Catholics worship saints?

  • No—venerate (honor), not worship

• Immaculate Conception = Mary conceived without sin

• Assumption of Mary = Mary taken body and soul into Heaven

• Where does “Church” come from?

  • “Ekklesia” = assembly, those called out

• Negative Beatitudes?

  • Flip side of Beatitudes → warnings (not explicitly listed in your notes, but may refer to: Woe to the rich, full, laughing, praised by all - Luke 6:24-26)