QA CLVE (format of past SAs)

Genesis and Melchizedek

  • Melchizedek: The King of Salem and a priest of the Most High God who welcomed Abraham and blessed him with God’s favor.

Levitical Priests and Sacrifices

  • Daily Sacrifices: The Levitical priests offered sacrifices daily, but these sacrifices could not fully and completely atone for the sins of humankind. Only Christ's ultimate sacrifice achieved full atonement.

  • Role of the High Priest: The Israelites consulted the High Priest during difficult situations, but God did not appear physically. Instead, the High Priest used sacred methods like casting lots (e.g., Urim and Thummim) to discern God's will.

  • Priesthood and Death: Levitical priests ceased being priests after their death because their priesthood was limited to their earthly lives and could not continue eternally.

  • Anointing of Priests: Priests were not first anointed during the time of King Saul. Anointing of priests began during the time of Moses, as described in Exodus, when Aaron and his sons were anointed.

  • Purity Rules: Levitical priests strictly followed rules about moral and ritual purity or cleanliness to ensure they could serve in God’s presence without defilement.

  • Physical Defects and Priesthood: A descendant of Aaron could not become a high priest if he had physical defects, as physical perfection was a requirement for the role according to Levitical law (Leviticus 21:17-23).

  • Day of Atonement: The most important duty of the Levitical priests in the Old Testament occurred during the Day of Atonement. They made a sacrifice before the Most Holy Place for the sins of the Israelite community and their own sins committed over the past year.

Jesus Christ and the Priesthood

  • Perfection of Christ’s Priesthood: The priesthood of Jesus Christ is perfect because:

    • It made a sacrifice where Jesus is the priest, the sacrifice, and the altar.

    • It is eternal and atoned for all sins: past, present, and future.

    • It is based on Christ being True God and True Man, not inherited from a specific bloodline or tribe.

    • It does not immediately and surely save everyone from going to Hell if they die in a state of mortal sin.

  • Superiority of Christ’s Sacrifice: Jesus Christ’s sacrifice is more worthy before God because:

    • He did not commit any sin, so He did not need to atone for personal sins, unlike the Levitical priests.

  • Effect of Christ’s Sacrifice: The sacrifice of Jesus Christ completely paid for our sins. However, salvation is free but requires individuals to choose it by striving to live a holy life. It does not mean:

    • It is useless to pray or go to Mass.

    • Everyone will go to Heaven regardless of sin.

    • There are unlimited chances to sin without consequences.

  • Priesthood of All Christians: All Christians are considered “priests” because their anointing in Baptism makes them like Christ, sharing in His priesthood, kingship, and prophethood.

Holy Mass

  • Sacrifice of Christ: The Holy Mass is not a new or different sacrifice from Christ’s sacrifice. Instead, it is a re-presentation of the same sacrifice, making it present to the faithful in a non-bloody manner.

God’s Name and Revelation

  • God’s Name (YHWH): When God introduced Himself to Moses, He revealed His name as “I am who am,” signifying His eternal existence.

St. Ignatius of Antioch

  • Death of St. Ignatius: He died as a martyr, torn and devoured by wild beasts.

  • Consecration: St. Ignatius of Antioch was consecrated as a bishop by St. Peter, the First Pope.

  • Orthodoxy: St. Ignatius’s letters helped people understand the faith correctly and clearly.

  • Orthopraxis: His letters also taught Christians how they should act in daily life.

  • First Use of "Catholic": St. Ignatius was the first to use the term "Catholic" to describe the universal Church.

Priesthood Terms

  • Tribe of Levi: God chose the Tribe of Levi to serve Him through worship and sacrifices before the Most Holy Place.

  • Aaron: The brother of Moses and the first High Priest, anointed by God.

  • Ordained Priesthood: The priesthood received through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

  • Baptismal Priesthood: The priesthood received during Baptism.

God the Father Becoming Human

- God the Father did not become human. It was God the Son, Jesus Christ, who became human while God the Father remained as Creator.

Equality of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

- The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all equal, sharing the same divine essence while being distinct Persons of the Holy Trinity.

Jesus Christ’s Distinction from God the Father and God the Holy Spirit

- Jesus Christ is distinct from the Father and the Holy Spirit. Each Person of the Holy Trinity has unique roles but is united as one God.

God Appearing as a Burning Bush

- God appeared as a burning bush to Moses, not Abraham, when calling Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

Provision for the Israelites in the Desert

- God provided manna and quail to feed the Israelites during their journey in the desert, not vegetables, fruits, goats, or cows.

God’s Omnipresence

- God is omnipresent, meaning He is present everywhere at all times, reflecting His infinite existence and sustaining power.

The Parable of the Evil Servant

- The parable teaches the importance of forgiveness. The servant was punished for failing to forgive his fellow servant after being forgiven himself.

Forgiveness for Mortal Sins

- Mortal sins require repentance and confession through the Sacrament of Confession. Forgiveness cannot be assumed without seeking God’s mercy.

Original Sin and Its Effects

- Humanity lost its connection to God, became slaves to sin, and lost its identity as God’s children due to Adam and Eve's disobedience.

Humility in Asking for Forgiveness

- True repentance requires humility to admit wrongdoing and seek forgiveness, allowing the person to receive God’s grace and mercy.

God Leading the Israelites through a Star

- God did not lead the Israelites through a star. He led them through a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night during their journey to the Promised Land.

God Revealing His Name First

- God first revealed His name to Moses at the burning bush, where He identified Himself as "I AM WHO I AM."

Pure Spirits Having No Real Appearance

- Pure spirits do not have physical bodies, which is necessary for having an appearance. They exist as non-material beings, thus they cannot be seen in the same way physical objects or beings can be.

Knowing God through Belief

- We first know and understand God through faith, which allows us to believe in everything He has revealed to us.

Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

- God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their extreme sinfulness, despite Abraham's intercession on their behalf.

Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist

- The presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist is most similar to a person being truly present right in front of you, not just a memory or image.

Jesus Christ “Emptying” Himself

- When Jesus became human, He did not cease being God. Instead, He embraced human limitations, weaknesses, and experiences to be closer to us and redeem humanity.

God Wrestling with Jacob

- God wrestled with Jacob to give him a chance to prove his worthiness and to receive his father’s blessing, not for vengeance or punishment.

Holy Spirit as Advocate

- The Holy Spirit does not solve all our problems for us or act on command. Rather, He provides guidance, truth, and the Gifts of the Spirit to help us make good choices and stay aligned with God’s will.

Salvific Presence of Jesus

- Jesus's presence is salvific in that, as True God and True Man, His Paschal Mystery (suffering, death, and resurrection) paid for the consequences of sin, restored our identity as God's children, and offered us the identity of being His friends. However, His presence does not guarantee the removal of all our problems if we are faithful.

Forgiving Others without Limit

- To forgive others without limit means to forgive them because God has shown mercy upon us and forgiven us for our own sins, not because we are required to tolerate or allow abuse.

The Tax Collector in the Parable

- The tax collector is a model of genuine and sincere repentance because he remains humble before God, admits his sins, and begs for God’s mercy, unlike the Pharisee who acts proudly and self-righteously.

Kenosis

- Kenosis refers to the "emptying" of Christ, where He voluntarily relinquished His divine privileges to become human in order to redeem humanity.

Israel

- The name Israel means “the one who has struggled against God and has prevailed,” referring to Jacob’s wrestling with God and his subsequent name change.

Isaac

- Isaac is the name of Abraham’s son, meaning “laughter,” reflecting the joy of his parents, Abraham and Sarah, in having a child despite their old age.

Paschal Mystery

- The Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ are collectively called the Paschal Mystery, which is the foundation of Christian salvation.

Judges

- The Judges were heroes and leaders chosen by God to defend the Israelites from their enemies before the establishment of the monarchy.

Samuel

- Samuel was the prophet who anointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David.

Immanuel

- Immanuel is a title for Christ, meaning "God with us," expressing God's infinite presence with and in humanity.

Abraham

- God first established His covenant with Abraham, promising to make him the "Father of All Nations."