Religious Studies

1) HEAVEN - Eternal life with God; a life of love and indescribable joy.

2) PURGATORY - A stage of purification; this enables people to reach the holiness required to get into Heaven.

3) HELL - This is nota punishment from God,it is the absence of the love, generosity, and community of God.

LITERAL VIEW - The Creation accounts are an exact retelling of how creation occured - a "word for word" truth.

LIBERAL/METAPHORICAL VIEW - The Creation accounts are symbolic, sacred stories. This view incorporates modern science.

• It is the foundation of the Church.
• It proved that Jesus is God - only God can conquer death.
• It is a present event - "I am with you always" Matthew 28:20

Catholics believe that:

• They're fiven dominion over creation; God-given authority to rule.

"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion."

• Humanity should be stewards of creation; this authority is expressed through a loving care and cultivation of creation.

STEWARDSHIP:

• Managing farming and fishing to ensure a balance in nature.
• Recycling when possible.
• Using green energy like wind or solar power.

The majority of Christians focus on Stewardship over Dominion. In 2015 Pope Frnacis wrote Laudato Si. Non-religious people also take this view, as it is the morally responsible thing to do.

DOMINION:

• Over-farming to feed humans.
• Cutting down forests for paper/wood needs.
• Burning fossil fuels for electricity.

A minority of Christians believe this - some conservative envagelical Christians claim they don't need to worry about the environment because Jesus will soon return; meaning the end of the world anyway.

• Gives time for space and prayer,
• Allows people to connect with other Christians,
• Allows them to become "closer to God",
• Response to a busy life and world,
• To worship God,
• To heal or help cure and illness.

Evangelistion means to proclaim and live out the Gospel.

Jesus sent his Apostles to do this.

3 WAYS: LOCALLY< NATIONALLY< GLOBALLY

Locally:

• Through Parish life like Mass, sacraments, charitable work, social events.
• Through career, as a catecgist, and through marriage and family life.

Nationally:

• Attending national events and workshops connected to their career.

Globally:

• Global meetings such as "World Meeting of Families",
• Use of social media,
• Through the Pope and international charities such as CAFOD.

CAFOD means Catholic Agency for Overseas Development.

CAFOD does various kind of work, like:

• Working for social justice,
• Raising awareness and educating Catholics,
• Helping global neighbours ighting injustice and poverty,
• Helping people in a crisis, e.g. during war or after a natural disaster.

This shows CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING because it teaches us to

"Love our neighbour as yourself" Mark 12:31

Also, it examples human rights and the resposibility to protect them

AND

Call to family, community and participation - which are both themes of Catholic Social Teaching.

Baptism - The ceremony that welcomes a person into the family of God.

Confirmation - Receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit to encourage a faithful life.

Eucharist / Communion - Receiving the body and blood of Christ.

Reconciloiation - The forgiveness of sins.

Anointing of the Sick - Healing and forgiveness of sins in preparation for the journey into the next life.

Matrimony - The joining together of two people as one in marriage.

Holy Orders - The giving of a distinct mission within the Church.

FOR:

The initiation sacraments provide someone becoming a member of the Church and strengthens their faith - This person is freed from sin.

The healing sacraments remove spiritual illness of sin andgives strength in sickness and suffering - This restores one's relationship with God and shows God's love throughout their life.

The  vocation sacraments show that God is present through the couple's life long love and commitement and shows Christ's presense throughout the ages in the sacraments.

"An outward sign of an inward gift, instituted by Christ, in order to give grace to a human being."

"An outward sign" - They're visible acts of a closer relaionship with God.

AGAINST:

Not a communication of God's grace, but rather an expression of faith.

Not all Catholics do all 7 sacraments.

Other ways of being close to God:

• Pilgimage: A physical act to build your relationship with God.
• Prayer: Can be done alone, together - can argue it is a lot more personal.
• Mass: Communial way to strengthen relationships with God.
• Evangelisation: This way, you're following in the ootsteps of the Apostles.
• Charity Work: This way, you're demonstrating Catholic Social Teachings.

• Mass is said in the local lnaguage, rather than in Latin in all places.

This helps the congregation understand what's happeneing.

• The Eucharist can be received under both forms.

This helps everyone feel involved, not just the Priest.

• For Christians, the Bible is the "Word of God" and contains the rules of our religion that are followed daily. It is what's preached about in Church - this gives it authority
• The Bible is the basis of the Church, and the Church has authority.
• It is important to spreading the Christian faith - Gospels etc.

The Body of Christ means the individuals who form the Christian community. It is important to do this because:

• The strength of individuals joining together creates one community.
• Jesus is the head that leads the body.
• It makes Christians united through baptism.
• The work of Jesus is continued on earth as the living body, spreading the Gospel.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS UNITY FOR CATHOLICS TODAY:

"The body is one and has many members" 1 Corinthians 12:12

The Church is apostolic because:

• It says so in the Nicene Creed - "We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church"
• She is found on the Apostles - and Jesus sent his apostles to continue his Father's mission and gave them power and authority.

In Luke's Gospel in the New Testament, Jesus declares to his disciples that "whoever listens to you, listens to me." We live in the tradition of the Apostles by still doing this through things like evangelisation.

It is important to do our duty to preserve, teach, defend and pass on the faith like the Apostles.

The Church is also Apostlic because the Church continues to be taught, made holy, and led by the Magesterium. This is especially important, as the Magisterium guides Catholics today on modern issues like IVF, nuclear war, euthanasia etc.

1. The Cross and Crucifix,

2. The fish,

3. The chi rho,

4. The dove,

5. The eagle,

6. The Alpha and Omega,

7. The evangelists.

SACRED VESSLES: objects that the Priest uses during Mass. They're recognisable symbols to the congregation, as they know that they contain the body and blood of Christ.

• Ciborium - the covered dish used to hold the hosts
• Paten - the plate for the large host used by the Priest
• Chalice - cup for wine

SARCOPHAGI: a box container for a corpse. They used to have scenes of the Bible on them, but nowadays they're used as a physical reminder of the person buried and a focus for prayer.

HUNGER CLOTHS: cloths to cover the altar in the Middle Ages. They were covered in Bible stories and images to help those who couldn't read. They're also used in some developing countries to remind them that God is with them and cares for them through their life and struggles.

Lectern - book stand from which readings are proclaimed.

Liturgy of the Word is a key focus in Mass and redemption is received through response to the Word of God. "The dignity of the Word of God requires the church to have a suitable place for announcing his message" CCC

Altar - The table that is the focus point within a Church.

Represents the table at the Last Supper. "The altar is also the table of the Lord, to which the People of God are invited" CCC

Crucifix - A cross with an image of the crucified Jesus on it. Aids prayer. Is a reminder of Jesus' suffering.

Tabernacle - A box where consecrated hosts or Eucharist is kept.

Dwelling place of Jesus, in a physical sense, in the Church. Reminder of the tabernacle where the 10 Commandments were kept by Moses. "The tabernacle is to be situated 'in churches in a most worthy place with the greatest honour'"CCC 

Types of music in worship - Plainchant, Hymns, Worship songs and Pslams.

Plainchant: Singing without music. Gregorian chant is always sung in Churches and monasteries.

Hymns: Religious songs for purpose of praise, adoration or prayer. Often linked to the readings or Church season.

Worship Songs: Reffered to as contemporary music or "Praise and Worship". Often linked to charismatic or youth movements. More modern.

Pslams: The earliest hyms are Psalsms. Written by King David, King Solomon etc. Founf in the Old Testament and often second reading is a responsorial Psalm.

Music engages the heart in Worship - "Make melody to the Lord with all your heart" CCC