Unit 10.2 J2 Community and Tradition revision cards

1. Anglican Churches- Churches that are in communion with the Church of England.

2. apostolic- the belief that the Church can only be understood in the light of the Apostles.

3. Bishops- priests specially chosen by the Pope who are responsible for all the churches in a diocese.

4. catholic- universal or worldwide.

5. celibacy- living without engaging in any sexual activity.

6. holy- of, or relating to, God, sacred.

7. laity- all the people of the Church who are not chosen to be priests, bishops or deacons.

8. Magisterium- the Pope and the bishops interpreting the Bible and tradition for Roman Catholics today.

9. Nonconformist Churches- Protestant Churches seperated from the Church of England.

10. ordination- making someone a priest, bishop or deacon by the sacrament of holy orders.

11. Orthodox Churches- national Churches in union with the Patriarch of Constantinople (e.g.: the Russian Orthodox Church.)

12. papacy- the office of the Pope.

Meaning-

• The Church teaches the faith.
• Sacraments lead to salvation.
• Church has kept the true faith through Apostolic Succession.
• Sacraments also give spiritual strength to believe and live out the faith in daily life.

Importance-

• It is important to Catholics that their faith is the true faith, and the Church teaches the 'one true faith' handed down by apostolic tradition.
• The faith brings salvation-belief in Christ leads to eaternal life.
• It is a place that peole can learn about the faith and be provided the means to faith.
• Catholics can be provided with support and strength as they try to strengthen and increase their faith through sacraments and the aid of the priest.

Meaning-

• The Church is Christ's presence on earth.
• Catholics become what they recieve through recieving the Eucharist-the Body of Christ.
• Catholics continue Christ's work on Earth because he isn't physically present with us anymore, but lives on through his followers.
• The Church is One-unified through baptism.

Importance-

• St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians says that Christians make up a part of the Church.
• Jesus is not physically present now so we continue his works, acting as his presence.
• Shows how Mass is important-we share in the Body of Christ and are re-affirmed as Christ's body.

Meaning-

•  The Church visible & invisible-no division, Christians in heaven, earth and purgatory.
• Saints in heaven can intercede for us.
• Catholics can still pray for the dead.
• Catholics can recieve support and spiritual comfort from the prayers prayed for them.

Importance-

• Creeds "I believe in the Communion of Saints."
• Says so in the Catechism.
• Direct contact with the official saints.
• It allows prayers to be offered for the dead so those in purgatory can ascend into heaven.
• Allows those in heaven to pray for those on earth- a communion.

Meaning-

• contains laws on how to behave-Ten Commandments.
• Contains guides for living-the Sermon on the Mount.
• Inspired by the Holy Spirit.
• Reveals God.

Importance-

• records life, death & resurrection of Jesus-his works for salvation is the basis of Christian faith.
• Ten Commandments-basic guidline on how to live.
• Reveals what God is like-allows us to find out how to love him and fullfill the greatest commandment.
• Using the Bible in public worship and the Homily helps Christians understand how to live the way God want them to in todays world.

Meaning-

• Tradition-Catholics believe that Jesus gave apostles message and authority to begin the Church. Not just in writing but orally too.
• Tradition-The apostles preached the Gpspel and established first Churches with inspiration from Jesus.
• Tradition-handed down directly from Jesus.
• Succession-Jesus appointed St. Peter as the founder of the Church.
• Succession-the same teachings apostles gave is the same ones given to congregations today.
• Only priests ordained by a bishop in the line of Apostolic Succession are true priests.

Importance-

• Tradition-it give the Church the authority to teach the faith.
• Tradition-Gives Catholics confidence in the true faith taught by the Church.
• Succession-the Pope has the same authority Jesus gave to St. Peter.
• Successions-preserves the faith; the Church has the same faith as the apostles did.

Role-

• To interpret the Bible & Tradition for Catholics today.
• To respond to modern issues (e.g: IVF treatment.)
• To define beliefs (dogmas) of the Church.
• To ensure teachings are passed to laity so they are fully informed about the beliefs & teachings of the Church.

Importance-

• A supreme authority, telling Catholics what to believe.
• Can address issues that did not exist in the time of the apostles, e.g: gay marriage.
• Following its teachings points the way to salvation.
• Provides clear guidlines on what to believe and how to behave in today's world.

Meaning-

• Protestants do not believe that the Pope is infallible when he teaches the faith and morality.
• Anglican Churches still ordain bishops and and believe that bishops continue the work of apostles and hold leadership over other members of the Church, but don't accept the Pope.
• Most Nonconformist Churches have no priests or bishops, but ministers to guide and advise.
• For most Protestants, authority comes soley from the Bible-"Sola Scriptura".

Importance-

• Authority from the Bible means that Protestants can interpret the Bible in their own way, because it is the Word of God.
• Also, women can be ordained as priests & ministers-they can play a governing, authorative role in the Church.
• Protestands are opposed to the hierarchical system-that they do not need priests to be mediators between God and his people-they can achieve salvation on their own.

Role-
Pope- Head of universal Church, vicar of Christ, successor of St. Peter, head of the College of Bishops, head of Magisterium
Bishop- Ordains priests, bishops & deacons; in charge of all the churches in a diocese, member of Magisterium, succeeds the apostles.
Priest- proclain & preach the Gospel; celebrate & administer sacraments-especially the Eucharist; assisst the Bishopt at confirmations and ordinations.

Importance-
Pope- Apostolic Succession-he has the same authority Jesus gave to St. Peter, so he his teachings are the same as St. Peter's was.
        -As the vicar of Christ, he plays te role of Jesus on Earth-so he has to represent the Church to other figures of authority.
Bishop- Being a successor of the apostles means that they have the same role as the apostles did.
           - Being the head of a diocese means he is responsible for making sure that everyone in his diocese knows everything about the faith and teachings of the Church.
Priest- a very important role is Mass-at ordination his hands are anointed with oil in recognition of the miracle that will take place on his hands each day at Mass.
         - can personally minister each person in a parish, which a bishop would find hard to do.

Meaning-

• Living without engaging in any sexual activity.
• Also means that the person is unmarried if he is a priest.
• In Protestant Churches, all the clergy is allowed to marry.
• Orthodox Church-priests can marry but can't become a bishop.
• Catholic Church-normally, priests and bishops cannot marry.

Importance-

• Jesus never married, and the priest and bishop are seen as people standing in place of Christ, so they should try to be like him as much as possible.
• However, come men Jesus chose to lead the Church were not celibate-there is a reference to St. Peter's mother-in-law.
• A member of the clergy can devote himself more to his work and not have family ties-St. Paul makes this point in the Corinthians.
• However, the laity are encouraged to marry-celibacy of priests and bishops is not being a role model.

Meaning-

• Seen as a good role model.
• Annunciation-said yes to her vocation quickly, despite pain it would bring.
• Immaculate Conception-belief she was born without original sin.
• Virgin Birth-Jesus was concieved by the Holy Spirit.
• Assumption-Christians believe that when they die, they stay in the grave until judgement day. But Church teaches that Mary assumed into Heaven, her body and soul.

Importance-

• Annunciation- teaches that Christians should say 'yes' to their vocation.
• Immaculate Conception-shows that she was chosen before conception so she would be worthy to give birth to Jesus.
• Catholics pray to Mary to as for help when they are in trouble.
• She was one of the few who did not abandon Jesus when he died, it shows that Christians should be as courageuous as her.
• She nurtures Jesus, not for her own sake, but so she could give the gift of her son to all people, as mentioned in Luke 1.54, and shows that we should sacrifice things for God, too.