Week 39: Passages 1987 - 2051

Article 2: Grace and Justification

I. Justification

Justification has been merited for us by Christ's Passion and conferred through baptism. Justification detaches man from sin and is the acceptance of God's righteousness through faith in Jesus. With justification we gain faith hope and charity, and obedience to the divine will.

"Justification is the most excellent work of God's love made manifest in
Jesus Christ and granted by the Holy Spirit." (CCC 1994)

II. Grace

Grace is free and undeserved help from God. There are several types:

• habitual grace


• actual grace


• sacramental grace


• special graces (charisms)


• graces of state

Grace escapes our experience and cannot be known except through faith.

III. Merit

The merit of man comes from God. God has freely chosen to allow us to share in the work of his grace. Through this filial adoption we become co-heirs with Christ. No one can merit the initial grace of conversion, but once moved by the Holy Spirit we can then merit graces for ourselves and others. The charity of Christ is the source of all our merits.

IV. Christian Holiness

All Christian are called to holiness and the perfection of charity. Spiritual progress leads to a more intimate union with Christ.

"The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no
holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle. Spiritual progress
entails the ascesis and mortification that gradually lead to living in the peace
and joy of the Beatitudes." (CCC 2015)

Article 3: The Church, Mother and Teacher

I loved this paragraph:

"It is in the Church, in communion with all the baptized, that the
Christian fulfills his vocation. From the Church he receives the Word of
God containing the teachings of 'the law of Christ.' From the Church he
receives the grace of the sacraments that sustain him on the 'way.' From
the Church he learns the example of holiness and recognizes its model and source
in the all-holy Virgin Mary; he discerns it in the authentic witness of those
who live it; he discovers it in the spiritual tradition and the long history of
the saints who have gone before him and whom the litrugy celebrates inthe
rhythms of the sanctoral cycle." (CCC 2030)

I. Moral Life and the Magisterium of the Church

The Church is the pillar of truth. The charism of infallibility of the Magisterium ensures that Revelation, doctrine and morals can be preserved, explained and observed. The authority of the Magisterium also extends to matters of the natural law.

II. The Precepts of the Church

These are meant to garauntee the faithful the very minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort:

• attend Mass on Sundays and holy days


• confession at least once a year


• recieve the Eucharist at least once during the Easter season


• observe days of fasting and abstinence established by the church


• help provide for the needs of the church

III. Moral Life and Missionary Witness

Christians are members of the body of Christ and contribute to building up the church. The witness of a Christian life of good works done in a supernatural spirit have greta power to draw others to God.

"By living with the mind of Christ, Christians hasten the coming of the
reign of God, 'a kingdom of justice, love, and peace.'" (CCC 2046)

Questions for Reflection

• Do we appreciate the graces we receive? Can you think of a specific example of a time where you were given grace?


• Do you appreciate the role of the Church in your life, as mother and teacher?


• Are you doing your part to build up the kingdom through Christian witness, and encouraging your children to do the same?

For the next eight weeks the readings will focus on the 10 Commandments. This would be a good time to start reading again if you haven't kept up! Or to start if you haven't begun!

Week 38: Passages 1934-1986

This week we finish up the topic of social justice and move on to moral law.
Natural law, the Old law and the New Law are discussed.
I'm sure I have some thoughts on these readings but I am too busy baking Christmas cookies with the kids (the 2 year-old keeps throwing flour everywhere) to comment much.
Anyone still reading along?
Merry Christmas!!!

Week 37: Passages 1865-1933

These reading finish up the topic of sin, discussing the proliferation of sin, and the idea of social sin.

Then we dive into:
Chapter Two: The Human Community

Article 1The Person and Society

I. The Communal Character of the Human Vocation
People need to live in society and it is through living in community that humans fulfil their vocations. However the society must operate for the common good and should infringe on the rights of the individual.
II. Conversion and Society
Sin can pervert society. Conversion and grace are necessary. Charity leads to social reforms.

Article 2 Participation in Social Life

I. Authority

"Human Society can neither be well-ordered nor prosperous unless it has
some people invested with legitimate authority to preserve its institutions and
to devote themselves as far as is necessary to work and care for the good of
all." (CCC 1897)

Just authority derives from God. We have a duty of obedience to just authority. Such authority seeks the common good ans uses morally licit means to obtain it.

II. The Common Good

"Do not live entirely isolated, having retreated into yourselves, as if you
were already justified, but gather instead to seek the common good together."
(CCC 1905)

Common good has three essential elements:

• respect for the person
• social well-being and development of the group
• peace and security

Humanity around the world is increasingly interconnected, we need to establish a universal common good. The common good is always geared toward human progress, "founded in truth, built up by justice and animated by love." (CCC 1912)

III. Responsibility and Participation
People are obligated to promote the common good both through personal responsibility and public life.
Those in authority should strengthen the values that encourage members of the group to serve others.

"Participation begins with education and culture. 'One is entitled to
think that the future of humanity is in the hands of those who are capable of
providing the generations to come with reasons for life and optimism.'" (CCC
1917)

Article 3 Social Justice
I. Respect for the Human Person
Social justice is linked to the common good and legitimate authority, and can only be obtained by respecting the transcendent dignity of man.

"Respect for the human person proceeds by way of respect for the principle
that 'everyone should look upon his neighbor (without any exception) as 'another
self', above all bearing in mind his life and the means necessary for living it
with dignity.'"

This duty is even more urgent in regards to the poor and disadvantaged. This duty also extends to those who think and act differently from us. Christ requires forgiveness, we hate evil but must love our enemies.

Questions for Reflection

• In what ways do we work to promote the common good in our personal and public lives?
• How can we instill in our children the virtues that inspire them to service of others?
• Do we love our enemies? And how can we teach our children to do so also? Passage 1933 (about loving those who think differently from us and loving our enemies) makes me think of sibling rivalry! I am going to try to keep these readings in mind the next time I am refereeing a sibling squabble. Social justice begins at home :)

Week 36: Passages 1783-1864

Keep reading! I'm back next week.

Week 35: Passages 1716-1782

Keep reading, I'll be back soon!

Week 34: Passages 1655-1715

Well, I am sadly behind in my readings. But the good news is as you read this I have got my nose in my catechism, catching up!

Week 33: Passages 1590-1654

Ack, I'm getting behind! Pray for me that I get caught up for next week!

Week 32: Passages1533 - 1589

Ooops! I was out in NJ visiting my mom last weekend and I never got around to posting the week's readings.
I'll be back later today with this week's!

Week 31: Passages 1480 - 1532

This week we finish reading about the sacramentof Penance and cover Anointing of the Sick.

XI. The Celebration of the Sacrament of Penance
Penance is a liturgical action. It can take place individually or in a communal framework, with individual confessions. In cases of grave necessity general confession and absolution is allowed.

Article 5: The Anointing of the Sick
I. It's Foundations in the Economy of Salvation
Illness and suffering have always been among the gravest problems confronted by humans. Illness can lead to self absorption, self pity and turning away from God, or it can make us realize what is really important and turn towards God.
In the Old Testament illness is linked to sin, and having faith in God brings healing.
Christ healed many, his healing were a sign of the coming of the kingdom of God. Christ took on our sins and bore our infirmaries. His death on the cross brought a new meaning to suffering, linking it with his redemptive Passion.
The Holy Spirit gives to some the special charism of healing. But even the most fervent prayers sometimes do not heal. In the words of St. Paul:

"' My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness,' and that sufferings to be endured can mean that 'in my flesh I
complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his Body, that
is, the Church.'" (CCC 1508).

The Church strives to carry out its charge to heal the sick, through her belief in the life giving power of Christ. This presence is particularly active through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.
There is a special sacrament for strengthening the sick: The Anointing of the Sick.

II. Who Receives and Who Administers This Sacrament?
Anyone suffering a grave illness can receive this sacrament. If a person recovers it can be received again. Only priests can administer it.

III. How is This Sacrament Celebrated?
This sacrament can be preceded by penance and followed by the Eucharist, and can take place anywhere for an individual or a group. The priests lay their hands on the sick and pray over them with the faith of the Church, then anoint them with blessed oil.

IV. The Effects of the Celebration of this Sacrament

• A particular gift of the Holy Spirit- peace, courage and strength against temptation, and forgiveness of sins
• Union with the passion of Christ
• An ecclesial grace - the sick person contributes to the good of the People of God by uniting himself to Christ
• A preparation for the final journey

V. Viaticum the Last Sacrament of the Christian
In addition to Anointing of the Sick those who are about to die are offered viaticum, the Eucharist. Received as they are passing over this Eucharist has a particular significance. The Eucharist is here the sacrament of passing over from death to life.
It can be said that Penance, Anointing of the Sick, and the Eucharist as viaticum are the sacraments that prepare us for our heavenly homeland as we complete our earthly pilgrimage.

Questions for Reflection
As much as I don't like to think about sickness and death, I found these readings comforting. The Church really has it all covered! A sacrament for ever occasion...

Week 30: Passages 1420-1479

Chapter Two - The Sacraments of Healing
Article 4 The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

I. What is this Sacrament Called?
This sacrament goes by many names:

• sacrament of conversion
• sacrament of Penance
• sacrament of confession
• sacrament of forgiveness
• sacrament of Reconciliation

II. Why a Sacrament of Reconciliation after Baptism?
After Baptism we still have the inclination to sin called concupiscence.
III. The Conversion of the Baptized
Jesus calls to conversion. The baptized are called to a second conversion, which is ongoing and has a communitarian dimension. Peter's conversion after he had denied his master three times bears witness to this.
IV. Interior Penance
Jesus' call to conversion is aimed at the heart rather then exterior acts like fasting and mortification. Interior penance urges us to exterior signs. Man's heart are hardened, God must give us a new heart. The conversion of the heart is accompanied by pain and sadness known as animi cruciatus (affliction of the spirit) and compunctio cordis (repentance of heart). The Holy Spirit illuminates sin but is also the Consoler.
V. The Many Forms of Penance in the Christian Life

"The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various
ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting,
prayer, and almsgiving, which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God
and to others. Alongside the radical purification brought about by Baptism
or martyrdom they cite as means of obtaining forgiveness of sins: efforts at
reconciliation with one's neighbor, tears of repentance, concern for the
salvation of one's neighbor, the intercession of the saints, and the practice of
charity 'which covers a multitude of sins.'
Conversion is accomplished in daily life by the gestures of reconciliation,
concern for the poor, the exercise and defense of justice and right, by the
admission of faults to one's brethren, fraternal correction, revision of life,
examination of conscience, spiritual direction, acceptance of suffering,
endurance of persecution for the sake of righteousness. Taking up one's cross
each day and following Jesus is the surest way of penance." (CCC
1434-1435)

There are several ids to penance and conversion first the Eucharist and also reading Sacred Scripture, praying the Liturgy of the Hours and sincere worship. There are times in the liturgical year set aside for penitential practice.
The process of conversion and repentance is described by Jesus in the parable of the Prodigal son.
VI. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
Sin is an offense against God and a rupture of communion with him. It also damages communion with the Church. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation expresses forgiveness and reconciliation liturgically.
Only God forgives sins. Jesus Christ the Son of God has given authority to men to exercise the power of absolution and carry on the apostolic ministry.
Jesus not only forgave sins but also made plain the effects of forgiveness: sinners were reintegrated into the community. He gave the apostles this power with his words to Peter," I will give you the keys of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
"The words bind and loose mean: whomever you exclude from your communion, will be excluded from communion with God; whomever you receive anew into your communion, God will welcome back into his. Reconciliation with the Church is inseparable from reconciliation with God." (CCC 1145)
Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church but especially for those who have committed a mortal sin after Baptism so that they might have a chance to recover the grace of justification.
The celebration of this sacrament has changed over time but has always included two fundamentals: the contrition, confession, and satisfaction of the sinner and God's action through the Church.
VII. The Acts of the Penitent
Contrition - perfect contrition comes from a love of God and remits venial sins and mortal sins if the sinner is resolved to go to confession at the first opportunity, imperfect contrition comes from a fear of punishment. The reception of the sacrament should be prepared for by an examination of conscience made in the light of the Word of God (Ten Commandments, Sermon on the Mount, apostolic teachings).
The Confession of Sins- confession to a priest is an essential part of sacrament of Penance. All mortal sins must be confessed and one should not receive Holy Communion until they have done so. One should confess all the sins they remember and not hide anything, so that they can be healed. Children should go to confession before receiving Holy Communion for the first time. Although it is not necessary confessing venial sins is strongly recommended.
Satisfaction- After receiving absolution one must do something to repair the damage caused by sin, in the form of penance.
VIII. The Minister of this Sacrament
Bishops and Priests have the power to forgive sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit through the sacrament of Holy Orders.
IX. The Effects of this Sacrament
This sacrament restores us to God's grace.

"In this sacrament, the sinner, placing himself before the merciful
judgement of God, anticipates in a certain way the judgement to which he will be
subjected at the end of his earthly life. For it is now, in this life,
that we are offered the choice between life and death, and it is only by the
road of conversion that we can enter the Kingdom, from which one is excluded by
grave sin. In converting to Christ through penance and faith, the sinner
passes from death to life and 'does not come to judgement'". (CCC 1470)

X. Indulgences

"'An indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment due
to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who
is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of
the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with
authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.'
'An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or
all of the temporal punishment due to sin.' The faithful can gain indulgences
for themselves or apply them to the dead." (CCC 1471)

Questions for Reflection
Well I don't know about everyone else, but these readings make we want to run out to confession! What a beautiful thing that Our Lord has given us the Church and the sacraments so that we can have easy access to the abundant mercy of God! Yesterday was Priesthood Sunday, let's all remember to thank the priests in our lives who administer these sacraments.
I am also thinking more deeply about ways I can practice penance and revive the spirit of repentance and conversion within myself.
How did you respond to these readings?

Week 29: Passages 1356 - 1419

Happy reading this week!

Week 28: Passages1293-1355

This week's readings cover Confirmation and the Eucharist.

II. The Signs and the Rite of Confirmation

In Biblical symbolism anointing with oil is a symbol of abundance and joy, cleansing, strengthening, healing and beautifying. Christian who receive the anointing of Confirmation share in the mission of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. In Confirmation we receive the mark of the Holy Spirit, a symbol of belonging. Christ himself said that he was marked with his Father's seal.

The rite of Confirmation is preceded by the consecration of the chrism oil by the bishop at the Chrism Mass. The rite itself begins with a renewal of baptismal promises to emphasize the connection between the two sacraments. The essential rite of the sacrament involves the bishop anointing the forehead with chrism through laying on of hands and saying the words, "Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit." In the Byzantine rite the forehead, eyes, nose, ears, lips, chest, back, hands and feet are all anointed. The sign of peace concludes the rite to demonstrate the ecclesial communion of the bishop with all the faithful.

III. The Effects of Confirmation

The effect of Confirmation is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as at Pentecost. It gives us the following graces:

• it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!"



• it unites us more firmly in Christ



• it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us



• it renders our bond with the Church more perfect



• it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.

Confirmation, like Baptism, also confers an indelible spiritual mark.

IV. Who Can Receive This Sacrament?

Every baptized person not yet confirmed should receive the sacrament of Confirmation. The Church suggests the "age of discretion" be reached, but children in danger of death should be given the Sacrament. Preparation should be made including catechesis that emphasizes belonging to the universal Church and parish community, receiving the Sacrament of Penance and more intense prayers.

V. The Minister of Confirmation

The original minister of Confirmation is the bishop, but he can authorize priests to administer the sacrament. If someone is near death, any priest can give Confirmation.

Article 3 The Sacrament of the Eucharist

I. The Eucharist- Source and Summit of Liturgical Life

The other Sacraments are all bound up in the Eucharist and oriented towards it.

"The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in
the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept
in being. It is the culmination both of God's action sanctifying the world
in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father
and to the Holy Spirit."CCC 1325

In the Eucharistic celebration we unite with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life.

II. What is the Sacrament Called?

The inexhaustible richness of this sacrament is expressed in the variety of names given to it:

• Eucharist



• The Lord's Supper



• The Breaking of Bread



• The Eucharistic Assembly



• The memorial of the Lord's Passion



• The Holy Sacrifice



• The Holy and Divine Liturgy



• The Sacred Mysteries



• The Most Blessed Sacrament



• Holy Communion



• Holy Mass

III. The Eucharist in the Economy of Salvation

The signs of bread and wine

At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are bread and wine which through the words of consecration become Christ's body and blood. Bread and wine also symbolize the goodness and of creation as we see in the Old Testament. In the New Testament the miracles of the multiplication of the loaves and the wedding at Cana prefigure the superabundance of the Eucharist.

The institution of the Eucharist

By celebrating the Last Supper with is disciples, Christ gave the Passover its definitive meaning. Christ's death and Resurrection are the new Passover and an anticipation of the final Passover of the Church and the glory of her kingdom.

"Do this in memory of me"

Jesus commanded us to repeat his words and actions until he comes, not merely remember what he did. On the first day of the week the early Christians would meet to break bread. The celebration of the Eucharist has continued to this day, and remains the center of the Church's life.

"Thus from celebration to celebration, as they proclaim the Paschal mystery
of Jesus 'until he comes,' the pilgrim People of God advances, 'following the
narrow way of the cross,' toward the heavenly banquet, when all the elect will
be seated at the table of the kingdom." CCC 1344

IV. The Liturgical Celebration of the Eucharist

The Mass has stayed the same since the second century. It has two parts: the liturgy of the Word and the liturgy of the Eucharist.

The movement of the celebration

• all gather together



• liturgy of the Word



• the presentation of the offerings



• the anaphora



• the preface



• the epiclesis



• the institution narrative



• anamnesis



• intercessions



• communion

Questions for Reflection:

What a lot of great information on the Eucharist! A lot of food for reflection here!

I don't have any specific questions this week, but welcome your comments!

Week 27: Passages 1226-1292

Woohoo! We are on the second page of readings! We are reading about the sacraments of initiation, today we cover Baptism and begin Confirmation.

Baptism in the Church

From the day of Pentecost the Church has celebrated Baptism. Through Baptism the believer enters into Christ's death, is buried with him and rises with him.

Augustine says of Baptism:

"The word is brought to the material element, and it becomes a sacrament." (CCC
1128)

III. How is the Sacrament of Baptism Celebrated?

The following gestures and symbols are part of the rite of Baptism:

• the sign of the cross
  


• the proclamation of the Word
  


• exorcisms
  


• baptismal water

• essential right (immersing 3 times or pouring water 3 times while saying "N., I baptize you in the name of the Ftaher, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
  


• annointing with the sacred chrism
  


• in the Eastern Churches, Confirmation follows
  


• white garment
  


• candle, lit from the Easter candle
  


• First Holy Communion
  


• solemn blessing

IV. Who Can Receive Baptism?

Any unbaptized adult, child or infant can receive Baptism. Faith must continue to grow after Baptism in a community of believers. In addition to the parents, a godfather and godmother help the newly baptised on the road of a Christian life.

V. Who Can Baptize?

The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the Bishop and priest, and the deacon in the Latin Church. In the case of necesity anyone, even a non-baptized person, can baptize.

VI. The Necesity of Baptism

The Lord affirms that Baptism is necesary for salvation. However,

"God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not
bound by his sacraments." (CCC 1257)

Those who suffer death for the sake of Christ, are considered to be baptized by blood. For catechumens who die before baptism, their desire to recieve it along with repentance for their sins assures them the salvation of the sacrament.

"Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and his Church, but seeks
the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it,
can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired
Baptism explicitly if they had known its necesity." (CCC 1260)

The Church entrusts babies who die without Baptism to the mercy of God.

VII. The Grace of Baptism

In Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin, personal sins and punishment for sin. The temporal consequences of sin (suffering, illness, death) remain as does concupiscence. Baptism also makes us a new creature, an adopted son of God, member of Christ, and temple of the Holy Spirit. We are incorporated into the Church and the common priesthood of all believers. Baptism unites us with all Christians, even those who are not in full communion with the Church. Baptism gives us an indelible spiritual mark that shows we belong to Christ.

Article 2 The Sacrament of Confirmation

Confirmation is necesary for the completion of baptismal grace. Confirmation enriches us with the strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith.

I. Confirmation in the Economy of Salvation

The Old Testament prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the Messiah. The descent of the Holy Spirit at Jesus' baptism was a sign that he was the Son of God. Jesus promised the outpouring the Spirit to everyone, which he fulfilled at Pentecost.

From the time of the apostles, the newly baptised were given the gift of the Spirit through the laying on of hands to complete the grace of Baptism. Very early an anointing with perfumed oil was added to the laying on of hands.

"This annointing highlights the name 'Christian' which means 'annointed' and
derives from that of Christ himself who God 'annointed with the Holy Spirit.'"
(CCC 1289).

In the early Church Confirmation was linked with Baptism and was performed at the same time. In the Eastern Church this is still the case.

Question for Reflection:

How can we teach our children about Baptism? Do you have any special traditions for celebrating their Baptism days?

Week 26: Passages 1168-1225

Well, life got in the way again for me this week, so no blogging on these readings- I'll be lucky if I can mange to find time to read them! But feel free to share your comments, they really encourage me!!!

Week 25: Passages 1130- 1167

This week we finish up Chapter One (The Liturgy- Work of the Holy Trinity) of Part Two (The Celebration of the Christian Mystery).
We are discussing the sacraments: the sacraments of faith, sacraments of salvation, and now the sacraments of eternal life.

V. The Sacraments of Eternal Life
In the sacraments, the Church shares in the guarantee of eternal life with Christ.
Chapter Two: The Sacramental Celebration of the Christian Mystery
Article 1: Celebrating the Churches Liturgy
I. Who Celebrates?
The whole community of the body of Christ celebrates the sacramental liturgy. All the baptized share in the common priesthood of Christ and offer sacrifices for the good of all. Some are called to the sacrament of Holy Orders to act as an “icon” of Christ. There are also particular ministries not consecrated by Holy Orders, such as servers, readers, commentors and members of the choir.
II. How is the Liturgy Celebrated?
Signs and symbols
Words and actions
Singing and music
Holy images
III. When is the Liturgy Celebrated?
Liturgical seasons
The Church commemorates the saving work of her divine spouse on certain days throughout the year. She unfolds the whole mystery of his saving work over the course of the year. From the time of the Mosaic Law the people of God have celebrated fixed feast days to commemorate the astonishing actions of God.
The Church’s celebration is marked by the word “Today!” – echoing the prayer the Lord taught her.

“This ‘today’ of the living God which man is called to enter is ‘the hour’ of
Jesus’ Passover, which reaches across and underlies all history.” (CCC 1165)

The Lord’s day
In a tradition handed down from the apostles the Church celebrates the Paschal Mystery every seventh day. This day is both the first day of the week, the memorial of the first day of creation, and the eighth day on which Christ institutes the “day that has no evening”.
The Lord’s supper is its center, and this day is the most important day for liturgical assembly.

“When we ponder, o Christ, the marvels accomplished on this day, the Sunday
of your holy resurrection, we say: ‘Blessed is Sunday, for on it began
creation…the world’s salvation…the renewal of the human race…On Sunday heaven
and earth rejoiced and the whole universe was filled with light. Blessed
is Sunday, for on it were opened the gates of paradise so that Adam and all the
exiles might enter it without fear.” (CCC 1167)

Have a blessed Sunday!

Week 24: Passages 1076-1129

I'm sorry I am way late posting this weeks readings, I had to fly out to New Jersey for my mother's back surgery. She is recovering well, please pray for her continued battle with cancer. I'll post this week's readings by Monday. Hopefully.

Week 23: Passages 1030-1075

Passages 1030-1075
This is an exciting week! We finish Part One and embark on Part Two! I'm taking a deep breath and looking forward to a new section.

III. The Final Purification, or Purgatory
All who die in God’s grace but are still imperfectly purified, must be cleansed in purgatory. Teachings on purgatory are based on Scripture which speaks of a cleansing fire and the practice of praying for the dead.
IV. Hell
We can choose to be separated from God forever, a state known as Hell. The teachings of the Church on Hell are a call to man to use his time on earth wisely and consider his eternal destiny. God predestines no one for Hell, a choice is necessary. Eternal separation from God is the chief punishment of Hell.
V. The Last Judgment
The Last Judgment will come when Christ returns in glory. He will separate the good from the wicked and all their deeds will be known. Only the Father knows the hour. We shall know the meaning of the work of creation and the economy of salvation.
VI. The Hope of the New Heaven and the New Earth
At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come to fullness. There will be a new heaven and a new earth and God will dwell among men. The unity of the human race, which God willed from creation will be restored.
AMEN
The Creed ends with the word ”amen” just like the last book of the Bible and all our prayers. It means “believe” and expresses God’s faithfulness towards us and our trust in Him.

“Thus the Creed’s final ‘Amen’ repeats and confirms its first words: ‘I
believe.’ To believe is to say ‘Amen’ to God’s words, promises and commandments;
to entrust oneself completely to him who is the ‘Amen’ of infinite love and
perfect faithfulness. The Christian’s everyday life will then be the ‘Amen’ to
the ‘I believe’ of our baptismal profession of faith: May your Creed be fro you
a mirror. Look at yourself in it, to see if you believe everything you say you
believe. And rejoice in your faith each day.” (CCC 1064)
“Jesus Christ
himself is the ‘Amen’.” (CCC 1065)

PART TWO The Celebration of the Christian Mystery
It is through the liturgy that the work of our redemption is accomplished. It is the participation of the People of God in the work of God. Through the liturgy Christ continues our redemption.
The liturgy makes the Church present as a visible sign of the communion between God and man. It is also a participation in Christ's own prayer to the Father.
Catechesis is intrinsically linked to the liturgy and the sacraments.

"The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is
directed; it is also the font from which all her power flows." (CCC 1074)

Question for reflection:

• As we finish Part One on the profession of faith, do you have a better understanding of the Creed and what we profess to believe? I think I may have to go back over my notes :)

Week 22: Passages 992-1029

Passages 992 – 1029
I. Christ’s Resurrection and Ours
Belief in God has always included a hope in the resurrection, and when Jesus came he made this more specific by linking the Resurrection to himself. The resurrection f the body is one of the most opposed points of the Christian faith.
How do the dead rise?
In death, the soul is separated from the body which decays. At the resurrection we will be united with our glorified bodies. All will be resurrected. Those who did good will rise to life, and those who did evil will rise to be judged. Just as Christ raised his own body our earthly bodies will be changed into immortal glorious bodies. This exceeds our understanding, but the Eucharist gives us a foretaste. The resurrection of the dead will occur on the last day, the end of the world.
Risen with Christ
In a certain way we are already risen with Christ. Through our baptism we are united with Christ, but this life is a mystery “hidden with Christ in God.” Through the Eucharist we are part of the Body of Christ. Because of this we should treat our bodies with respect and dignity, and also treat others with the same respect, particularly the suffering.
II. Dying in Christ Jesus
Death

• Death is the end of earthly life, it reminds us we have a limited time to live our lives to fulfillment.


• Death is the consequence of sin. The Church teaches that man was created to be immortal but death entered the world because of sin, and is the last enemy to be conquered.


• Death is transformed by Christ. The obedience of Jesus transformed the curse into a blessing.
  

The meaning of Christian death
In death God calls man to himself. Death is the end of our earthly pilgrimage, the time of grace and mercy God gives us to decide our ultimate destiny. The Church encourages us to prepare ourselves for the hour of our death, by asking the Mother of God to intercede for us “at the hour of our death” and to entrust ourselves to St. Joseph, patron of a happy death.

Article 12 “I Believe in Life Everlasting”

I. The Particular Judgement

Each man is judged immediately after his death, and receives either entrance into heaven (immediately or after purification) or everlasting damnation.

II. Heaven

"Those who die in God's grace and friendship and are perfectly purified
live for ever with Christ. They are like God for ever, for they 'see him as he
is,' face to face." (CCC 1023)
"This perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity- this communion of life and
love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels and all the blessed- is
called 'heaven.' Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest
human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness." (CCC 1024)

Jesus opened heaven for us, and shares his glory with all who believe in him and remain faithful to him. Heaven is a mystery beyond description. Scripture uses images of light, peace, wedding feast, wine of the kingdom, the Father's house, the heavenly Jerusalem, and paradise. God cannot be seen as he is, unless he wills it and and gives man the capacity to understand the mystery. This is called "the beatific vision".

In heaven the blessed continue to fulfil God's will toward men and all creation.

Question for Reflection: What are we doing to prepare for the hour of our deaths? I know death is NOT something I think about very often as I am surrounded by all these little ones so full of life. Am I teaching my children about heaven?

Week 21: Passages 954 - 991

Passages 954- 991



II. The Communion of the Church of Heaven and Earth
Some pilgrims are still on earth, others have died and are being purified, while others are in glory. Those in heaven intercede for us.

“Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole
Church more firmly in holiness…They do not cease to intercede with the Father
for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one
mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus…So by their fraternal concern is our
weakness greatly helped.” (CCC 956)

Just as communion among our fellow pilgrims brings us closer to Christ so does our communion with the saints. Our prayer is capable of helping the dead and allowing them to intercede for us.



Paragraph 6. Mary – Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church
I. Mary’s Motherhood with Regard to the Church
Mary’s role in the Church flows from her union with Christ. She was united with her son from his virginal conception to the hour of his Passion, and after his Ascension aided the beginnings of the Church with her prayers. Her Assumption is a unique participation I her son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians.
The Virgin Mary, by her obedience to the Father’s will, his Son’s redemptive work, and every prompting of the Spirit is the Church’s model of faith and charity.
Her singular obedience, faith, hope and charity makes her our mother in the order of grace.

"This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from
the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she
sustained
without wavering beneath the cross, until eternal fulfillment of
all the elect.
Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office
but by her manifold
intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal
salvation…Therefore the
Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the
titles of Advocate, Helper,
Benefactress, and Mediatrix.” (CCC
969)
“Mary’s function as mother of men in no way obscures or diminishes this
unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power.” (CCC 970)

II. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin

“’All generations will call me blessed’: ‘The Church’s devotion to the Blessed
Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.’” (CCC 971)
“’….This very special
devotion…differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate
Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this
adoration.’” (CCC 971)

The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayers such as the Rosary express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.
III. Mary – Eschatological Icon of the Church
In Mary we can contemplate the mystery of what the Church is on her pilgrimage of faith and what she will be at the end of the journey.

“In the meantime the Mother of Jesus, in the glory which she possesses in body
and soul in heaven, is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be
perfected in the world to come. Likewise she shines forth on earth, until
the day of the Lord shall come, a sign of certain hope and comfort to the
pilgrim people of God.” (CCC 972)

Article 10 “I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins”
I. One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins
Baptism is the first sacrament of forgiveness of sins. Baptism cleanses us, but we still have an inclination towards evil that we must battle. So the Church gives us another sacrament to forgive sins up to our deaths, the sacrament of Penance.
II. The Power of the Keys
Christ sent his apostles “so that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations.” (CCC 981)

“The Church has received the keys of the Kingdom of heaven so that, in her, sins
may be forgiven through Christ’s blood and the Holy Spirit’s action. In this
Church, the soul dead through sin comes back to life in order to live with
Christ, whose grace has saved us.” (CCC 981)

There is no offense too serious to be forgiven, Christ died for all men.



Article 11 “I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body”


We believe that just as Christ rose from the dead and lives forever, we will be resurrected (both our soul and mortal body) on the last day. This has been a Christian belief from the beginning.





Questions for Reflection:

• In what ways do you ask the saints to intercede for you? How can we teach our children about the saints? For a fun craft, check out the spoon saints at Cottage Blessings.

• Do you pray for the dead? It seems to me I once saw a great idea for making an All Souls Day banner with reminders to pray for deceased friends and relatives, but I can't remember where.

• Which are your favorite Marian devotions? How can we introduce these to our children? Meredith at Sweetness and Light has tons of ideas for Marian devotions for children. In our house our Rosary box has been a big hit and an aid to reflecting on the mysteries of the Rosary.

Week 20: Passages 901 - 953

Passages 901-953
These readings cover the vocation of lay people, the consecrated life, and then begins to explain the communion of saints.
The participation of lay people in Christ’s priestly office

“’Hence the laity, dedicated as they are to Christ and anointed by the Holy
Spirit, are marvelously called and prepared so that even richer fruits of the
Spirit may be produced in them. For all their works, prayers, and
apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind
and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit- indeed even the hardships of
life if patiently born- all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ. In celebration of the Eucharist these may most
fittingly be offered to the Father along with the body of the Lord. And so,
worshipping everywhere by their holy actions, the laity consecrate the world
itself to God, everywhere offering worship by the holiness of their lives.’”
(CCC 901)

Lay people can serve as lectors or acolytes, and if there is necessity can exercise the liturgy of the word, preside over liturgical prayers, confer Baptism, and distribute Holy Communion.
Participation in Christ’s prophetic office
Lay people fulfill their prophetic mission through evangelization, both through the witness of their lives and through direct teaching of the Gospel to others.
Participation in Christ’s kingly office
One way we can participate in Christ’s kingship is to have authority over our passions, and not let sin reign in our hearts.
Another is to cooperate with our pastors in service to the ecclesial community.

The Consecrated Life
The consecrated life is characterized by a vow of chastity, poverty, and obedience. It is a way to become more intimate with God, to dedicate oneself totally to Him.
One great tree, with many branches
There are many different religious families, all of which aid their members in progressing in holiness and benefit the Body of Christ.
The eremitic life
Hermits devote their lives to praise God through separation from the world, prayer, penance and solitude. They manifest the interior aspect of the mystery of the Church, personal intimacy with Christ.
Consecrated virgins and widows
Virgins or widows can be consecrated by the diocesan Bishop and are then betrothed mystically to Christ. They become a sign of the Church’s love for Christ and are called to prayer, penance, service, and apostolic activity.
Religious life
Religious life is distinguished from the other forms of consecrated life by its liturgical character, the public profession of the evangelical counsels (chastity, poverty, and obedience), fraternal life, and the witness given to the union of Christ with the Church.
Religious life is a gift from the Lord, and signifies the charity of God. All religious help the diocesan bishop in his pastoral duty. Historically religious families have been instrumental in spreading the faith.
Secular institutes
A secular institute is an institute of consecrated life in which the faithful living in the world share the task of evangelization and act as “leaven in the world.”
Societies in apostolic life
Alongside the different forms of consecrated life there are societies for members without religious vows to pursue the purpose of the society.
Consecration and mission: proclaiming the King who is coming

“In the Church, which is like the sacrament- the sign and instrument- of God’s
own life, the consecrated life is seen as a special sign of the mystery of
redemption. To follow and imitate Christ more nearly and to manifest more
clearly his self-emptying is to be more deeply present to one’s contemporaries,
in the heart of Christ. For those who are on this ‘narrower’ path
encourage their brethren by their example, and bear striking witness ‘that the
world cannot be transfigured and offered to God without the spirit of the
Beatitudes.’” (CCC 932)

Paragraph 5. The Communion of Saints
The Church is the communion of Saints, all the faithful form one body and there is a communion of goods.
Communion in Spiritual Goods

• Communion in faith – faith is enriched by being shared
• Communion of the sacraments – the sacraments are sacred links uniting the faithful to one another, and binding them to Jesus Christ. The term communion can be applied to all of them in particular the Eucharist.
• Communion of the charisms – the Holy Spirit gives special graces to the faithful for the good of the church.
• “They had everything in common” – Everything a Christian has is a possessed by all, a Christian is a steward of the Lord’s gifts and should help the needy.
• Communion in charity – Every act of charity profits all, and every sin harms all.

Questions for Reflection:

• In these reading we read about the mission of the lay faithful. In what ways do you participate in Christ’s priestly, prophetic, and kingly office (CCC 901-913)?
• CCC 953 discusses communion in charity. Do you think of your sin as affecting the entire body of Christ?

Week 19: Passages 863- 900

I’m back! I am going to tell you why I haven’t been blogging, but I have to whisper as there are certain relatives who haven’t been filled in yet. So gather in…
{My husband and I are blessed to be expecting a new little baby due in March! We are so excited, but I have been very sick and tired with morning sickness that lasts all day. It is getting better now though, so I hope to be able to keep up with blogging again.}
I also want to encourage anyone who has fallen away from doing the readings, to just jump back in where we are! Think about it, even if you don’t get through the whole Catechism, any reading is going to beneficial, and it makes it more fun if I have company!

This week we read passages 863-900.

The Church is Apostolic
The Church remains true to the faith of her origins, handed down from Peter and the Apostles and it is her mission to go out into the world. All Christians share in this mission. The fruitfulness of this apostolate depends on a deep union with Christ.
The Church is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic because it is in her that the kingdom of heaven already exists and will be fulfilled at the end of time.

“The kingdom has come in the person of Christ and grows mysteriously in the
hearts of those incorporated into him, until its full eschatological
manifestation. Then all those he has redeemed and made ‘holy and blameless
before him in love,’ will be gathered together as one People of God, the ‘Bride
of the Lamb,’ ‘the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,
having the glory of God.’ For ‘the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and
o them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.’” (CCC 865)

Paragraph 4. Christ’s Faithful – Hierarchy, Laity, Consecrated Life
The Christian faithful all participate in the building up of the body of Christ. There are differences between members, but they all share one unified mission. The apostles and their successors are entrusted with teaching, sanctifying and governing in Christ’s name. The laity have their own assignment, they are made to share in the priestly, prophetical, and kingly office of Christ. In addition some from both groups are consecrated to God in their own special manner.
I. The Hierarchical Constitution of the Church
Why the ecclesial ministry?
No one can believe in the Gospel without first hearing it. No one can bestow grace unto himself. Thus Christ authorized his ministers to act in persona Christi Capitis. The ministry by which God’s grace is given is called a “sacrament”. The ecclesial ministry has several characteristics: a character of service, a collegial character, and a personal character.
The Episcopal college and its head, the Pope
When Christ instituted the Twelve, he set Peter apart and gave him the keys of his Church. The Pope and the Bishops are the successors of the apostles.

“The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter’s successor, ‘is the perpetual and visible
source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company
of the faithful.’” (CCC 882)

The teaching office
The Bishops, with priests as co-workers, have as their first task to preach the Gospel to all men. In order to preserve the purity of the faith Christ granted the Magisterium the charism of infallibility in matters of faith and morals.
The sanctifying office
The Bishop is the steward of grace, particularly in the Eucharist which he offers personally or through his co-worker priests. The Eucharist is the center of life of the particular church. The bishop and priests sanctify the church through their prayer, work and example.
The governing office
The Bishops govern the particular Churches assigned to them by counsels, exhortations, and example, but above all the authority of sacred power. Bishops should follow the model of the Good Shepherd, and their authority must be in communion with the Pope.
II. The Lay Faithful
The vocation of lay people

“’By reason of their special vocation it belongs to the laity to seek the
kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to
God’s will…It pertains to them in a special way to illuminate and order all
temporal things with which they are closely associated that these may always be
effected and grow according to Christ and may be to the glory of the Creator and
Redeemer.’” (CCC 898)

Lay Christians are particularly responsible for permeating social, political, and economic spheres with the demands of Christian doctrine and life.
Lay Christians have the right and duty to spread the divine message of salvation. They are essential to the ecclesial community, without them the apostolate of the pastors would not be effective.

Question for reflection:
How can we live out this charge from CCC 898 to “illuminate and order all temporal things with which [we] are closely associated that these may always be effected and grow according to Christ and may be to the glory of the Creator and Redeemer”?

Week 18: Passages 823 - 862

Anyone still out there? I'll be back soon! I hope :) And I'll fill in on what's been up around here, keeping me from the keyboard...

Week 17: Passages 787-822

Enjoy this week's readings, I hope to be back to blogging soon :)

Week 16: Passages 748-786

Great readings this week! I can't wait to get back into the blogging swing again! Thanks for the prayers, hopefully soon I'll be back with updates of whats been going on around here.

Week 15: Passages 702-747

Due to some family circumstances blogging will be postponed for a few weeks. I'll just post the weekly readings, no notes. Feel free to comment as always. Talk amongst yourselves! I hope to be back soon.

Week 14: Passages 668-702

Article 7 “From Thence He Will Come Again To Judge The Living and the Dead”
I. He Will Come Again in Glory
Christ is the head of the Church, his body. At the Ascension God’s plan came to fulfillment, we are living in the “last hour”, Christ has brought us redemption by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Church. Christ’s kingdom is present in the Church. The Church on earth is endowed with a sanctity that is real but imperfect.
Christ’s reign is yet to be fulfilled by his return to earth. Thus the Church carries the mark of the world and we pray for Christ’s return. This is a time of the Spirit and of witness, of distress and of waiting and watching.
The Messiah could come again at any moment, he will come when “all Israel” recognizes him. Before this coming the church will pass through a great trial which will test the faith of many. This religious deception will take the form of an Antichrist. We can see this deception already in the world every time someone attempts to create here in history what can only happen at the last judgement.

“The Church will enter the glory of the kingdom only though this final Passover,
when she will follow her Lord in his death and Resurrection. The kingdom
will be fulfilled, then, not by a historic triumph of the Church through a
progressive ascendancy, but only by God’s victory over the final unleashing of
evil, which will cause his Bride to come down from heaven. God’s triumph
over the revolt of evil will take the form of the Last Judgment after the final
cosmic upheaval of this passing world.” (CCC 677)

II. To Judge the Living and the Dead

“Following in the steps of the prophets and John the Baptist, Jesus announced
the judgment of the Last Day in his preaching. Then will the conduct of
each one and the secrets of hearts be brought to light. Then will the
culpable unbelief that counted the offer of God’s grace as nothing will be
condemned. Our attitude about our neighbor will disclose acceptance or
refusal of grace and divine love. On the last day Jesus will say: ‘Truly I
say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it
to me.’
Christ is the Lord of eternal life. Full right to pass
definitive judgment on the works and hearts of men belongs to him as redeemer of
the world. He ‘acquired’ this right by his cross. The Father has given
‘all judgment to the Son.’ Yet the Son did not come to judge, but to save
and to give the life he has in himself. By rejecting grace in this life,
one already judges oneself, receives according to one’s works, and can even
condemn oneself for all eternity by rejecting the Spirit of love.” (CCC
678-679)

Chapter Three: I Believe in the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the first to awaken faith within us, but the last of the persons of the Holy Trinity to be revealed. God revealed himself to us gradually so we wouldn’t get all overwhelmed and confused!
The Holy Spirit was at work with the Father and the Son from the beginning but it is only now in these “end times” that the Spirit is recognized and welcomed.

“Now can this divine plan, accomplished in Christ, the firstborn and head of the
new creation, be embodied in mankind by the outpouring of the Spirit: as the
Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of
the body, and the life everlasting.” (CCC 686)

Article 8: “I Believe in the Holy Spirit”
God’s Spirit reveals God and Christ, but we cannot hear his voice and he tells us nothing about himself. We can only see the movement through which he reveals the Word to us. When we believe in Christ he comes to dwell in us.
In the Church we can know the Holy Spirit:

• in the Scriptures he inspired;



• in the Tradition, to which the Church Fathers are always timely witnesses;



• in the Church’s Magisterium, which he assists;



• in the sacramental liturgy, through its words and symbols, in which the Holy Spirit puts us into communion with Christ;



• in prayer, wherein he intercedes for us;



• in the charisms and ministries by which the Church is built up;



• in the signs of apostolic and missionary life;



• in the witness of saints through whom he manifests his holiness and continues the work of salvation.
  

I. The Joint Mission of the Son and the Spirit
When the Father sends his word he always sends his Breath. The Holy Spirit is invisible but nonetheless shares in the divinity and mission of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit reveals Christ to us.
II. The Name, Titles, and Symbols of the Holy Spirit
“Holy Spirit” is the proper name of the third person of the Trinity. The Church has received this name from the Lord, it comes from the Hebrew word “ruah” which means breath, wind, or air.
Titles of the Holy Spirit

• Paraclete (advocate, consoler)



• Spirit of truth



• Spirit of the promise



• Spirit of adoption



• Spirit of Christ



• Spirit of the Lord



• Spirit of God



• Spirit of Glory
  

Symbols of the Holy Spirit

• Water



• Anointing



• Fire



• Cloud and Light



• The seal



• The hand



• The finger



• The dove

Questions for Reflection:

• CCC 678-679 really gave me a kick in the pants! It reminded me that so often we can reject or accept grace. I'm going to read those passages over a few times this week.
• I didn't realize there were so many symbols of the Holy Spirit! I think I knew about fire and the dove. Read CCC 694-701 to learn about the rest.

Week 13: Passages 624-667

We are up to passages 624-667. These readings cover the death and Resurrection of Jesus.

Paragraph 3. Jesus Christ was Buried
Before his Easter Resurrection Christ actually experienced death, his soul was separated from his body so that he “might be, in his person the meeting point for death and life.” (CCC 625)
Jesus’ body was kept free from corruption, because his divine person was still present in his body and soul even though they were separated from each other. This is evidenced in his Resurrection on the third day as the fourth day was the day it was traditionally believed that decay began. Baptism (which was originally immersion) signifies our descent in to the tomb with Christ so that we may also experience being raised up with him.

Article 5 “He Descended Into Hell On the Third Day He Rose Again”
Paragraph 1. Christ Descended into Hell

Jesus experienced death as all men do, but when he descended into Hell it was “as Savior, proclaiming the Good News to the spirits imprisoned there.” (CCC 632)
“Hell” refers to the dwelling place of all souls who died awaiting the Redeemer, because they are deprived of the vision of God. Jesus delivers the righteous, but not the damned. The descent into Hell brings the Gospel message to fulfillment, spreading it to all people of all times. This brief event of Jesus’ descent is vastly significant.

“Jesus, ‘the Author of life,’ by dying destroyed ‘him who has the power of
death, that is, the devil, and [delivered] all those who through fear of death
were subject to lifelong bondage.’ Henceforth the risen Christ holds ‘the keys
of Death and Hades,’ so that ‘at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth.’” (CCC 635)

Paragraph 2. On the Third Day He Rose from the Dead

“The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ, a faith
believed and lived as the central truth by the first Christian community; handed
on as fundamental by Tradition; established by the documents of the New
Testament; and preached as an essential part of the Paschal mystery along with
the cross.” (CCC 638)

I. The Historical and Transcendent Event
The Resurrection of Christ was a real event that is historically verified. When the disciples enter the empty tomb they find evidence that the absence of Jesus’ body is not of human doing and that Jesus has not simply returned to earthly life as Lazarus did. This is suggested in the Gospel when John enters the tomb, “he saw and believed.” (CCC 640)
Mary Magdalene and the holy women were the first to encounter the Risen Christ, and they became the first messengers of Christ’s Resurrection for the apostles. Next Jesus appeared to Peter, then the other apostles and many more disciples.
All these testimonies provide evidence of the Resurrection as a historical fact. The apostles faith was put to the test by Jesus’ death on the cross, many were demoralized and had a hard time believing the tales of the Resurrection. Even when Jesus appeared to them directly they wondered if he was a ghost.
The Resurrection did not spring from the faith of the apostles, but rather their faith in the Resurrection came from divine grace and their direct experience with the reality of the risen Jesus.
Jesus’ risen body bears the marks of the passion, but it is a glorified body with new properties. Christ is now outside of time and space and belongs to his Father’s divine realm. His body is filled with the Holy Spirit so that he can share his divine life with us.
The Resurrection is a mystery that was not witnessed by anyone. It is a transcendent event, while historically verifiable surpasses history. That is why Christ appeared not to everyone but to his disciples so that they might be his witnesses to the people.
II. The Resurrection – A Work of the Holy Trinity
In the work of the Resurrection the three divine persons act together as one while manifesting their own characteristics.
III. The Meaning and Saving Significance of the Resurrection
Christ’s Resurrection is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. It is also proof of Jesus’ divinity. Christ’s death liberates us from sin, and his Resurrection opens the way to new life. The new life is the justification that reinstates God’s grace, and allows us to become adopted children of God. Finally, Christ’s Resurrection is the source of our future resurrection.

“In Christ, Christians ‘have tasted…the powers of the age to come’ and their
lives are swept up by Christ into the heart of divine life, so that they may
‘live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was
raised.’” (CCC 655)

Article 6 “He Ascended Into Heaven and is Seated at the Right Hand of the Father”
Christ’s body is glorified at the Resurrection, but that glory is veiled until the event of the Ascension when he takes his place at the right hand of the Father to remain there for all time.
The Ascension is linked to the Incarnation, only one who came from the Father can return to the Father. Jesus is our high priest who enters the greatest sanctuary of all, heaven itself, to permanently make intercession for all who draw near to God through him.
Being seated at the right hand of the Father signifies the beginning of the Messiah’s kingdom and the fulfillment of the prophecy:

“To him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and
languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall
not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” (CCC 664)

Questions for Reflection:

• CCC 641 describes the role of women in passing on the Gospel message. What does that mean for us? How can we be witnesses to the men around us?


• CCC 644 states that the apostle's faith was born from divine grace and direct experience of the reality of the risen Jesus. How can we nourish our faith by more fully experiencing Jesus?

Week 12: Passages 583- 623

This week our readings will cover passages 583-623. I'm sorry I don't have any notes yet, last week I helped run a Vacation Bible School (very fun!) and I just returned from a weekend of camping. I had optimistic thoughts of getting in the door and typing up some Catechism notes, but baseball games, piles of camping equipment and VBS supplies, and tired and dirty children in need of baths and bedtimes intervened. So maybe I'll get a chance to add some notes, but if I don't I am depending on YOU my loyal Catechism reading buddies! Let me know what part of these readings struck you!

Week 11: Passages 541-582

Our readings for today cover passages 541-582.

We continue with the mysteries of Jesus’ public life:

The Kingdom of God is at hand
After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee and preached the Gospel. He gathered men into the family of God, the Church, the seed of the kingdom. By his death and Resurrection he would accomplish the coming of the kingdom and draw all men to himself.

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
Everyone is called to enter the kingdom by accepting Jesus’ word. The kingdom belongs to the poor and the lowly. To them the Father reveals what is hidden from the wise. Sinners are invited to conversion. The invitation comes in the form of parables.

“Through his parables he invites people to the feast of the kingdom, but he also
asks for a radical choice: to gain the kingdom, one must give everything.
Words are not enough; deeds are required. The parables are like mirrors for man:
will he be hard soil or good earth for the word? What use has he made of the
talents he has received? Jesus and the presence of the kingdom in this world are
secretly at the heart of the parables. One must enter the kingdom, that is,
become a disciple of Christ, in order to ‘know the secrets of the kingdom of
heaven.’ For those who stay ‘outside,’ everything remains enigmatic.” (CCC
546)

The signs of the Kingdom of God
Jesus performed miracles to show that he is the Son of God. Some accused him of acting by the power of demons. Jesus freed some individuals from the earthly evils of hunger, injustice, illness, and death, but he came not eliminate these evils but rather the greatest evil: sin. The coming of God’s kingdom means the defeat of Satan’s.

The keys of the kingdom
Jesus chose twelve men to be with him and assist him in his mission. Peter holds a special place, because of his faith he became the rock on which Jesus built his church. Jesus gave the authority of the church to the apostles and in particular Peter, to whom he gave “the keys of the kingdom.”

“’I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven.’ The power of the keys designates authority to
govern the house of God, which is the Church. Jesus, the Good Shepherd,
confirmed this mandate after his Resurrection: ‘Feed my sheep.’ The power to
‘bind and loose’ connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal
judgments, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church.” (CCC 553)

A foretaste of the Kingdom: the Transfiguration
Jesus reveals his divine glory on the mountain, and also that in obedience to the Father he must suffer and die to enter into his glory. At Jesus’ baptism he revealed the mystery of our first regeneration (baptism) and at the Transfiguration he reveals our second regeneration: our own Resurrection when our bodies will be like his glorious body. It is also a reminder that we enter the kingdom of God through persecution.

Jesus’ ascent to Jerusalem
Jesus attempts to gather the people of Jerusalem around him, but he weeps when they reject him.

Jesus’ messianic entrance into Jerusalem
Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem manifested the coming of the kingdom and the Messiah. Jesus comes with humility, riding on a donkey, and is welcomed by the poor and by children. Their acclamation of “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” is repeated in the Sanctus of the Eucharistic Liturgy.

Article 4 “Jesus Christ Suffered Under Pontius Pilot, Was Crucified, Died, And Was Buried”
The Paschal mystery is the center of the Good News.

“Faith can therefore try to examine the circumstances of Jesus’ death,
faithfully handed on by the Gospels and illuminated by other historical sources,
the better to understand the meaning of the Redemption.” (CCC 573)

Paragraph 1. Jesus and Israel
In many ways Jesus’ words and deed were a “sign of contradiction” for the Jews, particularly the Pharisees. Jesus seems to be acting against the following essential institutions:

• submission to the whole of the Law in its written commandments and, for the Pharisees, in the interpretation of Oral tradition;



• the centrality of the Temple at Jerusalem as the holy place where God’s presence dwells in a special way;



• faith in the one God whose glory no man can share.

I. Jesus and the Law
Jesus came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. Only he could keep the whole Law perfectly, he came to redeem all those who could not. In Jesus, the Law is no longer written in stone but “upon the heart”.
Jesus taught with divine authority, he clarified and perfected certain aspects of the Law, which did not make him popular with Jewish leaders. I found this detail interesting:

“Going even further, Jesus perfects the dietary law, so important in Jewish
daily life, by revealing its pedagogical meaning through a divine
interpretation: ’Whatever goes into a man from the outside cannot defile
him…(Thus he declared all foods clean.). What comes out of a man is what defiles
a man. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts…’”
(CCC 582)

Questions for Reflection:

• What jumped out at you from these readings? Is anyone still with me?



• CCC 559 describes Jesus’ messianic entrance into Jerusalem and states that the “subjects of God’s kingdom on that day are children and God’s poor”. In our own faith how can we be more like children and God’s poor?



• St. James says, “Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” (CCC 578) Yikes, what a kick in the pants, eh? That’s a wake-up call for me, as I know I have the tendency to get complacent about my sinfulness since I don’t commit any of the biggies: adultery, murder, etc.

Weeks 9 and 10: Catechism for Kids!

My kids and I recently did a project that would be a great tie-in to the past few weeks readings on the Blessed Mother and the mysteries of Jesus. You can see pictures of our Rosary box here. And here are the directions. Also check out the First Heralds blog, there are some great ideas for introducing the faith to little ones there.
Another fun idea would be to have your kids make Rosary books with a page for each mystery, or a book or timeline of Christ's life.

I was excited to read passages 531-534 on the mysteries of Jesus' hidden life because I just heard a talk at a Homeschool Conference on the same topic!
Fr. Pablo Straub discussed Pope Paul VI homily on the life of the Holy Family as characterized by three things:

• work
• silence
• prayer

I'm sure there are lots of things one could take away from his talk, but my personal resolution was to attempt to bring these three elements into my family by getting my kids on a schedule (including prayer times), getting them involved in more chores, and increase the silence in our home by turning off the tv more (since the toddler does not come with a volume dial).

I knew from experience that implementing all these changes all at once would be a recipe for crash and burn, so I resolved to introduce things gradually. I started with a schedule for meals, and added a prayer (in addition to Grace) to each meal. So at breakfast we pray a decade of the Rosary and a Morning Offering and at lunch the Angelus. We also have a snack at 10am and 3pm and I'd like to add the Chaplet of Divine Mercy along with 3pm snack. Its been a few weeks and I have to say this simple schedule is the best thing ever, our days have been much smoother since I implemented it.

Next I'd like to add chore times, currently I have the children take turns clearing the dishes after meals, and clean-up there toys before bed. Occasionally they clean their rooms or do other chores, mostly as consequences for bad behavior. I'd like to try to implement some FlyLady routines and zone with them. These chore flip charts look interesting too.

And as far as the tv, my husband helped out with that one- he decided we would go tv free and he unplugged it and carried it to the basement! I was so relieved, it took a lot of pressure off me to enforce limits. We have a lot more time now for reading and just spending time together as a family not glued to the tube!

Week 10: Passages 496 - 540

We are now on week 10. This week we are reading passages 496 – 540.

We continue our journey through the Creed with Roman Numeral II. Born of the Virgin Mary.
The Church confesses Mary’s perpetual virginity. Some people claim that Jesus had brothers, as mentioned in the Bible, but this term actually referred to close relatives.
There are several reasons that God chose to have his Son be born of a virgin (CCC 503-507):

• Mary’s virginity manifests God’s absolute initiative in the Incarnation, Jesus had only God as Father.




• Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit because he is the New Adam, head of the redeemed humanity. Adam was of the earth (made from dust), Jesus is from Heaven.




• Jesus ushers in the new birth of children adopted by the Holy Spirit through faith. Participation in the divine life is the gift of God to man. The spousal character of the human relation to God is fulfilled perfectly in Mary’s virginal motherhood.




• Mary’s virginity is a sign of her faith unadulterated by doubt, and her undivided gift of herself to God’s will.




• Mary is a symbol of the Church:

“the Church indeed…by receiving the word of God in faith becomes herself a
mother. By preaching and Baptism she brings forth sons, who are conceived
by the Holy Spirit and born of God, to a new and immortal life. She
herself is a virgin, who keeps in its entirety and purity the faith she pledged
to her spouse.” (CCC 507)

Paragraph 3. The Mysteries of Christ’s Life



When I first glanced through this section, to prepare to take more detailed notes, I wasn’t too excited. After all, I know about the details of Jesus’ life (he was born in a manger, died on the cross etc. etc.), so I figured these reading would be mostly review. However, when I actually read through the passages this quote jumped out at me and shed a new light on the import of what I was reading:

“We must continue to accomplish in ourselves the stages of Jesus’ life and his
mysteries and often to beg him to perfect and realize them in us and in his
whole Church…For it is the plan of the Son of God to make us and the whole
Church partake in his mysteries and to extend them to and continue them in us
and in his whole Church. This is his plan for fulfilling his mysteries in
us.” (CCC 521)

I. Christ's Whole Life is Mystery


We can see the mystery of who Jesus was in the events of his earthly life, in his deeds, words and miracles. His earthly life is a sacrament (a tangible sign) of his divinity and the salvation he brings.

“Christ’s whole earthly life – his words and deeds, his silences and sufferings,
indeed his manner of being and speaking – is Revelation of the Father.
Jesus can say: ‘Whoever has seen me has seen the Father,’ and the Father can
say: ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’” (CCC 516)

Christ’s whole life is a mystery of redemption. Not only does his death on the cross reveal this mystery, but also:
“-already in his Incarnation through which by becoming poor he enriches us with poverty;
-in his hidden life which by his submission atones for our disobedience;
-in his healing and exorcisms by which ‘he took our infirmities and bore our diseases’;
-and in his Resurrection by which he justifies us.” (CCC 517)

Christ is our model, he wants us to follow him. He wants to live in him and he in us. His riches are for everyone.

II. The Mysteries of Jesus’ Infancy and Hidden Life

The Preparations
God prepared for the coming of his Son to earth over the course of centuries.

“He makes everything converge on Christ: all the rituals and sacrifices, figures
and symbols of the ‘First Covenant.’ He announces him through the mouths
of prophets who succeeded one another in Israel. Moreover, he awakens in
the hearts of the pagans a dim expectation of this coming.” (CCC 522)

St. John the Baptist is the Lord’s forerunner, sent to prepare the way. This expectancy and preparation is made present by the Church in the Liturgy of Advent.





The Christmas Mystery
Christ was born in a stable to a humble family and visited by shepherds. We must become like children in relation to God, Christ must be born in us.

The Mysteries of Jesus’ Infancy
Jesus is circumcised on the eight day, this is a sign of his relationship to Abraham, the people of the covenant and his submission to the Law of Israel. It is a sign of the “circumcision of Christ”, Baptism.
At the Epiphany the Magi visit Jesus to show us that Jesus is the Messiah of Israel and that the good news of salvation is also for the pagans.
The presentation in the temple shows that Jesus is the firstborn Son who belongs to the Lord. Jesus is revealed by Anna and Simeon as the “light of the nations”, “glory of Israel” and “a sign that is spoken against.”
The flight into Egypt recalls the Exodus and presents him as the liberator of God’s people. It also shows the opposition of darkness to light, as Christ’s whole life was lived under persecution.

The Mysteries of Jesus’ Hidden life
Jesus spent most of his life as the majority of human beings do, a daily life without greatness full of manual labor. We know that Jesus was obedient to his parents, a perfect fulfillment of the fourth commandment and a reparation for the disobedience of Adam.

“The hidden life of Nazareth allows everyone to enter into fellowship with Jesus
by the most ordinary events of daily life.” (CCC 533)

The finding of Jesus in the temple is the only break in the silence of the hidden years. Here we get a glimpse of the mystery of Jesus’ mission.





III. The Mysteries of Jesus’ Public Life
The Baptism of Jesus
When Jesus is baptized in the Jordan he is allowing himself to be numbered among the sinners and displaying his obedience to the Father’s will. The Holy Spirit comes to rest on him and the heavens (that Adam had closed) are opened. Through Baptism we are able to participate in Jesus’ death and Resurrection.
“The Christian must enter into the mystery of humble self-abasement and repentance, go down into the water with Jesus in order to rise with him, be reborn of water and the Spirit so as to become the Father’s beloved son in the Son and ‘walk in newness of life.’” (CCC 537)

Jesus’ Temptations
After his Baptism Jesus goes into the desert for forty days, at the end of this time Satan tempts him three times, just as Adam was tempted and the Israelites were tempted in the desert. Jesus remains faithful where Adam gives in to temptation and remains obedient to the Father where the Israelites strayed. Jesus’ victory in the desert foreshadows his victory at the Passion. Jesus’ temptation reveals the way that he is the Messiah, contrary to the vision of an earthly leader that men were expecting and Satan tempts him with. Jesus conquered Satan for us, so that he could be like us in all but sin. The Church unites us to this mystery during the forty days of Lent.


Questions for Reflection:

• The readings about the mysteries of Jesus' life (CCC 512-570) can be applied to the Mysteries of the Rosary. Do you pray the Rosary daily, and reflect on the mysteries of Jesus' life? I know I am often very sloppy about this!
• CCC 521 tells us that we must beg Jesus to perfect his mysteries in us and in the whole Church. Choose one mystery (or two!) from our readings (CCC 522-540) to work on accomplishing in yourself.