Sin and forgiveness

• The Vigil


  1. Often held the evening before the funeral

  2. Held in a church or at home

  3. A chance to prepare emotionally and spiritually for the funeral, with prayer and reflection
• The Funeral


  1. Happens in the church

  2. Catholics usually have a Requiem Mass

  3. The funeral rite within a Mass, which allows the community to share the Eucharist

  4. Family and friends are encouraged to participate in the liturgy, such as by doing the readings
• The Committal


  1. Happens straight after the funeral, at the graveside or crematorium

  2. Where the body is buried or cremated

  3. If the body is cremated, the ashes will be buried at a later date

  4. The priest will lead a short liturgy
• Symbols in the Catholic funeral rite

  • Sprinkling of holy water
  • The pall (white cloth)
  • The Paschal candle
  • Incense
  • A cross
  • The Gospels or a Bible
• Sprinkling of holy water

  Shows that the person was welcomed into the Church community through Baptism, and that in Baptism they shared in Jesus' death and resurrection
• The pall (white cloth)


  • Placed on the coffin to remember the white garment in Baptism
  • Can also be a sign that all are equal in God's eyes
• Incense


  • Used to honour the body of the dead person
  • Through Baptism, Catholics believe the body becomes the temple where the Holy Spirit dwells
• A cross


  • Placed in or on the coffin
  • In Baptism the person was marked with the cross and the belief that Jesus' death and resurrection meant that humans too can have eternal life
• The Gospels or a Bible


  Placed on the coffin to remember that the deceased lived by the word of God
• Absolutist morality


  Moral rules never change. They apply in the same way in every situation and cannot be altered. Morality is a standard independent of humans, yet is discovered by humans.
• Relative morality


  Moral rules can change. They depend on the context or circumstance of the moral action.
• Abortion


  • Absolutist view: Abortion is always wrong since it is taking a life. No one can make a decision to end another life, even if it is an unborn life.
  • Relative view: There are situations where abortion is permissible, such as to save a woman's life or because the unborn child has a significant disability.
• Retribution


  The punishment a person receives should be equal to the crime they have committed.
• Retribution


  • It is an equal and fair response to the crime, as the punishment is proportionate to the crime committed.
• Using the death penalty as retribution is controversial - if taking a life is wrong, then surely it is wrong to use it as a punishment?
• Deterrence


  An approach which aims to put people off committing crime.
• Deterrence


  • It might prevent people from engaging in criminal activity.
  • Harsher punishments do not necessarily put people off offending or reoffending, meaning that it might not be an effective form of punishment.
• Rehabilitation


  An approach designed to help criminals so they can move on from their criminal acts and return to society to make a positive contribution.
• Rehabilitation


  • This is a compassionate response to the criminal, recognising that people who have done wrong need to turn their lives around so they do not become trapped in a life of crime.
  • This approach is consistent with the Christian belief that all people are created imago Dei and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, as well as be given the opportunity to change.
• A person may choose to forgive without the person who hurt them repenting
• Punishment may reinforce what is right and wrong, which helps a person to change themselves.
• For Christians, forgiveness and punishment can work together to ensure that justice is done.
• Justice does not mean getting revenge or being overly harsh to a person but instead restoring what is right.
• For Christians, what is right is that a person is in a positive relationship with God and other people, and so justice refers to the way that this is brought about.
• Jill Saward forgave the men who raped her because she knew that not forgiving and remaining angry would destroy her even more. She forgave because she wanted to be worthy of God's forgiveness.
• Church


  1. A building where Christians gather to worship
  2. The worldwide community of believers
• Over time, people have tried to describe the character of the Church and how it is different to other institutions
• Four marks of the Church (according to the Nicene Creed)


  • One
  • Holy
  • Catholic
  • Apostolic
• The Church is one

  The Church comes from one faith, one baptism, one Lord
• The Church is holy

  The Church is given to the people by God, makes humans holy through prayers, sacraments, and charity
• The Church is catholic


  The Church is universal, meant for everybody
• The Church is apostolic


  The Church is directly from God, given to the first pope St. Peter, established at Pentecost, bishops continue the work of the Apostles, leaders have the authority of the Apostles