Church And The Kingdom Of God

• What are the stations of the cross? - One the day of crucifixion Jesus had to carry his cross from Pilate's house to the hill of Calvary. - The stations are a series of 14 images that remind Catholics of the events that happened during this journey - Catholics make the stations of the cross reflecting on a short reading about the vent shown and say a prayer at each one
• What do the stations of the cross mean to Catholics? - it is a way to accompany Jesus on his last journey - it is a way to share in Jesus' sufferings as a sign of gratitude and thanks - helps the person to stay focused on their prayers
• How are mission and evangelism shown in Drama God's love Catholic attitude towards mission or evangelism: Show God's love through doing good actions and forgiveness Example in film: Les Mis - A thief called Valijean steals silver from the Bishop of Digne - The Bishop stops the police from throwing Valijean in jail for theft by saying it was a gift and urges Valijean to use this as an opportunity he has been given to do good - The bishop's act of love and forgiveness persuades Valijean to become a better person - He sets up a factory to help create jobs and benefit from the wealth the bishop gave him
• How are mission and evangelism shown in Drama Right attitude Catholic attitude : Having the right attitude is more important than blindly following God's law - Showing love kindness and forgiveness are sometimes more important in missionary work than simply following the rules An example of this in a film - In Les Mis Valijean constantly pursued by his former jailer Javert. Javert refuses to forgive Valijean for his crimes and wants to send him back to prison as the law demands - But at one point in the film Valijean saves Javert's life and after this Javert finds he cannot arrest Valijean - Valijean's kind act towards Javert ultimately saves Valijean from imprisonment. Goodness wins over the law - One of the final songs has the words ' To love another person is to see the face of God
• How are mission and evangelism shown in Drama Total commitment to God - Missionaries and evangelists may face hardships or ridicule as part of their work but this should not lessen their commitment to their faith and work - Sometimes goodness may involve ignoring demands or Church Law Example - In the Mission some European priests are doing missionary work with a group of native people in South America - When the native people are attacked by their slave traders the priests stay to defend the native people - despite the danger to their own lives and the order of their bishops to abandon the people
• The influence of mission and evangelism in drama They can: - illustrate the power such values can have to change and improve people's lives - inspire and encourage Christians to show these values in their lives - help to inspire Christians to preach the Gospel message to others and to show it in their own lives '' The production and showing of films that have value ought to be encouraged and assured by every effective means
• The Kingdom of God and the Lord's Prayer What is the kingdom is God? -The kingdom began at the birth of Jesus this is when God's power came to earth - It was established through Jesus' resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit - It is extended by Christians who form and helps to spread the kingdom of God on earth - It will be completed at the end of time when all people will be able to enjoy the eternal happiness of heaven
• The Lord's prayer ' Our father who art in heaven' 'hallowed be thy name' 'thy kingdom come' 'thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven' 1. Jesus wants all people to be able to call God their 'Father' and to have a trusting relationship with him 2. This is a prayer for God to be accepted as holy 3. This is a prayer for God's kingdom to come and for people to accept the rule of God in their hearts 4. Accepting and following God's will is important for establishing the Kingdom When everyone does the will of God the Kingdom will be fully established
• The Lord's Prayer ' Give us this day out daily bread' ' forgive us our trespasses' 'deliver us from evil' 1. This is a prayer asking God to help provide the basics needed to survive so people can focus more on God thus helping the kingdom to grow 2. Forgiveness is an important part of helping people to become closer to God 3. This is a prayer to resist the temptation to sin which will be assisted by God's grace
• Signs of the Kingdom: Justice peace and reconciliation Justice Justice...... - Ensures all people have access to basic human rights - Recognises that all people are created and loved equally by God - Treats all people fairly and equally regardless of sex race religion ' good created by God for everyone should in fact reach everyone' To help created Justice Christians should live in a way that respects the rights of others They should take actions to help change the systems in the world that allow injustice to continue
• Signs of the Kingdom: Peace Peace..... - is a state of total trust and unity between all people - flows from justice- there can be no peace where there is injustice - is the removal of tensions caused by suspicion resentment and mistreatment 'founded on truth built up on justice nurtured and animated by charity' Christians should support all efforts to establish peace and harmony in the World This includes supporting organisations that work for justice and unity
• Signs of the Kingdom: Reconciliation Reconciliation...... - Restores damaged relationships between people - Relies on acceptance and empathy - brings back together people who have broken apart Reconciliation breaks down the barriers that exist between people This helps peace and justice to spread which helps the Kingdom of God to grow
• The hierarchy of the Church 1. The pope - Head of the church - The pope leads the Church and all authority in the Church ultimately lies with him 2. Cardinals - Appointed by the pope; they elect his successor 3. Bishops - Successors to the apostles; responsible for a dioceses 4. Priests - Responsible for a small areas of the Church called a parish; administer the sacraments and preach the word of God 5. Deacons - Preah the word of God and assist the priests 6. Lay people - Non ordained members of the Church; they share in the priestly office of Christ through their baptism
• The second Vatican Council Dei Verbum ( The word of God) - deals with the importance and the interpretation of the Bible - stresses that the Bible should be taken seriously as the word of God but should not be read in a literal way
• The second Vatican Council Lumen Gentium (On the Church) - deals with the nature and structure of the Church - stresses that all the members of the Church have important roles to play not just the Pope - emphasises the idea of a pilgrim Church moving forwards within modern society
• The second Vatican Council Sacrosanctum Concilium (On the Sacred Liturgy) - deals with the liturgy and church services - emphasises that people should be able to take a full part in the worship of God - allows Catholics to hear the Mass in their own language
• The second Vatican Council Gaudium et Spes (The Church in the Modern World) - deals with issues related to modern society - stresses that the Church should not be sperate from modern society but should guide people on how to live in the modern world
• The importance of Mary and the Magnificat Mary Shows humility Mary praises God's greatness 1. - Mary recognises that she is only special because of what God has done for her - For example 'for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant' 2. - Mary is aware that God has shown his love for all people by doing great things for her and for all humanity - Her whole prayer praises God for this - For example ' My soul magnifies the Lord... for the Mighty One has done great things for me
• The importance of Mary and the Magnificat Mary Shows her acceptance of God's will Mary shows her trust in God - Mary willingly accepted the role of mother of Jesus - Her praise of God in this prayer confirms her readiness to follow God's will 2. - When Mary said this prayer she was pregnant unmarried teenager who could have been killed for alleged adultery - But she trusted God to protect her as she was doing his will
• The importance of Mary and the Magnificat A controversial Kingdom prayer The Magnificat is controversial because there is a sense of revolution within the prayer ' He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly' ' He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty' - Some people think the Magnificat supports those who are rebelling against their governments. - They believe it encourages the weak and poor to rise up against those in power to help spread the kingdom of God on earth just shows that - Other people think the prayer shows that God supports the weak and helpless and those who trust in God will be saved
• The four marks of the Church and apostolic succession One - The Church is one united body - While it is made up of many individual churches these are all part of the one Church just as limbs form part of one human body - At the last supper Jesus prayed to God that his followers 'may all be one' the Church aims to achieve this today
• The four marks of the Church and apostolic succession Catholic - The word 'Catholic' means 'related to the whole' or 'worldwide' - The beliefs of the Church universal held by Catholics everywhere in the world
• The four marks of the Church and apostolic succession Holy - The presence of God makes the Church holy - All Christians and the Church as a whole are guides by the Holy Spirit - Every member of the Church is also made holy through baptism
• The four marks of the Church and apostolic succession Apostolic - The Church's teachings are built on the teachings of the 12 apostles - The successor to the apostles (the pope and the bishops) guide the Church today
• The four marks of the Church and apostolic succession Apostolic Succession and the Magisterium - Catholics believe the bishops and the Pope are successors to the apostles - This means the authority of the apostles has been passed down from one generation of bishops to the next. It also means the authority of peter - who led the apostles and the early Church - has been passed down to the current Pope who leads the Church today - The combined authority of the bishops and the Pope is known as the Magisterium - Catholics believe of the bishops and the Pope is known as the Magisterium - Catholics believe the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit. When the Pope makes a formal declaration of an official doctrine of the Church he is speaking as the head of the Church and on those occasions he speaks infallibly - he cannot be wrong
• The conciliar and pontifical nature of the Church How is the Church conciliar? - Council (meetings of the Pope and bishops) are sometimes held to make important decisions and update Church teaching - these help the Pope to discuss difficult issues with other members of the Church and to understand the feelings of the whole Catholic community - Councils influence and teachings and direction of the Church
• The conciliar and pontifical nature of the Church How is the Church pontifical? - the pope is the leader of the Church and has the highest authority - this authority has been passed down over generation from Peter who was chosen by Jesus to lead the apostles - this makes the Pope the representative of Christ on Earth - the pope's teachings must be taken very seriously and can be declared infallible (without error) - the decisions of a Council have no authority until they are approved by the Pope
• The conciliar and pontifical nature of the Church Catholic Social Teachings - The Church believes that God loves all people - The Church also acknowledges that people are vitally important to its existence: without human beings there would be no Church - These beliefs have led the Church to recognise the importance of helping the support the weakest and poorest members of society so all people can live in an equal way ' the Church sincerely professes that all men ..... ought to work for the rightful betterment of this world in which all alike live' - The church is against economic exploitation and a culture of greed as this leads to inequality and suffering ' today we ... have to say 'thou shalt not' to an economy to exclusion and inequality' - The church teaches that Catholics should do what they can to help support the poorest and weakest members of society and to help relive their suffering
• The Church as the Body of Christ: the importance of charity for Catholics SVP ( St Vincent de Paul Society ) - SVP members visit people in need in their homes or in hospitals care homes and prisons - They offer support friendship and advice to people who are vulnerable - SVP also help individuals with practical needs - For example they might help with shopping and other household chores - SVP runs slightly bigger projects to help the local community - For example they might run summer camps for children or provide food for the homeless
• The Church as the Body of Christ: the importance of charity for Catholics CAFOD ( Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) - CAFOD emergency aid in places overseas where natural disasters or war have ruined lives- They also help the victims of there disasters to rebuild their lives by providing long-term aid- For example they might provide communities with farming equipment so they can grow their own food- CAFOD challenges national and international laws and polices laws that hurt those living in poverty- For example they campaign against policies that contribute to inequality or climate change
• Kingdom values in Christian vocations What are kingdom values? - Kingdom values are values that God wants people in his kingdom to show in their lives - For Christians Jesus gave the best example of how to live according to Kingdom values. - Some of there are expressed in the Beatitudes while others are given elsewhere in Jesus' teaching
• Priesthood A priest is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church; one who is chosen to celebrate Mass preach and forgive sins - Priest take a promise of celibacy (a promise of not to marry or have sex). They commit themselves body and soul to God - Like Jesus a priest serves others and because priests don't have a family they are always free to help others - Priests take a promise of obedience to their bishop knowing they are obeying the voice of God
• Family life - Love is an important Kingdom value that united a family together - Catholic parents try to show Kingdom values in their relationship with each other - They also aim to teach their Children Kingdom values and by doing do they help to spread the Kingdom of God on earth
• Religious life Monks and nuns are people who commit themselves to God by living in small religious community where life centres around prayer. Religious brothers and sisters also commit themselves to God in a similar way but are more focused on going out into the world to help other people - Catholics who commit to a religious life as a monk or nun take vows of poverty chastity and obedience to show they have committed to God's values - They live simple lives dedicated to prayer and serving others - Monasteries have a sense of peace that other people can come and share in
• Kingdom values in the life of a Catholic Justice - Pope Francis - When Pope Francis became Archbishop of Buenos Aires he increased the number of priests working among the poor - By setting a good example he aims to inspire other to live more simply to help reduce inequality - For example he lives in small modest flat rather than the large official apartments in the Vatican - He criticises economic polices that lead to inequality and exploitation - He also speaks out against all forms of abuse as this damages lives and contributes to injustice
• Kingdom values in the life of a Catholic Peace - Pope Francis - During 2014 - 15 he played a major role in restoring relations between Cuba and USA - There had previously been tensions between these countries since the 1950's - He brings together leaders of countries that have been at war with each other - For example in 2014 he met and prayed with the Palestinian and Israeli presidents - He uses his public addresses to pray for peace - He often prays for areas in the world that are facing great conflict and tension
• Kingdom values in the life of a Catholic Reconciliation - Pope - Every Maundy Thursday he goes to a local prison and washes the feet of 12 prisoners including Muslims - This shows his belief that people who have committed crimes should still be accepted by society - He has visited areas of tension in the world trying to help restore harmony - He has helped to reconcile some of the tensions between Muslims Jews and Christians - For example as archbishop he arranges services in his cathedral where Muslim and Jewish leaders could pray together with him
• St Pauls Letter on the resurrection """so it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable what is raised is imperishable It is sown in dishonour it is raised in glory"""