Chapter 1- Catholic Beliefs and Teachings

• The Trinity


  The Trinity is three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in One God
• The Trinity in the Nicene Creed:

  '"I believe in one God, the Father almighty..."'
• Matthew 6:9: '"Our father who art in heaven"'
• The Oneness of God

  God is the Father, God is the Son, God is the Holy Spirit
• Jesus' baptism

  A voice from heaven saying "This is my beloved Son”.
• 325 CE

  Council of Nicaea - Nicene Creed written to clarify the divine nature of Jesus
• 381 CE

  Council of Constantinople - Meeting to clarify belief in Trinity and underline Holy Spirit also is God
• Creation in Genesis 1-3

  1. Day 1: Heavens, earth, light, dark

  2. Day 2: Water, sky

  3. Day 3: Land, plants

  4. Day 4: Sun, moon, stars

  5. Day 5: Fish, birds

  6. Day 6: Land animals, humans
• God said Adam and Eve could eat from all trees but one
• Significance of the Creation account for Catholics

  • God as Creator- ‘let there be light’ (Genesis 1-3)
  • God as benevolent (loving and good)
  • God as omnipotent (all powerful)
  • God as eternal
• Imago Dei


  Humanity is created in the image of God
• Genesis 1:26:

  'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion'
• Stewardship


  Taking responsibility for looking after and caring for something on behalf of another person
• Dominion


  The idea that God put human beings in charge of the world
• The Incarnation refers to God becoming a human being in Jesus
• Incarnation


  Making flesh, Jesus was 'God made flesh'
• “The word became flesh and dwelt among us“
• Jesus


  Fully human and fully God
• Paschal Mystery


  The passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus
• Jesus' life was redeemed (exchanged)


  For the freedom from sin for all humans
• Father Forgive Them: '(Luke 23:34)'
• Eucharist


  The most important expression of the Paschal Mystery in the Church today
• For God sent his only begotten son: '(John 3:16)'
• Participation in the Eucharist


  Is a sign of accepting God's offer of salvation
• Eschatology


  The Christian study of the Last things in human life: Death, judgement, heaven, hell, purgatory
• (2 Corinthians 5:10) 'For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body'
• Purgatory


  A stage of purification which enables people to reach the holiness required to get into heaven