Sources of wisdom and authority

• Magisterium: the teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church, especially as exercised by bishops or the Pope.
• Apostolic succession: Jesus gave authority to Peter

  ”Upon this rock I will build my church and I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven” - Matthew

  ’keys’; symbolise authority, he can pass it onto his successors
• Catholics believe Peter was the first pope.

  The current pope is peter’s successor

  The apostles were the first bishops
• Why is having a magisterium important?

  Authority

  Settling disputes

  When an issue cannot be resolved
• CCC: “The Bible is the word of God expressed in the words of men”
• Catholics believe the Bible was inspired by God and is the word of God.
• The Bible has authority because:

  1. It reveals God
  2. It contains God’s laws
  3. Can bring people closer to God as they learn about what he wants and how he cares for them
• Fundamentalists: Everything in the bible is the literal word of God
• Liberal: The bible is human words inspired by God
• Dei Verbum:

  ”The Word of God”
• Lumen Gentium:

  ”The light of humanity”
• Sacrosanctum concilium:

  ”The Sacred Council”

  This document made it clear that christ is present in the mass and not only through the Eucharist
• Gaudium et Spes:

  ”Joy and Hope”

  Dignity of each person is affirmed through this document
• The church as the body of Christ:

  ”For as in one body, we have many members” - Romans 12
• The Church as the body of Christ:

  • Used to describe the church community itself
  • The people are the body
  • The consecrated bread of the eucharist is the body
• The entry part to become the body of Christ is the Eucharist
• The desire for God is though to be planted in each human being:

  ”The desire for God is written in the human heart“ - CCC