Catholic Christianity

• Symbolism


  Using an object or a word to represent an abstract idea
• Religious symbols are used to communicate the underlying message of a religion to make its meaning more accessible to people, but in pointing to the holy it comes to represent the holy, so religious symbols have a certain holiness in themselves
• Icon of Christ

  • Different facial expressions show Christ's two natures
  • Halo shows Christ's holiness and divinity
  • Fingers symbolise Trinity and Christ's death
  • Holy book symbolises Christ as the Word of God
• The Council of Nicaea said that holy images should be exhibited in churches, on sacred vessels and vestments, on walls and panels, in houses and on streets
• Sacred art is not just for decoration but also acts as an aid to worship
• Lectern


  Raised platform where the Bible is read aloud
• Altar


  Made of consecrated stone, at the centre of the church, expresses the importance of redemption as an altar of sacrifice
• Crucifix


  Reminds worshippers of Christ's redemption and helps focus on Christ's sacrifice
• Tabernacle


  Container for consecrated hosts which remind Catholics of Christ's redemption, and a place of special holy presence
• A Catholic church is more than a building or a meeting hall; it is a place of worship where Catholics celebrate the redemption brought to the world by Jesus Christ
• Example and teaching of Jesus

  Catholics look to Jesus' life, teaching, and the greatest commandments to guide moral decisions
• Natural law


  The moral order designed by God at creation, which can be discerned by human reason and must be followed by Christians
• Conscience


  The voice of God within, guiding moral decisions
• Conscience


  An inner feeling of the rightness or wrongness of an action
• Natural law


  The inbuilt moral order to the universe
• Sermon on the Mount

  Jesus' description of Christian Living
• Catechism


  The official teaching of the Church
• Creed


  Statement of Christian beliefs
• Laity


  All the people of the Church who are not chosen to be bishops, priests or deacons
• The documents produced by Vatican II carry the authority of the Church.
• Christians believe that the whole of God's creation shows the presence of God in what Catholics call the sacramental nature of reality - God's power and nature can be understood and seen through the things he has made
• Sacraments


  Outward signs that an inward gift of grace has been given by God
• The sacrament of baptism

  1. Parents and godparents bring the child to church

  2. Priest pours water over the child, baptising in the name of the Trinity

  3. Priest anoints with chrism

  4. Priest gives a lighted candle
• Symbolism of baptism


  • Water symbolises washing away sin
  • Oil and candle symbolise being claimed by Christ
• Meaning of baptism


  The original sin with which the child is born is washed away
• Baptism is important for Catholics because: the Catechism teaches that without baptism, a person cannot receive the other sacraments; baptism makes a person a full member of the Church, ready to begin a new life in the Holy Spirit; baptism washes away original sin so that the baptised can achieve salvation
• Sacraments celebrated by the Catholic Church

  • Baptism
  • Confirmation
  • Eucharist
• Importance of baptism for Catholics

  • Without baptism, a person cannot receive the other sacraments
  • Baptism makes a person a full member of the Church, ready to begin a new life in the Holy Spirit
  • Baptism washes away original sin so that the baptised can achieve salvation and enter heaven
• Confirmation

  1. Candidate renews the vows made on their behalf at baptism

  2. Bishop lays his hands on the candidate and anoints them with chrism
• Symbolism of confirmation

  • Laying on of hands symbolises the gift of the Holy Spirit
  • Oil symbolises being called for a special task
• Importance of confirmation for Catholics

  • It makes the person a full member of the Church
  • Only those who are confirmed can take on lay ministries
  • It gives the strength of the Spirit to live the Christian life
  • In baptism, promises were made by the person's parents and godparents, while in confirmation it is the individual's own choice to declare his or her belief
• Sacraments of initiation

  • Baptism cleanses original sin and brings a person into the Church
  • Confirmation makes a person a full member of the Church
  • The sacrament of the Eucharist unites them with Christ
• Lay ministries


  Special ways of serving the Church open to the non-ordained
• Canon law says that the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist are required for full Christian initiation
• The Catechism says that confirmation binds a person perfectly to the Church and enriches with the gift of the Holy Spirit
• Salvation


  Being saved from sin
• Types of sin


  • Original sin
  • Personal sin
• Grace


  Mercy that is undeserved, Christ died for humanity's sins without humans doing anything to deserve it
• The Catholic practices of encouraging families to have their children baptised, encouraging young adults to be confirmed, providing opportunities to receive the sacrament of reconciliation weekly, celebrating the Mass regularly and offering the weekly Mass on Sundays are tremendously important because they enable Catholics to maintain the grace and salvation necessary to enter heaven
• Charisms

  Special gifts and callings