life and death

• Death - end of physical life. Physical body ceases completely to function
• Eternal life- refer to life in heaven after death. Phrase Jesus use to describe state of living as God intends
• Heaven- those who accepted God's grace and forgiveness in this life will enjoy an eternal existence in God's presence in the next life
• Hell- those who through exercise of their own free will reject God's grace and forgiveness, will have chosen to live eternally outside God's presence
• Judgement- belief each individual will be held to account by God for things they do, or fail to do during their lives
• Magisterium - teaching authority of the church, exercised by the bishops in communion with the Pope
• Resurrection- raising of the body to life again after death. Christians believe Jesus already experienced resurrection and all people will experience it at the end of time
• Soul - eternal part of human given at conception which lives on after death of the body. Also name for human's rational nature- their mind
• Rc belief about dying well-

  • Prepare themselves to die well - eg spend time with family, discuss funeral arrangements, making peace with family and friends
  • For those in significant pain they will look for palliative care to reduce pain in final stages of life
  • Respect value of their lives until natural death - Rc church reject euthanasia or assisted suicide
  • Promote work of hospices that provide palliative care when treatment no longer possible
  • Provide rituals to support grieving-
  • Includes imagery and symbols that reflect belief and hope in eternal life
• Rc teaching on assisted suicide and euthanasia-

  • Rejects based on belief all life is sacred
  • Life is gift from God and should be respected
  • Euthanasia and assisted suicide go against sanctity of life and 'do not kill'
  • Promote hospices and organisations that provide palliative care
  • Pope St John Paul II Evangelium Vitae 'Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God'
• Evangelium Vitae-

  • Teaching comes from belief life being sacred, gift from God is precious and should be respected
  • Deliberate killing goes against sanctity of life and 10 commandments 'do not kill'
  • Palliative care alternative to Eu, suffering has purpose we should try and identify with Jesus on the cross
  • 'heroic behaviour cannot be duty for everyone'
  • Ok to seek palliative care to reduce pain and maintain dignity
• Rc attitude on quality and sanctity of life-

  • All life given by God and is sacred, no one has right to end life
  • So not accept people have the right to die and think euthanasia and assisted suicide not acceptable
  • Care about quality of life and campaign for palliative care to make life for people suffering comfortable and pain free as possible
  • Focus should be on showing compassion to dying person to allow them to retain their dignity
• Other christian belief about quality and sanctity of life-

  • Some allow euthanasia, believe in teaching of Jesus 'Love your neighbour as yourself' and 'The Golden rule'
  • Voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide would be sign of love
  • If that person is suffering and has poor quality of life allowing euthanasia would be sign of compassion just like Jesus was able to perform healing miracles
• Humanists - agree with right to die

  • Believe decision about quality of life is individual decision
  • Reject idea of God
  • Don't believe life is sacred
  • Believe humans have autonomy
  • Any decision about prolonging or ending life should be down to individual
  • Legalising assisted dying mean individuals are free to make choices about their end of life care
  • Don't reject palliative care
• Rc belief about resurrection of body-

  • Beliefs summed up in Nicene Creed which teaches Jesus rose from dead and there will be life after death
  • St Paul explains what will happen in 1 Cor
  • Teaches that Jesus rose from dead and this will happen to his followers
  • People will have spiritual resurrection body given to them by God
• Why Rcs believe in resurrection-

  • Resurrection of Jesus is a matter of faith, cannot be proven or disproven
  • Due to resurrection Rcs believe soul and body are resurrected
  • Bodily resurrection and eternal life with God is possible for all people because of Jesus' resurrection
• Mixed beliefs about survival of soul-

  • Christians believe soul is spiritual part of person
  • Non physical and lives on after death
  • Most Christians believe in immortality of soul
  • When body dies soul leaves the body to live with God
  • Eternal and continues to live on to everlasting life in heaven
  • Other Christians say body and soul are one and cannot be separated
  • After death soul is temporarily apart from body
  • Body and soul are reunited on judgement day
• Contrasting views about death as end of personal existence-

  • Most humanists and atheists believe humans are just a physical body
  • No soul
  • No spiritual aspect of life
  • Only life we have and we should make the most of it
  • No life after death
  • Some people believe in reincarnation, at death soul passes to a new body
  • How you are reborn depends on good and bad actions in this life
• Rc teaching on heaven and hell-

  • Rc teaching about life after death is based on death, judgement , heaven, hell
  • When person dies they are judged by God and this decides if they go to heaven or hell
• Judgement-

  • When person dies, God passes judgement on their soul
  • Each person is responsible for their own actions
  • Final judgement when whole of creation will be judged - parable of sheep and goats
  • Parable of unforgiving servant
  • Parable of rich man and Lazarus
• Other christian views on judgement-

  • Christian teaching focuses on individual judgement
  • Each person responsible for own actions
  • Some refer it to as 'final judgement'
• Rc teaching on purgatory-

  • Believe state before heaven is purgatory
  • Comes from word 'purge' to be purified of sins
  • Think most people are not bad enough to go to hell but not good enough to go to heaven, as they have sinned on earth
  • Purgatory is state of cleansing and preparation to enter heaven
  • Believe they can help souls in purgatory by praying for them
  • Ask God for mercy to forgive the soul's sins so they can enter heaven
• Other christian teaching on purgatory-

  • Most christian believe in heaven and hell but some do not accept purgatory
  • Believe people either accept God and are state of grace with God or they reject God
• Nature of magisterium-

  • Pope and bishops safeguard Church's teaching and Jesus' teachings
  • Have authority to make decisions and statements about faith and morality for Rc community e.g. contraception, same sex marriage, nuclear weapons
  • Believe holy spirit guides Pope and bishops in their decision making
  • Believe Pope is infallible when teaching about matters of faith
• Ordinary magisterium-

  • Everyday teaching of Rc Church
  • Bishops regularly preach homilies and write letters to their diocese encouraging Rcs in their faith and giving them instruction
  • Pope may write a letter known as encyclical, letters are addressed to world on contemporary issues e.g. laudato Si
• Extraordinary magisterium-

  • Pontifical Magisterium:
  • Pope under guidance of Holy Spirit, is infallible when speaking from the chair
  • Chair symbol of authority
  • Popes very rarely use their authority this way
  • Conciliar Magisterium:
  • When Pope calls together all bishops to settle problem or explore new questions facing the church
  • End of these councils is a written letter that explains faith, interprets scriptures
• Second Vatican council-

  • 1960's time of dramatic change around the world
  • Ecumenical council of Rc church during which bishops from all over the world came together to discuss how Catholicism need to meet the challenges of modern world
  • Took place between 1962 and 1965
  • Pope John Paul ' I want to throw open the windows of the Church so that we can see out and people can see in'
• Gaudium et spes- document of second vatican council-

  • About RC social teaching
  • Encourages Rcs to respond to issues of poverty and social justice, impact of science and technology
  • Encourages people of faith to engage with modern world
• Dei verbum document of second vatican council-

  • How important Bible is
  • Encouraged RCs to use Bible as part of their prayers
  • Led to an increase in more Bible study groups in parishes
• Sacrosantum concilium document of second vatican council-

  • Covers changes to Church's official public worship
  • Before council mass was said in Latin and everyone faced altar
  • Words were translated into local language
  • Altar was moved so priest faces people and actions can be seen
  • Lectionary revised with wider selection of Bible readings
• Lumen gentium document of second vatican council-

  • Means 'light of the people'
  • Encouraged ordinary Rcs to take more active role to be part of the mission of the Church and serve Jesus
  • All Rcs should act on the promise they made at their baptism to be 'lights to the world' by being of service to others
• Sarcophagus-

  • The cross:
  • Two soldiers looking up at cross in awe emphasising triumph of Jesus' resurrection and hope will resurrect too
  • The crown:
  • Crown of thorns which they used to mock Jesus has been replaced with Crown full of jewels symbolising Jesus' death is a triumph over sin
  • 2 eagles:
  • By using them suggesting Jesus' Godly qualities as Son of God having power over sin and death
• Paschal candle and Easter candle-

  • Alpha and omega:
  • First and last letter of Greek alphabet symbolising Christ is the first and last things
  • The cross:
  • Sign of crucifixion which has made resurrection for Jesus and all people possible
  • Five wounds:
  • 5 studs represent 5 wounds Jesus received during crucifixion which lead to his resurrection showing he had power over death
• Easter candle and baptism-

  • Baptism is sacrament of entry into the church
  • Paschal candle is lit and placed near the font to remind people of resurrection
  • Smaller candle is lit from flame and given to baptised family remind them 'Light of Christ' has defeated darkness of sin
• The psalms-

  • Collection of Jewish prayers and hymns to God
  • Express emotion - joy to despair
  • Source of prayer for Christians because Jesus and early Christians lived their lives as part of Jewish community
  • Monks and nuns built these prayers
  • RC mass uses psalms in Liturgy of the word
• Music in liturgy-

  • Alleluia:
  • Chant for welcoming Gospel
  • Acknowledge importance of listening to teaching of Gospel
  • Eucharistic Acclamation:
  • Sung during Liturgy of Eucharist
  • Highlight solemness and importance of bread and wine becoming Body and Blood of Christ
  • Gloria:
  • Great song of praise for God
  • Words bring greater sense of awe / wonder through music
  • Hymns:
  • Sung at start and end of Mass
  • Can support quiet prayer and distribution of holy communion
• How music expresses RC belief about eternal life Faure's Requiem

  • Full of beautiful melodies
  • Written after death of his dad, brings about sense of calm and peace
  • Wanted to show you could be sad about death of loved one whilst also hoping after death they had gone on to eternal life with God
  • He did not want to express fear of death
  • Focuses on hope that dead will be in heaven
  • His music help grieving have faith, comfort and hope, peaceful and fear-free nature of death
• Importance of RC funeral rites-

  • Believe death is not the end, can look forward to eternal life with God in heaven
  • At RC funeral mourners pray for person who died
  • Believe God listens to prayers and will be merciful towards the departed
  • Funeral service is celebration of life
  • Mourners look over deceased person's life and thank God for good times
• Funeral rites-

  • Sermon:
  • Given by priest will explain Christian belief that Jesus defeated death through his resurrection and this means Christians can hope to have eternal life with God after death
  • Prayers said for dead:
  • Prayers said for dead, grieving family, friends and wider community
  • Prayers refer to baptism, easter, resurrection of Jesus, Jesus' sacrifice on cross because of all this they can hope for eternal life after death
  • Pall:
  • Coffin covered in a white cloth
  • Reminder when newly baptised person is present with white garment
• Formulaic prayer-

  • Prayers that have been written down and collected in prayer books
  • Said in same way every time
  • Well known and provide a source of inspiration
  • Created by people who were close to God
  • Stop people from becoming distracted and enables them to pray more deeply