RE Catholic Christianity SOA

• Old Testament


  39 books mainly written in Hebrew
• Parts of the Old Testament

  • The first 5 books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (Law/Torah)
  • History e.g. Samuel
  • Prophets e.g. Isaiah
  • Writings / Wisdom Books e.g. Psalms
• The books of the Old Testament took about 1500 years to put together
• The Old Testament is the story of a covenant people of Israel, the people to whom God revealed his plan of salvation history through the Abrahamic covenant, the Mosaic covenant with the Ten Commandments, and through the sending of the prophets
• New Testament


  27 books mainly written in Greek, stories and letters about the life of Christ and the early Christian community
• Types of books in the New Testament


  • 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)
  • The Act of the Apostles
  • 21 letters (mainly from St Paul)
  • One apocalyptic, prophetic book - Book of Revelation
• The books of the New Testament took only 70 years to put together
• The New Testament is the living witness of a resurrected people and the new and everlasting covenant
• Inspired View of Bible (Catholic)


  The Bible is the inspired word of God, written down by human writers. The Bible is God's message in human words and as such is influenced by the human writer's personal beliefs and interests. There is sacred truth in the message of the Bible.
• Literal View of Bible (Evangelical Protestant)


  The Bible is the word of God and must always be taken literally, it is inerrant (containing no errors) and absolute. If the Bible seems to contradict itself or science, there must be a reason for this. All moral guidance in the Bible is universal and applicable to today.
• Liberal View of the Bible (Quaker)


  The Bible was written by humans; inspired like any other writers. The Bible contains spiritual truths and not literal truths. The Bible helps people become closer to God by sharing human experience. There is much symbolism and poetry in the Bible which results in a range of beliefs. Some parts of the Bible are outdated and irrelevant to modern life.
• Mary


  A model of the Church as one in whom Christ dwelt and was then shown to the world
• The Church


  Like a mother to believers as they find new life through baptism from the Church
• Mary's 'yes' to God


  She became mother of Jesus, mother of the Lord (mother of God), and at the same time, mother of the Church
• Mary


  The faithful Israelite, the fulfilment of 2000 years of faith, expectation and longing
• The teachings about Mary


  Are also about Christ
• Teachings about Mary


  • The Immaculate Conception
  • The Assumption
• Mary as a Model of Discipleship


  • She obeyed God's plan for her without question
  • She was conceived without sin and remained a pure virgin
  • She showed complete devotion to Jesus
  • She trusted God even when she did not understand
  • She was a help and support to Jesus
• Mary as a Model of Faith and Charity


  • She believed the message of the Angel Gabriel
  • She believed Jesus was God's Son before he performed miracles
  • She trusted that death was not the end of her Son
  • She gave up her own life plan to bear God's son
  • She was always ready to help people
• Most Catholic Churches have statues of Mary/ side chapels known as Lady Chapels
• Titles of honour for Mary


  • Mother of the Lord
  • Blessed Virgin Mother
  • Theotokos (God bearer)
  • Our Lady
• The Church holds Marian solemnities and encourages Marian devotion e.g. the Rosary
• Mary's feast days are celebrated coincide with different Mother's days celebrations, e.g. in France, August 15, The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Pilgrimages linked to Marian apparitions, e.g. Lourdes
• Praying the Hail Mary for Mary to intercede for us with God
• Body of Christ


  Used for the Eucharist and the Church community - comes from Romans
• "For as in one body we have many members, not all members have the same function, so we are many, are one body in Christ.": '1 Corinthians 12'
• Body of Christ


  • The many people who make up the Church community are said to be part of Christ's body - both the people and the Eucharist is the body
  • Baptism enters the people to the Body of Christ where the Holy Spirit brings a person's soul into a relationship with Christ
  • Just as the parts of the human body are interdependent and the hand is not more important than the foot, all in the Body of Christ are interdependent and none are superior - all parts are equal and all parts make up the Body of Christ
• "For in one Spirit we were all baptised into one body.": '1 Corinthians 12'
• People of God


  Those that have come to have faith in Jesus and are part of a "chosen people"
• The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God and God never ceases to draw man to himself
• Importance of the Church as the Body of Christ and the People of God for Catholics today


  • Christ is still with us - his body remained on earth in the Church
  • Church is carrying on the work of Christ today
  • Baptism is essential to be a part of the Body of Christ and People of God
  • Mass is important as we share the Eucharist which means we share in the Body of Christ
  • Means that Christians can perform different tasks (different body parts) and be united in their roles (e.g. clergy lead the Church, the religious (nun, monks) devote their life to prayer and service and the laity bring the Kingdom of God to society)
• Divergent Christian attitudes towards the Church


  • Catholics see the Pope as the Head of the Church - his role is to rule and guide the Church
  • Orthodox Christians reject the authority of the Pope and believe authority comes from councils of bishops and patriarchs acting together
  • Protestants believe the Bible is the sole authority, they reject the authority of the Pope and believe salvation comes from faith not sacraments
• Ecumenical Movement focuses on unity between the different Christians and looks at the similarities rather than the differences between Christians
• Magisterium


  Authority to teach the truth of salvation
• Magisterium


  • Rests with the Pope and his bishops
  • Comes from the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent at Pentecost to guide the Church
  • Servants of the faith that has been handed down by apostolic succession from St Peter to the Pope today
  • This is the Sacred Tradition
• Types of Magisterium


  • Ordinary Magisterium
  • Extraordinary Magisterium
• Ordinary Magisterium


  • The everyday teachings of the Church, found in the sayings and writings of bishops and Popes, e.g. in letters and homilies
  • It is infallible and has complete authority for Catholics e.g. Bishop Richard's pastoral letters
• Extraordinary Magisterium


  • Conciliar
  • Pontifical
• Conciliar Extraordinary Magisterium


  Through an ecumenical council. This is when the Pope calls together all the bishops of the Church to settle a matter of dispute or to explore new questions facing the Church. There have only ever been 21 of these