practices

• Liturgical Worship

  Mass importance- unites people with Jesus and with each other through sign of peace.

  receive communion and become close with God > Jesus is with them.

  Jesus is present through the transubstantiation

  
  

  "do this in memory of me"
• Liturgical Worship

  Sacrament of the Eucharist is described as the "source and summit of christian life" Christians are encouraged to take the Eucharist as Jesus commanded "do this in remembrance of me".

  Encyclical states that consuming the Eucharist:

  > makes individuals part of Jesus' body

  > makes Catholics part of one another

  > creates the church, body of Christ
• Funeral Rite

  The death and resurrection of Jesus emphasises the importance of death for Catholics. They believe earthly life is a pilgrimage, a journey towards God. Death is not the end. Catholic funeral rites are liturgical because they are a formal practice set out by the church.

  "The Christian who dies with Christ is away from the body and at home with the Lord"

  > reassures people of eternal life

  > confirms belief in paschal mystery.
• Funeral Rite

  Purposes:

  • Offers chances to come together, reflect and unite in prayer
  • Deceased are now able to begin journey to heaven

  "I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life to come"
• Funeral Rite

  Opposing beliefs:

  > Funeral liturgy can be confusing for those unable to understand Catholic Teaching

  > Planning funeral whilst person is alive may mentally harm those who are vulnerable and it may be distressing.

  > Liturgy can leave some troubled that their loved one hasn't gone straight to heaven.
• CAFOD

  Cafod:

  • help give street children an education to earn money and contribute to society
  • teach life skills to people
  • help set up farming projects for poor

  Why?

  • believe all humans have the right to respect and equality
  • worlds resources are a gift to be shared by all "earth is our common home"
  • believe humans should show compassion (parable of sheep and goats)
  • "Gods heart has a special place for the poor"
• Catholic Social Teaching

  > Reflects the teaching to show love to your neighbour, teaches and promotes justice and peace.

  Justice

  • All Catholics have an obligation to ensure everyone is treated fairly. Everyone is created by God

  > Pope states that the Church "cannot remain and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice.

  
  

  • Christs kingdom is of peace, love and justice

  > Parable of the sheep and the goats - Jesus is a just Judge
• Pilgrimages


  "Pilgrimages evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal in prayer"

  "favourable place in prayer"

  Spiritual journeys of religious significance.

  
  

  Purposes:

  • Devotion
  • Repentance
  • Demonstrate sacrifices "time and money"
  • Feel closer to God
  • Work on Relationship
• Why is pilgrimage important?

  • Allows one to feel closer to God
  • Public declaration of faith
  • A person may have greater awareness of God
  • Renewal and strengthening of faith
• Forms of popular piety

  The Second Vatican council teaches that "spiritual life is not solely limited to the participation in the liturgy"

  > Catholic Church encourages Catholics to take part in other practices beyond Church services that express their spiritual life and offer worship to God
• Forms of Popular Piety

  Rosary -

  • Helps Catholics meditate on Mary/Jesus' lives, meditate on grace
  • Rosary serves as a source of comfort during difficult times
  • Creates sense of peace, diverting the mind from material desires

  Stations of the Cross -

  • Honor passion and death of Jesus
  • Reminds them of his suffering/passion

  Eucharistic Adoration

  • Way of praising or thanking god
  • Prayer in times of emergency
• Catholic Mission + Evangelism

  How can Catholics evangelise?

  • Job - show love and compassion to others
  • Through their actions - speaking out for others
  • Taking a non-Christian to Church

  Local level:

  • Catholic Churches are linked. Discuss how to raise awareness of Catholic teachings
  • Local parish had groups that bear witness to Gospel message showing love and faith.
• Catholic Mission + Evangelism

  Different Christian beliefs:

  • Some view evangelism as negative > form of discrimination to try and convert other religions, can lead to arguments and violence
  • Some seek to evangelise by being a good person > others freely choose to live their example
• Sacramental nature of reality

  "An outward sign of an inward grace"

  Baptism:

  • symbolises the washing away of sins and that you have been chosen by God. Brings sanctifying grace.
  • "No-one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of the water and the spirit"
  • Marks journey of ones faith
• Prayer


  "The raising of ones mind and heart to God"

  Why?

  • to communicate with God
  • Form of worship
  • Share life in conversation with God
  • To confess - come to terms with what they've done
  • Stop a person from bottling guilt