ORIGINAL SIN

CATECHESIS

CATECHESIS cat·e·che·sis /ˌkadəˈkēsəs/

Jesus empowered the Church to continue His mission when He said, Full authority has been given to me both in heaven and on earth; go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations.

 Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always, until the end of time. Matthew 28:18-20

 

ORIGINAL SIN

 OPENING PRAYER (WELCOME GOD INTO OUR STUDY)

Father of Mercies, we thank you for the waters of Baptism that cleansed us of Original Sin.  We beg you to grant us the grace to avoid personal sin, to repent when we fall, and turn back to you, in Jesus’ name we pray.

CATECHESIS (STUDY THE FAITH)

THE FALL FROM GRACE

The woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and the tree was desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it Genesis 3:6

 REFERENCES FROM CATECHISM OF CATHOLIC CHURCH 2ND EDITION

CCC 385 – 390 The Fall from Grace

CCC 391 – 395 The Fall of the Angels

CCC 396 – 409 Consequences of Original Sin

CCC 410 – 412 God’s Promise – “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more”

In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve In His image and likeness, He endowed them with intelligence, love, freedom, and conscience.  He gave them the grace of “original holiness.”

Man and the world began in harmony and grace, not sin. The inner harmony between man and woman, and the harmony between man and all of creation comprised the state of “original justice.”

This harmony of “original justice,” God’s original plan for man, is lost by the sin of our first parents.  It is called Original Sin.  God “tested” our first parents by forbidding them to eat of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”  The tree, off limits to man, was a symbol of the limits humans have as creatures to choose.

TREE OF GOOD AND EVIL

Our freedom to choose means we are free to choose good.  To choose evil is enslavement to sin and means estrangement from God.  God’s moral laws govern our freedom.  To step outside these moral laws is to assume a freedom never granted to man.  One of the consequences of “original sin” is the loss of grace, a sharing in God’s divine life.

All descendants of these first parents also inherit concupiscence which is a darkened mind, a weakened will, and disordered passions.

We did not commit “original sin.”  But we are born with its effects, a wounded human nature in body and soul and estrangement from God’s divine life.  Our plight is not hopeless, however.  Baptism restores us to friendship with God but the wounds of original sin remain.

To ignore the fact of sin in human history is plain foolhardy.  By any other name we may call it, character flaw, mistake, or weakness, an offense against God is a sin, plain and simple.

Before the fall of man was the spiritual fall of the angels. God, too, as in the case of man created the angels good.  Satan and other demons became evil by their own doing, choosing to reject God.

Due to their “spiritual” nature the Angels’ choice was singular and irrevocable.   “The fall of the angels consists in the free choice of these created spirits to radically and irrevocably reject God and his reign.” 2 Peter 2:4

The tempter of our first parents, says to Adam and Eve, “You will be like Gods.” Genesis 3:5.  The devil, a sinner from the beginning is a liar and Father of lies.

In the Garden, Man, tempted by the devil, abused his freedom and disobeyed God’s command.  Immediately Adam and Eve lost the state of original harmony.  They became afraid of God and hid from Him.

The union of man and woman became subject to tensions, lust, and domination.  The rest of creation became hostile and alien to man.  Death enters into human history.  Because of man’s act of disobedience, all of creation is now subject to death and decay.

Why God permitted sin in the first place remains a mystery.  But we do know God can bring a greater good from evil. To quote St. Thomas Aquinas, “God permits evil in order to draw forth some greater good.”

CLOSING PRAYER   (PRAY THE FAITH)

Father, how wonderful that you care for us!  How boundless your merciful love!  Lord God, we praise you for creating man and still more for restoring him in Christ Jesus your Son who shared in our weakness that we may share in His glory now and forever.  In Jesus’ name, we pray.

LIFE APPLICATION    (LIVE THE FAITH)

 1. When I look back on my life where do I see the effects of original sin most apparent? ie. darkened mind, weakened will, disordered passions.

2.At the end of each day, what do I notice about the difference between what I intended to do and what I actually did?

3. How can I develop the habit of choosing good?

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL PRAYER

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.

Be our protection  against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;

and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host,

by the Divine Power of God, cast into hell Satan

and all the evil spirits who roam throughout the world 

seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD MAKE STRAIGHT HIS PATHS

ADVENT REFLECTIONS

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins MARK 1:2-5

INTRODUCTION

As we prepare our homes for Christmas guests, decorations, clean carpets etc, what about our Spiritual House? What do we do with the messiness that resides there…anger, resentments, grudges, and habits of sin that stain our souls, cloud our wills, and obstruct God’s intervention.

Let’s not stand in God’s way. Let’s make more room for Jesus this Advent season, brighten up His dwelling place within us, with sanctifying grace. What is the best Spiritual House cleaning tool for this? The Sacrament of Reconciliation!

The evening of His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to his Apostles, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” JOHN 20:21-23

WHOSE SINS YOU FORGIVE
ARE FORGIVEN THEM

We need to be reconciled both to God and our neighbor. It doesn’t matter to the priest how long ago your last confession was. You can’t shock the priest either. The priest has heard it all. Conversion can take place at any time until death but why wait!

Remember the priest, when hearing your confession, is in persona Christi (person of Christ). It is Christ you are confessing your sins. And we know how merciful God is from the many stories from Scripture…the Prodigal Son…The woman at the well…the woman caught in adultery…. And the Good Thief…. This day you will be with me in Paradise

CONFESSING OUR SINS TO A PRIEST

When the priest receives the penitent, he is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seek the lost sheep and the Good Samaritan who binds up the wounds. The priest is the sign and instrument of God’s mercy. Why confess to a priest? Because that is the way Jesus intended with his Apostles and their successors.

God’s salvific ministry carried out in His Son Jesus Christ wanted to show and perpetrate His loving mercy and reconciliation throughout time through the Apostles and their successors

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed James 5:16

One who avails themselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation are told by the Priest/Christ in the words of absolution their sins are forgiven. They receive the comfort, the assurance, and thus feel through their senses the mercy of God.

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR CONFESSION?

We should begin with prayer, placing ourselves in the presence of God, our loving Father. We should review our lives (Examination of Conscience) since our last confession, our thoughts, words and actions that have broken our relationship with God and our neighbor.

A BRIEF EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

Do I attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation?
Do I take God’s name lightly or in anger or in blasphemy?
Do I use profanity especially around my children?
Do I honor and respect my parents?
Have I injured anyone physically or materially?
Have I ever had an abortion or encouraged one
Am I envious, hot-tempered, or prejudiced?
Do I entertain thoughts of revenge, hold grudges?
Lack of patience road rage?
In my marital relationships do I respect my spouse by faithfulness in words and actions?
Do I provide good example to my children in regards virtue of chastity?
Do I watch pornography?
Do I gossip about the faults of others?
Do I forgive others?
Do I judge others?
Am I honest and fair with everyone?
Do I tell lies? Steal property or reputations?
Do I care for and give to the poor and needy?

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CONFESSIONAL
The Priest receives the penitent with a greeting, a sign of the cross and invitation to trust in God’s mercy.

Confession of sins Through the admission of our sins, we look squarely at our relationship with God and our neighbor and open ourselves to be reconciled with God and full communion with His Mystical Body, The Church.

Our act of contrition expresses our sorrow for offending God and our detestation of sin. Our words of contrition express an inward condition to love God and avoid sin in the future.

SAMPLE ACT OF CONTRITION

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of Heaven, and the pains of Hell; but most of all because I love Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen

Prayer of absolution The words of absolution by the priest, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit” and the reply by the penitent, “Amen” The priest may conclude with this prayer, “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good” The penitent’s response is, “For His mercy endures forever.

JESUS SEEKS US OUT;

WON’T YOU LET HIM IN!

…When you give Me your sins, you give Me the joy of being your Savior. There is nothing I cannot forgive and heal…Come to Me with your misery and your sins, with your troubles and needs, and with all your longing to be loved. I stand at the door of your heart and knock… I am seeking you every moment of the day…. I THIRST FOR YOU…”
MOTHER TERESE OF CALCUTTA
REFLECTION ON JESUS’ DESIRE TO FORGIVE US

IN HIS IMAGE:GOD CREATED THEM MALE AND FEMALE

CATECHESIS, CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

CATECHESIS

Jesus empowered the Church to continue His mission when He said, Full authority has been given to me both in heaven and on earth; go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always, until the end of time. Matthew 28:18-20

IN HIS IMAGE GOD CREATED THEM MALE AND FEMALE

 OPENING PRAYER (WELCOME GOD INTO OUR STUDY)

Heavenly Father, you have made us in your Divine image.  In your image, transform us, that we may be a more faithful reflection of your love on earth and be faithful stewards of your creation.  In Jesus’ name, we pray.

CATECHESIS (STUDY THE FAITH)

 REFERENCES FROM CATECHISM OF CATHOLIC CHURCH 2ND EDITION

CCC 355 – 358 In the Image of God

CCC 362 – 365 Unity of Body and Soul

CCC 369 – 373 Male and Female, a unity of two

CCC 374 – 379 Original Integrity

“Then God said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground. God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:26-27

Human nature is made up of matter and spirit.  “Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (soul) and man became a living being.  Genesis. 2:7 The soul images God in consciousness, in intelligence, in love, and in freedom to choose.

Our souls are created at our conception and do not perish when separated from the physical body at death.

The Catholic Church teaches (CCC #366) that every spiritual soul is created immediately by God – it is not “produced” by the parents – and also that it is immortal: it does not perish when it separates from the body at death, and it will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection.”   

God created sexual and gender differences.  He created us male and female.   Both have one and the same dignity in the image of God.  God is neither man nor woman.  God is pure Spirit.

God created man and woman together and willed each for the other.  Man discovers woman as another “I,” sharing the same humanity.  “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. Genesis 2:23

In marriage, a man and woman relates in a communion of love that images the Holy Trinity.  This married love is intended to be creative and generative in producing new human life according to God’s blessing, “Be fruitful and multiply.” Genesis.1:28

CLOSING PRAYER   (PRAY THE FAITH)

Loving God, after creating the universe, you formed man out of dust from the earth and breathed into him a soul that would never die.  Help us to use our minds to know you, our free will to love you, and one day bring us home to eternal life with You forever and ever.   In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

LIFE APPLICATION    (LIVE THE FAITH)

1 We image God in our soul’s capacity to know, act freely, and make moral judgments based on an informed conscience.

How well am I imaging God right now? 

How can I exercise these soul qualities more effectively?

 2. God purposely created masculinity and femininity. male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:26-27

What does God’s word say to you about Gender Identity?

Man and Women in union in marriage imitates the love relationship in the Holy Trinity and  fruitful in producing new human life according to God’s blessing, “Be fruitful and multiply.” Genesis.1:28

How does this fact of God’s plan affect support for same-sex marriage?

3. How does I am made in image and likeness of God affect the way I view others especially the less desirable?

 

 

 

 

I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD

1 Comment / CATECHESIS

OPENING PRAYER (WELCOME GOD INTO OUR STUDY)

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending us your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Savior of the world.  With grateful hearts, send us your Spirit to enlighten our minds and enflame our hearts to know and love your Son more deeply through our study of the teachings of your holy Catholic Church. Amen

JESUS CHRIST SAVIOR OF THE WORLD

CATECHESIS (STUDY THE FAITH)

 REFERENCES FROM CATECHISM OF CATHOLIC CHURCH 2ND EDITION

CCC 422 – 429 The Person of Jesus Christ

CCC 430 – 435 The Name of Jesus

CCC 441 – 445 The Only Son of God

CCC 446 – 451 Jesus the Lord

“And the angel Gabriel came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.”…”and behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son and you will call his name, Jesus.”

…”and Mary said to the angel, “How can that be since I have no husband?” And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you, therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” Luke 1:28, 31, 34-35

 JESUS IS SON OF GOD. SON OF MARY. 

TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN.

The Son of God worked with human hands; he thought with a human mind; he acted with a human will; and he loved with a human heart.  Born of the Virgin Mary, he has truly been made one of us, like us in all things, except sin. 

Vatican II, Gaudium Spes #22

It is true Jesus was a human being like us in all things but for sin.   But we must not diminish His divinity by placing a disproportionate emphasis on his humanity.

. There are a lot of great men in history.  We revere Abraham Lincoln but we worship Jesus because He is God.  .Jesus is the Son of God, the second person of the Most Holy Trinity.

MOST HOLY TRINITY FATHER SON HOLY SPIRIT

In Hebrew, the name Jesus means, “God saves.”  The name, “Jesus,” expresses both his identity and his mission.   “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow.”

It was because He was God and Man that his sacrificial offering on Calvary could redeem us from our sins and restore us again to life in the Father.

Christ is not Jesus’ last name! The word Christ comes from the Greek and is a translation of the Hebrew, Messiah, meaning “anointed one.”  The name Christ became proper to Jesus because he perfectly accomplished the divine mission that His Father gave him.

Another title Jesus goes by is Lord. In the Old Testament God’s name in Hebrew was Yahweh.  That Hebrew name is translated in the New Testament into the Greek as Kyrios, and then Lord into English.   At his birth, Jesus was announced by the angels to the shepherds, “To you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11!

CLOSING PRAYER   (PRAY THE FAITH)

 All praise and thanksgiving be given to Jesus Christ, the only Son of God.  At the name of Jesus, every knee should bend and every tongue confess, Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, in the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

LIFE APPLICATION    (LIVE THE FAITH) 

  1. Jesus became man to live among us, to reveal to us what it means to be sons and daughters of  the Father.    What transformations do I think I have to make in my     life to pattern my life more after the life of Jesus?

2 Why is it important to me to express my faith in Jesus’                 divinity as well as his   humanity?

3. When I meditate on the name of Jesus, what kinds of                   thoughts and images come to my mind?

 

 

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

CATHOLIC FEAST DAYS, MARY MOTHER OF GOD

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE DECEMBER 12

PATRONESS OF THE AMERICAS

O Mary, dawn of the new world,

Mother of the living, to you do we entrust the cause of life. 

Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies

not allowed to be born.

 Grant that all who believe in your Son

may proclaim the Gospel of life

to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life.

BACKGROUND

 In 1910, St. Pius X named Our Lady of Guadalupe Patroness of Latin America, and in 1945, at the urging of bishops from the U.S. and Canada, Pius XII bestowed on her the title Empress of the Americas. 

In 1999, St. John Paul II formalized the invocation of Our Lady of Guadalupe as Patroness of the Americas and Star of the New Evangelization and declared that her feast day of Dec. 12 be celebrated in churches throughout the Americas.

The story begins in the early morning hours of December 9, 1531, when a 57-year-old Indian Peasant, convert to Christianity, named Juan Diego was walking along the path of Tepayec Hill on the outskirts of Mexico City on his way to Mass. .

 As he walked along Tepeyac Hill, he began to hear beautiful strains of music, and he saw a beautiful lady, who called his name: “Juanito, He approached, and she said, “Know for certain, least of my sons, that I am the perfect and perpetual Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, the true God, through whom everything lives.

This “beautiful lady” asked Juan Diego to go to the Bishop and have a church built on this site in her honor. The Bishop demanded a sign before he would approve construction of a church.

Mary then appeared a second time to Juan Diego December 12 and ordered him to collect roses and take them to the Bishop. In a second audience with the Bishop, Juan Diego opened his cloak, letting dozens of roses fall to the floor and revealing the image of Mary imprinted on the inside of the cloak. The image is now venerated in the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

JUAN DIEGO OPENS HIS CLOAK BEFORE THE BISHOP

 COMMENTARY

At the time of Mary’s appearance to Juan Diego (1531), the Aztec nation was heavily into human sacrifice where blood of infants were offered up to appease the pagan gods. We are horrified to hear stories of the Aztecs, who cut out the hearts of their victims to appease their pagan gods. When Mary appeared, she brought a message of compassion,

“I am the merciful Mother, the Mother of all of you who live united in this land, and of all mankind, of all those who love me, of those who cry to me, of those who seek me, of those who have confidence in me. Here, I will hear their weeping, their sorrow, and will remedy and alleviate their suffering, necessities, and misfortunes.”

Mary wore a black maternity band around her waist.  The girdle or bow around her waist demonstrates plenitude and fecundity to the native Indians. The high position of the bow and the slight swelling of the abdomen show that the Lady is “with child.”

Our Lady, by appearing as an expectant mother, showed the Aztecs that human life is sacred. Our Lady of Guadalupe’s message of conversion brought new dignity to the Aztec people. No longer did they worship the pagan gods of sacrifice. Within just a few years, 11 million Native Americans were converted, and the practice of human sacrifice stopped, along with Culture of Death practices.

No more did the people need to cower in abject terror before the bloodthirsty gods who demanded the death of their children. They found refuge beneath the gracious protection of a gentle Mother. In 2002 Pope John Paul II canonized St. Juan Diego. (feast day December 9).

CALL TO ACTION

Why aren’t we just as horrified today at the slaughter of millions of innocent unborn children through the practice of abortion to appease the gods of convenience? The sin of abortion has claimed more than 1.6 billion innocent lives worldwide since 1973.

Politicians and legislatures as servants of the “common good” are duty bound to defend the fundamental right to life, the fruit of God’s love.”  Pope Benedict XVI, Emeritus

 We must shift our debate from pro-abortion vs anti- abortion to how do we address both the needs of the unborn and already born.  We must make abortion unthinkable as we address the needs of the mother to be. The baby and mother both have life needs.

We must shout it from the rooftop “that all life is Sacred!” Trusting in God, we must fearlessly go forward in our quest to support a culture of Life. We need Mary’s intercession today!

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE BE OUR INTERCESSOR!

 

 

 

 

 

 

JESUS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT-BORN OF A VIRGIN

4 Comments / CATECHESIS, CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

CATECHESIS (cat·e·che·sis ) to transmit the Gospel

Jesus empowered the Church to continue His mission with these words to His apostles, Full authority has been given to me both in heaven and on earth; go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always, until the end of time. Matthew 28:18-20

OPENING PRAYER (WELCOME GOD INTO OUR STUDY)

Heavenly Father, in your mercy, bless us through the intercession of Holy Mary who conceived your only begotten Son, Jesus.  In Jesus’ name, we pray.

CATECHESIS (STUDY THE FAITH)

 REFERENCES FROM CATECHISM OF CATHOLIC CHURCH 2ND EDITION

CCC 456 – 463 The Incarnation

CCC 464 – 478 True God-True Man

CCC 484 – 486 “By the Power of the Holy Spirit”

CCC 487 – 507 “Born of the Virgin”

In Bethlehem we encounter a most astonishing mystery, God becoming man.  How much love does that take?  God to empty himself, taking the form of a servant and being born in the likeness of men. Phillipians 2:7

In Jesus Christ, God shows us a human face.  In Jesus Christ, a human face shows us the face of God.  As son of God, Jesus is Divine.  As son of Mary, Jesus is human.

At the Annunciation, the whole universe, heaven and earth, waited for Mary’s reply.  Adam and Eve begged her to say yes.  So also did Abraham, Moses, and David from Sheol, the realm of the dead. Isiah 38:10

In that silence Mary gathered up her whole soul filled with the fullness of grace.  The answer came from the depths of her very being, in union with God, “May it be done to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38

HAIL FULL OF GRACE

God the Father blessed Mary from the foundations of the world, chose her to be holy and blameless. Through the merits of her Son’s passion and death, Mary remained free of any personal sin her whole life long.

The Annunciation inaugurates the fullness of time of God’s promise and preparations.   The Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of Life is sent by the Father to sanctify Mary’s womb…. the Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit The Angelus

The angel coming to her, said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus…..

 But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man? And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. Luke 1:28-35

Why did the Word become Flesh?   “For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven by the power of the Holy Spirit; he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary and was made Flesh.” Nicene Creed

Jesus Christ is True God and True Man in nature.  He is one Divine person, the second person of the Most Holy Trinity, God the Son.  Jesus has a human intellect and human will and a divine intellect and divine will.

As the God-Man, Jesus could increase in “human wisdom and human stature in favor with God.” Luke 2:52 Jesus did learn from human experience.  i.e. improved carpentry skills

In his Divine Person, Christ enjoyed the fullness of understanding of the eternal plans he had come to reveal and accomplish.   There was never a time He did not know and understand His Divine mission. i.e. Jesus 12 years of age in temple, “I must be in my Father’s house.” Luke 2:49

In his human will, Christ submitted in obedience to his Father’s will for the salvation of the world.  Christ’s human will does not resist or oppose the divine will of the Father.  In obedience, Jesus submits to the will of the Father.

CLOSING PRAYER   (PRAY THE FAITH)

Lord Jesus Christ, we believe that you are True God and True man. You are God’s only begotten Son and Son of Mary.  In you there is the fullness of divinity.  You are the divine Word of God made man.  May we give you glory now and forever and share in your divine life as you have shared in ours.  Amen.

 LIFE APPLICATION    (LIVE THE FAITH)

  1. By becoming man, Jesus proved His love for me. How can I love Jesus in  return?

2. Reflect on the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to                        Mary, the handmaid of the Lord. What stands out?

3. Mary is our model of obedience of faith. Where Eve                      failed, Mary, the new Eve succeeded. How am I when it               comes to choosing God’s will over my own will?

 

 

 

JESUS OF THE GOSPELS

CATECHESIS, CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

CATECHESIS cat·e·che·sis /ˌkadəˈkēsəs/

Jesus empowered the Church to continue His mission when He said, Full authority has been given to me both in heaven and on earth; go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations. Matthew 28:18 (Catechesis: Teach the Faith)

 JESUS OF THE GOSPELS

 OPENING PRAYER (WELCOME GOD INTO OUR STUDY)

 Oh my Jesus, Divine Word of the Father, as we read the Gospels, help us to know you more deeply, love you more tenderly, and follow you more closely.  To you, be all honor and glory, now and forever.  Amen.

CATECHESIS (STUDY THE FAITH)

 REFERENCES FROM CATECHISM OF CATHOLIC CHURCH 2ND EDITION

CCC 512 – 521The Mystery of Christ’s Life

CCC 522 – 534The Infancy and Hidden Life

CCC 535 – 540 Jesus’ Public Life

CCC 541 – 556 Proclamation of the Kingdom

The Gospels were written “that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that through that belief you may have life in His name.”  John 20:31 

The Gospels are a narrative of Christ’s earthly life and the revelation of the Father in the very person of Jesus Christ.  “The Father and I are one.  Who sees me sees the father.” John 10:30

Jesus’ hidden life in Nazareth in obedience to his mother and foster father fulfills perfectly the fourth commandment; “Honor your father and your mother.”

Jesus’ obedience is the undoing of Adam and Eve’s disobedience.  His ordinary life as an apprentice carpenter and growing in wisdom and stature under the guidance of his earthly parents is our journey too.

Jesus’ public life began with his baptism by John.  Though he was without sin, he submitted himself to his Father’s will and he, without sin, took on all the sins of the world.  The Father responded in complete delight, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:17

After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the “kingdom is at hand, repent. Jesus came to call sinners.“I came to call sinners, not the righteous.” Mark 2:17

The kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor, the humble of heart, the poor in spirit, the meek of heart, those who humbly acknowledge their need and dependency on God.  See the Sermon on the Mount (Beatitudes) Matthew 5

BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL FOR THEY WILL BE SHOWN MERCY

Jesus challenges us, “One who loses his life will find it.”  Matthew 10:39  We must give everything to God.  Didn’t God give everything for us, even his very life on the cross of redemption? God must reign in our hearts.

Jesus did not come to eradicate all evil and suffering. Jesus came to free mankind from the greatest oppression of all, the bondage of sin.

At the beginning of his public ministry, Jesus chose twelve ordinary men and sinners like ourselves to teach and train so they may participate in his mission to build the kingdom.

Simon Peter holds a significant place among these twelve apostles.  “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18

Jesus entrusted a special authority to Peter to preserve and defend the faith.  “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.”  Matthew 16:19

RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT JOHN 20:22

This power of binding and loosing is the authority given to Peter and his successors to absolve sins, pronounce judgments on doctrines of faith, and make disciplinary decisions in the life of the Church.  Jesus has promised that His Church will be protected from error in its teachings of faith and morals through the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit, Lord and giver of Life.

CLOSING PRAYER   (PRAY THE FAITH)

 Jesus, Divine Savior, we believe that you came to earth to bring to the world your Divine Life, to save us from sin, and to make the world new again.  We thank you for your mercy and love.   Bless us with your peace and good will. Amen.

LIFE APPLICATION    (LIVE THE FAITH)

  1. What does it mean to me that everyone, even those I don’t like, are invited to enter the kingdom of heaven? Am I that generous?
  2. Read Matthew 25. Jesus tells us whatever we do to the least of our brethren we do to him. How can I do a better job performing the corporal works of mercy described in Matthew?
  3. We are also called to perform the spiritual works of mercy (CCC 2447) instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, admonish the sinner, bear wrongs patiently, forgive offenses, comfort the afflicted and pray for the living and the dead. How well am I doing meeting these challenges?

SECOND COMING OF JESUS TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD

CATECHESIS

HE WILL COME TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
2 TIMOTHY 4:1-5

OPENING PRAYER (WELCOME GOD INTO OUR STUDY)

We pray, Come Lord Jesus. May we not be like the foolish virgins of Scripture (Matt 25:1) that let their lamps burn out. Fuel our lamps with your nourishment. Let our lights burn bright! Come Lord Jesus and reign in our hearts now and forever! AMEN!

CATECHESIS (STUDY THE FAITH)
REFERENCES FROM CATECHISM OF CATHOLIC CHURCH 2ND EDITION

CCC 659 – 664 The Ascension
CCC 668 – 677 He will come again in glory
CCC 678 – 679 To judge the living and the dead.

End times are much speculated about by novelists and TV shows. But no one knows, only the Father. Jesus spoke of end times in the Gospel of Mark, “But of that day or that hour, no one knows not even the angels in heaven nor the Son but only the Father.Mark.13:12

Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after Easter. It may not have been literally 40 days because the Hebrews used the number 40 as a figure of speech for the perfect time for a mission to be accomplished. And certainly Jesus had accomplished his mission perfectly.

JESUS BLESSES HIS APOSTLES
AS HE ASCENDS INTO HEAVEN
LUKE 24:50

At the time of his Ascension, Christ warned his disciples that the present time is a time of the Spirit and witness. It is a time of waiting and watching. Like Jesus’ first disciples, we are soldiers of Christ, the Church militant, the faithful witnesses here on earth to all that Christ has given us.

“Before Christ comes again, the Church must endure many trials and persecutions. Many rosy colored plans for heaven on earth will be presented to draw eyes from the true heaven and the true kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Many will renounce their faith and jeopardize their immortal souls for expediency and false gods. The anti-Christ will be worshipped in place of God and will seduce many from their faith. “CCC 675

In the end, Jesus Christ will come again as he ascended, totally victorious and supreme king of heaven and earth. God’s final victory over evil will take the form of the Last Judgment.

The Father has given all judgment to the Son. “The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son that all may honor the Son even as they honor the Father.” John 5:22

“Nothing is covered up that will not be known. Whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed upon the house tops.” Luke 12:23

How will this judgment be conducted? We have a sneak preview in Matthew 25;
“Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of these least brethren, you did it to me.” (Mt. 25:40)

Our behavior towards our neighbor, especially whomever we consider least “loveable” will disclose our own acceptance or refusal of God’s grace and divine love. If we reject God’s grace and God’s love in this life, we have already judged and condemned ourselves.

The Son did not come into this world to judge but to save. “For God sent the Son into the world not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is already condemned.” John 3:17-18

CLOSING PRAYER (PRAY THE FAITH)

O my Jesus, King of glory and merciful judge, rule our hearts now that we may come to your judgment seat with hope and trust rather than fear and trembling. Lead us to witness your salvation and kingdom now on earth so that we may participate at the end of time in your glory in heaven. Amen.

LIFE APPLICATION (LIVE THE FAITH)

1. If I thought the world would come to an end in a year, what effect would that have on my life?       Are there changes I would make? What would I change?

2. Whatever you do to the least of my brethren you do to me. How am I doing loving the least of my brethren, those I don’t find lovable…those I envy…those I resent????

3. How will God judge me?… as I have judged others? How is my judging of others going?

HOLY SPIRIT: LORD AND GIVER OF LIFE

CATECHESIS

COME HOLY SPIRIT, LORD AND GIVER OF LIFE

OPENING PRAYER (WELCOME GOD INTO OUR STUDY)

Come Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life. Spirit of Wisdom inspire us to be courageous witnesses to the Truth. Come Holy Spirit dwell in us that we may dwell in Thee. We ask this
in the name of Jesus, Our Lord. Amen.

CATECHESIS (STUDY THE FAITH)

REFERENCES FROM CATECHISM OF CATHOLIC CHURCH 2ND EDITION

CCC 683 – 686 I believe in the Holy Spirit
CCC 687 – 688 where we find the Holy Spirit
CCC 689 – 690 Mission of the Holy Spirit
CCC 691 Proper names of the Holy Spirit
CCC 692 – 693 Titles of the Holy Spirit
CCC 694 -701 Symbols of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Most Blessed Trinity, equal to the Father and equal to the Son. The term Spirit comes from the Hebrew word, ruach, meaning breath or air.

In the First Creation Story in Genesis 1:2 “the Spirit of God was moving over the face of deep waters,” bringing order out of chaos. In the Second Creation Story, Genesis 2:7, “The Lord God formed man from the dust of the land and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being.”

The Holy Spirit is that special advocate that Jesus promised us before His Ascension into Heaven.. Jesus would not leave us orphans and indeed, He didn’t. The Holy Spirit daily inspires, encourages, and enlightens us in our way “home” to the Father. If you had a good thought, thank the Holy Spirit. If you did a good deed, thank the Holy Spirit. If you made a good decision, thank the Holy Spirit.

COMMENTARY

The Trinity is one. We do not profess three Gods, JUST ONE! We profess One True God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons in One God. The three persons are one in nature. The Father loves the Son. The Son loves the Father. The Spirit is the love between the Father and the Son. The Trinity is a model of communal love.

“Everyone who glorifies the Father does so through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. Everyone who follows Christ does so because the Father draws him and the Spirit moves him.” John 6:44

The Blessed Trinity is not complete without the Holy Spirit whom we adore and glorify with the Father and the Son. “Glory be to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever.”

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
THE SON
AND
THE HOLY SPIRIT

When we speak of the Father as Creator, we do not mean to say the Son and the Spirit had nothing to do with creation. The same can be said about the Father and the Spirit in regard redemption. The same can be said about the Father and the Son in regards sanctification. No person of the Blessed Trinity is ever absent in a divine action.

Some symbols of the Holy Spirit are a dove, water, fire, wind, and cloud. Water signifies the Holy Spirit’s action in Baptism, a sign of new birth and divine adoption. The Holy Spirit came down in tongues of Fire upon the Apostles at the First Pentecost. As a cloud, the Holy Spirit led the Israelites out of Egypt and overshadowed Mary at the Annunciation.
.
In the Old Testament, God dried up the waters by sending a dry wind, once the waters were parted the Israelites escaped the Egyptians on dry land. Exodus 13:15

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and the Word became flesh. “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you and therefore the Holy Being, Who shall be born of you, shall be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:35

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he promised his disciples that he would pray to his Father that the Holy Spirit be given to them. Jesus promised, “The Spirit will teach you all things and bring to your mind whatever I have said to you.” John 14:26

Through the Holy Spirit, our faith is awakened. We are inspired to know Jesus and the One who sent Him. The Holy Spirit stirs up in us repentance for sin and conversion. Until the end of time, the Spirit guides, protects, and inspires the Church and its members

CLOSING PRAYER (PRAY THE FAITH)

God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier and Giver of Life, we adore you the same way we adore God the Father and God the Son. We adore you in union with all the angels and saints gathered around your heavenly Throne. Praise and glory be yours, now and forever.
In Jesus’ name, we pray.

LIFE APPLICATION (LIVE THE FAITH)

1. The Holy Spirit is both convicter and advocate. Do I pay attention to the Spirit when he calls to mind (convicts) us of our sins and when he urges us to avoid sin in the first place?

2. The Holy Spirit is an advocate Jesus and Father sent to intercede for us. How do I use the Holy Spirit as advocate??

3. Fruits of the Holy Spirit are works that we can perform only with the aid of the Holy Spirit. Do I know the fruits of the Holy Spirit? Galations 5:22-23 Do I pray for the fruits of the Holy Spirit?

.

FEAST OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

CATHOLIC FEAST DAYS, MARY MOTHER OF GOD

FEAST OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION DECEMBER 8

 

Immaculate Mary,

Your praises we sing,

You reign now in heaven,

With Jesus our king

Ave, Ave, Ave Maria,

Ave, Ave, Maria.

BACKGROUND

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, in its oldest form, goes back to the seventh century, when churches in the East began celebrating the Feast of Saint Anne, the mother of Mary. The feast celebrated the conception of Mary and maternity of St. Ann.

The feast arrived in the West probably no earlier than the 11th century with a developing theological controversy between the West and East.

The feast of Immaculate Conception is not celebrated even today in the East because they believe every human being is born with original sin including Mary.

Both the Eastern and the Western Church have maintained that Mary was free from sin throughout her life, but there were different understandings of what this meant.

The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was officially defined as dogma by Pope Pius IX in 1854. Dogma means that a definitive article of faith has been solemnly promulgated and is necessary for the belief of all Catholic faithful.

 Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854 promulgated,

“We declare,… the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful.”

 It is ironic that only four years after the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was promulgated Mary appeared to a young woman in Lourdes, France, Bernadette Soubirous, and announced who she is, “I am the Immaculate Conception”

I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

LOURDES 1858

 COMMENTARY

 According to St. Thomas Aquinas, God had sanctified Mary at the moment of her conception in His foreknowledge that the Blessed Virgin would consent to bear Christ. In other words, she too had been redeemed—her redemption had simply been accomplished at the moment of her conception in anticipation of her Redeemer rather than as with all other Christians, in Baptism.

Mary’s soul was neither stained by Original Sin, nor by consequences of that sin…clouded intellect and weakened will but created in a state of original sanctity, innocence, and justice.

It’s important to understand what the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is and what it is not. Some people think the term refers to Christ’s conception in Mary’s womb without the intervention of a human father; but that is called the Virgin Birth.

Others think the Immaculate Conception means Mary was conceived “by the power of the Holy Spirit,” in the way Jesus was, but that, too, is incorrect. Mary did have a human father.  The Immaculate Conception means that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way, was conceived without original sin.

At the Annunciation, The angel Gabriel greeted Mary, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you” Luke 1:28. This greeting “full of grace was not a result of the angel’s visit but rather an acknowledgement of Mary’s already sanctification.

REFLECTION

 The Immaculate Conception is the concrete expression of God’s love for Mary, who gave herself fully, completely, and without hesitation to His service. 

 The Feast of Immaculate Conception tells us something very important about humanity as well and that is: Mary is exactly the human being that God meant each of us to be from the very beginning of creation. It was man’s fall that about sin and death.

 God isn’t finished with us yet, thanks be to God. He remains patient and merciful as He calls each one of us to be the person He had in mind when He created us in our mother’s womb.

Our country is dedicated to its patroness the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Immaculate Conception and is honored this day in Washington D.C. in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. How blessed we are to have Jesus’ church and Mary our Mother to guide us on our journey home.