CATECHESIS

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.
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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?

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THE SPIRIT GIVES BIRTH TO THE CHURCH

CATECHESIS

THE SPIRIT GIVES BIRTH TO THE CHURCH

OPENING PRAYER (WELCOME GOD INTO OUR STUDY)

Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. Let us pray. O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

CATECHESIS (STUDY THE FAITH)

REFERENCES FROM CATECHISM OF CATHOLIC CHURCH 2ND EDITION

CCC 731 – 736 Pentecost: The Church is sent
CCC 737 – 747 The Holy Spirit builds, animates, and sanctifies the Church

The feast day of Pentecost is the event in Scripture that is most associated with the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, Pentecost was an ancient Jewish festival celebrated 50 days after the feast of Passover, originally called Feast of Weeks whereby the first fruits of the corn harvest were offered to the Lord. Deuteronomy 16:9

In the New Testament book of Acts, we read, “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together, then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.” After the descent of the Holy Spirit His disciples were filled with courage and faith. Acts 2:1-3

Jesus pours out His Spirit upon the Apostles and upon us, His body, His Church on Pentecost. After the descent of the Holy Spirit His disciples were filled with courage and faith. these early Christians brought the Holy Spirit into the world in their preaching, their healing, casting out demons, raising the dead, and the forgiveness of sins.

The Holy Spirit enlightens our minds to know Christ more deeply and to love him more dearly. God’s love is poured out upon us through the Holy Spirit who is sent by the Father at the request of the Son.

 

SPIRIT OF TRUTH ENLIGHTEN US!

The Holy Spirit gives the Body of Christ, the Church, fortitude to bear witness to the truth in a world that hates us, rejects us and ridicules us for the truth we bear. The Holy Spirit prepares us, inspires us, and encourages us to draw closer to Christ, to answer the universal call to holiness, we received at our Baptism.

The Holy Spirit never ceases to come to us in our daily prayer, in the Sacrament of Baptism, in the Sacrament of Confirmation, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and at our Anointing for our journey home…

The Holy Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.
John 14:26

CLOSING PRAYER (PRAY THE FAITH)

When we do not know how to pray or what to pray, let us pray and ask the Spirit to pray for us and within us.

Spirit of Truth, you preserve the Church today from error. You are truly the Life of the Church. May you also be the Life in our Souls.
In Jesus’ name we pray

LIFE APPLICATION (LIVE THE FAITH)

1. The Holy Spirit convicts and consoles. Please explain.

2. When the Sprit is active in a person, there is a greater willingness to share faith. How do I share my faith in Christ outside my “domestic church” (home.)

3. Are there obstacles in me to sharing my faith with others? What are they? What can I do to overcome these obstacles so that I may be an effective witness to Christ?