Take attendance Spontaneous prayer – volunteer? Review Introduction Class Class expectations

1. Welcome to CP2 Unit 1: Creed Take attendance Spontaneous prayer – volunteer? Review Introduction Class Class expectations Rules of behavior Confirmation requirements Documentation requirements Confirmation Sponsor requirements Community service requirements Confirmation Retreat Schedule

2. Opening Prayer Each week we will ask a different confirmand to offer a spontaneous prayer Spontaneous prayer = informal, unrehearsed Blessing / praise / adoration = tell God that He’s great Petition / intercession = ask for your/others needs Thanksgiving = thank God for good things Contrition = express sorrow for sin Traditional prayers (should be memorized) Sign of the Cross Our Father Hail Mary • Act of Contrition • Apostle’s Creed or Nicene Creed Did everyone do the reading assignment?

3. Creed – What We Believe, Part 1 Assignment was to read the two creeds & note differences Creed comes from the word “credo” = statement of beliefs Why did Apostles write down what they believed? Differences – why are they different? Council of Nicea 325 A.D. denounced Arian Heresy Arius was a priest who taught that Jesus was not God, but instead was God’s greatest creation – this is a heresy! Jesus is God, and therefore has no beginning, was not created Can you identify the 12 articles of Catholic faith in these prayers?

4. Apostles’ Creed I believe in God,the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.Amen. The Nicene Creed I believe in one God,the Father almighty,maker of heaven and earth,of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,the Only Begotten Son of God,born of the Father before all ages.God from God, Light from Light,true God from true God,begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvationhe came down from heaven,and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third dayin accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in gloryto judge the living and the deadand his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,who proceeds from the Father and the Son,who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.Amen.

5. 8.01.01 Article 1 I believe in one God,the Father almighty,maker of heaven and earth,of all things visible and invisible. I believe in God,the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, God exists, he is a Triune God, and he created all things Triune means “3 in 1” = ONE God in three persons What is the Holy Trinity? The Holy Trinity is one God in three persons God the Father, God the Son, & God the Holy Spirit The Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life

6. 8.01.02 Article 2 and in Jesus Christ, his only Son,our Lord, I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,the Only Begotten Son of God,born of the Father before all ages.God from God, Light from Light,true God from true God,begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;through him all things were made. Jesus is the Son of God Jesus is divine – he is God The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew “Jeshua” Jesus means "God saves” Jesus is our Savior What does it mean to say God is transcendent? God is an infinite mystery, existing beyond all limitations and human boundaries

7. Article 3 who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary, For us men and for our salvationhe came down from heaven,and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,and became man. This affirms the human nature of Christ Jesus had a real, true human mother Affirms his divine nature Jesus had no human father but by the power of the Holy Spirit was conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary Jesus is therefore 100% God and 100% human Fully divine and fully human

8. Article 4 suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died and was buried; For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, The human nature of Christ could feel pain and actually die, and he did on Good Friday The mention of Pontius Pilate by name was to place the Crucifixion within human history Anti-Semitism (hatred of Jews) based on the Crucifixion of Jesus is inaccurate and unjust Jews and Gentiles both shared in the spilling of innocent blood

9. Article 5 he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; and rose again on the third dayin accordance with the Scriptures. The hell Jesus descended into wasn't the hell of the damned, where the devil and his demons reside Hell was a word that Jews and early Christians used to describe the place of the dead This affirms that on the third day, Jesus came back from the dead of his own divine power He wasn't just clinically dead for a few minutes; he was DEAD dead — then he rose from the dead More than a resuscitated corpse, Jesus possessed a glorified and risen body

10. Article 6 he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. The Ascension reminds us that once the human and divine natures of Christ were united in the Incarnation, they could never be separated After his death and Resurrection, Jesus didn't dump his human body as if he didn't need it anymore Jesus’s human body will exist forever Jesus went, body and soul, into heaven We hope one day to follow him

11. Article 7 from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. This article affirms the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the world to be its judge Judgment Day, Day of Reckoning, Doomsday—these are all metaphors for the end of time when what's known as the General Judgement will occur After the death of any human person, immediate Particular Judgement occurs and the person goes directly to heaven, hell, or purgatory Purgatory is an intermediate place of preparation for heaven

12. Article 8 I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,who proceeds from the Father and the Son,who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in the Holy Spirit, God exists in three persons — the Holy Trinity — God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is a distinct person equal to the other two — God the Father and God the Son Some describe the Holy Spirit as the spiritual manifestation of the love between God the Father and God the Son We profess belief in the Holy Trinity whenever we pray the Sign of the Cross

13. Article 9 the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints, I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. The Church is the People of God – We are the Church Four Marks of the Church one – unified in faith holy – comes from God catholic – universal apostolic – built on the foundation of the Apostles Through our common baptism, we living on earth are united with The saints in heaven The souls in Purgatory We are in communion with each other, with Jesus as the Head This is why the Church is sometimes called the Mystical Body of Christ

14. Article 10 the forgiveness of sins, I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins Christ lived and died to save the world from sin Belief in the forgiveness of sins is essential to Christianity Sins are forgiven in Baptism and in Reconciliation

15. Article 11 the resurrection of the body, and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead A human being is a union of body and soul Death is the momentary separation of body and soul Until the end of the world, the Second Coming of Christ, the General Judgment, and the resurrection of the dead The just go, body and soul, into heaven The damned go, body and soul, into hell

16. Article 12 and life everlasting. and the life of the world to come. As Christ Our Savior died, so, too, must we die As he rose, so shall all human beings Death is the only way to cross from this life into the next At the very moment of death, Particular Judgment occurs Holy and virtuous souls go directly to heaven Evil and wicked souls that die in mortal sin are damned for eternity in hell If a person lived a life not bad enough to warrant hell but not holy enough to go right to heaven, their soul goes to purgatory, which is a middle ground between heaven and earth, a state where departed souls want to go to be cleansed of any attachments to sin before going through the pearly gates

17. What does “Amen” mean? So be it Let it be so I believe Truly or verily YES!

18. 8.01.03 In the Lord’s Prayer (The Our Father), what does “hallowed be Thy name” mean? Holy is your name “Holy” means “set apart,” or “from God” God is holy and completely deserving of our love & worship

19. 8.01.04 Why do humans have a desire for God? The desire for God is written in the human heart because we are created by God and for God In all of God’s creation, humans are the only creatures who are endowed with an immortal soul Humans are capable of knowing and loving their Creator

20. 8.01.05 Is there a contradiction between faith and reason (science)? There is no contradiction because there cannot be two kinds of truth. Since God created everything, we have nothing to fear from science. Scientific discoveries offer an explanation of how God accomplished what he did. Faith: Theological Virtue (a gift from God) that makes it possible for us to believe in God & all that he has revealed Reason: Ability to use one’s intellect to explore the truth among alternatives. Reason is a process that works with faith to come to knowledge of God. Faith (God’s gift to us) – must be nurtured by study, prayer, and works of charity, or it can be lost over time

21. What are the basics of Catholic Christianity? Holy Trinity – one God in three persons Revelation comes from Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition Prayer – Lord's Prayer, Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed Sacraments – visible signs instituted by Christ to give grace Ten Commandments, Precepts of the Church Symbols – cross, candles, stained glass windows, sculptures Service – hospitals, schools, shelters, orphanages

22. Scripture and Tradition Chosen Lesson 4 Segment 2 8:30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVs2S5-PxG8

23. Fundamental Catholic Perspectives God created everything - nothing is outside God’s jurisdiction That includes your every thought, word, and deed He is with us morning, noon, and night - - 24/7 Everything is created for good but has the potential to be abused We honor individual intellect and well-formed conscience We use our ability to reason and free will to apply ethics & morals to our actions Individuals are responsible and accountable for their actions Science and faith cooperate in seeking the truth Hierarchy of Church leadership – bishops, priests, laity

24. General Ground Rules for Being Catholic Know the faith – catechesis, learning doctrine, discovering faith Accept the faith – trust & believe what is being taught is the truth Practice the faith – apply these beliefs to living your life This is the most difficult step Obeying the rules is not simply mindless compliance We must appreciate the wisdom of Catholic rules and laws Jesus asked us to put beliefs into action – to practice what you believe Living Catholic is a constant struggle against temptation God gives us tools to help us in our struggle to live a Christian life Sacraments Prayer Community Works of Mercy Holy Spirit Bible

25. The Meaning of “Church” Church – with a capital “C” We are the Church! church – with a lower case “c” Building with the steeple, high ceilings, stained glass windows, pews, organ, & choir loft Next week we will discuss the Four Marks of the Church

26. 1. What is the Holy Trinity? The Holy Trinity is one God in three Persons: Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. 2. Why is the Holy Trinity important to Catholics and to all Christians? The Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. 3. What does it mean to say God is transcendent? God exists beyond all limitations. 4. In the Lord’s Prayer (The Our Father), what does “Hallowed be thy name” mean? Holy is your name. 5. Why do humans have a desire for God? We are created by God and for God. 6. What is faith? Belief in God. 7. What is reason? Using our intellect to find truth (science). 8. Is there a contradiction between faith and reason? No - Both faith and reason work together to help us find and understand the truth. There is no contradiction because there cannot be two kinds of truth.

27. Creed – What We Believe, Part 2 Why did Jesus start the Church? To continue his mission after he died What is the mission of the Church? Love – celebrate sacraments Teach – proclaim the Word of God Heal – serve all mankind with love Four Marks of the Church One, holy, catholic, and apostolic

28. The Church is One (Unity) Liturgy – one set of Catholic rites, the seven sacraments Doctrine – one deposit of faith, the universal catechism Catholics everywhere believe the same articles of faith One set of laws – canon law – governs the entire Church Authority – one Pope Communication across the world-wide Church was difficult Differences began to divide the eastern & western Church Liturgical language, politics, clergy permitted to marry Great Schism - Patriarch of Constantinople excommunicated Eastern Orthodox Church broke from Roman Catholic Church Ecumenism – movement for unity among Christians

29. The Church is Holy (Sanctity) Holy means “set apart”, special, divine Dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose Sacred, sanctified, God-like, from God, with God God is its founder – its core and structure are perfect Throughout the Church’s history, Catholics have sinned We are all human, subject to temptation, and we all sin Individuals’ imperfections, mistakes, & faults happen This is not an argument against the Church’s holiness One bad apple does not mean all apples are bad

30. The Church is catholic (universal) “catholic” with a lower case “c” means universal “Catholic” with a capital “C” is the name of our Church We are members of the Universal Church – cool, huh? Anyone can join - membership is not limited All nations, all cultures, all people, all places for all time Only requirement: you gotta believe what we believe!

31. The Church is apostolic (continuity) Origin of the Church traces back to the Apostles 12 men personally chosen by Jesus to start the Church Apostle means “sent” They were sent to preach the Good News (gospel) Every ordained deacon, priest, or bishop can trace his orders back to one of the twelve apostles We are also sent – we all have a vocation and a mission Our mission is to Love, Teach, Heal

32. 8.01.06 How does faith help us to face hardships? Faith helps us to face the hardships of suffering, disappointment, and tragedy because we take strength & encouragement from the knowledge that God is with us. Redemptive suffering – we unite our personal aches & pains, trials & tribulations with Christ’s suffering on the cross. Sharing in Christ’s pain for the sake of the Church gives our unavoidable suffering meaning and purpose. Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick May be received more than once Offer prayers for recovery Gives strength to the soul of the sick person

33. 8.01.07 What is Original Holiness and Justice? The state of grace in which Adam and Eve were created. Made in God’s image “to share in divine life,” there existed between Adam and Eve and all creation a harmony and friendship free from the stain of sin. God’s original plan was for people to live in paradise: life forever and peace between God and humans and their environment, between man and woman. God created humans in his image and established us in his friendship. A spiritual creature, humans can live this friendship only in free submission to God.

34. 8.01.08 What is original sin? Because of Adam’s and Eve’s sin of disobedience, the original grace of holiness and justice was lost for their descendants. It is a sin that is “contracted” by us not “committed”; it is a state of birth and not a personal act. Man, tempted by the devil, let his trust in his Creator die in his heart and, abusing his freedom, disobeyed God's command. This is what man's first sin consisted of. All subsequent sin would be disobedience toward God and lack of trust in his goodness.

35. 8.01.09 Why does God permit evil? Faith gives us the certainty that God would not permit evil if he did not cause a good to come from that very evil. God helps us to understand the mystery of evil through his Son, Jesus Christ. The greatest evil (the murder of Jesus) brought forth the greatest of all good (glorification of Christ and our redemption).

36. How does God help when it hurts?Chosen Lesson 11 Segment 1 8:15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMCPW53-cGw

37. 8.01.10 What does the word “Incarnation” mean? The mystery that at the time appointed by God, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, without losing his divine nature assumed human nature to bring about our salvation. In the Incarnation, Jesus is both fully God and fully man. We don’t believe the Arian heresy (Arius taught that Jesus was a being created by God the Father) The Council of Nicea set the record straight Jesus is 100% human and 100% divine Wrap your heads around that math equation, Confirmands!

38. How do I know God is Real?Chosen Lesson 4 Segment 1 9:22 https://youtu.be/9bcuyAix2Hk

39. 8.01.11 What is the Paschal Mystery? Jesus died for our sins, rose from the dead to make eternal life with God possible for us, and is now alive in heaven interceding for each of us.

40. 8.01.12 Who is redeemed by Jesus’ death and resurrection? Jesus’ death & resurrection has the power to save all people, even those who do not know Christ.

41. 8.01.13 How many earthly lives does God give us? God gives us one life, unique and unrepeatable.

42. What is redemptive work? The life, death, and resurrection of Christ that saves us from slavery to sin and death.

43. 8.01.14 How does Mary cooperate in the divine plan of salvation? Mary's grace-filled "yes" allowed her to participate with the whole redemptive work of her Son.

44. Homework Bring questions to class Discuss with your parents & sponsor Choose a Saint Choose a Sponsor

45. 1. How does faith help us to face hardships? We take strength and encouragement from the knowledge that God is with us. 2. What is Original Holiness and Justice? The state of grace in which Adam and Eve were created, free from the stain of sin. 3. What is original sin? The consequence of the disobedience of Adam and Even which affected human nature. 4. Why does God permit evil? We have faith that God causes a good to come from evil. 5. What does the word “Incarnation” (with a capital “I”) mean? God became human. Jesus is both fully God and fully man. 6. What is the Paschal Mystery? Jesus died for our sins to make eternal life possible. 7. Who is redeemed by Jesus’ death and resurrection? All people, even those who do not know Christ. 8. How many earthly lives does God give us? One. 9. What is Redemptive Work? Jesus lived and died to save us from sin. 10. How does Mary cooperate in the divine plan of salvation? Mary said “yes” to God, who allowed her to participate in the redemptive work of her Son.