Our Catholic Faith Living What We Believe

2. Our Catholic FaithLiving What We Believe CHAPTER 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life  Eternal Destiny  Communion of Saints  One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins  The Last Things: Eschatology

3. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeEternal Destiny The single most important goal in life here on earth is to get to Heaven

4. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeCommunion of Saints In God’s family, each person shares in the spiritual benefits of the other members: • The Catholic faith • The graces of the sacraments • The spiritual benefits of the charisms of the Holy Spirit • The material goods shared among all • The fruits of a just society • The communion that results from charity

5. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeCommunion of Saints EUCHARIST Pilgrim Church Those of us who are living on earth today Church Triumphant The blessedin Heaven All members of God’s family Church Suffering Those undergoingpurification inPurgatory

6. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeCommunion of Saints Devotion to the Saints • Every member of Christ’s Body has a call to holiness • The example of canonized saints can help all friends of Christ on the path to holiness • By imitating their virtues and honoring them through prayerful devotion • Devotion involves veneration, not worship • True devotion involves studying their lives and imitating their virtues

7. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeCommunion of Saints Mary, the Greatest Saint • Mary plays a special role in Salvation History • Mary fully cooperated with our Lord’s work of Salvation • The Church honors Mary with many titles which tell us something about what we believe about her • Mary intercedes on our behalf, just as she did for the married couple at the wedding in Cana

8. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeCommunion of Saints Titles for Mary Helper Mediatrix OurLady BlessedMother EverVirgin Advocate Motherof the Church Queen ofHeaven &Earth Motherof God

9. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeCommunion of Saints Truths about Mary Immaculate Conception From the first moment of her conception, Mary was preserved immune from Original Sin Virgin Mary Mary remained a virgin “before, in, and after” the birth of Jesus. Mother of God & Mother of the Church Because Jesus is one Divine Person possessing both a divine nature and a human nature, Mary was the Mother of God. Mary is a spiritual mother whose love for her Son and for us helps bring birth to believers in the Church Assumption At the completion of her earthly life, Mary was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory

10. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeOne Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins Forgiveness of sins was an essential part of Jesus’ earthly ministry • Jesus instructed his disciples to continue to forgive sins in his name. • Baptism is the primary sacrament of forgiveness and is the complete remission of both Original Sin and personal sin. “Receive the Holy Spirit.Whose sins you forgive areforgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” John 20:22-23

11. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeOne Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins Types of Sin Sinan offense against God through a violation of truth, reason, and conscience Original Sinthe prideful disobedience of Adam and Eve and the effects of this disobedience that all humans inherit Actual Sinpersonal, individual sin;an act, word, or desire contrary to eternal law Degrees of SinVenial sin – “lesser sins” that are a stumbling block on the path to following JesusMortal sin – the most serious kind of sin that kills our relation to God and others Types of Sin 1. freely chosen bad attitudes or inordinate desires 2. failure to act (omission) 3. actions directed against God, neighbor, or self (commission) Conditions for Mortal Sin ● Grave matter● Sufficient reflection ● Full consent of the will

12. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeOne Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins The Sacrament of Penance • Christ forgives mortal sins through this sacrament • It is a “second baptism” in which the Church proclaims once again Christ’s forgiveness of the contrite sinner • Three signs of true contrition: (1) a sincere intention to avoid sin in the future (2) avoid the “near occasions” of sin (3) as far as possible, repair any harm our sins have caused

13. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeThe Last Things: Eschatology Death • Scripture teaches that death is a penalty for sin • Jesus’ own acceptance of his Death is a model for all • Death is a profound mystery, but Christian faith reveals that Jesus Christ conquered death • If we die in union with Christ, we will rise on the last day with Christ in his glory

14. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeThe Last Things: Eschatology The Resurrection of the Body • When Christ comes again the most Blessed Trinity will raise our bodies which will be made incorrupt and will rejoin our souls • The most important quality of the resurrected body will be immortality • Other attributes listed by St. Paul: imperishable, glorious, powerful, spiritual • The resurrected body will shine brightly, reflecting the glory of the Beatific Vision

15. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeThe Last Things: Eschatology “What eye has not seen,and ear has not heard,and what has not entered thehuman heart, what God has prepared for those who love him.”1 Cor 2:9 Particular Judgment The individual judgment that determines if we go to Heaven immediately, need purification in Purgatory, or must suffer the punishments of Hell Hell Remaining separated from forever by one’s own free choice Purgatory The state of being of the final purification of those who die in God’s grace and friendship. Heaven Our union with the loving, Triune God, the Blessed Mother, and all the angels and saints

16. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeThe Last Things: Eschatology Death Personal Judgment Purgatory Hell Heaven

17. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeThe Last Things: Eschatology The Last or General Judgment • Events of the last day of human history when the resurrection of the just and unjust will take place and the Risen, Glorified Lord will come again • Christ, who is Truth itself, will reveal each person’s relationship with God • Everyone will recognize God’s saving plan in Christ Jesus

18. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeThe Last Things: Eschatology Amen • Means “so be it, I agree, certainly, it is firm” • When we says Amen, we are making an act of faith, proclaiming the truth of what we pray and celebrate. • Jesus often said Amen to stress that what he was about to teach was trustworthy, that it came from his Father.

19. Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal LifeVOCABULARY • Venial sin (136) • Vices (136) • Capital sins (136) • Mortal sins (137) • Hell (137) • Resurrection of the body (140) • Beatific Vision (141) • Particular judgment (142) • Last (General) judgment (146) • Amen (147) • Communion of Saints (127) • Eschatology (127) • Heaven (127) • Charisms (127) • Purgatory (128) • Saint (129) • Immaculate Conception (130) • Assumption (131) • Theo-tokos (131) • Sin (135)

20. Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ O God Jesus, Whose loving heart was ever troubled by the sorrows of others, look with pity on the souls of our dear ones in Purgatory. O Thou Who didst “love Thine own” hear our cry for mercy, and grant that those whom Thou hast called from our homes and hearts may soon enjoy everlasting rest in the home of Thy Love in Heaven. Amen. Prayer for Our Dear Departed