Article 1The Meaning of the Church

Begin by reading the introduction on page 9.

  1. What four different realities can the word “church” refer to?
  1. Contrast the meaning of the Greek word for church between the New and Old Testaments.
  1. Write three meanings of the word Church:

a)

b)

c)

  1. Who established the Church? When did it begin to take shape?

Article 9The Holy Spirit Gifts the Church

  1. What are charisms and who they benefit?
  1. What is the difference between charisms and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit? (Be sure to list examples of each type.)
  1. What does the word charismatic refer to? What are characteristics of the charismatic Renewal?
  1. What were the special charisms of Saints Benedict and Francis, respectively?
  • Benedict:
  • Francis:
  1. Explain the charism of infallibility. What is one way it is exercised by the pope?

Article 10The Mission of the Apostles

Begin by reading the introduction on page 39.

  1. When did the mission of the Apostles begin? What were they “sent out” to do?
  1. What are specific examples of how the Holy Spirit aided the Apostles’ mission?
  1. What does it mean to call the Church’s mission Trinitarian? What was the ultimate purpose of the Apostles’ mission?
  1. What are three historicalreasons Christianity spread so quickly?

a)

b)

c)

Article 11Spreading the Gospel

  1. Explain how Paul’s preaching differed between his Jewish and Gentile audiences, respectively.
  • Jewish audience:
  • Gentile audience:
  1. List examples of familiar imagery used by Paul for his audiences.
  1. What must be kept in mind in effective evangelization?

Article 12Persecution and Martyrdom

  1. Explain why Jewish and Roman leaders persecuted the early Christians.
  • Jews:
  • Romans:
  1. Identify what we know about these early Church martyrs:
  • Stephen:
  • James:
  • Peter and Paul:
  • Ignatius of Antioch:
  1. What did the persecution of the Church produce?
  1. Describe what we know about the last days of the Church.

Article 13The Church Is the People of God

Begin by reading the introduction on page 49.

  1. Explain what it means to say, “I belong to the People of God”.
  1. What does it mean to say that by nature we are religious beings?
  1. Compare and contrast God’s covenant with the people of Israel to Christ’s New Covenant.
  1. How does a global community of over one billion people become united?

Article 14The Church Is the Body of Christ

  1. Explain the connection between the Eucharist and understanding the Church as the Body of Christ.
  1. What is transubstantiation? How does receiving the Eucharist intensify our relationship with Christ?
  1. Explainhow our close relationship to Christ also points to our close relationship with one another.
  1. What is the result of our growth in love and virtues? What specific examples are given?
  1. Explain what it means to say that Christ is the head of the Body.
  1. How does exploring the nature of the Church as the Body of Christ help us understand ourselves as members of his Body?
  1. Explain the meaning of the image of the bride and the bridegroom.
  1. What does the unity of Christ and the Church, reveal about the relationship between the husband and wife? How is sexual intercourse a sign?

Article 15The Church Is the Temple of the Holy Spirit

  1. Write the quote from 1 Corinthians here. What was the purpose of the Temple in Jewish history?
  1. Explain what it means to say the Holy Spirit is the soul of the Mystical Body of Christ?
  1. How is the Holy Spirit active in the liturgy?
  1. Besides the liturgy, how else is the Spirit active in the Church?

Article 39The Church and Hierarchy

Begin by reading the introduction on page 149.

  1. Who is the hierarchy? Why is it called hierarchy?
  1. Who does the hierarchy consist of? Identify the hierarchy from the highest to lowest levels.
  1. Why is the Church hierarchical? What is the hierarchy’s relationship to Christ?
  1. How does Christ define leadership? How does this relate to the ancient title for the pope?
  1. Briefly identify each of the following:
  • The Holy See:
  • Diocese:
  • Parish:
  • Family:

Article 52Called by God to Belong to the Church

Begin by reading the introduction on page 198.

  1. Why does God call everyone to the gift of the Church? Why did he give us free will?
  1. What two promises do parents make for the Baptism of infants?
  1. Explain what you learned and received from each of these sacraments:
  • Reconciliation/Penance:
  • Eucharist:
  1. What is exciting about God’s call to the Church? How are we a family?

Article 53Christ Enriches Us through Participation in the Life of the Church

  1. What are three important ways Christ offers us to get to know him and to receive his grace?
  1. What are we saying when we call Jesus the Word of God?
  1. What are two things do we gain in reading and praying with the Scriptures?

a)

b)

  1. What is the relation of the Sacraments and grace?
  1. Explain the three categories of Sacraments:

a)

b)

c)

  1. How might prayer be likened to the image of Christ knocking at the door?
  1. Why is prayer a vital necessity?

Article 54Called to Community

  1. What does God teach us through the account of the Fall? What kind of friends does he want for us?
  1. List the places recommended where we can find a true friend who can help us grow as Catholics.
  1. In what ways is the Church diverse?

Vocabulary for Unit 1

age of reason: The age at which a person can be morally responsible. This is generally regarded to be the age of seven.

aspiration: A short prayer meant to be memorized and repeated throughout the day. The word comes from the Latin aspirare, “to breathe upon.” In this way we can heed Saint Paul’s injunction to pray without ceasing and continually turn our thoughts toward God.

blasphemy: Speaking, acting, or thinking about God, Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, or the saints in a way that is irreverent, mocking, or offensive.

Body of Christ: A term that when capitalized designates Jesus’ Body in the Eucharist, or the entire Church, which is also referred to as the Mystical Body of Christ.

catholic: Along with One, Holy, and Apostolic, Catholic is one of the four marks of the Church. Catholic means “universal.” The Church is catholic in two senses. She is catholic because Christ is present in her and has given her the fullness of the means of salvation and also because she reaches throughout the world to all people.

chalice: The cup used during the Mass that holds the wine before the Consecration and the Blood of Christ after the Consecration. It represents the cup used at the Last Supper and is a symbol of Jesus’ sacrifice and eternal life.

charism: A special gift or grace of the Holy Spirit given to an individual Christian or community, commonly for the benefit and building up of the entire Church.

charismatic: The word refers to a person gifted with the charism or graces of the Holy Spirit such as healing, prophecy, and speaking in tongues. Because self-deception is always possible, the charisms claimed by such a person must be verified by the Church.

community: A body of individuals that is unified.

diocese: A specific community of believers under the leadership of a bishop, also known as a “particular” or “local” Church. It is usually determined on the basis of geography but may also be determined by language or culture.

evangelization: The proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ through words and witness.

Gentile: A non-Jewish person. In the Scriptures the Gentiles were the uncircumcised, those who did not honor the God of the Torah. In the New Testament, Saint Paul and other evangelists reached out to the Gentiles, baptizing them into the family of God.

Hellenistic: Of or relating to Greek history, culture, or art after Alexander the Great.

infallibility: The gift given by the Holy Spirit to the Pope and the bishops in union with him to teach on matters of faith and morals without error.

katholikos: Greek, meaning “universal” or “according to the whole.”

Kyriake: Greek, meaning “the Lord’s house.”

liturgy: The Church’s official, public, communal prayer. It is God’s work, in which the People of God participate. The Church’s most important liturgy is the Eucharist, or the Mass.

Magisterium: The Church’s living teaching office, which consists of all bishops, in communion with the Pope.

martyr: A person who suffers death because of his or her beliefs. The Church has canonized many martyrs as saints.

mystical: Having a spiritual meaning or reality that is neither apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence; the visible sign of the hidden reality of salvation.

Sacred Chrism: Perfumed olive oil that has been consecrated. It is used for anointing in the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.

Theology of the Body: The name given to Pope John Paul II's teachings on the human body and sexuality delivered via 129 short lectures between September 1979 and November 1984.

Transubstantiation: In the Sacrament of the Eucharist,this is the name given to the action of changing the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

Trinitarian: Of or relating to the Trinity or the doctrine of the Trinity.

virtue: A habitual and firm disposition to do good.