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 Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 2:44 pm
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 2:48 pm
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Lesson 1:Religion
1. What is religion?
To fill in what is missing in the lives of so many people - the knowledge and practice of true religion.
"The heart of the wise seeketh instruction: and the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness." (Proverbs 15:14).
2. Why is religion the most important study you can take up?
Because God expects you to know what He had taught and what He want you to do in this like.
"Let no man deceive himself: if any man among you seem to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." (1 Corinthians 3:18-19).
3. What is religion?
Religion consists of two parts:
1) Believing everything God has told the human race.
2) Observing all your duties to God, yourself and your fellow men.
"Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."(James 1:22).
4. Is religion really necessary?
Yes, for several reasons-
1) God demands that every human being follows His plan of life.
2) without religion, life is meaningless.
3) Lack of religion causes unhappiness, both in this like and in the next.
"For he that rejecteth wisdom, and discipline, is unhappy: and their hope is vain, and their labours without fruit, and their works unprofitable. Their wives are foolish, and their children wicked." (Wisdom 3:11-12).
5. What will happen to those who do not practice religion?
They will be punished with the everlasting torments of Hell.
"The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with the angels of his power: in a flame of fire, giving vengeance to them who know not God. and who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8.)
6. What will religion give you in this life?
Peace of mind, which is greater than anything money can buy.
"Blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it." (Luke 11:28.) "Much peace have they that love thy law, and to them there is no stumbling block." (Psalm 118:165).
7. Are all religions the same?
No, there is only one true religion, the one established by God himself, which is explained in this book. |
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 3:22 pm
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Lesson 2: The Bible And Tradition
"God who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all in these days hath spoken to us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir to all things, by whom also He made the world."(Hebrews 1:1).
1. What is the Bible?
A collection of the writings which were inspired by God.
"All scriptures, inspired by God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice, that the man of God may be perfect furnished to every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
2. What does "inspired by God" mean?
It means that God chose some men and moved them to write down faithfully all the things, and only those things, which He wanted written down.
"For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time: but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:21).
3. Who, then, is the primary author of the Bible?
God is, since He moved these men to write down the things He ordered. although He allowed them to write in their own language and style.
"For I give you to understand, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For neither did I receive it of man, nor did I learn it; but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:11-12).
4. How many writings, or books, are there in the Bible?
There are 72.
5. When were all these writings put together?
The Catholic Church put all of them into one book between the years 350 and 405.
6. How is the Bible divided?
It is divided into two main parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The Old Testament contains the things God told the human race from the beginning of the world up to the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. The New Testament contains what God had told us through His Son and through His Apostles and others.
7. Is it possible to misunderstand the Bible?
Yes, even the Bible itself says so.
"As also in all his [St Paul's] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned are unstable wrest [twist], as they so also the other scriptures, to their own destructions." (2 Peter 3:16).
8 How can you get the true meaning of the Bible?
You can get it only from God's official interpreter, the Catholic Church.
"Understanding this first, that no prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation." (2 Peter 1:20).
9. Is everything that God has taught in the Bible?
No, the rest is in Tradition.
"Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book." (John 20:30).
10. What is Tradition?
The unwritten word of God: these "other things Jesus did" were handed down by word of mouth by the apostles and other close followers of Jesus.
"Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our spistle." (2 Thessalonians 2:14).
11. Do you have to believe in Tradition?
Yes, because it is the word of God and has equal authority with the Bible.
The early Christians learned everything by Traditions, since only later on were some of the teachings of Hesus written down, the last writing being done at the end of the first century. That is, there was no New testament in the early Church.
12. Are you free to believe whatever you want?
No, you have to believe everything in the Bible and Tradition - all the doctrines which the Catholic Church teaches.
"The Load Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with the angels on his power: on a flame of fire, giving vengeance to them who know not God, and who obey not the gospel of our Load Jesus Christ." (2 thessalonians 1:7-8.)
13. What kind of sin is it to deny anything the Catholic Church teaches?
Usually it is a serious sin, that is, a mortal sin.
"Whosoever revolteth and continueth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine, the same hath both the Father and the Son.
PRACTICAL POINTS
1. If a Catholic denies one or more of the doctrines of the Catholic Church, he is no longer a Catholic. To be a Catholic is to accept the Catholic faith in it's entirety because it comes from God, and God can neither lie nor make a mistake.
2. There can be no contradiction between the Bible and science since both are concerned with unchangeable Truth. For example, the "six days" in the creation account may well have been intended symbolically rather than literally.
3. You can easily tell the difference between a Catholic Bible and a non-Catholic one. A Catholic Bible always has the name of a Catholic bishop near the front with the Latin word Imprimatur, which means "It may be printed."
4. The Catholic Church not only allows her members to read the Bible, but encourages them to do so. She gives special "blessings" (called indulgences) to those who read it as spiritual reading. You are encouraged to buy a Catholic Bible and read part of it every day.
5. Protestant Bibles are missing 7 books of the Bible, Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, decided to omit them because the Jews omit them. Catholics call these 7 books the "Deuterocanonical Books"; Protestants call them then "Apocrypha." They are Tobias, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, and 1 and 2 Machabees (plus parts of Esther and Daniel).
6. Nowhere does the Bible say that the Bible is the sole source of Christian teaching. This fact refutes the classic Protestant teaching of "the Bible alone" (sola Scripture). |
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Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:35 am
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Lesson 3: God and The Holy Trinity
"Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and recompense shall be made him? For of him and by him, are all things: to him be glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:33-36).
1. Who is God?
God is the Supreme being, the Creator "who made heaven and earth, the sea , and all things that are in them." (Psalm 145:5).
2. What does "Creator" mean?
It means that God made all things out of nothing.
"I beseech thee, my son, look upon heaven and earth, and all that is in them: and consider that God made them out of nothing, and mankind also." (2 Machabees 7:28.)
3. What is a creature?
A creature is anything made by God.
4. How do you know there is a God?
If you just examine the things in this world. you have to admit that someone had to make them.
"But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee. and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee. Speak to the earth,
and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell. Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord hath made all these things?" (Job 12:7-9). "The fool has said in his heart: there is no God." (Psalm 13:1).
5. Why can you not see God?
Because He has no body.
"God is a spirit" (John 4:24).
6. Where is God?
God is everywhere.
"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy face? if I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if i descend into hell, thou art present." (Psalm 138:7-8.)
7. Can God see all things?
Yes, because He is everywhere.
"The eyes of the Lord in every place behold the good and the evil." (Proverbs 15:3.)
8. How old is God?
God is ageless, eternal, which means that He has no beginning and will have no end and will never change.
"Before the mountains were made, or the earth and the world was formed; from eternity and to eternity thou art God." (Psalm 89:2).
9. Can God do all things?
Yes, "With God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26).
10. Is God alive?
Yes, He is alive and is the source of all life.
Over 30 bible references call Him "the living God." "All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made. in him was life." (John 1:3-4).
11. Is God independent and unlimited?
Yes, He depends on nothing and is unlimited (infinite) in every way.
"Neither is he served with men's hands, as though he needed any thing; seeing it is he who giveth to all life, and breath, and all things." (Acts 17:25).
12. Is God interested in you?
Yes, and He loves you with an unlimited love.
"Can a woman forget her infant, so as not to have pity on the son of her womb? and if she should forget, yet will not I forget thee." (Isaias 49:15).
13. Will God forgive you your sins?
Yes, if you are truly sorry for them.
"For the Lord your God is merciful, and will not ruwn away his face from you, if you return to him." (2 Paralipomenon 30:9).
14. What is the Holy Trinity?
This means that there are three Persons in One God.
"Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19).
15. Who are the three persons in God?
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.
"And there are three who give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one." (1 John 5:7).
16. Are the three persons of the Holy Trinity equal?
Yes, they are equal to One Another, but each One is separate and distinct Persons, and each One is God.
17. How can there be three persons in only one God?
This is a mystery that no human mind can completely understand.
PRACTICAL POINTS
1. There are many things in this world which the human mind cannot understand, such as growth, sight, hearing, electricity,. Therefore, we should not be surprised to find that we cannot completely understand the God who made the world.
2. Faith is accepting something on the word of another. God says there are three Persons in the One God. if you accept that statement and being true because He said so, then you have faith.
3. Faith is not unreasonable if what you are told is possible and if the person telling you is usually truthful and has nothing to gain from telling you a lie.
4. Human beings can tell lies, but God cannot because He is Truth Itself. Therefore, believing anything God says is the highest kind of faith. This kind of faith, how ever, is a gift that you must pray for. |
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 4:55 pm
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Lesson 4: Prayer
"Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Or what man is there among you, of whom if his son shall ask bread, will he reach him a stone? Or if he shall ask him a fish, will he reach him a serpent? If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your Father who is in Heaven, give good things to them that ask Him?" (Matthew 7:7-11)
1. What is prayer?
Prayer is the raising of the mind and heart to God.
2. Why should you pray?
You should pray--
1. To adore God, to tell Him that He made you and that you depend upon Him for absolutely everything.
2. To thank God for the blessings He has given you.
"What hast thou not received? And if thou hast received, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7)
3.To ask God pardon for your sins.
"O God, be merciful to me a sinner." (Luke 18:13)
4. To ask God's help in all things.
"Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7).
3. When should you pray?
Every day, especially--
1. In the morning -- to offer the day to God and to ask for His help in the temptations of the day
2. During the day, especially during temptations.
3. At night -- to thank God for the blessings of the day and to ask Him to forgive you for the sins committed that day.
4. Before and after meals.
4. To whom should you pray?
1. To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.
2. You may also pray to the Blessed Virgin, the Angels and the Saints.
"And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel." (Apocalypse 8:4).
5. Why may you pray to the Blessed Virgin (Mary, Mother of God), the Angels and the Saints?
Because they are God's best friends; God will listen to them more than to us who are still sinners.
"Go to my servant Job, and offer yourselves a holocaust: and my servant Job shall pray for you: his face I will accept, that folly be not imputed to you: for you have not spoken right things before me, as my servant Job hath." (Job 42:8 )
6. For whom should you pray?
1. For everyone still on earth, even your enemies.
"But I say to you, love your enemies: do good to them who hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you." (Matthew 5:44)
2. For the souls in Purgatory (See Lesson 12).
7. What should you pray for?
Everyday pray to get into Heaven; when praying for anything else, always say, "Grant this request, Lord, if it is Your will."
"For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things. Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and His justice, and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:32-33).
8. Does God always hear your prayers?
Yes, but He does not always give what you ask for, because you sometimes ask for things that are bad for you, or you do not ask God properly.
9. Does God hear or answer the prayers of sinners who are living in mortal sin (someone who has committed one or more bad sins, such as taking birth control or rejecting God's Church, without confessing them, thus becoming an enemy of God)?
He hears their prayers for the grace of true repentance (the grace to feel sorry for your sins and confess them to a priest), but He does not hear their prayers for other favors, unless they are willing to give up their sins and do penance.
"Now we know that God doth not hear sinners: but if a man be a server of God, and doth His will, him He heareth." (John 9:31)
10. Should only good people pray?
No, everyone should pray. Especially should mortal sinners pray to be delivered from their sins.
"I desire not the [eternal] death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way, and live." (Ezechiel 33:11).
"For every one that asketh, receiveth." (Matthew 7:8 )
11. How should you pray?
1. With attention, keeping your mind on your prayer.
2. With humility, realizing that you are powerless without God.
3. With confidence, realizing that God can do all things.
4. With perseverance, without giving up hope.
"And this is the confidence which we have Towards Him: That, whatsoever we shall ask according to His will, He heareth us." (I John 5:14).
12. Why is public prayer necessary?
Because, as members of human society, we owe God public recognition of Him as Supreme Master of society.
13. How does public prayer help the world?
1. We thereby call down God's mercy upon our country and world.
2. We also obtain the divine help which is necessary for virtue and peace in society.
14. Why should a family pray together?
1. To obtain the graces they need, especially the grace to keep the Catholic Faith.
2. To ask God to bless them as a family.
3. To imitate the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph).
4. To give good example to the children.
5. To keep the family together.
"For where there are two or three gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20).
15. How often should a family pray together?
At least once a day, preferably after the evening meal, when all the members of the family are together.
"A family that prays together stays together." (Father Peyton).
16. Why do Catholics have statues and pictures of Our Lord (Jesus), the Blessed Virgin (Mary) and the Saints?
1. Because they wish to honor them, just as we honor public heroes.
2. Because it is easier to pray to them when looking at a picture or a statue of them.
3. Because it helps Catholics raise their minds frequently to God during the day.
PRACTICAL POINTS
1. There are two main kinds of prayer, vocal and mental. Vocal prayer uses specific words, such as the Our Father and the Hail Mary. Mental prayer is praying without words, which is also called meditation.
2. It is good to pray during the day with short prayers, such as, "Jesus, I love You"; "My God, I offer this hour of work for my sins"; "My Jesus, mercy."
3. It is not necessary to kneel while praying, but it certainly is much easier to pray when you are on your knees. |
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 5:05 pm
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Lesson 5: Public Worship of God
Note: As a creature of God, you are bound to pray to Him, not only as an individual, but also as a member of society. The chief form of public worship in the Catholic Church is the Mass, which is explained in this lesson. A fuller explanation will be given in Lesson 23.
1. What happens at Mass?
The priest changes bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and offers them to God the Father.
2. Who said the first Mass?
Jesus Christ, right after the Last Supper on the night before He died, nearly 2,000 years ago.
"And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to His disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is My Body. And taking the chalice, He gave thanks, and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this. For this is My Blood." (Matthew 26:26-28 )
3. How could Jesus change bread and wine into His Body and Blood?
Because He is God.
4. Did Jesus give this power to anyone?
Yes, to His twelve Apostles.
"Do this for a commemoration of Me." (Luke 22:19)
5. Did Jesus want His Apostles to hand down this power to others?
Yes, because He wanted all men of all times to have the Holy Sacrifice and to eat His Body and drink His Blood.
"Except you eateth the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His Blood, you shall not have life in you." (John 6:54)
6. How did the Apostles hand down this power?
By making other men priests and bishops.
7. Who has this power today?
The priests and bishops of the Catholic Church.
8. At what part of the Mass does the priest change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ?
At the Consecration, about the middle of Mass, when he says "This is My Body." "This is the chalice of My Blood..."
PRACTICAL POINTS
1. The Mass is said in Latin because Latin is the official language of the Catholic Church and was the official and universal language in many parts of the world 2,000 years ago; also, because it is a language that does not change (it is not spoken anymore). (Ed. note: This way, no matter where you travel, the Mass will always be the same and you will recognize it and the language.)
2. The clothes worn by the priest at Mass, called vestments, are a special priestly type of clothing that has a relationship to the vestments worn by the priests of the Old Testament. These vestments are symbolic of the unchangeableness of the Church.
3. One cannot lay down set rules about how to pray at Mass because the Mass may be followed word-for-word, as in the missal, or in spirit, according to what is going on in the various parts of the Mass, or by practicing one's private devotion.
4. The difference between High Mass and Low Mass is that at High Mass the priest sings some of the Mass prayers; whereas, at Low Mass he does not sing.
5. Catholics must attend Mass every Sunday and on the six Holy Days of Obligation. To miss Mass on these days is a mortal sin.
6. Other forms of public worship are Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, Novenas and Lenten services.
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 5:24 pm
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Lesson 6: Angels and Devils
"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the living creatures, and the ancients; and the number of them was thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and benediction." (Apocalypse 5:11-12)
1. What is an angel?
An angel is a spirit, that is, a creature who does not have a body.
2. Is an angel a real person?
Yes, because an angel has a mind and a will.
3. How do you know there are angels?
The Bible mentions angels about three hundred times.
4. Why did God create the angels?
To serve Him in Heaven, to act as His messengers to man, and to act as guardians over human beings.
5. Does everyone have a guardian angel?
Yes, God appoints an angel to watch over every human being.
"See that you despise not one of these little ones: For I say to you, that their angels in Heaven always see the face of My Father Who is in Heaven." (Matthew 18:10)
6. What does your guardian angel do for you?
Your angel prays for you, protects you from evil and inspires you to do good.
"Behold I will send My angel, who shall go before thee, and keep thee in thy journey, and bring thee into the place that I have prepared. Take notice of him, and hear his voice." (Exodus 23:20-21)
7. Did all the Angels obey God?
No, some of them, led by Lucifer, or Satan, disobeyed God and were sent immediately into Hell. These are the fallen angels or devils.
"And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels. And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven." (They were sent to Hell) (Apocalypse 12:7-8 )
8. Is there really a devil?
Yes, the Bible often speaks of the devil as a real person.
"And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world." (Apocalypse 12:9)
(In Protestant Bibles, this book (Apocalypse) is called Revelation)
9. How does the devil act towards human beings?
The devil tempts people to commit sin.
"Watch out, because the devil goes about seeking whom he may devour. You must resist him, being strong in Faith and knowing that he persecutes everyone else in the world, too." (1 Peter 5:8-9)
10. How can you fight the devil?
The best weapons against the devil are prayer (especially calling on Jesus and Mary), holy water, blessed medals, scapulars and other blessed objects.
"Put you on the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:11-12)
PRACTICAL POINTS
1. Your guardian angel is a real person, who is always with you to help and protect you. Pray to him often and thank him for his help. Your guardian angel is an indication of how much God loves and cares for you.
2. The devil has succeeded in getting a large number of people to think that he is not real. His is a real person and is a real danger to you personally.
3. Not all of your temptations come from the devil. Others come from your own flesh ("concupiscence") and from the world about you -- traditionally stated, "from the world, the flesh, and the devil." |
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 9:36 am
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Lesson 7: Human Beings and the Purpose of Life
"Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in Heaven: Where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal. For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also." (Matthew 6:19-21)
1. What is a human being?
A creature who has a body and soul.
"Thou hast made him a little less than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honor." (Psalm 8:6)
2. What is the soul?
It is the spiritual part of man, that part which will never die.
"God said, 'Let us make man to our image and likeness.'" (Genesis 1:26)
3. Where is your soul?
In every part of you that is alive.
4. Is your soul real?
Yes, just as real as your body.
5. How do you know you have a soul?
You can do spiritual things: You can think, do things without being forced, decide not to do things, make things, enjoy a joke or a book or a party, talk, work out mathematical problems, etc... An animal cannot do any of these things. That which makes you able to do them is your soul.
6. Where did your soul come from?
God created your soul and joined it to the tiny body in your mother's womb.
"And the Lord God formed man of the slime of the earth: and breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7)
7. How long will your soul and body stay together?
Until death, which is the separation of body and soul.
"And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the spirit return to God Who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
"Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour." (Matthew 28:13)
8. What will happen to your body when you die?
It will rot away to the earth from which it came.
"For dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return." (Genesis 3:19)
9. What will happen to your soul when you die?
It will be judged by God and will go to Heaven, to Purgatory or to Hell.
"It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)
10. Will your soul ever be joined to your body again?
Yes, on Judgment Day God will call your body back from the earth and join it to your soul. This will be the resurrection of the body at the end of the world.
"Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall all indeed rise again: but we shall not all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall rise again incorruptible." (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
11. After the Resurrection, will your soul and body be always together?
Yes, both body and soul will be together forever, either in Heaven or Hell.
"For we must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil." (2 Corinthians 5:10)
12. When will Judgment Day be?
Nobody but God knows this.
"But of that day and hour no one knoweth, no not the angels of heaven, but the Father alone." (Matthew 24:36)
13. How should you prepare for Judgment Day?
Pray constantly, obey all of God's commandments, and do penance for your sins.
"And take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly. For as a snare shall it come upon all that sit upon the face of the whole earth. Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:36)
14. What, then is the true purpose of life?
To live your life according to God's plan and thus to save your soul.
"For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36-37)
"Behold now you that say: Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and there we will spend a year, and will traffic, and make our gain. Whereas you know not what shall happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a vapor which appears for a little while, and afterwards shall vanish away. For that you should say: If the Lord will, and if we shall live, we will do this or that." (James 4:13-15) |
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 9:42 am
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Lesson 8: Sanctifying Grace
"And Jesus addressed them, and spoke to them again in parables, saying, "The kingdom of Heaven is likened to a king, who made a marriage for his son... And the marriage was filled with guests. And the king went in to see the guests: And he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment. And he saith to him: Friend, how camest thou in hither not having on a wedding garment? But he was silent. Then the king said to the waiters: Bind his hands and feet and cast him into the exterior darkness: There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 22:1-12)
1. Why did God make you?
God made you to know, love and serve Him in this world so that you might share in His happiness in Heaven.
2. Are mere human beings equipped to share God's happiness?
No, because God has a completely different kind of life.
To share in the happiness of another, it is necessary to have the same kind of life. A dog, for example, cannot enjoy a book because man has a higher kind of life than the dog.
3. How is God's life a higher kind of life than that of man?
God's life is unlimited, uncreated and independent, whereas, human life is very limited, created by God and absolutely dependent on Him.
"For in Him we live, and move, and are." (Acts 17:28 )
4. What, then, is needed to share in God's happiness?
A new kind of life, called Sanctifying Grace.
5. What is Sanctifying Grace?
A sharing in the life of God, which raises you to God's level and gives you the power to share in His happiness.
"By whom He hath given us the most great and precious promises: that by these you may be made partakers of the divine nature." (2 Peter 1:4)
6. Does Sanctifying Grace make you the same as God?
No, only like God, because Sanctifying Grace is a created sharing in the life of God.
You are still a human being, but one that is equipped to live in Heaven.
7. Can you get to Heaven without Sanctifying Grace?
No, it is absolutely impossible to live in Heaven without Sanctifying Grace.
The wedding garment in the parable (Matthew 22:10-13) is Sanctifying Grace. The banquet hall is Heaven, and the king is God. The attendants are the Angels, and the darkness outside is Hell.
8. Is there Sanctifying Grace in your soul when you are born?
No, all human beings are created without Sanctifying Grace.
"For all have sinned, and do need the glory of God. Being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption, that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24)
9. How can you get Sanctifying Grace?
Baptism puts Sanctifying Grace into your soul for the first time.
"Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)
10. Can you make Sanctifying Grace grow in your soul?
Yes, chiefly by receiving Holy Communion and the other Sacraments, and by prayer and good works.
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18 )
11. Can you lose Sanctifying Grace?
Yes, by committing a serious sin (that is, a mortal sin) -- one that destroys God's life in your soul.
"But sin, when it is completed, begetteth death." (James 1:15)
12. Can you feel Sanctifying Grace in your soul?
No, because Sanctifying Grace is completely spiritual.
It is impossible to experience something spiritual, such as grace, a soul, or an angel, with one of the five senses.
13. Does a religious feeling indicate Sanctifying Grace in the soul?
No, nor does the absence of such a feeling indicate the absence of Sanctifying Grace.
A person being baptized may not experience a religious feeling but can be morally certain from the promise of Christ that Baptism is putting Sanctifying Grace into his soul.
PRACTICAL POINTS
1. Adam and Eve were created with Sanctifying Grace in their souls. After them, the only other human being created with Sanctifying Grace was the Blessed Virgin, Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
2. A soul in the state of Grace has two kinds of life: Human life, and the sharing in God's life. A mortal sin kills (or drives out) only the Sanctifying Grace. Nothing can kill the human life of the soul, which is immortal.
3. Babies who die without being baptized cannot go to Heaven because they die without Sanctifying Grace. The Church has never taught, as an official doctrine, what happens to the souls of unbaptized infants. However, Catholic books approved by the Church have consistently taught that unbaptized babies probably go to a place of natural happiness in the next world called Limbo. God is not cruel or unjust in not allowing them to enter Heaven because Sanctifying Grace is a gift and no one has a right to a gift. Man does not have a natural right to Heaven, which is a supernatural end for man. If a baby dies without Baptism, the parents should put the matter in God's hands and trust in His wisdom and goodness.
4. Adults who neglect to be baptized do not go to Limbo but to Hell. |
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 9:48 am
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Lesson 9: Heaven
"Behold what manner of charity the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called, and should be the sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth not us, because it knew not Him. Dearly beloved, we are now the sons of God; and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know, that, when He shall appear, we shall be like to Him: Because we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:1-2)
1. What is Heaven?
The place of perfect happiness in the next world.
"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for those that love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)
2. Who will go to Heaven?
Only those who have Sanctifying Grace in their souls at the moment of death.
"Then shall the king say to them that shall be on His right hand: Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 25:34)
3. What is the happiness of Heaven?
It will consist in seeing God face to face and possessing Him in divine love.
"We see now through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to face. Now I know in part: But then I shall know even as I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)
4. Why is the happiness of Heaven perfect?
Because God made you for Himself and you can find perfect satisfaction in Him alone.
"Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee." (St. Augustine)
5. Will everyone have the same happiness in Heaven?
No, the happiness of some will be greater than that of others, but everyone will be as happy as he can be.
6. Why will some have greater happiness than others?
Because some will see God more clearly.
"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will render to every man according to his works." (Matthew 16:27)
7. Why will some see God more clearly?
Because they died with more Sanctifying Grace on their souls.
"And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labor." (1 Corinthians 3:8 )
8. How, then, should you spend your time on Earth?
Try to get as much Sanctifying Grace in your soul as you can before you die.
"Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you." (1 Corinthians 3:8 )
"The night cometh, when no man can work." (John 9:4)
9. Will there be any sorrow or pain in Heaven?
No, nor will there be any sickness, temptation, or sin, but complete, unending joy.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more." (Apocalypse 21:4)
10. Will you know your family and friends in Heaven?
Yes, and also the Angels and Saints.
"Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners: But you are fellow citizens with the saints, and the domestics of God." (Ephesians 2:19)
11. What would keep you from getting into Heaven?
Dying with a serious (mortal) sin on your soul.
"And there shall not enter into it any thing defiled, or that worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they that are written in the book of life of the Lamb." (Apocalypse 21:27)
12. How often should you pray to get to Heaven?
Every day, since getting to Heaven is the purpose of life.
"As the heart panteth after the fountains of water; so my soul panteth after Thee, O God. My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God?" (Psalm 41:2-3)
13. What is the chief difference between Heaven and Limbo?
The souls in Heaven see God face to face; whereas, those in Limbo do not.
Seeing God face to face is called the Beatific Vision. It contains all possible happiness and is unending.
PRACTICAL POINTS
1. You will never get bored or used to heaven because God is unlimited in every way. Nothing on this earth can completely satisfy you, whether it is money or fame or pleasure, since everything created is limited.
2. Thinking often of Heaven, putting it before everything else, will give you the correct scale of values, as well as peace of mind in this world.
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 9:55 am
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Lesson 10: Mortal and Venial Sin
"Let no man, when he is tempted, say that he is tempted by God. For God is not a tempter of evils, and he tempteth no man. But every man is tempted by his own concupiscence, being drawn away and allured. Then when concupiscence hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin. But sin, when it is completed, begetteth death." (James 1:13-15)
1. What is sin?
Sin is any thought, word, desire, action, or neglect (omission) prohibited (forbidden) by the law of God.
2. When are you guilty of sin?
To be guilty –
1. You must know that you are breaking God's law, and...
2. You must freely choose to do it.
3. How many kinds of sin are there?
Two – mortal sin and venial sin.
4. What is mortal sin?
A "big" sin, a serious violation of God's law.
Examples: Getting drunk, adultery, stealing something expensive.
5. What does mortal sin do to the soul?
It drives the Sanctifying Grace out of your soul.
"What fruit had you then in those things, of which you are now ashamed? For the end of them is death." (Romans 6:21)
6. Where will you go if you die with mortal sin on your soul?
You will go to Hell forever.
"They shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Apocalypse 21:8 )
7. Can all mortal sins be forgiven?
Yes, if you are truly sorry for them and do everything necessary for forgiveness.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity." (1 John 1:9)
8. What is venial sin?
A "small" sin, a less serious violation of God's law.
Examples: Impatience, ordinary anger, stealing something cheap, getting slightly drunk.
9. What does venial sin do to your soul?
It does not drive out the Sanctifying Grace from your soul, but it does make you less pleasing to God.
10. Where will you go if you die with venial sin on your soul (and no mortal sins)?
You will go to Purgatory.
11. Can a number of venial sins become a mortal sin?
No. (Except that a series of similar small, recurring thefts from the same person amounts to one large theft and therefore can be a mortal sin.)
12. If you do something wrong, but do not know it is wrong, are you guilty of sin?
No, if it is through no fault of yours that you do not know it is wrong.
Example: If you eat meat on Ash Wednesday, completely forgetting that it is Ash Wednesday, you are not guilty of sin.
(Ed. note: There are some things, though, that you know are wrong, even though somebody may never have told you that they are wrong, such as birth control or homosexuality. Even though you may not have been told that they are wrong, common sense or the natural law tells you that they are wrong.)
13. Are you guilty of sin if you intend to do something wrong, even though you do not actually do it?
Yes, because even the intention to offend God is a sin.
Example: If you intend to rob a bank, but are frightened off by the guards, you still commit just as bad a sin as if you had robbed the bank.
14. What should you do if you do not know whether something is mortal or venial sin?
You should not do it; otherwise, you will commit a mortal sin, because you show yourself willing to offend God seriously.
Example: You do not know whether eating too much is a mortal or venial sin, but you go ahead and eat too much anyway.
15. What is temptation?
Temptation is an attraction to commit sin.
16. Can you always overcome temptation?
Yes, because no temptation can force you into sin, and God will always help you.
"And God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: But will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)
17. What should you do when you are tempted?
First, ask God to help you, and then, get busy doing something else.
"And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil." (1 Corinthians 10:13)
18. How can you avoid temptations?
Avoid all persons, places or things that may lead you into sin, and ask God for actual graces.
19. What are actual graces?
They are "helps" from God which enlighten the mind and strengthen the will to do good and avoid evil.
"My grace is sufficient for thee: For power is made perfect in infirmity." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Actual graces come and go, but Sanctifying Grace remains in the soul. Sanctifying Grace is LIFE; actual grace is HELP.
20. Can you resist actual graces?
Unfortunately, yes, for you are free, and God does not force you to use them.
"And we helping do exhort you, that you receive not the grace of God in vain." (2 Corinthians 6:1) |
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 9:57 am
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Lesson 11: Hell
"The Son of Man shall send His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all scandals, and them that work iniquity. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:41-42)
1. What is Hell?
The place in the next world where the souls of the damned are condemned to suffer forever with the devils.
"If any one abide not in Me, he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither, and they shall gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he burneth." (John 15:6)
2. How do you know there is a Hell?
The Bible and Tradition (and Jesus too) often speak of the everlasting punishments of Hell.
"Then He shall say to them also that shall be on His left hand: Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. And these shall go into everlasting punishments: But the just, into life everlasting." (Matthew 25:41-46)
3. Who will go to Hell?
Those who die with mortal sin on their souls, that is, without Sanctifying Grace.
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the pool of fire." (Apocalypse 20:15)
4. Does anyone ever get out of Hell?
No, Hell is a place of "everlasting punishment." (Matthew 25:46)
"And the smoke of their torments shall ascend up for ever and ever: neither have they rest day nor night." (Apocalypse 14:11)
5. What are the pains of Hell?
Separation from God, torture by fire, regret, and the companionship of the devils.
"Before I go, and return no more, to a land that is dark and covered with the mist of death: a land of misery and darkness, where the shadow of death, and no order, but everlasting horror dwelleth." (Job 10:21-22)
6. What is the pain of separation from God?
To be separated from God, the Source of all love and happiness, will be the greatest pain in Hell.
"The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven, with the angels of His power: In a flame of fire, giving vengeance to them who know not God, and who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall suffer eternal punishment in destruction, from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of His power." (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)
7. Is there real fire in Hell?
Yes, Jesus often spoke of the "unquenchable fire" of Hell and says that the damned souls will be "salted with fire" (Mark 9:43), which is "everlasting fire" (Matthew 25:41).
"If any one abide not in me, he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither, and they shall gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he burneth." (John 15:6)
8. How does the fire of Hell differ from the fire here on earth?
The fire in Hell burns without consuming (it does not burn up your body, so the pain never ends) and can torture not only the body but the soul as well.
"Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished." (Mark 9:47)
"Humble thy spirit very much: For the vengeance on the flesh of the ungodly is fire and worms." (Ecclesiasticus 7:19)
9. What is the pain of regret?
The pain of regret means that you will be tortured forever with the thought that you had so many chances to save your soul and be happy with God, but lost Heaven because of mortal sin.
10. What is the pain of companionship of the devils?
Your companions in Hell will be the devils and the other lost souls, who will always hate you and mock you for being such a fool.
"Then He shall say to them also that shall be on His left hand: Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew 25:41)
11. Are the pains of Hell the same for all?
All the souls in Hell will have the same type of punishment, but the degree of suffering will differ according to the number and kind of sins committed.
PRACTICAL POINTS
1. Think often of Hell and the possibility of your going there. Pray every day that you will not die with mortal sin on your soul. Say the Act of Contrition every night:
"O my God, I am very sorry for having offended Thee, and I hate all of my sins, because I fear the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because my sins offend Thee, my dear God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, do penance, and amend my life. Amen."
2. Presumption is the sin committed by people who think that a good God will not punish a sinner with the torments of Hell. God, being a just judge, has to reject those who choose to separate themselves from Him by mortal sin.
3. The horror of Hell helps us understand the evil of mortal sin. Mortal sin is the greatest evil in the universe. |
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 9:59 am
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Lesson 12: Purgatory
"And the day following Judas [Machabeus] came with his company, to take away the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen, in the sepulchres of their fathers. And they found under the coats of the slain some of the donaries of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbiddeth to the Jews: So that all plainly saw, that for this cause they were slain. Then they all blessed the just judgment of the Lord, who had discovered the things that were hidden. And so betaking themselves to prayers, they besought Him, that the sin which had been committed might be forgotten. But the most valiant Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forasmuch as they saw before their eyes what had happened, because of the sins of those that were slain. And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection, (for if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead), and because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins." (2 Machabees 12:39-46)
1. What is Purgatory?
A place and state of temporary punishment in the next world. Hell, on the other hand, is a place of eternal or everlasting punishment.
2. What does the word "Purgatory" mean?
It means "cleansing" (or "purging"). Purgatory is a place where the soul is cleansed of unforgiven venial sin and/or the "debt" of sins already forgiven but not yet made up for.
"If any one abide not in Me, he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither, and they shall gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he burneth." (John 15:6)
3. How do you know there is a Purgatory?
The constant teaching and practice of the Catholic Church, based on the Bible and tradition, and even common sense, prove the existence of Purgatory.
4. How does common sense indicate the existence of Purgatory?
Only people with mortal sin go to Hell, and on the other hand, no one can enter Heaven with even the smallest sin. Therefore, there must be a place in the next world where lesser sins can be taken off the soul.
5. Who will go to Purgatory?
People who die with Sanctifying Grace in their souls, but --
1. who die with venial sin on their souls, or
2. who have not completed (satisfied for) the punishment still due to their already forgiven sins.
6. What is meant by the "punishment still due to sin"?
This means that, even though God forgives your sins, He still requires that you be punished for them (i.e. "pay" for them), either in this life or in the next.
For example: A boy playing ball in his yard breaks his neighbor's window. He goes and tells the lady he is sorry, and she forgives him but she tells him he will still have to pay for the window.
7. Do you suffer in Purgatory?
Yes. Besides not being allowed to see God face to face, the souls in Purgatory suffer a great deal.
"The fire of Purgatory", says St. Augustine, "is more terrible than man can suffer in this life."
8. How long will you have suffer in Purgatory?
That depends on the number and seriousness of the sins to be atoned for.
"My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God." (Psalm 41:3)
9. Where do you go when you leave Purgatory?
To Heaven to see God and enjoy Him forever.
"Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not come out from thence till thou repay the last farthing." (Matthew 5:26)
10. Will Purgatory ever end?
Yes, at the Last Judgment. After that all souls will be in either Heaven or Hell forever.
11. Can you help the souls in Purgatory?
You can shorten their stay by having Masses said for them, by praying for them and by doing good works for them.
"Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, because the hand of the Lord hath touched me." (Job 19:21)
12. Does the Bible say anything about praying for the dead?
Yes. We read that Judas Machabeus, "sent twelve thousand drachmas of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifices to be offered for the sins of the dead." (2 Machabees 12:43)
13. How can you avoid Purgatory?
Avoid even the smallest faults, do penance for sins already forgiven, gain indulgences and receive Extreme Unction (See Lesson 26.)
PRACTICAL POINTS
1. All Souls' Day is the day set aside by the Church for special prayers and Masses for all the souls suffering in Purgatory. It is celebrated every year on November 2.
2. The souls in Purgatory cannot help themselves. We should help them by our prayers and sacrifices. They, in turn, can and do pray for us.
3. The souls in Purgatory are known as the Poor Souls.
4. Litany for the Poor Souls |
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 10:00 am
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Lesson 13: Original Sin
"Wherefore as by one man sin entered into this world, and by sin death; and so death passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned... For as by the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners; so also by the obedience of one, many shall be made just." (Romans 5:12, 19)
Read the first three chapters of Genesis.
1. What is Original Sin?
The sin committed by Adam, the father of the human race. By Original Sin, Adam lost Sanctifying Grace.
2. Who were Adam and Eve?
The first man and woman, from whom every human being on this earth is descended.
3. How did the sin of Adam affect the human race?
Because of Adam's sin, every human being is created with Original Sin on his soul and without Sanctifying Grace, since Adam was the father of the human race.
Adam's nature became "fallen" through Original Sin, and we his descendants inherit his fallen nature.
"By the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners." (Romans 5:19)
4. What else did Adam's sin do?
The gates of Heaven were closed; disease, pain and death came into the world; the mind of man was darkened and his will was weakened.
"For the imagination and thought of man's heart are prone to evil from his youth." (Genesis 8:21)
5. Is Heaven still closed to the human race?
No, because of Christ's death on the Cross, God reopened Heaven and made Sanctifying Grace available to man.
"As in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22)
6. What happened to the good people who died before Christ?
They went to Limbo, a place of natural happiness in the next world, and stayed there until Jesus ascended into heaven.
"And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in Hell." (Luke 16:22)
7. How do you get rid of Original Sin and obtain Sanctifying Grace?
Baptism takes away Original Sin and put Sanctifying grace in your soul.
"Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
8. Was any human being preserved from Original Sin?
Yes, the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose soul was created with Sanctifying Grace in it. This is called the Immaculate Conception.
"And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. (Luke 1:28 )
PRACTICAL POINTS
1. From the way God punished the sin of Adam, it is clear that the sin was a serious one. If Adam had not committed it, there would have been no disease, pain or death. So, you can see what a terrible thing sin is in the eyes of God.
2. Only unbaptized babies and unbaptized persons who never had the use of their minds go to Limbo now.
3. Baptism does not restore the other gifts lost by Adam's sin, that is, freedom from pain, disease and death, and the perfect control over the lower nature.
4. The Church teaches that the human race began with one man and one woman. Any scientific theory of man's biological origin must agree with this fact. |
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 10:01 am
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Lesson 14: Jesus Christ, Our Savior
"For God so loved the world, as to give His only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting. For God sent not His Son into the world, to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by Him." (John 3:16-17)
1. Did God abandon the human race after Adam's sin?
No, He promised to send a savior into the world and to open again the gates of Heaven.
"I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: She shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel." (Genesis 3:15)
2. Who is the Savior of all men?
Jesus Christ, who, by His death on the Cross, has saved us from our sins.
"Thou shalt call His name Jesus. For He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)
3. Who is Jesus Christ?
The Son of God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, true God and true man.
"And I saw, and I gave testimony, that this is the Son of God." (John 1:34)
4. Who is the Mother of Jesus?
The Blessed Virgin Mary.
"And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a Son; and thou shalt call His name Jesus." (Luke 1:30-31)
5. Did Jesus have a human father?
No, because Mary conceived Jesus through the power of God.
"Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel." (Isaias 7:14)
6. Who, then, was St. Joseph?
He was only the foster father of Jesus.
"The angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: 'Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost.'" (Matthew 1:20)
7. Did Mary have any other children besides Jesus?
No, she and Joseph lived as brother and sister, although they were legally married.
"The angel Gabriel was sent from God... to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph... and the virgin's name was Mary... and the angel said unto her...; 'Thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a Son'... And Mary said to the angel: 'How shall this be done, because I know not man?'" (Luke 1:26-34)
8. When and where was Jesus born?
He was born some 2,000 years ago on Christmas Day in Bethlehem, a small town near Jerusalem in Israel.
9. Where did Jesus live during most of His life?
In the city of Nazareth, until He was about thirty years old.
10. How did Jesus spend the last three years of His life?
He preached His Gospel, worked miracles and established His Church.
"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom: and healing all manner of sickness and every infirmity, among the people." (Matthew 4:23)
11. How was Jesus condemned to death?
One of His Apostles, Judas Iscariot, betrayed Jesus to His enemies, who got the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, to condemn Him to death, as He (Jesus) had foretold.
"Jesus began to shew to His disciples, that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the ancients and scribes and chief priests, and be put to death, and the third day rise again." (Matthew 16:21)
12. What were the chief sufferings of Jesus?
The agony in the garden, the bloody sweat, the cruel scourging, the crowning with thorns, His death on the Cross, and His spiritual and mental sufferings.
"He was wounded for our iniquities, He was bruised for our sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His bruises we are healed." (Isaias 53:5)
13. How did Jesus die?
He was nailed to a cross on a hill called Calvary, just outside the city of Jerusalem, and three hours later He died.
"Who His own self bore our sins in His body upon the tree: that we, being dead to sins, should live to justice: by whose stripes you were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)
14. On what day did Jesus die?
On Good Friday.
"This is My commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love than this no one hath, that a man lay down His life for His friends." (John 15:12-13)
15. When Jesus died, where did His soul go?
He went to Limbo to tell the people there that the gates of Heaven would soon be opened.
"Put to death indeed in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit. In which also coming He preached to those spirits that were in prison." (1 Peter 3:18-19)
16. On what day did Jesus rise from the dead?
On Easter Sunday, three days after His death, as He had foretold.
"For I delivered unto you first of all, which I also received: How that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures: And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures: And that He was seen by Cephas; and after that by the eleven. Then was He seen by more than five hundred brethren at once." (1 Corinthians 15:3-6)
17. How long did Jesus stay on earth after His Resurrection?
For forty days, to prove that He really had risen.
"To whom also he shewed Himself alive after His passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:3)
18. When did Jesus ascend into Heaven?
On Ascension Thursday, forty days after His Resurrection.
"And the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God." (Mark 16:19)
19. Who ascended into Heaven with Jesus?
The souls who had been in Limbo.
"Ascending on high, He led captivity captive; He gave gifts to men. Now that He ascended, what is it, but because He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?" (Ephesians 4:8-9)
20. Will Jesus come back again?
Yes, on Judgment Day, to judge the living and the dead.
"For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels: And then will He render to every man according to His works." (Matthew 16:27)
21. What did the Apostles do after the Ascension?
They went back to Jerusalem and waited for the coming of the Holy Ghost.
"But when the Paraclete cometh, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceedeth from the Father, He shall give testimony of Me." (John 15:26)
22. When did the Holy Ghost come down upon the Apostles?
On Pentecost Sunday, ten days after the Ascension.
"And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." (John 15:26)
PRACTICAL POINTS
1. The life of Jesus is contained in the first four books of the New Testament, called the Gospels, written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. However, only the main events of Christ's life are in the Gospels.
2. The brothers and sisters of Jesus mentioned in the Bible were not children of Mary, but were only cousins. The words "brother" and "sister" were used by the Jews to mean cousin or other relatives.
See Lev. 10:4, I Par. 23:22, Gen. 12:5, and Gen 14:14.
3. From the sufferings of Jesus, you should learn of God's great love for man, the evil of sin and the perfect example of patience in suffering.
"For what glory is it, if committing sin, and being buffeted for it, you endure? But if doing well, you suffer patiently; this is thankworthy before God. For unto this are you called: Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow His steps." (1 Peter 2:20-21)
"And He said to all, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23) |
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