God created man to share in his blessings. God always comes close to man and calls man to seek him. To gather men (scattered by sin) God sent Jesus, his only Son. In Jesus he invites men to become his adopted children and heirs of eternal life.

Jesus sent his disciples to preach and to baptize, so everyone would know God's call (Mt 28:18-20). The apostles "preached everywhere" and the Lord "confirmed the message by the signs that attended it" (Mk 16:20).

Those who heard must now proclaim this apostolic Good News, (faithfully preserved in the Church) and hand it on to each new generation.

Catechesis - The Making of Disciples (4-5)

Catechesis is the Church's efforts to make disciples and to instruct them. Catechesis must impart Christian teaching in a full and systematic way.

Catechesis builds upon other parts of Church life (missionary preaching, apologetics, Christian living, sacraments, etc) in gaining new members and in deepening their inner growth.

Previous Catechisms (6-10)

Renewal in the Church is always accompanied by intense Catechesis. Excellent catechetical works were written by St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. John Chrysostom, St. Ambrose and St. Augustine (among others).

The Roman Catechism (Council of Trent) gave rise to the works of St. Charles Borromeo, St. Peter Canisius, and St. Robert Bellarmine.

After the second Vatican Council, the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops asked for a catechism of all Catholic doctrines.

Presenting an Organic Synthesis (11-12)

This catechism draws from the Scriptures, the Church Fathers, the liturgy and the Church's Magisterium, and presents an organic synthesis of fundamental Catholic doctrines. Hopefully, it will help the faithful and those responsible for catechesis.

The Four Pillars (13)

The great Tradition of Catholic Catechesis is built upon four pillars:

The Creed
The Sacraments
The Commandments
The Our Father (The Lord's Prayer)

Man's Capacity for God

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified

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I Believe (26)

Understanding what "to believe" means:

Man's search for God (Chapter One)
God coming to man by Revelation (Chapter Two)
Man responding in faith (Chapter Three)

Called to Search for God (27-28)

God has placed a desire for himself in every person. He draws man to himself and facilitates man's search. Man is called to speak with God and be in communion with him (Second Vatican Council).

Historically, man's religious beliefs have been expressed in diverse ways. These religious expressions show that man is a "religious being." "God made all peoples that they would search for him" (Acts 17:26-27).

Inhibiting Factors (29-30)

Many factors (ignorance, evil, desire for riches, bad example, teachings hostile to religion) lead man to reject his "vital bond to God." Out of fear, man hides himself (Gen 3:8-10).

God still calls man to seek him, and every person must search for God with his intellect, will and "an upright heart." "You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you" (St. Augustine).

Proofs for God's Existence (31-32)

Proofs for God's existence come from arguments which converge, convince and provide ways for man to know God. These proofs are found in the physical world and man's inner world.

Paul writes clearly: "What can be known is evident to them (pagans) because God made it evident to them. He is perceived in what he has made" (Rom 1:19-20). Augustine states that all human beauty is a witness to God.

Proofs from within the Person (33)

Man is endowed with a sense of moral goodness. By his conscience, man asks about God's existence. This shows that man has a spiritual soul (the seed of eternity) which comes directly from God.

So the world and the human person can begin to exist, they must participate in a Being Who has no origin and no end. The person must realize that the goal of human existence is God himself.

The Power of Reason (35)

Man can reason to the existence of a personal God. However, God has also chosen to reveal himself. Rational proofs can show that revealed truths are not opposed to reason.

Reason's Power and Limits (36-38)

Man, by reason alone, can know that God exists through the created world which God has made (First Vatican Council). Therefore, man can accept God's revelation.

However, serious obstacles exist. First, religious truths cannot be seen. Second, religious truths demand self-sacrifice. Third, man experiences inner disordered appetites. Man is easily persuaded to consider as false what he does not want to acknowledge as true (Pius XII - Humani Genesis).

Therefore, man needs revealed truths, even those which man can grasp by reason (such as God's existence).

The Limits of Human Language (39-40)

The intellect (unaided by the Bible) can grasp some truths about God. Therefore, a dialogue with all peoples (atheists, philosophers, etc.) is possible.

Yet, we are limited and can speak about God only with human language.

Describing God (41-43)

We begin to describe God according to his creatures (which reflect his goodness).

We also "purify" our language because human words fall short in describing him.

Although limited, our language can still attain to God (sometimes expressing only what God is not).

Beyond Human Knowledge 50)

Fortunately, God has revealed his eternal plan by sending his Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit (a mystery revealed only in this final age).

God Wants Man to Come near in Jesus (51-53)

God wants all men to have access to him through Christ and in the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:9, 2:18).

Although "dwelling in unapproachable light" (1 Tim 6:16), God wants to communicate his life to man. Man can share in God's nature and live beyond his natural capacity.

God's revelation culminated in the person and mission of Jesus Christ. "The Word of God became the Son of man in order to accustom man to perceive God and to accustom God to dwell in man" (St. Irenaeus).

Revelation Not Destroyed by Sin (54-55)

God manifested himself to our first parents and clothed them with grace.

Even sin did not ruin God's plan because he immediately promised redemption (Gen 3:15). "Again and again you offered a Covenant to man" (Eucharistic Prayer IV).

Salvation to People Groups (56-58)

Sin shattered man's unity. However, God said to Noah, "I am establishing my Covenant with you and your descendants after you" (Gen 9:9). God planned salvation according to groups, "each with its own language, by their families, in their nations" (Gen 10:5).

This division into nations was cosmic, social and religious. However, God's plan was always threatened by polytheism and idolatry.

This Covenant with Noah remained in effect until the proclamation of the Gospel and brought forth many holy people (the just Abel, the king priest Melchizedek, Noah, Daniel, and Job).

Gathered Together in Abraham (59-61)

To gather scattered humanity, God chose Abram and named him Abraham, "the father of many nations" (Gen 17:5).

His descendents (Israel) prepared for the Church and were the root onto which the Gentiles were grafted (Rom 11:17-24).

From Moses to the Prophets (62-64)

God freed his people from Egypt, made a Covenant with them (through Moses on Mt. Sinai) and gave them his law.

Israel is God's priestly people, the first to hear God's Word.

Through the prophets, God proclaimed a radical redemption and told his people to await a new Covenant (Jer 31:31-34). In the Old Testament, God used many women to keep Israel's hopes alive (Sarah, Rebecca, Judith, Esther, etc.). Among these, Mary is the purest figure.

1 comment:

UnknownOctober 9, 2015 at 11:59 AM
CAN YOU NOW UNDERSTAND THAT TO DOMINATE PEOPLE COOKED UP THEORIES ASSUMED TO BE DIVINELY DICTATED MUST BE INVENTED AND FORCED DOWN THEIR THROATS ? ? ? AND THE OPPRESSORS WIELD ALL THE ANECDOTAL POWERS, HAVE HUNDREDS OF YEAR TO MANUFACTURE NEW ONES AS SOON AS BEHOLDER ONES ARE OBSOLETE. THAT IS WHAT THEY LABEL " THE MAGISTERIUM"

Thursday, October 8, 2015

THE CATECHISM OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH SUMSUP ALL HER MISLEADING DOGMAS AND DOCTRINES WHOSE REMOVAL REMAINS THE FIRST STEP TO A GLOBAL PEACE

Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified

Table of Contents

Part One: The Profession of Faith (26-1065)

MAN'S CAPACITY FOR GOD (26-49)

GOD COMES TO MAN (50-141)

MAN'S RESPONSE TO GOD (142-184)

THE CREEDS (185-197)

GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY (198-278)

CREATION OF HEAVEN AND EARTH (279-354)

MAN IN GOD'S IMAGE (355-421)

JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON BORN OF MARY (422-483)

CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT (484-570)

SUFFERED, CRUCIFIED, DIED AND BURIED (571-630)

DESCENDED INTO HELL AND ROSE ON THE THIRD DAY (631-682)

THE HOLY SPIRIT (683-747)

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (748-810)

THE CHURCH IS ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC (811-870)

CHRIST'S FAITHFUL AND THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS (871-987)

RESURRECTION OF THE BODY AND LIFE EVERLASTING (988-1065)

Part Two: The Celebration of the Christian Mystery (1066-1690)

LITURGY AND SACRAMENTS (1066-1212)

BAPTISM (1213-1284)

CONFIRMATION (1285-1321)

THE EUCHARIST (1322-1419)

PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION (1420-1498)

ANOINTING OF THE SICK (1499-1532)

HOLY ORDERS (1533-1600)

MATRIMONY (1601-1666)

SACRAMENTALS AND CHRISTIAN FUNERALS (1667-1690)

Part Three: Life in Christ (1691-2550)

DIGNITY IN CHRIST (1691-1748)

MORALITY (1749-1876)

THE HUMAN COMMUNITY (1877-1948))

LAW, GRACE AND THE CHURCH (1949-2051)

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (2052-2082)

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT (2083-2141)

THE SECOND COMMANDMENT (2142-2167)

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT (2168-2195)

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT (2196-2257)

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT (2258-2330)

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT (2331-2400)

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT (2401-2463)

THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT (2464-2513)

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT (2514-2533)

THE TENTH COMMANDMENT (2534-2557)

Part Four: Christian Prayer (2558-2865)

PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (2558-2649)

THE TRADITION OF PRAYER (2650-2696)

THE LIFE OF PRAYER (2697-2758)

THE LORD'S PRAYER - "OUR FATHER" (2759-2802)

THE SEVEN PETITIONS (2803-2865)

PROLOGUE

Three Truths (1-25)

God Comes Close to Man in Jesus (1-3)