Faith Review
These teachings are to be reviewed regularly by the students. Tests and quizzes will include this information.
This is available as a download as: faithreviewsheet.pdf
God (Trinity)
There is only on God. In God there are Three Persons:
- The Father
- The Son
- The Holy Spirit
God’s care for the world
All that exists outside God was produced out of nothing by God
God and humans
The first persons were created by God. We have in our hearts a law written by God; to obey it is the very dignity of man; according to it we will be judged.
Through sin our first parents lost sanctifying grace and became subject to death. Through union with Christ we can be saved.
Christ (Incarnation)
The Son of God became man in order to redeem us from sin and reconcile us with God. Jesus is truly God and truly man. He was sent by the Father to:
- Bring good news to the poor,
- Heal the contrite of heart
- Seek and to save what was lost.
Jesus teaches us, heals us and redeems us. He freely chose to die for us. On the third day after His death, Jesus rose from the dead. He ascended to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit to be with us forever.
The Church
The Church was founded for the purpose of spreading the kingdom of Christ throughout the earth for the glory of God the Father, and to enable all to share in His saving redemption.
Christ is the head of the Church.
The Holy Spirit guides the Church and furnishes it with various gifts.
Sacraments
The Sacraments are actions of Christ, which by His power impart grace.
There are seven sacraments:
| Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist | Sacraments of Initiation |
| Penance, Anointing of the Sick | Sacraments of Healing |
| Matrimony, Holy Orders | Sacraments of Commitment |
The Sacraments - What Each Means
| Sacrament | What It Means/Does |
| Baptism | Followers of Christ truly become children of God and sharers in the divine nature |
| Confirmation | The baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and the Holy Spirit gives them special strength to defend and spread the faith by word and deed. |
| Eucharist | Christ is truly present in the consecrated bread and wine. It is a memorial of the death and resurrection of the Lord, a sacred banquet in which the People of God are nourished with the real body and blood of the Lord. |
| Penance | We obtain pardon from God for the sins committed against Him; and we are reconciled with the Church. |
| Anointing of the sick | The sick are commended to the Lord who lightens their suffering and saves them. |
| Matrimony | The intimate union of two persons united for the procreation and education of children. |
| Holy orders | The ordained serve the People of God in the person of Christ as deacon, priest, and bishop. |
The Holy Spirit
- Is God and the third Person of the blessed Trinity
- Proceeds from the Father and the Son
- Is equal to the Father and the Son
- Lives in the church and in the hearts of the faithful to give life, light, love and strength
Confirmation
- Is a sacrament of initiation
- Is the sacrament through which the Holy Spirit comes to us in a special way:
- To bind us more closely to the Church,
- Make us more Christ-like, and
- To strengthen us to conserve, defend, live up to and share our faith as witnesses and apostles of Christ.
- Means “strengthening.” It strengthens the work of the Holy Spirit begun in us at Baptism
- Was instituted by Jesus Christ, who promised that He would send the Holy Spirit to remain with His church forever.
Who should be confirmed?
Any baptized Catholic over the age of reason
Who should confirm?
The ordinary minister of Confirmation is the bishop.
Sign of Confirmation
The “matter” of Confirmation:
- Imposition of the hand on the candidate’s head – indicates the bestowal of the Spirit and of power
- Anointing in the form or a cross – representing our redemption. This alludes to a spiritual character or seal that the Spirit gives.
What is Chrism?
- A mixture of oil and perfume that has been blessed by the bishop.
- Oil stands for the spiritual strength conferred in Confirmation
- Perfume stands for the sweetness of virtue, power to communicate spiritual riches and freedom from the corruption of sin.
Form of Confirmation
The “form” of Confirmation is the words:
“ _______, be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Preparation for Confirmation
- Study the truths and duties of faith
- Pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit
- Promise to live a deeply Christian life
- Be in the state of grace
Effects of Confirmation
- Increase of grace
- Lasting spiritual seal or character
Confirmation communicates to us the gift of the Spirit received at Pentecost.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Gifts of the Holy Spirit make us spiritually sensitive to His voice and more ready to follow His inspirations
| Wisdom | Helps us judge things of this world only as helps or hindrances to reaching heaven |
| Understanding | Helps us penetrate into the truths that we already believe |
| Counsel | Helps us make right decisions in difficult circumstances |
| Fortitude | Gives us courage to carry out our duties well |
| Knowledge | Helps us to know God and His will for us |
| Piety | Inspires us with confidence in God and helps serve Him and our brothers and sisters |
| Wonder and Awe | Inspires reverence for God’s justice and majesty and a fear of displeasing Him |
Witness to Christ
The confirmed should witness to Christ by:
- Performing the works of mercy
- Receiving Penance and Holy Eucharist frequently
- Praying for all
- Giving good example in the practice of virtue and observance of the commandments
- Openly declaring belief when it would be wrong to remain silent
- Trying to draw others to Christ
- Offering suffering to God
- Studying religion more earnestly
- Refusing to read anything that would endanger faith
- Aiding the missions with prayer and alms
- Encouraging vocations
The Ten Commandments
I am the Lord your God;
1. You shall not have strange gods before Me
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day
4. Honor your father and your mother
5. You shall not kill
6. You shall not commit adultery
7. You shall not steal
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods
Beatitudes
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for there is the kingdom of heaven
2. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted
3. Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the land
4. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be satisfied
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy
6. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God
7. Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God
8. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Works of mercy
| Corporal Works of Mercy | Spiritual Works of Mercy |
| Feed the hungry | Help the sinner |
| Give drink to the thirsty | Teach the ignorant |
| Clothe the naked | Counsel the doubtful |
| Shelter the homeless | Comfort the sorrowful |
| Visit the sick | Bear wrongs patiently |
| Visit the imprisoned | Forgive injuries |
| Bury the dead | Pray for the living and the dead |
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