The Church in the Life of the Faithful

Chapter 6 Part 1 and 2 Mr. Perrotti –Theology 2

Prayer

• • • Jesus is the saving light for all mankind! As we meditate today let us pray for peace in the world, in our daily lives and most of all in our hearts and souls.

Let the Holy Spirit, shine bright inside us and help us become stronger members the Church.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ_yRoFiJ 7U.com

Who are the Faithful?

• • • • All of us who believe in God, especially Jesus Christ as the Mystical Head of our Church.

From John’s Gospel…”The Faithful that have not seen, but still believe” The early Christians who’s sacrifice built the foundation of the Church we know today.

All those who have accepted and follow Jesus Christ, His Paschal Mystery and the Deposit of Faith in which our faith grows.

How should we respond to Faith?

• • • • Faith is a Gift from God.

A series of underlying truths given to us through the Holy Spirit about all that God has to offer us.

Our proper response to God’s gift of faith is to trust in Him and the belief in the truths He has revealed.

Remember, God can neither be deceived or deceive.

Who are the People of God?

• • • • • The Church!

The Communion of all the faithful in Christ.

Composed of men of every nation and race.

All those on a pilgrimage or journey of holiness and redemption.

We are the chosen ones, decedents from all the great men and woman of the Old Testament, fulfilled in the New Testament!

The Church is the People of God

• When we speak of what the Church teaches we refer to: – The Magisterium, the teaching authority of the Church.

– Apostolic Succession – All that Christ gave to the Apostles and now vested in his successors.

– The Deposit of Faith - All that Christ revealed to us while he was on Faith.

– The Sacred Scriptures and Tradition - 0ur recording of the works of Christ.

The Church is the People of God

• The Church means the communion of all the faithful in Christ.

– The Church is the People of God.

– Just like the Israelites where considered “God’s People”, Saint Peter in his first epistle built on that concept and refers to the new Church as the People of God.

– The Church as the People of God is a logical extension of the idea of the members of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ.

What is the Common Priesthood?

• • • • All of the members of the Church share in the common priesthood of the faithful.

We are called by the virtue of our Baptism to offer our lives to God.

At the Last Supper, Jesus showed us all the power of service to others.

As members of the common priesthood, we are called to live our faith and religion by following the example of Christ service to all.

The Ministerial Priesthood

• • • • The ordained!

Having a Vocation or special calling to minister to others.

Teach us about our faith and share with us the Sacraments to keep us holy.

We ordained for the service of the rest, their congregation!

What is the Laity?

• • • • All the faithful except those with a special calling who are ordained.

All those who are characterized by their completely secular nature.

Secular means “of or pertaining to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred; temporal” “not ecclesiastical or clerical”

The Definition of the Laity

• • • We make up the laity as faithful members of the Church.

We are characterized by our completely secular nature. We are members of the Church who are called to engage in everyday family life and professional activities, evangelizing and sanctifying the world “ from within”

The vocation of the Laity

• • • • The vocation of the Laity is to seek the Kingdom of God by engaging in temporal or sequential affairs.

To live as God wants us to live.

To know and follow His plan as it is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes it is not always easy to see or understand God’s plan for us – That is why Faith is so important

You are the Light of Jesus

• • Youth Rally 2007 - We are the light of the Church. What Can you do?

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVhfKza _5ZA.com

The Relationship Among The Laity

• • • • The relationships among the laity or members of the Church are essentially equal.

We are equal in regard to dignity, and activity, according to each one’s condition and function.

God created us all in his image, That alone makes us all equal in His eyes and plan.

The Kingdom of Heaven is for everyone, The Unity and Communion of the Church!

Who are the Laity

• The laity are from all walks of life called by God as members of the Church to: – Join the “front lines” of Church's evangelical mission.

– To be salt and light of the world.

– Let their light shine through that all may see their good works as they glorify the Lord.

APOSTOLICAM ACTUOSITATEM

• • DECREE ON THE APOSTOLATE OF THE LAITY

APOSTOLICAM ACTUOSITATEM

SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS, POPE PAUL VI ON NOVEMBER 18, 1965 Vatican ll

APOSTOLICAM ACTUOSITATEM

• • Written by Pope Paul VI as part of Vatican II that defined and empowered the laity in the Church.

Pope Paul call the Laity to: – Be more involved in you Church – Be active ministers of service in you community – Be leaders of Faith, role models in the Church

Apostolate and Charsms

• • • • Our abilities may be different but the mission is the same!

We all have a vocation to be apostolate members of our Church.

Our faith is meant to be lived!

Pope Paul in his 1965 letter on the Laity describes are roles as living members of the Church.

Apostolate and Charsms

• • • Apostolate is the term Pope Paul uses to describe the laity in his 1965 document at Vatican ll.

Charsms – are given to us from the Holy Spirit, the ability to lead, allow others to follow us in our faith!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEG QDmqBpE.com

Why do we fall short?

• • • • • Sin!

Not being with God or mortal sin.

Allowing sin and the temptations of sin to fill our hearts and soul and block the Holy Spirit in our lives.

St. Paul tells us that we are all temples for the Spirit.

Sin acts as a wall between the Holy Spirit and us.

Members of the Church share two common purposes.

• Being a part of the Mystical Body of Christ we all share in two common purposes: – First, we are all bound together as one in the Mystical Body of Christ. This concept was made very clear in the video we saw on the four marks of the Church last week.

– Second, we share a common purpose and goal in the salvific mission of Christ.

The two concepts were made clear during the Vatican Council.

The Church is Hierarchal

• The Vatican Council goes one step further and describes the Church as Hierarchal: – From the first bishops and Pope to the hierarchy today Jesus makes the importance of this very clear in his teachings.

– This governing body of the Church is important in the service that is provided to its members.

Saint Peter in his first letter describes the Church as the “People of God” the “chosen race” and a “Holy Nation”

The Church as a Royal Priesthood

• • Peter in his letter goes one step further and describes the members of the Church “a royal priesthood”.

To live out this participation of the priesthood is simple, live as Christ did, or live a life of Christ.

– The ministerial priesthood is to live an ordained life as part of the hierarchy of the Church.

– All of us as the faithful can live what is called the common priesthood, given to us at Baptism, it’s a life of faith, hope and charity. This is a life according to the Spirit.

The Church as a Royal Priesthood

• The ministerial or hierarchal priesthood are ordained men who live at the service of the common priesthood.

• • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItcURbkj XOA.com

The Last Supper Jesus gives the Apostles, our first ordained, the example service.

The Universal Call to Holiness

• • Our faith in God requires a response.

Throughout Christ’s ministry He emphasized the importance of faith.

– When he cured the paralyzed man whose friends lowered him through the roof, He was amazed by their faith.

– While on the cross, He rewarded the faith of the good thief and said “today you will join me in My Kingdom”.

The Universal Call to Holiness

– He marveled at the Roman centurion who came to believe at the foot of the cross.

– He rewarded Peter for his faith by giving him the keys to Heaven.

The Church is Jesus’ greatest work.

– It is not only the gathering place for all of those who believe to gather, – It is also the instrument He has chosen to continue his work.

Our Universal Call to Holiness

• • • To be Holy is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Universal call to holiness is firmly rooted in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

We are called to greater worship through: – Prayer, – Repentance, – – Self-denial, Charitable works – The Sacraments – Keeping of the Commandments

The Greatest Commandments

• • I am the Lord thy God, have no other God but me.

Love thy neighbor as thy self.

– – Who is our neighbor? The parable of the Good Samaritan says it all!

– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO4qSAhI1sI.com

– The priest and the Levite had every reason to stop but did not, only the Samaritan, the least of his brothers.

– EVERYONE IS OUR NeiHBOR!

The Beatitudes

• • Jesus taught us to pray by sharing with us the “Our Father”, but during that Sermon on the Mount, He also showed us how to live.

There Jesus gave us the Beatitudes, His greatest blessings and ways to live our lives of faith and holiness.

The 8 Beatitudes

Matthew 5:3-10 • Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

• Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

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• Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.

• Blessed are those that Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness : for they shall be filled.

The 8 Beatitudes – Continued

• Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy • Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God • Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God • Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

What did Christ Mean

• As part of our universal call to holiness Christ blessed us with the Beatitudes to show us how to be holy, and describe those who were. By saying Blessed are they who are: – Poor in spirit – To be poor in spirit is to mean that nothing we have is more important than the kingdom of God.

– The Meek - God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

What did Christ Mean

– – – – Who Mourn – Jesus calls us to love each other which sometimes can causes sadness and despair. The apostles mourned Jesus’ death. Do not be afraid to love as God will always comfort you. The apostles new that Christ would rise, but they still mourned his death. God shares his love with us so that we can share with others.

That Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness – Jesus is describing those who long love of God and for God’s righteousness, as a matter of spiritual life, a place in His Kingdom.

It is Not Easy

– The merciful – This is an easy one. Do on to others as you want done to you. Show mercy and love and be open to God’s mercy and love.

– The clean of heart – Live life as Christ did. Be without sin, use the sacraments to bring you closer to God.

– The peacemakers – Now peacemaking in this case, is a divine work. For peace means reconciliation, and God is the author of peace and of reconciliation.

– Jesus is referring to making peace in our souls, reconciling our sins and we will be born again in the Spirit like children.

The Greatest Blessing of All

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That suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is

the Kingdom of Heaven – This is the greatest of all of the blessings given to us in the Beatitudes. – Saint Stephen was persecuted and died for what he believed in, our first martyr.

– Jesus is asking all of us who believe, not to waiver. Live our faith, spread our faith and in St. Stephen’s case, a martyr, someone who dies for his faith.

– This Beatitude or Blessing asks us to live as Christ lived and our reward is His greatest gift, The Kingdom of God.

What do the Beatitudes mean to us.

To Be Holy

• • • • • Be filled with the Spirit!

Live as Christ did!

Live our faith through the liturgy and sacraments.

Share in Christ’s Blessing given to us on the side of that beautiful mountain!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDCbJ4v nMNg.com