Catechism of the Catholic ChurchLecture 01 – Intro & Prologue

Subject Matter:

Seeing the Invisible GodMario G. Beruvides

What is the Catechism?

-The Catechism of the Catholic

Church (Latin: Catechismus Catholicae

Ecclesiae; commonly called the Catechism or

the CCC) is a catechism promulgated for

the Catholic Church by Pope John Paul II in

1992.*

-It sums up, in book form, the beliefs of

the Catholic faithful.*

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catechism_of_the_Catholic_Church

Doctrinal value

In the apostolic constitution Fidei

depositum, John Paul II declared that

the Catechism of the Catholic Church is "a valid

and legitimate instrument for ecclesial

communion and a sure norm for teaching the

faith", and stressed that it "is not intended to

replace the local catechisms duly approved by the

ecclesiastical authorities, the diocesan Bishops

and the Episcopal Conferences".*

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catechism_of_the_Catholic_Church

Table of ContentsPart 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)

Three Truths (1-25)

Scripture gives three clear truths:• Eternal life is to know God and Jesus whom he

sent (Jn 17:3)

• God wills all to be saved and to know the truth (1

Tim 2:3-4)

• All are saved only in the name of Jesus (Acts

4:12)

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

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)

VIDEO

Let’s see a video.

-Pay attention to the story told.

-Also, pay attention to the underlying

theme.

-Be aware of the images going on in your

mind – make note of them.

Group Time

Get together in groups, talk about what you just saw. List

some ideas you talked about.

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So, Why on God’s Green Earth has

Mario shown us this Video ?

What’s it all about? How does this relate to us?

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What did you talk about?

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What’s Really Going on Here?

Is it really that hard?

What I Believe

Understanding what "to believe" means:

– Man's search for God

– God coming to man by Revelation

– Man responding in faith

Called to Search for God

“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).

The Power of Reason

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

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).

Think About This

The question then stand, how do I inform

Reason?

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So How do we see the

Invisible God?

Remember, be proud to be a Catholic