RCIA RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS ST. MARGARET MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH 1101 West New Hope Drive Cedar Park, TX 78613 www.stmargaretmary.com Church Office: 512-259-3126 [email protected] ST. MARGARET MARY RCIA NOTEBOOK PAGE 1 HISTORY OF ST. MARGARET MARY PARISH By Alfredo E. Cardenas for the January 2006 edition of the the Catholic Spirit As early as the 1920s Mexican-American families from the “north country” would go down to Our Lady of Guadalupe in east Austin to attend Mass and receive the sacraments. This prompted the Holy Cross fathers to start a number of parishes in the Williamson County area, starting with St. Helen in Georgetown in 1931, St. William in Round Rock in 1940 and St. Margaret Mary in Leander in 1942. In 1937 several Mexican-American families came to St. Helen in Georgetown to ask that a priest be sent to the Leander area to celebrate Mass. The names of these folks were not recorded, but the early history of St. Margaret Mary indicates some of the founding families included the Escalantes, Agueros, Salinases, Montemayors, Garzas and Guanas. Holy Cross Father Frederick Schmidt, who was assigned to minister to the areas west of Georgetown, put off the request, as he had not yet mastered Spanish. Two years later Father Schmidt started his missionary work in the farms and ranches in the surrounding area of Leander, Cedar Park, Liberty Hill and Jollyville. Word would spread through the countryside as to where the priest would be praying a “rosario” or celebrating “misa.” Before long, Father Schmidt settled on a home behind the New Hope Baptist Church as a somewhat permanent location for the gathering of Catholics in the area. While the home was large, it soon became inadequate as the numbers attending Mass grew. Congregants began to raise money and hope for a permanent sanctuary. Raising the needed funds from a poor community proved difficult. In 1940 a $3,000 donation was received from a Boston priest named Father Meredith. The priest only asked that the church be named after his mother Margaret, who was devoted to the Sacred Heart. And so it was that on Nov. 29, 1942 Bishop Christopher Byrne of Galveston dedicated Santa Margarita Maria Mission in Leander. A small white stone chapel was built on what is now U.S. Hwy. 183. This chapel is now home for St. Andrew Kim Parish. While today St. Margaret Mary has a full array of ministries, in the 1940s the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a men’s organization, and the Guadalupanas were the primary groups that provided for the parish. The church at Leander continued as a mission of St. Helen until 1959, when it came under the care of St. William in Round Rock. Father Schmidt, who had become pastor at St. William, continued to care for St. Margaret Mary. As membership in the parish increased, so did the need for more space. In 1963 Father Schmidt obtained a $4,500 grant from the Catholic Extension Society to build an addition to the church. The growing Catholic population in Central Texas also caused Father Schmidt to spread himself too thin. The congregation at Leander was at risk of disbanding for lack of adequate attention. Father Schmidt got some help in 1967, when Father Francis Chruma, a Cistercian priest, arrived. After Father Schmidt’s departure for Belton, Father Rosendo Rafael assumed the pastorship at St. William. During Father Rafael’s tenure a parish council was organized; sisters from St. Louis started a religious education program; an Altar Society was organized; and some physical improvements were made to the church. Father Elmer Holtman was named pastor at St. William in 1976 and was the first to assign regular office hours for the Leander mission. Two years later St. Thomas More Parish was started in nearby Austin and St. Margaret Mary became a mission of the new parish. After Father Holtman left to teach at St. Thomas Seminary in Houston, Msgr. Ralph Brennan took charge of St. Margaret Mary with the help of Father Kirby Garner. The area was now experiencing considerable growth and talk about St. Margaret Mary becoming a full-blown parish with its own priest began to gain momentum. In February 1982, 40 years after its founding as a mission, St. Margaret Mary was made a parish and Father Donald Sawyer became the first pastor. By this time St. Margaret Mary had grown to 250 families. A succession of pastors followed with brief stays. Father Fred Chalupa took over as pastor and not long after that, in June 1983 Father Jim Rice was named pastor. Regrettably, Father Rice suffered a heart attack and died less than two weeks later. His successor, Father William Benish, provided much needed stability to the growing parish. Land was purchased on FM 2243 for a new church and a rectory was built on the site in 1985. Before a new church was built, however, diocesan staff prevailed on the congregation to reconsider another location on New Hope Road in Cedar Park. The FM 2243 site was thought to be too far from the center of the congregation. Moreover, St. Thomas More was growing too fast and St. Margaret Mary was needed to be an alternative parish for this growing population. At a public forum, parishioners voted to accept the bishop’s offer of land in Cedar Park. In 1993 a multi-purpose building was completed and the first Mass was celebrated on Jan. 8, 1994. Less than 10 years later this facility was again outgrown. After Father Benish became ill in 2000, his associate pastor, a young priest named Father Le-Minh Joseph Pham, became pastor. It was left to Father Le-Minh to begin planning and overseeing the next phase of growth. In 2003, a new sanctuary with seating for 1,000 was dedicated. It can be expanded to 1,300 and Father Le-Minh hopes it “will stand for another 100 years.” But the parish keeps on growing. When Father Le-Minh arrived in 1998 the parish had 600 families. When the new church was built five years later the number had doubled to 1,200. Today, St. Margaret Mary has 1,700 registered families and with the many Hispanic families who are not registered that number is more like 2,000. What started out as a movement to serve a handful of Mexican-American families is today a thriving faith community that truly mirrors the face of Central Texas. It is anchored in the history of the area, emboldened by the dynamic growth of the 20th century and confronting the immigration trends facing Texas in the 21st century. “We are proud of our accomplishments,” Father Le-Minh said, “of course we owe it all to God and our faith that brought us all together.” ST. MARGARET MARY RCIA NOTEBOOK PAGE 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ADMINISTRATION RCIA Team Contact Information 4 RCIA Overview 5 Suggested Reading List 6 Catholic Answers – Scriptural Reference Guide 8 FOUNDATIONS Summary of the Catholic Faith: The Nicene & Apostles' Creed 10 Scott Hahn – The Bible & The Church – Both Or Neither 12 Overview of the History of the Catholic Church 20 Timeline of the History of the Catholic Church 22 Chart of the Christian Churches 23 Catholic Answers – Scripture And Tradition 24 Catholic Answers – The Inquisition 26 LITURGY Liturgical Year 28 Structure Of The Mass 29 Scott Hahn – The Lamb’s Supper (The Mass) 30 Ash Wednesday: The Day of Ashes 37 What is Lent? 38 TEACHINGS The Holy Trinity & The Church Overview of the Catholic Catechism 39 The Pope: An Overview of the Papacy 40 The Life Of Christ 48 Redemptive Suffering From the Glory of the Cross to the Glory of Easter 50 Healing Power of Suffering 51 Catholic Morality & Social Justice Turn Away From Sin; Be Faithful To The Gospel 53 Social Justice -- Tree Metaphor & Major Themes of Catholic Social Teaching 54 Saints & Angels Angels And Demons -- Facts Not Fiction 56 Scott Hahn – Answering Common Objections – Saints, Holy Siblings 57 Catholic Answers – Praying To The Saints 66 Mary, Mother of God How To Pray The Rosary 68 The History Of The Rosary 69 Mary: Mother of the New Evangelization 70 Catholic Answers – Immaculate Conception And Assumption 71 Catholic Answers – Mary: Ever Virgin 73 End Times The Last Things: Judgement, Heaven, Hell, Purgatory 75 Catholic Answers – Purgatory 76 Catholic Answers – The Rapture 78 SACRAMENTS Introduction to the Sacraments: Scott Hahn – The Seven Sacraments, Meaning of a Sacrament 80 Baptism & Confirmation: Scott Hahn – Signed, Sealed & Delivered 86 The Eucharist Scott Hahn – Answering Common Objections – Eucharist, Holy Meal 92 Catholic Answers – Christ In The Eucharist 102 Reconciliation Sacrament of Reconcilation 104 Guide To Examination Of Conscience 105 The Joy of Reconciliation 106 Marriage Marriage: Sacrament of Unity and Fruitful Love 107 Contraception – Why Not? By Janet Smith 108 Humanae Vitae 117 Catholic Answers – The Permanence Of Matrimony 122 Catholic Answers – Birth Control 124 Holy Orders: Catholic Answers – Bishop, Priest, and Deacon 126 Anointing of the Sick: Catholic Answers 128 ST. MARGARET MARY RCIA NOTEBOOK PAGE 3 RCIA TEAM CONTACT INFORMATION DIRECTORS EMAIL PRIMARY CELL Chad Funk c h a d w f u n k @ h o t m a i l . c o m 258-1868 . Kevin Pasnik k e v i n . p a s n i k @ g m a i l . c o m 257-9693 585-0307 CLERGY EMAIL OFFICE CELL Father Le-Minh Pham s t m m c @ s t m a r g a r e t m a r y . c o m 259-3126 . Deacon Paul Rodriguez d e a c o n p a u l @ s t m a r g a r e t m a r y . c o m 259-3126 . Deacon Toby Romero d e a c o n t o b y @ s b c g l o b a l . n e t 259-3126 . Deacon Phil Roberge d e a c o n p h i l @ s t m a r g a r e t m a r y . c o m 259-3126 . TEAM EMAIL PRIMARY CELL Winn Linsey w l i n s e y @ su d d e n l i n k . n e t . 965-2456 Mary Ramfield m m r a m f i e l d @ a o l . c o m 515-0362 630-6373 Kathy Fowler k a t h s f @ a u s t i n . r r . c o m 259-0772 . Bob & Sharon Gorski b g o r s k i @ a u s t i n . r r . c o m 528-0856 . Mark Watson m a r k . w a t s o n @ p e n a w a t s o n . c o m 219-9387 . Gina Simmons g i n a @ s i m m o n s t x . c o m . . Jim & Gemma Guy j a m e s w g u y @ y a h o o . c o m 740-618 . Walter Yucikas w _ y u c i k a s @ h o t m a i l . c o m 528-8897 . ST. MARGARET MARY RCIA NOTEBOOK PAGE 4 RCIA OVERVIEW • ASSIGNMENTS: (1) Pray every day (2) Come each week with an open heart (3) Read the small green Life in Christ book. It is helpful, but not required, to review the coming week’s material ahead of time. • RCIA TEAM: We are not trying to convert you to Catholicism, only to invite you by explaining what the Catholic Church teaches. Your conversion is up to you and the Holy Spirit. People are often not ready to join at Easter, and that is OK! • PRIORITIES: Finally, if you have multiple scheduling conflicts, then perhaps you are not yet ready for this formation. The question comes down to this: What could be more important than your Religious Formation? Childrens’ soccer games are important, but it is even more important for your children to see their parents devoting themselves to God. WHAT IS RCIA? RCIA is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, the formation process by which people become members of the Catholic Church – unbaptized adults, those baptized in another Christian faith, or baptized Catholic who were never confirmed. I. INQUIRY (PRE-CATECHUMENATE) • Initial Study of Catholic Faith From the beginning of RCIA until... • Meet the members of the Church The Rite of Acceptance • Build a Community Perspective II. FORMATION (CATECHUMENATE) • Begins with Rite of Acceptance From the Rite of Acceptance until... • Sponsorship The Rite of Election (usually the first Sunday of Lent) • Continued study of Catholicism III. PURIFICATION (ELECT) • Begins with Rite of Election From the Rite of Election until... • Focus on prayer, fasting, study Easter • Community support through prayer IV. APPRENTICESHIP (MYSTAGOGY) • Follows the Easter sacraments From Easter until... • Focus is on personal ministry The end of the RCIA. • Commitment to Faith in Action SPONSORSHIP What does it take to be an RCIA sponsor? • A desire to be a friend and a commitment to the RCIA journey. • An eagerness to learn that will benefit you and your candidate. • Being a confirmed Catholic who regularly practices your faith. What does a sponsor do? • A sponsor attends RCIA the candidate and helps the newcomer to learn about the Catholic faith. • You don’t have to be an expert on the Catholic faith • You do have to be someone who values your Catholic faith and wants to share it with others. • Prays for the candidate • Mentors the candidate Commitment? • Being a sponsor is a big commitment but it also offers big rewards. • You will also make new friends, have fun, and learn about your own Catholic faith! • Keeping in regular contact with the candidate, encouraging, listening, sharing, attending RCIA, praying with and for candidate • Attending the rites (church functions). • Help your candidate to get their paperwork into the office. What does it mean to be a Sponsor? • The sponsors play a vital role in helping show what it means to be a Catholic and a Christian; not by being an authority on religion, but by sharing through their own experiences how God touches us in our daily lives. • Help to follow up with the candidate: Are they attending Mass? Attending RCIA sessions? Get their feedback and channel it to the RCIA Team when appropriate. ST. MARGARET MARY RCIA NOTEBOOK PAGE 5 SUGGESTED READING LIST The New Jerome Biblical Commentary Surprised By Truth 2 R Brown, J Fitzmyer, R Murphy Patrick Madrid (Editor) Prentice Hall Sophia Inst Pr ISBN: 0136149340 ISBN: 1928832180 The Navarre Bible Surprised by Truth 3 University of Navarre Patrick Madrid (Editor) Four Courts Press Sophia Inst Pr ISBN: 1851820922 (Mark) ISBN: 1928832598 Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, RSV Rome Sweet Home Scott Hahn, Curtis Mitch Scott Hahn & Kimberly Hahn Ignatius Press Ignatius Publishing ISBN: 0898708206 (John) ISBN: 0898704782 Catechism of the Catholic Church The Lamb's Supper U.S. Catholic Church Scott Hahn Doubleday Doubleday & Company ISBN: 0385479670 ISBN: 0385496591 The Harper Collins Encyclopedia of Catholicism Hail, Holy Queen Richard P. McBrien (Editor) Scott Hahn HarperCollins Publishers Doubleday & Company ISBN: 0060653388 ISBN: 0385501684 Where Is That in the Bible? First Comes Love Patrick Madrid Scott Hahn Our Sunday Visitor Doubleday ISBN: 0879736933 ISBN: 0385496613 Why Is That in Tradition? Handbook of Christian Apologetics Patrick Madrid Peter Kreeft & Ronald K. Tacelli Our Sunday Visitor Ignatius Press ISBN: 1931709068 ISBN: 0830817743 The Compact History of the Catholic Church Fundamentals of Catholicism Vol. 1-3 Alan Schreck Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J. Servant Publications Ignatius Press ISBN: 0892833289 ISBN: 1-0898700175 2-0898700191 3-0898700272 The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision Catholic and Christian Henry Kamen Alan Schreck Yale University Press Servant Publications ISBN: 0300078803 ISBN: 0892831812 Jesus, Peter and the Keys Catholicism and Fundamentalism S. Butler & D. Hess & N. Dahlgren Karl Keating Queenship Publishing Ignatius Press ISBN: 1882972546 ISBN: 0898701775 And on This Rock What Catholics Really Believe Stanley L. Jaki Karl Keating Christendom Pr Ignatius Press ISBN: 0931888689 ISBN: 0898705533 Keys of the Kingdom Catholicism Stanley L. Jaki Richard P. Mcbrien Franciscan Press Harper SanFrancisco ISBN: 0819908983 ISBN: 0060654058 ST. MARGARET MARY RCIA NOTEBOOK PAGE 6 Surprised by Truth Understanding Catholicism Patrick Madrid (Editor) Monika K. Hellwig Basilica Press Paulist Press ISBN: 0964261081 ISBN: 0809140632 The Essential Catholic Handbook The Long Loneliness John O'Connor Dorothy Day Liguori Publications Harper SanFrancisco ISBN: 0892439106 ISBN: 0060617519 Why Do Catholics Do That Dead Man Walking Kevin Orlin Johnson Helen Prejean Ballantine Books Vintage Books ISBN: 0345397266 ISBN: 0679751319 The Violence of Love Mother Teresa: Complete Authorized Biography Oscar Romero Kathryn Spink Plough Publishing House HarperCollins Publishers ISBN: 087486951X ISBN: 0062515535 I, Rigoberta Menchu New American Bible (NAB) Rigoberta Menchu World Bible Publishing Verso ISBN: 0529064847 ISBN: 0860917886 Gandhi: The Power of Pacifism Ignatius Bible Catherine Clement Revised Standard Version (RSV) Abrams, Harry N Inc Catholic Edition ISBN: 0810928035 Ignatius Press ISBN: 0898704901 Eucharistic Miracles Credible Signs of Christ Alive Joan Carroll Cruz John P. Hogan TAN Books and Publishers Rowman & Littlefield ISBN: 0895553031 ISBN: 0742531678 ST. MARGARET MARY RCIA NOTEBOOK PAGE 7 CATHOLIC ANSWERS: SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE GUIDE The Catholic Church bases her teaching upon one source: "For he will render every man according to his works . . ." The word of God. This divine revelation is transmitted in two (Rom. 2:6-8). ways: through Scripture and apostolic tradition. Many assume "For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before that only the writings of the apostles are the word of God. God, but the doers of the law who will be justified" (Rom. However, their oral transmission of the faith is also considered 2:13). the word of God (1 Thess. 2:13). Few religious sects today accept the validity, let alone the authority, of tradition. In fact, "For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the many sects believe that Scripture is the only definitive source truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful of divine truth. For this reason, they are critical of certain prospect of judgments . . . (Heb. 10:26-27). doctrines of the Catholic Church, which, according to them, have no basis in Scripture. In fact, those who embrace the "What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith theory of sola scriptura attempt to use the Bible to contradict, but has not works? Can his faith save him?" (Jas. 2:14). to prove baseless, certain Church teachings, such as the Real "So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead" (Jas. 2:17). Presence and the existence of purgatory. However, these teachings are reflected in Scripture, as the passages we will "But some one will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ look at illustrate. Our purpose here is not to dissect the Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works opposition. Rather, our purpose is to provide a scriptural will show you my faith. . . .Do you want to be shown, you evidence for these doctrines. Under each Catholic doctrine in foolish fellow, that faith apart from works is barren? (Jas. 2:18- the list that follows are passages from Scripture that witness 20). to the doctrine’s divine origin. For the Catholic, what follows "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith will make clear the harmony of Scripture and tradition: truth alone" (Jas. 2:24). cannot contradict truth. Whether God speaks to us through the Bible or through the voice of tradition, the word spoken is The Trinity always a true and steadfast guide. Please note that all "Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our scriptural citations are taken from the Revised Standard likeness . . .’" (Gen. 1:26). Version: Catholic Edition of the Holy Bible. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Scripture and Tradition Spirit" (Matt. 28:19). "But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself and the Word was God." (John 1:1) could not contain the books that would be written" (John 21:25). "But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of "I commend you because you remember me in everything and the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you" own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is (1 Cor. 11:2). it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have "Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard not lied to men but to God.’" (Acts 5:3-4) from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Cor. 13:14). dwells within us" (2 Tim. 1:13-14). Christ’s Divinity "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter." (2 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the Thess. 2:15) government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, "You, then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Prince of Peace’" (Is. 9:6). Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach "Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living others also" (2 Tim. 2:1-2). God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar- Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my "First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of Father who is in heaven’" (Matt. 16:16-17). Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:20-21). and the Word was God" (John 1:1). "‘Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use "Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before paper and ink, but I hope to come to see you and talk with you Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). face to face, so that our joy may be complete" (2 John 12). "‘I and the Father are one’" (John 10:30). Faith and Works "For in him [Christ] the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily" "‘Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the (Col. 2:9). kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven’" (Matt. 7:21). "In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a "‘Why do you call me "Lord, Lord," and not do what I tell Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom you?’" (Luke 6:46). also he created the world. He reflects the glory of God and ST. MARGARET MARY RCIA NOTEBOOK PAGE 8 bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by "For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would his word of power . . ." (Heb. 1:1-3). rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that "But of the Son he says, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy ever, the righteous scepter is the scepter of thy kingdom. . . . and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the And, "Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and dead, that they might be delivered from their sin" (2 Macc. the heavens are the work of thy hands." (Heb. 1:8, 10) 12:44-45). Real Presence in the Eucharist "Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going "‘Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. I with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; wilderness, and they died. This is bread which comes down truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the last penny" (Matt. 5:25-26). living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of "Each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire give for the life of the world is my flesh.’ The Jews then will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly truly, I say receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and through fire" (1 Cor. 3:13-15). drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the indeed’" (John 6:47-55). unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he went and "For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey . . the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took ." (1 Peter 3:18-20). bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of "But nothing unclean shall enter it [heaven] . . ." (Rev. 21:27). me.’ In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This Honor Due to the Virgin Mary cup is the new covenant of my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this "And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy he comes" (1 Cor. 11:23-26). Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the me?’" (Luke 1:41-43). body and blood of the Lord" (1 Cor. 11:27). "And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit The Papacy rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate "And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things every disease and every infirmity. The names of the twelve for me, and holy is his name’" (Luke 1:46-49). apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter . . ." (Matt. "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is 10:1-2). honored, all rejoice together" (1 Cor. 12:26). "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Praying to the Saints Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever "‘And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven’" (Matt. 16:18-19). to him, "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"? He is not God of the dead, but of the living "‘Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to have you, . . .’" (Mark 12:26-27) that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, "Pray at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication. strengthen your brethren’" (Luke 22:31-32). To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me . . ." (Eph. 6:18). "He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, ‘So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas’ "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of (which means Peter)" (John 1:42). witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely . . ." (Heb. 12:1). "When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ "And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, are the prayers of the saints . . ." (Rev. 5:8). Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my Catholic Answers sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do www.catholic.com you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the Phone 619-387-7200 (M-F 9-5 PCT) third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you Fax 619-387-0042 know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep’" More Contact Info: http://www.catholic.com/home/contact.asp (John 21:15-17). Catholic Answers is an apostolate dedicated to serving Christ by bringing the fullness of Catholic truth to the world. See www.catholic.com Purgatory ST. MARGARET MARY RCIA NOTEBOOK PAGE 9 FOUNDATIONS THE APOSTLE’S CREED & THE NICENE CREED The Apostle’s Creed The Nicene Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; maker of heaven and earth, and of all that is, seen and unseen. And in Jesus Christ, We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven: Who was conceived by the the Holy Spirit by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. suffered under Pontius Pilate, For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died, and was buried. he suffered died and was buried. He descended into hell; On the third day he rose again from the dead; On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Almighty; He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, From there He will come again to judge the living and the dead. and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, the Holy Catholic Church, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. the communion of saints, With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. the forgiveness of sins, He has spoken through the Prophets. the resurrection of the body, We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. and the life everlasting. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. INTRODUCTION There were many stories then current about gods who died and were resurrected, but they were offered quite frankly as myths, as A creed generally emphasizes the beliefs opposing those non-historical stories symbolic of the renewal of the vegetation errors that are most dangerous at the time. When the every spring after the seeming death of winter. If you asked, Apostles' Creed was created, the chief enemy was "When did Adonis die, you would be told either, "Long ago and far Gnosticism, which denied that Jesus was truly Man. It away," or else, "His death is not an event in earthly time." Jesus, was drawn up in the first or second century and on the other hand, died at a particular time and place in history. emphasizes the true Humanity of Jesus, opposing the heretics of the time (Gnostics, Marcionites, and later was crucified, dead, and was buried; he descended into hell. Manicheans). (See 1 John 4:1-3). When the Nicene Here the creed hammers home the point that he was really dead. Creed was drawn up, the chief enemy was Arianism, He was not an illusion. He was nailed to a post. He died. He had which denied that Jesus was fully God. a real body, a corpse, that was placed in a tomb. He was not merely unconscious – his spirit left his body and went to the realm APOSTLE’S CREED of the dead. The reference to the descent into Hades (or Hell, or Sheol) is here to make it clear that the death of Jesus was not just I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and a swoon or a coma, but death in every sense of the word. It is not Earth, what we today consider Hell The Gnostics held that the physical universe is evil and that God did not make it. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, The Gnostics believed that the most important Christian doctrines Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary, were reserved for a select few. The orthodox belief was that the The Gnostics thought that orthodox Christians were wrong fullness of the Gospel was to be preached to the entire human in supposing that God had taken a human body. Some of race. Hence the term "catholic," or universal, which distinguished them distinguished between Christ, whom they them from the Gnostics. acknowledged to be in some sense divine, and the man Jesus, who was at most an instrument through whom the the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, Christ spoke. They held that the man Jesus did not The Gnostics considered that what men needed was not become the bearer or instrument of the Christ until the forgiveness, but enlightenment. Ignorance, not sin, was the Spirit descended upon him at his baptism, and that the problem. Some of them, believing the body to be a snare and Spirit left him before the crucifixion. Others said there was delusion, led lives of great purity. Others, believing the body to be never a man Jesus at all, but only the appearance of a quite separate from the soul, held that it did not matter what the man. Against this the orthodox Christians affirmed that body did, since it was completely foul anyway, and its actions had Jesus was conceived through the action of the Holy Spirit no effect on the soul. They accordingly led lives that were not (thus denying the Gnostic position that the Spirit had pure at all. Either way, the notion of forgiveness was alien to nothing to do with Jesus until his Baptism), that he was them. born (which meant that he had a real physical body) of a virgin (which implied that he had been special from the the resurrection of the body, first moment of his life, and not just from the baptism on). The chief goal of the Gnostics was to become free forever from the taint of matter and the shackles of the body, and to return to Suffered under Pontius Pilate, the heavenly realm as Pure Spirit. They totally rejected any idea of the resurrection of the body. ST. MARGARET MARY RCIA NOTEBOOK PAGE 10