Act of Faith O my God relying on

Act of Faith O my God, relying on thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.

Lesson Four: Faith and Reason “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth – in a word, to know himself – so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves. ” – St. Pope John Paul II, Fides et Ratio

Reason • Sometimes God reveals truths to us that can ALSO be known through reason. What are some examples?

Faith • Some things cannot be known by reason acting alone, but must be known by faith. What are some examples?

The Blessed Trinity • God is one. We believe in one God, a unity of Persons. • God is three Divine Persons. • The three persons are equal and possess all of God’s attributes equally. They are one in being (consubstantial) • All three Persons are coeternal. • All three Persons are distinct. • We ascribe different works to each person (Father is Creator, Son is Redeemer, Holy Spirit is Sanctifier), but all three Persons take part in each work.

The Blessed Trinity • God is immutable changeless • God is impassable – Incapable of suffering, feeling pain, emotions (passions) • God is omniscient all-knowing • God is omnipresent everywhere • God is omnibenevolent all-loving

Mystery • The Trinity is a mystery of the Faith; it is beyond reason, but it is not contrary to it.

Errors Against the Trinity 1) Modalism – the idea that the three Persons of the Trinity are actually one person manifested in three, different ways. E. g. Sabellianism. 2) Polytheism – the idea that the three Persons of the Trinity are so separate that they are not one God. E. g. Tritheism. 3) Subordinationism – the idea that one or two of the three Persons are not fully divine. E. g. Arianism.

Each Divine Person is God • The Father is God: – E. g. 1 Corinthians 8: 6 • The Son is God: – E. g. John 1: 1; 1: 14 • The Holy Spirit is God: – E. g. 2 Corinthians 3: 17

The Incarnation • The Incarnation teaches that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Son, took on a human nature and became man, being incarnate of Mary and born of her.

Errors Against the Incarnation 1) Docetism – no physical body but in appearance 2) Ebionism – Christ just human, not divine 3) Adoptionism – Christ the man “became” God’s son at baptism 4) Arianism (Subordinationism) – Christ “like” the Father, but not fully divine like the Father 5) Nestorianism – Christ split into two persons, Jesus the man and Jesus the God, each a distinct subject/person 6) Monophysitism – Christ’s divinity swallows up his humanity, so he’s not fully human Etc. , etc…

Mary is the Mother of God? • Show of hands – Is Mary the mother of God?

Yes, She Is 1) Mary is the mother of Jesus 2) Jesus is God (the Son) ---------------------3) Therefore, Mary is the mother of God (the Son) "The Virgin Mary, being obedient to his word, received from an angel the glad tidings that she would bear God" – St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies 5. 19. 1

Fully God, Fully Man

Apologetics • Greek apologia means “a defense” • The defense of the doctrines of the Faith

Activity Book, p. 4 Faith and Reason 1. We can know that God exists: a. By reason alone b. By faith alone c. By both faith and reason d. None of the above 2. We can know about God through reason: a. By reflecting upon the order of creation b. By reflecting upon the design of creation c. By seeing the perfections in creatures d. All of the above 3. We can know about ourselves through reason: a. That we are made of a body and a soul b. That we are above the animals c. That we are free and intelligent d. All of the above 4. We can have faith: a. But it will be contrary to reason b. In the truths revealed by God and passed on through the Catholic Church c. Because we created it in our hearts d. Because our parents make us 5. What is a gift from God? a. Faith b. Revelation c. Creation d. All of the above 6. Revelation includes: a. The Bible b. The truths passed on through the Church c. Jesus Christ and his teachings d. All of the above

Activity Book, p. 4 Faith and Reason 1. We can know that God exists: a. By reason alone b. By faith alone c. By both faith and reason d. None of the above 2. We can know about God through reason: a. By reflecting upon the order of creation b. By reflecting upon the design of creation c. By seeing the perfections in creatures d. All of the above 3. We can know about ourselves through reason: a. That we are made of a body and a soul b. That we are above the animals c. That we are free and intelligent d. All of the above 4. We can have faith: a. But it will be contrary to reason b. In the truths revealed by God and passed on through the Catholic Church c. Because we created it in our hearts d. Because our parents make us 5. What is a gift from God? a. Faith b. Revelation c. Creation d. All of the above 6. Revelation includes: a. The Bible b. The truths passed on through the Church c. Jesus Christ and his teachings d. All of the above

Homework • Write a paragraph about either faith or reason, and its role.

Act of Faith O my God, relying on thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.