J M J F My brothers and sisters

+ J. M. J. F. My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus may his grace and peace be with you always. The purpose of this program and other programs in this catechetical series is to give honor and glory to God, our Father and to obey Jesus command to spread the “Good News to all the nations” Let us pray: Father we thank you for the gift of life you have given us. We thank you for most beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, whom You sent to teach us to know, love and serve you, and who suffered and died for our redemption. We thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, and pray that the Holy Spirit will open our minds and hearts as we strive through our studies to know, love and serve you better. We offer this thanksgiving and petition in Jesus name. Amen

APOSTLES CREED

THE APOSTLES’ CREED CONSISTS OF TWELVE DOCTRINE’S OF FAITH THE CREED IS DIVIDED INTO ? THREE PARTS

Part One: Informs us of the First Person of the God the Father Blessed Trinity and the Work of Creation

Part Two informs us of The second person of the Jesus Blessed Trinity and the Mystery of Jesus redemption of the human race

Part Three: Informs us of the Third person of the Holy Spirit Blessed Trinity the Source of our salvation

ARTICLE ONE “I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. ”

GOD There is only one God, there are no other gods There are three persons in one God The Father God the Holy Spirit God the Son

WHO IS GOD? Supreme Being God is absolute Love God always was and shall always be God is self-existing

WHAT ARE THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD ? God is infinitely perfect God made all things out of nothing by his own power God knows all, see all, hears all

How many God’s are there? There is only True one God There are no other gods There are false gods. What are some of them? Anything or anyone we put before God is a false god

False gods can include: ourselves power money possessions What ever we put before God is a false god How may persons are there in God? Three persons: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Three Persons in one God is called? The Blessed Trinity Something we humans can’t understand by our minds but take on faith is called a Supernatural Mystery

ARTICLE TWO “I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD. ”

Jesus is? : the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity God the Son true God and true man Jesus is only one person, yet he has two natures a divine nature and a human nature

As all humans do Jesus has a body and soul The mystery of God becoming man is known as the Incarnation. Jesus’ name means “Savior” Christ means “Anointed”

Jesus being the Son of God and Son of Man was like us in all things, except Sin.

Who is the only other person to be born without sin and remained sinless during her life? The Virgin Mary being conceived without original sin is called the? Immaculate Conception The feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated 8 December

ARTICLE THREE “WHO WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY. ”

Whom did God send to ask Mary to be the Mother of his son? The angel Gabriel Mary asked the angel how this could be done, since she was a virgin. He told her she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit Her response was “be it done tome according to your word. ”

The angel Gabriel told Mary to name the baby Jesus Who is Jesus foster father? Saint Joseph Jesus the second person of the Blessed Trinity becoming man is called the “Incarnation”

Where was Jesus born? Jesus was born in a stable in the town of Bethlehem What day in December do we celebrate the birth of Jesus ? Christmas Day – December 25 th

ARTICLE FOUR “SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED AND WAS BURIED. ”

Jesus suffered and died on the cross for our sins and the sins of the whole world. The name of the Roman governor who condemned Jesus to suffer and die was Pontius Pilate Jesus died on Mt. Calvary on Good Friday

The sufferings of Jesus are called the PASSION of Jesus Christ The Sign of the Cross should remind us of the Passion of Jesus. We recall the Passion and Death of Jesus in the Stations of the Cross.

What are the Stations of the Cross? A devotion mediating on the Passion and Death of Jesus

1. Jesus is condemned to death

2. Jesus carries his cross

3. Jesus falls for the first time

4. Jesus meets his afflicted mother

5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross

6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

7. Jesus fall for the second time

8. The daughters of Jerusalem weep over Jesus

9. Jesus falls for the third time

10. Jesus is stripped of his garments

11. Jesus is nailed to the cross

12. Jesus dies on the cross

13. Jesus is taken down from the cross

14. Jesus is buried in the tomb

ARTICLE FIVE “HE DECENDED INTO HELL. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD. ”

How long was Jesus in the tomb? Three days The day Jesus rose from the death is called the Resurrection. We celebrate this on Easter Sunday

ARTICLE SIX “HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER ALMIGHTY. ”

Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead, He ascended body and soul into heaven The day Jesus ascended into heaven is called Ascension Thursday

ASCENSION THURSDAY is a Holy Day of Obligation. This means that Catholics are bound to go to Mass, the same as on Sunday unless there is a valid reason, such as sickness, must work or some serious circumstances. Being on vacation is not a valid reason for not going to Mass

ARTICLE SEVEN “HE WILL COME AGAIN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. ”

At the time of our death we will be judged by God This is called? Particular Judgment – our individual judgment. The way we have lived our lives determines our place in eternity. What are they? Heaven Purgatory Hell

At our particular judgment if we die with no sin we will go. straight to heaven for eternity At our Particular judgment if we have lived God’s laws and still have venial sin in our soul we will go to purgatory for a period of time determined by God to be purified of those sins, than we will go to Heaven.

At our Particular Judgment if we have rejected God’s laws and have not repented of them and asked God’s mercy and forgiveness We will go to Hell God has given us the ways to live without sin. He will forgive us our sins, even with our last breath, no matter how horrible they are, providing we ask his forgiveness with true contrition

At the end of the world all of the dead will be resurrected. Christ will then judge all the peoples of every nation from the beginning of time. He separate the good from the bad. This is called the “General Judgment” The good will go to: Heaven for eternity The bad will go to: Hell for eternity Purgatory will cease and the souls there will go to heaven

ARTICLE EIGHT “I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. ”

The Holy Spirit is the: Third Person of the Blessed Trinity The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son

The Holy Spirit Is equal to the Father and the Son Descended upon the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire on Pentecost.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit Wisdom Understanding Counsel Fortitude Knowledge Piety Fear of the Lord

Fruits of the Holy Spirit charity joy peace patience kindness goodness generosity gentleness faithfulness modesty self-control chastity

When you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation you receive the Holy Spirit the same as the apostles did on Pentecost. You receive the same gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. Using the gifts and fruits bestowed upon you by the Holy Spirit you as the apostles are to live and spread the Gospel to the whole world by way you live your life in word, deed and action

ARTICLE NINE “I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS. ”

The Catholic Church is the one true Church established by Jesus Christ Proof of is this is contained in what is known as the Four Marks of the Church They are - The Church is: One, Holy, Catholic Apostolic

THE CHURCH IS ONE BECAUSE Its foundation is the Blessed Trinity Three Persons in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Coming from the unity of Blessed Trinity is One Faith, One Baptism, One Sacrifice, The same Sacraments

THE CHURCH IS HOLY BECAUSE Jesus Christ who is the head of the Church made it holy through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

THE CHURCH IS CATHOLIC BECAUSE Jesus Christ has given the Church the fullness the means of salvation: correct and complete confession of faith A full sacramental life

Ordained ministry in apostolic succession THE CHURCH IS UNIVERSAL BECAUSE Her mission is to preach the Gospel to all nations As a baptized Christians we are the universal Church and are responsible for preaching the Gospel to all we meet by word, deed and action

The founder and head of the Catholic Church is Jesus Christ appointed Peter as the first visible head of the Church. The pope is the successor of Peter as Bishop of Rome The Pope is the visible head of the Church on earth. We call the Pope “Holy Father. ”

Who are the successors of the Apostles? The Pope and Bishops As with the Apostles the pope and bishops receive their power to teach, to sanctify, and to govern the faithful in spiritual matters from Jesus Christ We call this - The Church Authority

The Pope in union with the Bishops cannot err when teaching about faith and morals. We call this Infallibility The Church as Jesus founded it will last until the end of the world. We call this Indefectibility

THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS. ” The baptized faithful on earth, the souls in purgatory, the saints and angels in heaven are in united with each other, together in Christ. This is called the Communion of Saints. The (souls) Saints in heaven are called the Church Triumphant The souls in purgatory are called the Church Suffering

PURGATORY – those who have died in grace, but are not perfectly purified, undergo a final purification. This is called purgatory. The Baptized faithful here on earth are called the Church Militant We can pray to the saints in heaven and ask them to pray and intercede to God for us We can pray for and assist the souls in purgatory by our prayers, good works and fasting.

We can pray for one another on earth and assist each other in performing the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy We can pray to the saints in heaven to interceded for us. We do not adore the saints or Virgin Mary when we pray to them! We only adore God and no one else. We can pray to Jesus for His divine mercy on the souls in purgatory. We can offer up our own sufferings, good works, etc. for them to help them

CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY Feed the hungry Cloth the naked Shelter the homeless Give drink to the thirsty Visit the imprisoned Visit the sick Burying the dead

SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY Admonish the sinner Instruct the ignorant Counsel the doubtful Comfort the sorrowful Bear wrongs patiently Forgive all injuries Pray for the living and the dead

ARTICLE TEN “I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. ”

SIN Sin is a personal act which offends God Sin spiritually harms the sinner and others Sin can be: a thought, a word, a desire, or a deed. These are called sins of commission

Sin can also be acts of omission. These are things we did not do, when we should have Temptations are not sins! They become sin if we willingly act upon them The first sin was committed by Adam and Eve This was the Original Sin. Adam and Eves’ personal sin against God

As descendants of Adam and Eve we are born with Original Sin Only Jesus and Mary were conceived without Original Sin Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit Mary was conceived without original sin by a special privilege called the Immaculate Conception

We are born with original sin, that is the lack of sanctifying grace. This means that we are born. deprived of the holiness and justice of God within us. Through the Sacrament of Baptism original sin is wiped away in children. Those who have reached the age of reason, both original sin and any others sins they have committed are wiped away. In Baptism we received the life of God within us to be holy. To be adopted sons and daughters of God and heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven

Our own personal sins are called ACTUAL SINS TYPES OF ACTUAL SINS Mortal sin Venial sin when we knowingly and in full consent seriously violates one of God’s commandments is a less serious offense against God

ARTICLE ELEVEN “I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY. ” At the end of the world the bodies of all who have died will be raised and reunited with their souls

ARTICLE 12 “I Believe in The Life Everlasting. ”

At the end of the world Christ will come again and judge the living and the dead. Those who have lived the life God has demand will go to HEAVEN for eternity Those who have not lived the life God has demand will go to Hell for all eternity What has God demanded ? That we do his will, not our own!!! See Commandments and Gospels

All those who are in purgatory at that time will be reunited with their bodies and go to Heaven. PURGATORY WILL CEASE AMEN = means “so be it”. When we say “Amen” we express our agreement or acceptance