Chapter OneCalled to Holiness

Christian holiness is the only area where perfection is the goal and result

“Being holy” means living a Christ-like life of charity and perfection

Sanctification:

• A word for holiness

•Word from which the term saint evolved

Be Perfect

Being “perfect” means seeking a closer, more intimate union with Christ.

Grace:

• How Christian perfection is accomplished

• Through sacraments and service to others

• Anything that God asks of us he makes possible by his grace

All Christians are called to holiness, called to be saints

Be Perfect

Man and woman have been created in perfect equality, yet in their particular beings as male and female

Man and woman are created in the image of God

• They were created together and for each other

God is neither male nor female- God is pure Spirit

Created in God’s Image

Adam and Eve

• Created in state of original holiness and justice

• Lost these gifts through original sin

• Went against status as creatures, trying to take on the role of creator

Original Sin

• Abuse of the freedom God gave created persons

• Adam and Eve chose to follow their own will rather than God’s will

• Effects of their actions are shared among humanity ever since

Created in God’s Image

Created in God’s Image Original sin deprives us from the original holiness that

God intended for us

Human nature after Original Sin

• Wounded

• Ignorant

• Prone to suffering

• Subject to death

• Inclined to sin

Created in God’s Image

In Baptism, Original Sin is erased and we are turned back towards God

Other effects of Original Sin remain

Today, God’s grace is offered to us in the Sacrament of Matrimony

Unity of Body and Soul Human beings are created with a body and soul

The soul is the innermost part of man

The soul makes us spiritual people in the image of God

The body is intended to be a temple of the Holy Spirit

Sexuality

Sexuality means appreciating our identity as either male or female and living our lives as such

Sexuality is deeply connected with our bodies and emotions

• Capacity to make love and procreate

• Forming friendships and bonds with other people

Chastity Chastity

•Virtue by which a person integrates his or her sexuality into his or her whole self, body, and spirit, according to

the vocation or state in life

Comes under the virtue of temperance • A cardinal virtue

Chastity helps us control sexual desires and use them appropriately

In Union with Christ Only in union with Jesus can the disciple attain holiness

Disciple means “follower”

• Our goal is to follow and learn from Jesus

• Achieved through:

Prayer

Participation in the Sacraments

Practicing Christian Virtues

Mystery of God’s Love Mystery:

• Infinite incomprehensibility of God

God is not just unknown, he is unknowable

Not only is our future unknown, but our lives are filled with many surprises

Will you be the parent of a large family?

Will you make a difference in many lives?

Will you be successful in your career?

Will you travel the world?

God Reveals His Mystery

God’s Mystery has been revealed through history

Adam and Eve Noah Abraham

God fully revealed himself by sending his son, Jesus

God’s Revelation is entrusted to the Church through:

• Apostolic Tradition

• Sacred Scripture

God Reveals His Mystery Apostolic Tradition:

• Living transmission of the Word of God

• Sharing of the message of Christ through preaching, witness, institutions, and worship

Sacred Tradition

• Made up of scriptures in the Magisterium

The Holy Trinity There is only one God but in three persons

1) The Almighty Father

2) His only Son

3) The Holy Spirit

Some of the Church’s dogmas about the Trinity

• The Trinity is One

• The three persons are distinct from one another

• The divine persons are related to one another

What It Means to Believe Faith is stating that we believe in something

The virtue of faith enables us to believe in God and is a gift of the Holy Spirit

A faithful person is thankful to God

A faithful person knows the unity of the human community and dignity of every individual

A faithful person makes good use of created things

A faithful person comes to know God’s greatness and majesty

A faithful person trusts in God

The People of God

We share God’s life by our participation in the Church

The Church is a gathering of all people of Christ

Some of the Church’s dogmas about the Trinity

• The Trinity is One

• The three persons are distinct from one another

• The divine persons are related to one another

The People of God

The Church is a sign of Christ’s loyalty to us, his people

Church as an efficacious symbol

• A symbol that points to reality- our salvation

• A symbol that also causes our salvation

• We come to know God through the Church

The People of God

Catholics share in Christ’s life through the Sacraments

Sacraments renew the mystery of God’s love

Paschal Mystery:

• Made present in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist

Vocabulary

Sanctification

Grace

Original Sin

Chastity

Discipleship

Mystery

Magisterium

Dogmas

Faith

Church

Catechesis

Paschal Mystery