The Domestic Church

• “Ecclesia Domestica/Domus Ecclesiae” means Church at home in Latin

Bible Verses

• The husband of a good wife is a fortunate man
• The wife of a good husband is a fortunate woman (Sirach 26:1-4, 13-16)
• Children owe respect and honor to parents (Sirach 3:1-9)
• Parents must be obeyed by their children, however authority is limited by the moral ground

Teachings on Family

• Parents are the first heralds of faith
• Families are extremely important centers of living faith
• Home is the first school of Christian life where we learn about love, forgiveness, and worship

Lumen Gentium

• "Light of the Nations” written by Pope Paul VI in 1964
• Everyone is called to holiness
• Families are a "Domestic Church" and reflects the various aspects of the entire Church
• Love, faith, forgiveness, hope, are all first taught at home

Familiaris Consortio

• "The Fellowship of the Family” written by St. John Paul II in 1981
• Family has the mission to guard, reveal, and communicate love
• Families are called to be a “community of life and love"
• Four general tasks of families:
  • Forming a Community of Persons
  • Serving Life
  • Participating in the Development of Society
  • Sharing in the Life & Mission of the Church

Deus Caritas Es

• "God is Love" written by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005
• God's way of loving becomes the measure of human love
• Marriage based on exclusive and definite love becomes the sign of the relationship between God and His people
• Marriage reinforces the indissolubility and fidelity in the conjugal partnership, which union bears fruit that's both love-giving and life-generating

Amoris Laetitia

• "The Joy of Love" written by Pope Francis in 2016
• Families, like the Church, must be open to all
• In this world, the Church is a home and family for everyone, especially those who labor

Unitatis Redintegratio

• "Restoration of Unity" written by Pope Paul VI in 1964
• Christ instituted the Eucharist to signify and thus bring about the unity of the Church
• Love and unity in the family is stronger in the celebration of the Eucharist
• The family that prays together, stays together

Faith

• One of the theological virtues (faith, hope, love)
• Only humans understand mystery
• Man's personal response to God's revelation; there is no faith without God's revelation
• Revelation is God's self-manifestation of His love to us

Bible Verse

• Everyone is invited to have faith in God (Ephesians 4:17-32)

Teachings on Faith

• Man's response to God's revelation; a adherence of man to God
• Essential dimensions are knowing, doing, and worshipping

Stages of Faith

• By James Fowler, an American Protestant theologian
• Pre-Stage: Undifferentiated Faith (birth to 2 years of age)
  • they experience faith as connection between themselves and caregiver
• Stage 1: Intuitive-Projective Faith
  • pre-school aged children can not see other perspectives
  • faith gained from parents or significant adults
• Stage 2: Mythic-Literal Faith
  • ages 6 to 12 understand others have beliefs
  • faith becomes the stories told/rituals practiced
• Stage 3: Synthetic-Conventional Faith
  • ages 13 to 18, some stay in this stage for life
  • can imagine how others think about them
• Stage 4: Individuative-Reflective Faith
  • ages 18 to 22, question faith
  • often the time that someone will leave their religious community
• Stage 5: Conjunctive Faith
  • starts at early thirties, open to other perspectives
• Stage 6: Universalizing Faith
  • they challenge assumptions/create justice

Lumen Gentium

• "Light of the Nations" by Pope Paul VI in 1964
• Faith is necessary for salvation
• God established the Church as universal sacrament of salvation

Redemptoris Missio

• "The Mission of the Redeemer" by St. Pope John Paul II in 1990
• Truths: salvation in Christ and church necessity for salvation are kept together

Evangelii Gaudium

• "The Joy of the Gospel" by Pope Francis in 2013
• Love is Father's gift making us His sons/daughters

Evangelization

• “Kerygma” in Greek, is sharing of faith
• Church evangelizes/makes God's Kingdom present in our world

Catholic Social Teachings (CST)

• Principles/guidelines for treating others like Jesus taught
• Sums up teachings on justice/Church's ministry
• Proposes principles/criteria/guidelines

Bible Verse

• Jesus accuses pharisees since they don't apply their own teachings (Luke 11:37-54)

Rerum Novarum

• “Of New Things" by Pope Leo XIII in 1891
• Church uses efforts to enlighten the mind to direct life
• People learn God's word/show goodness

Seven Themes of the Catholic Social Teachings

• Life and Dignity of the Human Person
• Family, Community, and Participation
• Rights and Responsibilities
• Preferential Option for the Poor
• Dignity of Work and Workers
• Solidarity
• Stewardship

Bible Verse

• Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares (John 10:11-17)

Pastoral Activity of the Church

• God loves His Church/graces her to love
• Pastor cares for God's flock
• Church stresses love for God/neighbors
• Son of Man exemplified love for others

Gaudium Et Spes

• "Hope & Joy" by Pope Paul VI in 1965
• Joys/hopes/griefs/anxieties of those who are poor or afflicted are anxieties of followers of Christ
• Whatever done to others is done to Jesus/everyone is a morsel of what God looks like

Pastores Dabo Vobis

• “I Shall Give You Shepherds” by Pope John Paul II in 1992
• Attitudes for a pastor are authenticity/compassion/fidelity

Lay Spirituality

• Spirituality is living in love
• Vocation to holiness is basic to all (CL, no. 16)
• Spirituality is finding Spirit's presence

Jesus, the Real Vine

• Detached from Jesus cannot grow spiritually (John 15:1-17)

Lay Faithful/Laity

• By Catholic laity, means everyone in the Church other than the clergy

Lay Faithful

• In their own way through Baptism, made sharers in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly office of Christ"
• Threefold Mission: priestly, prophetic, kingly

Christifideles Laici

• "Christ's Faithful Laity" by Pope John Paul II in 1988
• United to Christ by daily activities (CL, no. 14)
• Proclaim Gospel without hesitating (CL, no. 14)
• Spiritual combat they overcome sin (CL, no. 14)
• Priestly Mission is acting with spirituality
• Prophetic Mission is preaching God's word
• Kingly Mission is leading through service

Different Lay Ministries in the Church

• Lay Ministry help priests distribute Communion
• Altar Service help priests with rites
• Commentatorate give responses/instructions
• Lectorate help proclaim God's Word
• Music Ministry help make joyful celebrations with songs

Love

• Is expression of the values you keep inside

The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:34-40)

• "Follow all of the commandments"

Love

• Love doesn't dishonor others/self-seeking (1 Cor. 13:1-7, 13)

Four Kinds of Love (in Greek)

• Storge (Family Love): bond based on fondness
• Philia (Brotherly Love): virtuous friendship
• Eros (Romantic Love): passion of nature
• Agape (God's Love): selflessness

Teachings on Love

• New commandment is to love one another as Jesus has loved us
• Called the New Law/Love/Grace/Freedom
• Personal behavior is human when ordered to love

Corporals Works vs Spiritual Works

• Corporal Works
  • Feed the hungry
  • Give drink to the thirsty
  • Clothe the naked
  • Shelter the homeless
  • Visit the prisoners
  • Visit the sick
  • Bury the dead
• Spiritual Works
  • Instruct the ignorant
  • Admonish sinners
  • Counsel the doubtful
  • Comfort the sorrowful
  • Bear wrongs patiently
  • Forgive all offenses
  • Pray for the living/dead
• Virtue pursues good