Handouts: Sources of Catholic Faith & Canon of Bible (PDF)

Handouts **1. Sources of Catholic Faith** The Catholic Church\'s teachings are founded on three interconnected sources that are essential to understanding and practicing the faith: - **Sacred Tradition**: The living transmission of the message of the Gospel in the Church, encompassing teach...

Handouts **1. Sources of Catholic Faith** The Catholic Church\'s teachings are founded on three interconnected sources that are essential to understanding and practicing the faith: - **Sacred Tradition**: The living transmission of the message of the Gospel in the Church, encompassing teachings, liturgy, writings, and practices passed down through generations. - **Sacred Scripture**: The written word of God found in the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments. It is considered divinely inspired and authoritative for faith and practice. - **Magisterium**: The teaching authority of the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, which interprets and preserves the truths found in Sacred Tradition and Scripture. These three sources work in harmony, ensuring the integrity and continuity of Catholic teachingA group of icons on a blue background Description automatically generated. **2. The Canon of the Catholic Bible** The Catholic Bible includes both the Old and New Testaments, with a total of 73 books. It is divided as follows: - **Old Testament**: Contains the Pentateuch (e.g., Genesis, Exodus), Historical Books (e.g., Kings, Chronicles), Wisdom Books (e.g., Psalms, Proverbs), and the Prophets (e.g., Isaiah, Jeremiah). - **New Testament**: Includes the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), Historical (Acts of the Apostles), Letters of Paul (e.g., Romans, Corinthians), Non-Pauline Letters (e.g., Hebrews, James), and Apocalyptic (Revelation). - **The Church describes the virtue of faith as a response to God\'s saving act** as a personal and communal act of trust, belief, and commitment to God. Faith is considered a gift from God, which enables individuals to accept God\'s revelation and His saving plan. - **Faith as a Gift from God**: It is understood as a grace that enables individuals to accept God\'s revelation and His saving plan. - **Response to God's Revelation**: Faith involves trust in God, belief in His promises, and a commitment to live according to His will as revealed through Christ and the teachings of the Church. - **Unity and Commitment**: Faith plays a foundational role in the believer\'s relationship with God and influences how Christians live, think, and act. - **Ecumenism**: This is the movement towards Christian unity, recognizing the need for collaboration and understanding among different Christian denominations. It reflects Christ\'s prayer for unity among His followers. - **Inter-religious Dialogue**: Encouraged by the Church to promote peace, understanding, and cooperation among people of different faiths. It involves finding common ground while respecting differences, fostering mutual trust and enrichment. - **Biblical Foundation**: The Bible encourages believers to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) and to engage others with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). **Unity in Christ\ **Ecumenism seeks to promote Christian unity, grounded in the biblical call for harmony among believers. Scriptures like 1 Corinthians 1:10 urge Christians to avoid divisions and be united in mind and thought, reflecting the desire for a cohesive and united Christian community**.** **Reconciliation and forgiveness\ **Ecumenism focuses on unity through reconciliation, as highlighted in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, which emphasizes God reconciling the world to Himself through Christ and entrusting us with the mission of reconciliation. - **Engaging in Dialogue**: Reaching out to others with an open mind and heart, seeking to understand and build relationships. - **Embracing Diversity**: Viewing the diversity of beliefs and cultures as opportunities for mutual learning and growth. - **Living Out Christ's Command**: Demonstrating love and respect for all, regardless of differences in religion, belief, or race, following Christ's teaching to love one another.