RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 2

2nd Semester – Midterms

Lesson I: THE BLESSED TRINITY

4 Times to make the Sign of the Cross (apart he will speak only what he hears, and he will 1. St. Patrick – used the image of a
from your time of prayer) tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will three-leaf clover
1. When passing by a Church glorify me because it is from me that he will 2. St. Augustine- used the image of
▪ To honor the Blessed receive what he will make known to the mind, which includes reason,
Sacrament, present inside you. 15 All that belongs to the father is will and memory
2. When you hear a Siren mine. That is why I said the Spirit will 3. Contemporary Theologians- used
▪ To heal those in danger of receive from me that he will make known to the image of the water which has
dying you.” three phases- solid, liquid, gas
3. When passing by a Cemetery 4. Recent minds- used the image of
▪ As a prayer for the Holy Souls Mystery of the Holy Trinity: H2O- ice, water, or steam
and those who have passed ▪ Belief in the Triune God is
recently grounded on belief in Jesus ▪ Analogies though helpful, cannot
4. When you see an accident Christ and will never be able to exhaust
▪ As a protection for those in ▪ Coming of Messiah (savior) the reality of how three persons can
peril means salvation and it includes exist in one God
the saving truths that God is ▪ The Trinity is a mystery of faith in
John 16:7-15 one God in three persons the strict sense, one of the
(personas) “mysteries that are hidden in God,
7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good ▪ Early time of the Church where which can never be known unless
that I am going away. Unless I go away, the there was a rising question of they are revealed by God.”
Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, the three persons and one God, ▪ And this revelation presents in a
I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he apologist Tertullian devised the human relationship- through Jesus
will prove the world to be in the wrong word, Trinity. Christ, in the history of salvation.
about sin and righteousness and ▪ It was derived from the Latin
judgment: 9 about sin, because people do words “unitas” and “trinus,”
not believe in me; 10 about which literally means “unity”
righteousness, because I am going to the and “three”
father, where you can see me no ▪ Theologians who spent their
longer; 11 and about judgment, because the lives trying to understand the
prince of this world now stands condemned. mystery of the Holy Trinity and
12 “I have much more to say to you, more explain it to others through
than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the images and analogies:
Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into
all the truth. He will not speak on his own;
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 2
2nd Semester – Midterms

the truth (7 Gifts and Fruits of the

Lesson I: THE BLESSED TRINITY
Holy Spirit) SANCTIFICATION

The Holy Trinity ▪ God the Holy Spirit: Since creation, ▪ We should focus on “loving faith,”
▪ the Doctrine of the Blessed Trinity He was presented as the Paraclete, an “active love like that of Christ, a
states that there is one God who is the Holy Spirit, to teach and guide participation in God’s own love
three equal and distinct persons the truth (7 Gifts and 9 Fruits of the which comes to us through His
o Doctrine of the Blessed Holy Spirit) Son”
Trinity: (Received the Sacraments of Baptism,
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit Confirmation and Reconciliation –
1. One: each person is a whole God. 1. Piety Liturgy of the Word and Eucharist)
The divine Persons are relations 2. Knowledge
that subsist in the divine nature 3. Fortitude Proof: Truth as the basis of Faith
2. Eternal: has all power and know all 4. Fear of the Lord ▪ St. Thomas believed that it was
things, and is everywhere 5. Counsel possible to discern truths about God
3. Distinct: not identical rather 6. Understanding with the use of human reason and
perfectly united with one another 7. Wisdom revelation.
▪ He explored the idea from Aristotle
The Revelations of the Holy Trinity The Fruit of the Spirit in his theological work, that the
▪ God the Father: In the Old 1. Love notion of change and that what is
Testament (Israel’s time), God the 2. Joy changed is changed by the other and
Father is called as such for He is 3. Patience ultimately by the unchanging
known as the Creator of all things. 4. Peace source.
He is also the Father of the poor, 5. Kindness Five Proofs of God’s existence as St.
oppressed, orphaned, and the weak. 6. Gentleness Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologica:
He is also a protector. CREATION 7. Goodness
▪ God the Son: In the New 8. Self-control 1. First Way: Motion
Testament, Jesus is presented as the 9. Faithfulness - It is to be understood as change. It is a
“image of the invisible God” (truth, movement from one phase to another and
way and light). He is known as the Understanding God should lead us to… not more or solely on location.
Savior of the humankind. True God ▪ We should conduct ourselves as His 2. Second Way: Causation
and True Man. REDEMPTION image and likeness, sons and - Something comes to exist because it is
▪ God the Holy Spirit: Since creation, daughters, and heirs of the caused by someone or something
He was presented as the Paraclete, Kingdom of God 3. Third Way: Contingent
the Holy Spirit, to teach and guide (Respect and care to oneself and to - To be contingent is to be dependent to; it
other creatures) means dependence of existence from.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 2
2nd Semester – Midterms

4. Fourth Way: Goodness ▪ Deep within us, there is the natural new set of operating principles for
- We can see that there is gradation of longing and desire for God which the Roman Catholic Church (also
goodness and perfection. All the goodness cannot be denied. called as the Reformation era)
that all beings possess must come from ▪ The proof of God’s existence ▪ Eschatology refers to the study of
someone or something which/who shared by us by St. Thomas simply the end of history from a religious
possesses and cause them all. reveal that by reflecting on the perspective.
5. Fifth Way: Design world we live in and on ourselves,
- Everything in the world is in balance and we can have the conviction of His Creation and Genesis.
moves accordingly. All these moves for a presence. ▪ There was wide variation of
purpose which reveals the intelligence of ▪ “To see is to believe” does not opinion on how long creation too as
the Maker who directs them according to apply with our faith in Him. per Biblical Authors
their purpose. ▪ “Faith is the realization of what is Authors of the Bible.
hoped for and evidence of things ▪ Original audience of Genesis,
Does God Exist? not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Evangelists, Apostles, other
God’s existence makes a difference individuals inspired by God
according to William Craig’s Article Lesson II: SPECIAL TOPICS IN
ECCLESIOLOGY The Gap between Christianity and Science
Proof: Three Reasons how God’s existence in understanding of the Origin of Things:
can make difference: Familiarization od Terms: ▪ Catholic Position:
▪ Ecclesiology the study of churches, Parameters to what is acceptable Catholic
1. If God does not exist, life is especially church building and belief:
ultimately meaningless decoration; theology as applied to 1. Cosmological evolution: the
2. If God does not exist, then we must the nature and structure of the Church has infallibly defined that
ultimately live without hope Christian Church. the universe was especially created
3. If God does not exist, then not only ▪ Church refers to the baptized out of nothing
is there meaning and hope, but there individual 2. Biological evolution: the Church’s
is also a possibility of coming to ▪ church refers to a structure position that various forms of life
know God and His love personally ▪ Raison D’etre means a reason or develop under the impetus and
justification for existence guidance of God
▪ The proofs of God’s existence are ▪ Vatican II In 1959, Pope John 3. Human evolution: Man’s body was
not means to neither prove our XXIII created the Second Vatican developed from previous biological
beliefs nor argue with unbelievers. Council with the Ecumenical forms, under God’s guidance that is
▪ Nor can these be used as basis Council. It is also known as Vatican considered as special creation of his
whether to believe God or not. II, the council called thousands of soul
bishops and other religious leaders
to the Vatican, where they forged a
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 2
2nd Semester – Midterms

Vatican II and the Images of the Church Vatican II on the Images of the Church – as love of God who desires unity with
▪ The Church is more than just the followers and believers of God, we are… God (CCC 775-776)
structure; the more important ones
are her parts and how those part 1. Vine and the Branches. Jesus is the vine The Church and the World
work in sync. and we are the branches.
▪ The Church is also composed of 2. Body of Christ. Jesus is the head; we are The Commissioning of the Eleven
many members, and like the State the body. - In the Bible, Jesus Christ
wherein citizens must contribute to 3. Temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the appointed and commissioned
the sustenance of the country, the cornerstone and we are the living stones. His apostles/disciples to carry
members of the Church must also out the sanctifying mission
be very pr-active in the continuance The Church as a Mystery
of the Church. “Faith in God is to believe in the The Three-fold Mission of Christ along
▪ LUMEN GENTIUM’S View of the omniscience, omnipotence and everything with His followers:
Church (Chapter 2, 4-7) that is of God.” (Refers to God/Divine: 1. Priestly
- Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic omniscience the state of knowing 2. Prophetic
Constitution on the Church, everything/ omnipotence the quality of 3. Kingly
from Latin which means “Light having unlimited or very great power /
to the Nations.” omnipresence- the presence of God Catholic Church’ Structure:
- Each of us as God’s People is everywhere at the same time.)
called to be that light as we
fulfill our “obligations of Mystery of the Church
spreading the faith.” We, 1. Pilgrimage until the Glory –
believers and followers of God History to divine life (CCC 769-
is called as the People of God. 770)
- In 1965, Vatican II decree 2. Visible and Spiritual – visible
Apostolicam Actuositatem organizations and communicates
(Apostolate of the Laity), the truth and grace to all (CCC 771)
Laity, us, the ordinary people, 3. Where God and Man are One -
are encouraged to engaged in becomes the hope of glory/unite
the apostolate for the good men with God (CCC 772-773)
souls and the renewal of 4. Visible Sign of Salvation –
temporal order. translated, revealed and
emphasized through the
Sacraments (CCC 774)
5. Signs of Man’s Unity – gather men
and become the visible plan of the
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 2
2nd Semester – Midterms

Parish’s Lead Structure: • Immoral, when a person who b. Dignity of the body- image of God
knowing what he should do does = good
not do it, or does the opposite: he c. Body and human life – call for
possess moral sense but has no communion with God and with
moral strength others
• Amoral, when a person does not d. Body and human experience – call
have a moral sense, that is, he is to strive to keep our body and
blind to some moral values ourselves healthy
• Moral, when he or she knows what e. Body proclaims god’s mystery –
is good and usually does it, and plan of humanity = marriage and
what is evil and ordinarily does not precreation
do it f. Whole person as the reflection of
god’s image: rational, freewill and
A. Our BODY as the TEMPLE of the intimate relationship
Leson III: Special Lesson on Moral HOLY SPIRIT g. Gospel of the body – core: call for
Theology o “19 Do you not know that communion = reach out thru
your bodies are temples of evangelization
Moral Theology the Holy Spirit, who is in
you, whom you have B. Natural reproduction respects
According to St. Thomas Aquinas: received from God? You nature
“Moral Theology studies the human person are not your own; 20 you o Role of the father? Of the
as the image of God.” were bought at a mother? Of the children?
• Moral Theology points out to man price. Therefore, honor o Parents as ministers of life
the way to be a good image of God, God with your bodies.” 1 and stewards of god’s
that is, a good creature and child of COR. 6:19-20 highest creation
God o Family as part of the
• Moral Theology points out to us the Fundamental Truth about our body as the creation plan:
way to follow Jesus Chris, the way temple of the holy spirit – Rom. 12:1-2 o Primary source/ place of
to be his disciples 1. The need to offer oneself to God humanization of a person
and of society
• The human person is fundamentally 2. The requirements to change our
way of thinking and attitude to o Cradle of life and love
a moral or ethical being, that is, she
understand fully the truth that God o Strong communal life and
or he is fundamentally free – and
reveals: stability of commitment in
responsible
a. Body and god’s plan – body of man order
• People talk of moral (good) and
immoral (bad) things; and of moral. and woman as distinct but with the
Immoral, or amoral people same dignity
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 2
2nd Semester – Midterms

Sex and Sexuality • Technology

▪ Before: sex AND SEXUALITY IS • Ending life
KNOWN MERELY AS SEXUAL • Contraception
ACT AND NOT AS A PERSON • Abortifacients
▪ TODAY: SEX AND SEXUALITY
REFERS TO THAT MAKES A o HUMAN INTERVENTION TO
MAN AND WOMAN, AND IS HUMAN CREATION
FOR LOVE, EITHER AS o TECHNOLOGY,
MARRIED OR AS A CELIBATE TRANSPORTATION,
ONE COMMUNICATION
▪ A PERSON’S SEXUALITY IS o OFFERS CONVENIENCE AND
FOR HUMAN COMPLETENESS COMFORTS
AS FOR PROCREATION o POPE BENEDICT XVI,
▪ HUMAN SEXUALITY IS A GIFT CARITAS ET VERITATE:
FROM GOD TO US “MAINTAINS LINK BETWEEN
ETHICAL AND SOCIAL ETHICS
TODAY – Field or research and technology
▪ Experimentations D. Science and Divine order of Creation
▪ Discoveries o IS SCIENCE BENEFICIAL TO
▪ Interventions on human MANKIND?
reproduction: biological and o BENEFITS AND RISKS OF
biogenetics, cloning, reproductive SCIENCE TO MANKIND?
techniques o VATICAN II: SCIENCE MUST
▪ Some violates – unitive act from BE … IN ACCORDANCE…
procreative act GOODNESS AND IN ORDER….

C. Biotechnology at the Service of Human E. Human Sexuality: A Gift from God

Dignity o SEXUALITY
o MISUSE
• Technology o VIRTUE OF CHASTITY
• Infrastructures o HOMOSEXUALITY
• Communications
• Transportations
• Cosmetic products’
• Foods
• Weapons