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VocationsSpring Semester 2013

Mr. Salter

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Class is about relationships

What do parents want for their children?◦ What’s best for them

Finding the way ◦ making a “life plan” out of HS

P. 12 Thomas Merton◦ French, Catholic convert◦ Trappist monk, Merton’s Author

“The Road Ahead” Seven Story Mountain

Introduction

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“Be Perfect as Your heavenly Father is perfect.”◦ Meaning - Be holy◦ Grow toward union with Christ; accepting His cross◦ Accomplished through grace◦ All Christians are called to holiness, i.e. to be

saints Chapter Overview:

◦ The origins of God’s call to holiness Made to each of us; with a destiny of eternal joy

◦ The mystery of God’s love

Be Perfect p. 16

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Garden of Eden (Paradise), the original state of holiness and justice◦ State of holiness was on of intimacy◦ Adam and Eve’s Original Sin cause loss of innocence,

concupiscence◦ Role of creature vs. Creator

Destiny to share in God’s divinity (divinized) St. Maximus the Confessor… man lived “without God,

before God, and not in accord with God.” Effect of Original Sin - Alienated from God Deprived of original holiness Life is now a spiritual battle to choose God and avoid evil

◦ Augustine vs. Pelagius

We Are Created in God’s Image p. 17

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Creation Story Truths:◦ Trinity present at Creation

Father, Son/Word, Holy Spirit Model a “relational” God

◦ Order and natural law◦ Humans created with body and soul

Procreation created body, God “breathes” in soul Soul is immortal Body is the temple of the Holy Spirit

◦ Male and Female share common human dignity in the image and likeness of God

◦ Complimentary nature of sexual attraction◦ Marriage instituted

Sexual intercourse is intended to be shared between a man and a woman within the context of marriage

◦ Human given stewardship over creation

We Are Created in God’s Image p. 18

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Effect of Baptism◦ Removal of Original Sin◦ Effects of Original Sin remain

Sexuality ◦ Affects all aspects of the identity of human persons◦ In our sexuality, we express our human dignity◦ Chastity – a virtue which integrates sexuality into

our hole self; body and spirit◦ Chastity seeks to master passions◦ Temperance a Cardinal Virtue which regulates and

balances our attraction to pleasure

We Are Created in God’s Image p. 20

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Sermon on the Mount◦ Jesus speaks against duplicity, “Let yes mean yes…”

In Union with Christ◦ Grace enables our holiness and relationship with

God/Jesus◦ Growth toward perfection◦ Being a disciple is to be a follower (learner)of Jesus

Virtue - habit Cardinal Virtues

◦ Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance Theological Virtues

◦ Faith, Hope, Charity

We Are Created in God’s Image p. 20

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Aloysius Gonzaga◦ Wealthy Italian family; practiced acting ‘like a

saint’◦ Entered Society of Jesus (Jesuits)◦ Died at 23

Know “ways” to grow in holiness◦ Know Jesus; Forgive enemies; Love others; Show

courage; Serve; Go to Mass◦ Martyr - literally “witness”

Being a Saint p. 22-23

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Mystery – a truth that is incomprehensible, especially relating to God’s divinity (unknowable)

Salvation History◦ God reveals Himself through scripture:

Scripture (O.T.) tells of the many sacred events (stories) of God’s leading the Chosen People to the Promised Land

Burning Bush, Red Sea, Passover, Mana Noah and the Ark, Joseph, David, Solomon Prophets

◦ God reveals His name as “I Am who I am” Burning bush story reveals God of past, present and future God fully reveals Himself in Jesus

The Mystery of God’s Love p. 24

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Revelation◦ Jesus fully reveals God◦ Divine revelation is entrusted to the Church via:

Apostolic Succession (Sacred Tradition) – handing on of the leadership form Peter and apostles to the Bishops

Sacred Scripture - the inspired Word of God that captures the witness of Jesus and the early Church’s mission and truth

◦ The Magisterium is the Church office who protects and promulgates the “sacred deposit of faith”

The Mystery of God’s Love p. 24

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The Holy Trinity is the central mystery of our faith ◦ Sign of the Cross◦ Holy Trinity models our love for self, others & God

Holy Trinity dogmas:◦ One God, in three distinct persons; who are in

relation to one another Dogma – central truths Catholics are obligated to

believe as a core element of our faith

Holy Trinity p. 27

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Knowing God◦ Cardinal Joseph Bernardin

Humans desire to be united with God◦ St. Augustine

“Our heart is restless until it rests in you.”◦ Catholic Catechism

"Believing in God, the only One, and loving Him with all our being has enormous consequences.“

The desire for God is written on the human heart Natural Law and Human Experience

◦ Cite Teacher Page articles to Know God Nature – awesome beauty and wonder Passion – Fr. Farrell, words of passion “Yes, No, and Wow!” Reflection – insight, conscience, prayer

Our Desire for God p. 28

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Faith – a believe and trust in that unknowable◦ A Virtue and gift of the Holy Spirit which affects our

intellect and will Attributes of Faithful person:

◦ Thankful to God (acknowledgement that all is gift)◦ Realization of the unity and dignity of both the

individual and community of persons◦ Stewardship of creation and environment◦ Places trust and confidence on the providential care

of God Book of Job – the problem of evil

Our Desire for God p. 28

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We share God’s life through the Holy Trinity◦ Love of neighbor is inseparable from love of God◦ “To love another person is to see the face of God…” –

Jean Valjean, Les Miserables

◦ Jesus states we are not to treat each other with pure motives: Raqa – Aramaic word “blockhead or imbecile”

The Church is a means to share in God’s divine life◦ The sacraments provide sanctifying grace, which is

necessary for salvation (Augustine vs. Pelagius) Paschal Mystery – passion, death and resurrection of

Jesus; made present in the sacraments

Sharing the Divine Life p. 31

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Church faith support◦ Catechesis – process of religious instruction◦ RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults)◦ Sacraments of Initiation – which ground us in our

vocation to holiness Baptism (both infant and adults) Eucharist Confirmation

Sacraments’ purpose1. Sanctify humanity2. Make present the Body of Christ3. Worship God

Sharing the Divine Life p. 33

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Beatitude◦ St. Augustine – humanity has a common desire to be

happy◦ The heart of Jesus’ preaching◦ Beatitude means happiness◦ The Beatitudes teach us:

How to live to reach our eternal destiny How to love with “original holiness” To be dependent on God alone for happiness and

contentment That true happiness is not connected with fame and

fortune, rather with serving the God and our fellow man◦ “Poor in Spirit” – refers to the Hebrew poor- anawin

Sharing the Divine Life p. 34