Celinne Chelsy Benitez Religious Education BSN 1-A STEM

Section 1: The Trinity words of the Shema. Jesus himself tells

Part 1: God Is One: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit us there is only one God.

Article 1: God Is One: Catholics Are One God or Three Gods?

Monotheistic - During early Christianity, many believed
- The faith of Catholics is rooted in the that people rejected monotheism and
truth that there is one God in three favored polytheism.
Divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy - The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Spirit. (CCC) firmly states our belief in one God.
- “To confess that Jesus is Lord is
➔ Monotheism – Belief and worship in one distinctive of Christian faith.
God - Catholics have always affirmed the truth
➔ Trinitarianism – Belief that God is three that God is one.
Persons - Sunday liturgy when we say the Nicene
Creed: “[We] believe in one God.” ✞
➔ Covenant – personal, solemn promise of
faithful love that, mutual commitments, NICENE CREED
- In the Old Covenant, God revealed his I believe in one God,
Law through Moses and prepared his the Father almighty,
people for salvation. maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible
- He established a new and eternal and invisible.
Covenant in Jesus Christ, his only Son.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only
➔ Doctrine – official, authoritative teaching Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before
of the Church based on the Revelation of all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true
God. God from true God, begotten, not made,
➔ Trinity – truth that God, although one, is consubstantial with the Father; through him all
three Divine Persons: the Father, the Son, things were made. For us men and for our
and the Holy Spirit. salvation he came down from heaven, and by
the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
Polytheism – belief in many Gods and became man. For our sake he was crucified
- Hindus or Shintoists who worship many under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was
gods. buried, and rose again on the third day in
accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended
- God’s covenant with Abraham revealed into heaven and is seated at the right hand of
the essential truth: there is only one the Father. He will come again in glory to judge
God, the Lord of all the earth. the living and the dead and his kingdom will
have no end.
➔ Jews – Abraham and Sarah’s
descendants; embraced monotheistic I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of
faith life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and
Shema – prayer uttered daily by faithful Jews glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
- Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel, the
Lord is our God, the Lord is One” I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic
- The Bible, in both the Old and New Church. I confess one Baptism for the
Testaments, consistently reveals that forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the
there is only one true God. resurrection of the dead and the life of the world
- Gospel of Mark (see 12:28–29), a scribe to come. Amen.
asks Jesus which is the greatest of all the
Commandments. Jesus quotes the
Three Major Monotheistic Religions
Celinne Chelsy Benitez Religious Education BSN 1-A STEM

- Only Christians have recognized God as 3 Divine Persons

Trinity - Inseparable but distinct in what they do,
- We share a monotheistic faith with are, and origins; it does divide the divine
Judaism and Islam (Muslims) pray the unity; have a perfect communion
Shahadah; “There is no God but God and How?
Muhammad is the Messenger of God.” 1. Each carries out the work of our salvation
in the way that is most proper.
- The Second Vatican Council spoke of the 2. The three Persons are distinct in their
“common spiritual heritage” shared by relationship to one another.
Jews and Christians - Eternal, existing without beginning or
- It expressed dismay for the hatred and end
persecution Jews have endured at many - Each Divine Person is fully God—
times throughout history. complete, whole, and entire.
- Expressed “esteem” for Muslims: “They - Have the same job description
worship God, who is one, living and - Engaged in the work of our salvation.
subsistent, merciful and mighty, the Each acts to create us in love, redeem us,
Creator of heaven and earth, who has and make us holy.
also spoken to humanity”.
- What Catholics share with Jews and ➔ Incarnate – flesh; Jesus is fully God and
Muslims does not in any way lessen the human
truth of our Catholic beliefs. It helps us to ➔ Son - incarnate; assumed human nature;
appreciate and marvel at the many begotten of the Father
people of different times and places who ➔ Holy Spirit – sent to guide the Church;
have recognized the reality that there is proceeds from both the Father and the
only one God, Creator of all. Son.
➔ Father – generator; unbegotten – always
Article 2: God Is Three-in-One: Catholics Are existed
Trinitarian
- The Trinity Revealed by God in Sacred
➔ Nicene Creed – Formal statement of Scripture
faith recited during the Eucharist. - The Church did not fully articulate the
➔ Divine economy – Economy of salvation, doctrine of the Trinity until the councils
God’s eternal plan and his actions for the of the 4th-5th centuries
salvation of humanity. Common work of - Luke’s Gospel, “no one knows who the
3 divine persons. Son is except the Father, and who the
➔ Mystery – revealed truth beyond our Father is except the Son”
experience and ability to grasp fully by - Gospel of John, “whoever has seen me
our faith. has seen the Father”
- Gospel of Matthew, Jesus commissions
- The mystery of the Holy Trinity — the his disciples to baptize “in the name of
mystery of one God in three Persons — the Father, and of the Son, and of the
unique defining trait of Christian faith. holy Spirit”

- Catechism states the Church’s “most - Baptism allowed us to share in the life of
fundamental and essential teaching” and the Blessed Trinity.
the central mystery of our faith, which
only God can fully reveal to us. ➔ Sign of the Cross – remember in both
word and action—who we are: God’s
➔ Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. beloved children, living always under the
love, protection, and guidance of the
United, Yet Distinct Blessed Trinity.
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Article 3: The First Person of the Trinity: - Similar characteristics to parents, “God’s
God the Father parental tender- ness can also be
First Person – God the Father expressed by the image of motherhood =
- Eternal Father of the Eternal Son. God’s immanence, the intimacy between
- Eternal Source of all that exists. Creator and creature
- “maker of heaven and earth, of all things - God transcends the human distinction
visible and invisible.” between the sexes”
- He is the source of all life; that all creation - No human language can ever fully
exists because of God. capture or describe the Divine Mystery.
- all-powerful and desires to be in an
intimate, loving relationship with his Article 4: The Second Person of the
creation. Trinity: God the Son
- God’s faithful love will never, ever fail us. - Assumed human nature for our
salvation.
Filial – relationship of a child to his or her - Jesus Christ is both truly and fully God
parents. and truly and fully human.
- Unique relationship with God the Father:
Jesus Reveals God the Father he is the only, and the Eternal, Son of
Jesus calls God Abba in Aramaic – “Father.” God.
- Jesus has a filial and intimate - became flesh through the power of the
relationship with God. Holy Spirit.
- In prayer, Jesus knew God’s
unconditional love Jesus Is Truly God
- Purpose of the Incarnation: “For God so
Prodigal Son loved the world that he gave his only
- story of a father who loves both of his Son, so that everyone who believes in
sons with patience, compassion, and joy. him might not perish but might have
- Gentle, transforming love of God the eternal life”
Father. - Jesus – truly God’s own self made flesh
among us.
We Are God’s Adopted Children
- Jesus invites us to call God, Father Jesus Is Truly Human
ourselves. - Jesus is truly and fully God and human.
- Through baptism, we become God’s - Son of Mary and God.
adopted children - He teaches us to love the truth, to pray
- It does not mean that God cares for us - always in faith, and to forgive those who
only if we are baptized. have wronged us.
- “the Church does not know of any means
other than Baptism that assures entry Last/Final Judgment – judgment of the human
into eternal beatitude/beatific mission race by Jesus Christ at his second coming
- God’s infinite love and tender mercy
extend to all people, even in ways we Why Did God Become Incarnate?
cannot fully understand. The name Jesus was given by angel Gabriel =
God Saves
Beatitude – state of eternal happiness with God - Incarnation is part of salvation history:
in Heaven. God’s eternal plan to redeem and save
humanity.

Is God Male?
- God is not human; he is a spirit God became incarnate:
- Has no gender ● to save us by reconciling us with God
Celinne Chelsy Benitez Religious Education BSN 1-A STEM

● to share divine love with us were. Then there appeared to them

● to show us how to be holy tongues as of fire, which parted and
● to enable us to share in God’s came to rest on each one of them. And
● divine nature they were all filled with the holy Spirit”
- Receiving the gift of the Spirit means
Athanasius – fourth-century saint, “the Son of that the mission of Jesus becomes the
God became man so that we might become mission of the Church.
God,” or share in God’s divine life. - The Spirit empowers us to follow the way
of Jesus by sharing God’s love with our
During Ascension, Jesus’ humanity entered into friends and families, being a healing
God’s heavenly domain, from where he will presence to those in need, and
come again at the Last Judgment. preaching the Good News through our
words and actions.
Nativity – reminder of the Incarnation. - Because Jesus is no longer physically
present here on earth, the Paraclete
Christ: Not Jesus’ Last Name blesses and strengthens our efforts to
- Christ – title given to Jesus = christos live as Jesus did: bringing justice, peace,
(Greek) or Messiah (Hebrew) (anointed and truth to all those we meet.
one)
- Anointing with oil – chosen by God for a The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
special mission or purpose. 1. Wisdom – open our eyes to see God at
work, finding meaning at everything
Pentecost – received the Holy Spirit, 7 weeks 2. Understanding – follow the correct
after Easter Sunday course of action, weighing both sides of a
situation
Article 5: The Third Person of the Trinity: 3. Counsel – Right Judgment, help us to
God the Holy Spirit know right from wrong
Holy Spirit 4. Fortitude – Courage, enables us to do
- “the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds the right thing, even when we are afraid.
from the Father and the Son.” 5. Knowledge – empowers us to use our
- speaking to God’s people through the intellect
ancient prophets and anointing Jesus for 6. Piety – Reverence, remind us all we have
his special mission to redeem and save comes from God
us. 7. Fear of the Lord – Wonder and Awe, fills
- Share a joint mission to bring us into the us with a spirit of profound respect,
Body of Christ as God’s adopted sons and beginning of wisdom (reason: you will
daughters. not see God at work, if you perceive your
- It was not fully revealed until after Jesus’ life in constant; instead, you become
death and Resurrection. amaze with God’s work)

Promised by Jesus, Given at Pentecost Part 2 The Development of Trinitarian

- Nearing the death of Jesus, he promised Doctrine
his disciples to send them an advocate –
someone on our side, to help, Article 6: The Early Church Faces
strengthen, and empower us. Challenges to Apostolic Faith
- It was the Holy Spirit (Paraclete)
- Sent it during the pentecost in the act of Church Fathers (bishops) – Teachers and
the apostles writers in the early Church whose teachings are
- “Suddenly there came from the sky a a witness to the Apostolic Tradition.
noise like a strong driving wind, and it
filled the entire house in which they
Celinne Chelsy Benitez Religious Education BSN 1-A STEM

Ecumenical Council – worldwide gathering of about Jesus Christ, including his identity,
Catholic bishops convened by the Pope to mission, and saving work on earth.
discuss and resolve issues and problems the ➔ Heresy - False Teaching
Church is facing must be approved by the Pope. ➔ Christological Heresy - false teaching
- sign of the Church’s willingness to about Christ
explore pressing needs
- respond to concerns with the message, - Some heresies downplayed or denied
values, and truth of the Gospel. the divinity of Jesus.

Philosophy – “love of wisdom.”, study of human Heresies Focusing on Jesus’ Humanity

existence using logical reasoning. 1. Arianism (Arius) – higher creature than
humans but less God
The Early Church Develops Trinitarian - Jesus was created, just as we were
Language - Jesus did not exist before he was
- Second Letter to the Corinthians, Saint conceived in Mary’s womb
Paul writes: “The grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ and the love of God and the 2. Nestorianism (Nestorius) – In Jesus
fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of there were actually two Persons, one
you” – belief in the Trinity from the divine and one human
earliest times - Concerned of Jesus’ humanity
- To express the doctrine of the Trinity, the - it was wrong to say things like “God
Church Fathers turned to the language suffered and died for us” or “God was
of philosophy. born of the Virgin Mary.”

● Substance – “the divine being in its Heresies Focusing on Jesus’ Divinity

unity.” (one) 1. Docetism - apparent/disguise
● Person or Hypostasis – Father, Son, and - He looked and acted as human, but
Holy Spirit, each fully God, yet each inside a God.
distinct. - Claims Jesus didn’t really suffer on the
● Relation – distinction among the three cross; he couldn’t really suffer a human
Persons lies in the relationship death because he was God

Saint Irenaeus, Defender of the Faith 2. Monophysitism - fully absorbed

- Second-century bishop in Lyons, France humanity, only divine, not human
- Prolific writer
- Book – Against Heresies. 3. Gnosticism – salvation can be obtained
- Crucial it was for the Church to from special, secret knowledge from God
safeguard her apostolic faith – Jesus had - Gnosis – knowledge
shared with the Apostles and that they - series of religions
had passed on to their successors. - Jesus was not a man at all, but a semi
- Concerned about Gnosticism – false divine being.
teachings about Jesus - God sent him to share this special
- We too need to speak the truth without knowledge with a select, elite group
fear, trusting always in God’s steadfast
love. The Church Defends the Truth
- Feast day is June 28. ● Cause great division
● Presented the doctrine of the
Article 7: Early Christological Heresies Incarnation (solution)
➔ Christology – study of Christ; the ● Jesus, before was only God, but through
systematic statement of Christian beliefs Incarnation he became man, but he
stayed as God
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Mary, Mother of God (Theotokos) – God-bearer - Jesus, God the Son, is one Divine Person
- New Testament period, Mary was with two natures
revered as the Mother of Jesus. - Jesus is “consubstantial with the Father
- Did not receive the title Mother of God as to his divinity and consubstantial
until the Nestorian heresy was with us as to his humanity”
renounced at the Ecumenical Council of
Ephesus in 431. The Second Vatican Council or Vatican II
- Unique role she played in our salvation – - Not all Ecumenical Councils are part of
brought the presence of God into the ancient history.
world - Convened by the Pope, the successor to
- Mother of Jesus & Mother of God. Saint Peter and the Vicar of Christ
- January 1 - Pope must confirm the decisions made
during the Council.
Article 8: The Ecumenical Councils of the - Recent – convened by Pope John XXIII
Early Church from 1962 to 1965
Focus of Councils – challenges to Christological - Issued 16 documents
and Trinitarian doctrines.
Article 9: The Nicene Creed
- 7 Ecumenical Councils were held. - Creed – summary statement of the
- 460 years (325-787) beliefs of an individual or a community.
- Anno Domini (Year of the Lord) AD - Formal name: Niceno-
Constantinopolitan Creed
Arianism - Product of Nicaea and Constantinople
- Jesus was more than human but less (promulgated)
than God—a sort of “in-between”
creature. Proclaiming Shared Beliefs
Profession of faith – reciting Creed during
Ecumenical Councils of the Early Church liturgy
1. Council of Nicaea – Nicene creed - “respond to the word of God proclaimed
- Jesus is truly God in the readings taken from Sacred
- God the Son is “of the same substance” Scripture and explained in the homily
as God the Father and that they may also call to mind and
- First draft – Nicene Creed confess the great mysteries of the faith”
- Jesus is “born of the Father before all - unity as one community of faith.
ages, God from God, Light from Light, - united in faith, through the Creed
true God from true God.” – Jesus’
identity as the Second Person of the Solemnities – Important holy days in the
Trinity Catholic liturgical calendar
- Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and All
2. Constantinople – revised Nicene Creed Saints’ Day.
by adding clauses referring to Holy Spirit
3. Ephesus – true personal unity of Christ, Advent – beginning, Christmas, Ordinary time
declared Mary, Mother of God – ending, Lent, Easter
(Theotokos)
4. Chalcedon (350) – two natures of Christ The Creed and Baptism
(divine and human) – undivided and Baptism – sacrament by one becomes Christian
inseparable
- understanding the Trinity & inner life of - To know and profess beliefs
God the Son - Praying it dedicates ourselves to Catholic
- relationship and distinction between faith
God the Father and God the Son - Renew our commitment to the promises
Celinne Chelsy Benitez Religious Education BSN 1-A STEM

Key Concepts in the Nicene Creed

1. Trinitarian Faith
2. Key events in Salvation – Birth, death,
resurrection, ascension
3. Affirms resurrection and Last
Judgment

4 Marks
The Church is…
1. One
2. Holy
3. Catholic
4. Apostolic

Wisdom and Appeal of Creed - invites prayer,

reflection

Article 10: The Trinity: Model for Human

Relationships
● “there is a certain resemblance between
the unity of the divine persons” and the
kind of relationships we should have with
one another
● Never cease to reach out with grace,
compassion, and mercy to all humanity.
● Our Triune God is not distant from us,
unconcerned with our joys and
struggles; rather, our God is involved in
human history. He became part of
human history through the Incarnation
of Jesus Christ.
● As we live on Earth, we are destined to
live like God in relationship with others,
not in isolation.
● “exchange with others, mutual service
and dialogue”, we grow as people,
discover our gifts and talents, and learn
to live in the way God wants.

Trinity
● foundation for relationships built on
unity, truth, and love.
● incomprehensible mystery
● isn’t unrelated to our human experience.
● dynamic communion of Persons who
dwell together in love and unity.