Church & Sacraments
Define the "nature-grace interdependence" world view of Roman Catholic theology.
Nature is capable of receiving, cooperating with, and transmitting grace when natural elements are consecrated by the Catholic Church. Through the power of God, nature conveys grace, and grace must be communicated through nature.
How would Catholics and Protestants differ in answering the following question:
Of what does the Bible consist?
Catholics: "The Old Testament, including the Apocrypha, and the New Testament, specifically the Latin Vulgate"
Protestants: "The Old Testament, without the Apocrypha, and the New Testament."
(p.80)
According to Catholic doctrine, what is a mortal sin, and what happens when someone commits it?
A mortal sin is a serious transgression by which someone falls away from God and loses saving grace.
To return to a state of grace, one must observe the sacrament of Penance.
How do Protestants and Catholics differ in their understanding of the Lord's Supper?
For Catholics: "The Lord's Supper is a memorial, offering, re-presentation of Christ's sacrifice, and the presence of Christ through transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ."
For Protestants: "The Lord's Supper is a continuing rite, based on the Word of God and received by faith, which either presents Christ, portrays Christ's spiritual presence and benefits, or prompts remembrance of Christ's saving sacrifice as proclaimed in the gospel." (p. 124)
How would Catholics and Protestants differ in answering the following question:
"How are we to understand the Word of God?"
Catholics: "With dependence on, and in accordance with, the Magisterium's official interpretation."
Protestants: "With the illumination of the Holy Spirit, knowing that Scripture is clear, following sound interpretive principles, and with the help of their pastors."
What is penance?
- Express contrition (genuine sorrow over sin)
- Go to confession (recount mortal sins to a priest)
- Absolution (priest pronounces forgiveness)
- Satisfaction (priest assigns activities such as prayer, offering, works of mercy, service of self-denial for penance)
This brings a person back into a "state of grace"
How do protestants and Catholics differ in their understanding of the church as the body of Christ?
Catholics view the church as an extension of the incarnation. Christ and the Church essentially become one reality. The church, therefore, becomes and acts as the mediator between God and man.
Protestants understand the body of Christ to be metaphorical language designed to portray the intimate relationship of unity between the two with Christ as the head.
The Catholic Church has a threefold structure of authority. These three elements provide divine revelation and its authoritative interpretation for the Church. What are they?
1. Scripture
2. Tradition
3. The Magisterium
According to Roman Catholicism, when does regeneration happen? (Extra 100 points if you can point to a Scripture reference that a Roman Catholic will point to for this answer)
"Baptism is the right of initiation through which sins are forgiven and the baptized are born again in the Holy Spirit. This gift, which is unmerited, is called 'initial justification.'" (p. 125)
(Catholics will point to Titus 3:4-7; John 3:3-8)
Find and read aloud the Scripture that Catholics rely upon for the development of the doctrine of the Pope.
Why do protestants reject the interpretation of that Scripture?
Matthew 16:13-20
What does it mean when the Pope speaks EX CATHEDRA?
In exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole Church. In other words, he speaks on behalf of God and inspired by God to define a doctrine.
What is the purpose of Purgatory in Roman Catholic doctrine? (100 bonus points if you can name which book the doctrine of purgatory comes from.)
"Purgatory is a state of final purification after death and before entrance to heaven for those who died in God's friendship, but were only imperfectly purified; a cleaning of human imperfection before one is able to enter the joy of heaven." (p. 135)
(The doctrine was developed from 2 Maccabees 12:39-45)
According to Catholics, what does it mean that the sacraments are effective ex opere operato?
The Latin phrase literally means "by the work worked". The sacraments are means by which grace is infused into their recipients, transforming their nature and enabling them to merit eternal life
For Catholics, Scripture has multiple senses, which become a fourfold meaning. Name two of the four senses.
(For 100 bonus points name and define the meaning that Martin Luther championed: the ______, _________ meaning to understanding the Bible.
1) literal
2) allegorical sense (Christological)
3) tropological sense (Christian conduct)
4) anagogical sense (Future fulfillment)
Martin Luther championed the "grammatical, historical, meaning"
(p.83
What Catholic council condemned all protestants as anathema?
What Catholic council opened up the possibility of sincere Protestants, Muslims, Jews, agnostics, and even atheists being saved?
Council of Trent (1545-1563) condemned all protestants as anathema.
Vatican Council II (1962-1965) opened the possibility of saving grace being given to any individuals who are sincere.