catechism ofthe catholic church

8/13/2019 Catechism Ofthe Catholic Church

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The Catechism of the Catholic Church

PROLOGUE

FATHER,... this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true Go, an !esus "hrist whom you

ha#e sent.$ %&'

Go our (a#iour esires all men to )e sa#e an to *ome to the knowle+e of the truth.$ %'

There is no other name uner hea#en +i#en amon+ men )y whi*h we must )e sa#e$ %-' than the

name of !E(U(.

&!n &/ -

& Tim 0-1.-A*ts 10&

2. The life of man to know an lo#e Go

& Go, infinitely 3erfe*t an )lesse in himself, in a 3lan of sheer +ooness freely *reate man to make

him share in his own )lesse life. For this reason, at e#ery time an in e#ery 3la*e, Go raws *lose toman. He *alls man to seek him, to know him, to lo#e him with all his stren+th. He *alls to+ether all

men, s*attere an i#ie )y sin, into the unity of his family, the "hur*h. To a**om3lish this, when

the fullness of time ha *ome, Go sent his (on as Reeemer an (a#iour. 2n his (on an throu+h him,he in#ites men to )e*ome, in the Holy (3irit, his ao3te *hilren an thus heirs of his )lesse life.

(o that this *all shoul resoun throu+hout the worl, "hrist sent forth the a3ostles he ha *hosen,

*ommissionin+ them to 3ro*laim the +os3el0 Go therefore an make is*i3les of all nations, )a3ti4in+

them in the name of the Father an of the (on an of the Holy (3irit, tea*hin+ them to o)ser#e all that 2ha#e *ommane you5 an lo, 2 am with you always, to the *lose of the a+e.$ %1' (tren+thene )y this

mission, the a3ostles went forth an 3rea*he e#erywhere, while the Lor worke with them an*onfirme the messa+e )y the si+ns that attene it.$ %6'

- Those who with Go7s hel3 ha#e wel*ome "hrist7s *all an freely res3one to it are ur+e on )ylo#e of "hrist to 3ro*laim the Goo 8ews e#erywhere in the worl. This treasure, re*ei#e from the

a3ostles, has )een faithfully +uare )y their su**essors. All "hrist7s faithful are *alle to han it on

from +eneration to +eneration, )y 3rofessin+ the faith, )y li#in+ it in fraternal sharin+, an )y

*ele)ratin+ it in litur+y an 3rayer. %9'

1:t ;0&uite early on, the name *ate*hesis was +i#en to the totality of the "hur*h7s efforts to make is*i3les,

to hel3 men )elie#e that !esus is the (on of Go so that )elie#in+ they mi+ht ha#e life in his name, anto eu*ate an instru*t them in this life, thus )uilin+ u3 the )oy of "hrist. %/'
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6 "ate*hesis is an eu*ation in the faith of *hilren, youn+ 3eo3le an aults whi*h in*lues

es3e*ially the tea*hin+ of "hristian o*trine im3arte, +enerally s3eakin+, in an or+ani* an systemati*

way, with a #iew to initiatin+ the hearers into the fullness of "hristian life.$ %;'

9 ?hile not )ein+ formally ientifie with them, *ate*hesis is )uilt on a *ertain num)er of elements ofthe "hur*h7s 3astoral mission whi*h ha#e a *ate*heti*al as3e*t, that 3re3are for *ate*hesis, or s3rin+

from it. They are0 the initial 3ro*lamation of the Gos3el or missionary 3rea*hin+ to arouse faith5

e@amination of the reasons for )elief5 e@3erien*e of "hristian li#in+5 *ele)ration of the sa*raments5inte+ration into the e**lesial *ommunity5 an a3ostoli* an missionary witness. %


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&& This *ate*hism aims at 3resentin+ an or+ani* synthesis of the essential an funamental *ontents of

"atholi* o*trine, as re+ars )oth faith an morals, in the li+ht of the (e*on Cati*an "oun*il an the

whole of the "hur*h7s Traition. 2ts 3rin*i3al sour*es are the (a*re (*ri3tures, the Fathers of the

"hur*h, the litur+y, an the "hur*h7s :a+isterium. 2t is intene to ser#e as a 3oint of referen*e forthe *ate*hisms or *om3enia that are *om3ose in the #arious *ountries$. %&6'

& This work is intene 3rimarily for those res3onsi)le for *ate*hesis0 first of all the )isho3s, as

tea*hers of the faith an 3astors of the "hur*h. 2t is offere to them as an instrument in fulfillin+ theirres3onsi)ility of tea*hin+ the Peo3le of Go. Throu+h the )isho3s, it is aresse to rea*tors of*ate*hisms, to 3riests, an to *ate*hists. 2t will also )e useful reain+ for all other "hristian faithful.

&6E@traorinary (yno of isho3s &


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C. Pra*ti*al Dire*tions for Usin+ this "ate*hism

&; This *ate*hism is *on*ei#e as an or+ani* 3resentation of the "atholi* faith in its entirety. 2t shoul

)e seen therefore as a unifie whole. 8umerous *rossreferen*es in the mar+in of the te@t num)ers

foun at the en of a senten*e referrin+ to other 3ara+ra3hs that eal with the same theme, as well asthe analyti*al ine@ at the en of the #olume, allow the reaer to #iew ea*h theme in its relationshi3

with the entirety of the faith.

&< The te@ts of (a*re (*ri3ture are often not uote wor for wor )ut are merely ini*ate )y a

referen*e *f.. For a ee3er unerstanin+ of su*h 3assa+es, the reaer shoul refer to the (*ri3turalte@ts themsel#es. (u*h i)li*al referen*es are a #alua)le workin+tool in *ate*hesis.

= The use of small 3rint in *ertain 3assa+es ini*ates o)ser#ations of an histori*al or a3olo+eti*

nature, or su33lementary o*trinal e@3lanations.

& The uotations, also in small 3rint, from 3atristi*, litur+i*al, ma+isterial or ha+io+ra3hi*al sour*es,

are intene to enri*h the o*trinal 3resentations. These te@ts ha#e often )een *hosen with a #iew toire*t *ate*heti*al use.

At the en of ea*h themati* unit, a series of )rief te@ts in small itali*s sums u3 the essentials of that

unit7s tea*hin+ in *onense formulae. These 28 R2EF$ summaries may su++est to lo*al *ate*hists)rief summary formulae that *oul )e memori4e.

C2. 8e*essary Aa3tations

- The "ate*hism em3hasi4es the e@3osition of o*trine. 2t seeks to hel3 ee3en unerstanin+ of

faith. 2n this way it is oriente towars the maturin+ of that faith, its 3uttin+ own roots in 3ersonal life,

an its shinin+ forth in 3ersonal *onu*t. %&/'

1 y esi+n, this "ate*hism oes not set out to 3ro#ie the aa3tation of o*trinal 3resentations an*ate*heti*al methos reuire )y the ifferen*es of *ulture, a+e, s3iritual maturity, an so*ial an

e**lesial *onition amon+ all those to whom it is aresse. (u*h inis3ensa)le aa3tations are the

res3onsi)ility of 3arti*ular *ate*hisms an, e#en more, of those who instru*t the faithful0

?hoe#er tea*hes must )e*ome all thin+s to all men$ 2 "or


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&/"f. "T =5 6.

&;Roman "ate*hism, Prefa*e 225 *f. 2 "or


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Go emans of man e#ery effort of intelle*t, a soun will, an u3ri+ht heart$, as well as the witness of

others who tea*h him to seek Go.

Iou are +reat, O Lor, an +reatly to )e 3raise0 +reat is your 3ower an your wisom is without

measure. an man, so small a 3art of your *reation, wants to 3raise you0 this man, thou+h *lothe withmortality an )earin+ the e#ien*e of sin an the 3roof that you withstan the 3rou. Des3ite

e#erythin+, man, thou+h )ut a small a 3art of your *reation, wants to 3raise you. Iou yourself

en*oura+e him to eli+ht in your 3raise, for you ha#e mae us for yourself, an our heart is restlessuntil it rests in you. %9'

&Cati*an "oun*il 22, G( &< J &.A*ts &/09;.

-G( &< J &.

1"f. G( &


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to +i#e him the +ra*e of )ein+ a)le to wel*ome this re#elation in faith.so the 3roofs of Go7s

e@isten*e, howe#er, *an 3reis3ose one to faith an hel3 one to see that faith is not o33ose to reason.

/Rom &0&


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1= (in*e our knowle+e of Go is limite, our lan+ua+e a)out him is eually so. ?e *an name Go

only )y takin+ *reatures as our startin+ 3oint, an in a**oran*e with our limite human ways of

knowin+ an thinkin+.

1& All *reatures )ear a *ertain resem)lan*e to Go, most es3e*ially man, *reate in the ima+e anlikeness of Go. the manifol 3erfe*tions of *reatures their truth, their +ooness, their )eauty all

refle*t the infinite 3erfe*tion of Go. "onseuently we *an name Go )y takin+ his *reatures$

3erfe*tions as our startin+ 3oint, for from the +reatness an )eauty of *reate thin+s *omes a*orres3onin+ 3er*e3tion of their "reator$. %&6'

1 Go trans*ens all *reatures. ?e must therefore *ontinually 3urify our lan+ua+e of e#erythin+ in it

that is limite, ima+e)oun or im3erfe*t, if we are not to *onfuse our ima+e of Go $the

ine@3ressi)le, the in*om3rehensi)le, the in#isi)le, the un+ras3a)le$ with our human re3resentations.

%&9' Our human wors always fall short of the mystery of Go.

1- Amittely, in s3eakin+ a)out Go like this, our lan+ua+e is usin+ human moes of e@3ression5

ne#ertheless it really oes attain to Go himself, thou+h una)le to e@3ress him in his infinite sim3li*ity.

Likewise, we must re*all that )etween "reator an *reature no similitue *an )e e@3resse without

im3lyin+ an e#en +reater issimilitue$5 %&/' an that *on*ernin+ Go, we *annot +ras3 what he is,

)ut only what he is not, an how other )ein+s stan in relation to him.$ %&;'

&6?is &-06

&9Litur+y of (t. !ohn "hrysostom, Ana3hora.

&/Lateran "oun*il 2C0 D( ;=9.

&;(t. Thomas Auinas, ("G &, -=.

28 R2EF

11 :an is )y nature an #o*ation a reli+ious )ein+. "omin+ from Go, +oin+ towar Go, man li#es a

fully human life only if he freely li#es )y his )on with Go.16 :an is mae to li#e in *ommunion with Go in whom he fins ha33iness0 ?hen 2 am *om3letely

unite to you, there will )e no more sorrow or trials5 entirely full of you, my life will )e *om3lete (t.Au+ustine, "onf. &=, ;, -


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6= y natural reason man *an know Go with *ertainty, on the )asis of his works. ut there is another

orer of knowle+e, whi*h man *annot 3ossi)ly arri#e at )y his own 3owers0 the orer of i#ine

Re#elation. %&' Throu+h an utterly free e*ision, Go has re#eale himself an +i#en himself to man.

This he oes )y re#ealin+ the mystery, his 3lan of lo#in+ +ooness, forme from all eternity in "hrist,for the )enefit of all men. Go has fully re#eale this 3lan )y senin+ us his )elo#e (on, our Lor

!esus "hrist, an the Holy (3irit.

&"f. Dei Filius D( -=&6.

Arti*le &

THE RECELAT2O8 OF GOD

2. Go Re#eals His Plan of Lo#in+ Gooness$

6& 2t 3lease Go, in his +ooness an wisom, to re#eal himself an to make known the mystery ofhis will. His will was that men shoul ha#e a**ess to the Father, throu+h "hrist, the ?or mae flesh,

in the Holy (3irit, an thus )e*ome sharers in the i#ine nature.$ %'

6 Go, who wells in una33roa*ha)le li+ht$, wants to *ommuni*ate his own i#ine life to the men he

freely *reate, in orer to ao3t them as his sons in his only)e+otten (on. %-' y re#ealin+ himselfGo wishes to make them *a3a)le of res3onin+ to him, an of knowin+ him an of lo#in+ him far

)eyon their own natural *a3a*ity.

6- The i#ine 3lan of Re#elation is reali4e simultaneously )y ees an wors whi*h are

intrinsi*ally )oun u3 with ea*h other$ %1' an she li+ht on ea*h another. 2t in#ol#es a s3e*ifi* i#ine3ea+o+y0 Go *ommuni*ates himself to man +raually. He 3re3ares him to wel*ome )y sta+es the

su3ernatural Re#elation that is to *ulminate in the 3erson an mission of the in*arnate ?or, !esus

"hrist.

(t. 2renaeus of Lyons re3eately s3eaks of this i#ine 3ea+o+y usin+ the ima+e of Go an man)e*omin+ a**ustome to one another0 the ?or of Go welt in man an )e*ame the (on of man in

orer to a**ustom man to 3er*ei#e Go an to a**ustom Go to well in man, a**orin+ to the Father7s

3leasure. %6'

DC 5 *f. E3h &0


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66 This re#elation was not )roken off )y our first 3arents7 sin. After the fall, Go )uoye them u3

with the ho3e of sal#ation, )y 3romisin+ reem3tion5 an he has ne#er *ease to show his soli*itue for

the human ra*e. For he wishes to +i#e eternal life to all those who seek sal#ation )y 3atien*e in well

oin+.$ %/'

E#en when he iso)eye you an lost your frienshi3 you i not a)anon him to the 3ower of

eath. . . A+ain an a+ain you offere a *o#enant to man. %;'

The *o#enant with 8oah

69 After the unity of the human ra*e was shattere )y sin Go at on*e sou+ht to sa#e humanity 3art )y

3art. the *o#enant with 8oah after the floo +i#es e@3ression to the 3rin*i3le of the i#ine e*onomytowar the nations$, in other wors, towars men +rou3e in their lans, ea*h with its own

lan+ua+e, )y their families, in their nations$. %


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women as (arah, Re)e**a, Ra*hel, :iriam, De)orah, Hannah, !uith an Esther ke3t ali#e the ho3e of

2srael7s sal#ation. the 3urest fi+ure amon+ them is :ary. %1'

9DC -5 *f. !n &0-5 Rom &0&


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*ertain 3erio of history. Guie )y the :a+isterium of the "hur*h, the sensus fielium knows how to

is*ern an wel*ome in these re#elations whate#er *onstitutes an authenti* *all of "hrist or his saints to

the "hur*h.

"hristian faith *annot a**e3t re#elations$ that *laim to sur3ass or *orre*t the Re#elation of whi*h"hrist is the fulfilment, as is the *ase in *ertain non"hristian reli+ions an also in *ertain re*ent se*ts

whi*h )ase themsel#es on su*h re#elations$.

6DC .

9He) &0&

/(t. !ohn of the "ross, the As*ent of :ount "armel , , -6 in The "olle*te ?orks of (t. !ohnof the "ross, tr. K. Ka#anau+h O"D an O. Rori+ue4 O"D ?ashin+ton D"0 2nstitute of "armelite

(tuies, &


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2. The A3ostoli* Traition

/6 "hrist the Lor, in whom the entire Re#elation of the most hi+h Go is summe u3, *ommane

the a3ostles to 3rea*h the Gos3el, whi*h ha )een 3romise )eforehan )y the 3ro3hets, an whi*h he

fulfille in his own 3erson an 3romul+ate with his own li3s. 2n 3rea*hin+ the Gos3el, they were to

*ommuni*ate the +ifts of Go to all men. This Gos3el was to )e the sour*e of all sa#in+ truth an moralis*i3line.$ %-'

2n the a3ostoli* 3rea*hin+. . .

/9 2n kee3in+ with the Lor7s *omman, the Gos3el was hane on in two ways0 orally )y the

a3ostles who hane on, )y the s3oken wor of their 3rea*hin+, )y the e@am3le they +a#e, )y theinstitutions they esta)lishe, what they themsel#es ha re*ei#e whether from the li3s of "hrist, from

his way of life an his works, or whether they ha learne it at the 3rom3tin+ of the Holy (3irit$5 %--'

in writin+ )y those a3ostles an other men asso*iate with the a3ostles who, uner the ins3iration ofthe same Holy (3irit, *ommitte the messa+e of sal#ation to writin+$. %-1'

. . . *ontinue in a3ostoli* su**ession

// 2n orer that the full an li#in+ Gos3el mi+ht always )e 3reser#e in the "hur*h the a3ostles left)isho3s as their su**essors. They +a#e them their own 3osition of tea*hin+ authority.$ %-6' 2nee, the

a3ostoli* 3rea*hin+, whi*h is e@3resse in a s3e*ial way in the ins3ire )ooks, was to )e 3reser#e in a*ontinuous line of su**ession until the en of time.$ %-9'

/; This li#in+ transmission, a**om3lishe in the Holy (3irit, is *alle Traition, sin*e it is istin*t from

(a*re (*ri3ture, thou+h *losely *onne*te to it. Throu+h Traition, the "hur*h, in her o*trine, life

an worshi3, 3er3etuates an transmits to e#ery +eneration all that she herself is, all that she )elie#es.$%-/' The sayin+s of the holy Fathers are a witness to the life+i#in+ 3resen*e of this Traition,

showin+ how its ri*hes are 3oure out in the 3ra*ti*e an life of the "hur*h, in her )elief an her

3rayer.$ %-;'

/< The Father7s self*ommuni*ation mae throu+h his ?or in the Holy (3irit, remains 3resent ana*ti#e in the "hur*h0 Go, who s3oke in the 3ast, *ontinues to *on#erse with the (3ouse of his

)elo#e (on. an the Holy (3irit, throu+h whom the li#in+ #oi*e of the Gos3el rin+s out in the "hur*h

an throu+h her in the worl leas )elie#ers to the full truth, an makes the ?or of "hrist well inthem in all its ri*hness.$ %-


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;= (a*re Traition an (a*re (*ri3ture, then, are )oun *losely to+ether, an *ommuni*ate one with

the other. For )oth of them, flowin+ out from the same i#ine wells3rin+, *ome to+ether in some

fashion to form one thin+, an mo#e towars the same +oal.$ %1=' Ea*h of them makes 3resent an

fruitful in the "hur*h the mystery of "hrist, who 3romise to remain with his own always, to the *loseof the a+e$. %1&'

. . . two istin*t moes of transmission

;& (a*re (*ri3ture is the s3ee*h of Go as it is 3ut own in writin+ uner the )reath of the Holy

(3irit.$ %1'

an %Holy' Traition transmits in its entirety the ?or of Go whi*h has )een entruste to the a3ostles)y "hrist the Lor an the Holy (3irit. 2t transmits it to the su**essors of the a3ostles so that,

enli+htene )y the (3irit of truth, they may faithfully 3reser#e, e@3oun an s3rea it a)roa )y their

3rea*hin+.$ %1-'

; As a result the "hur*h, to whom the transmission an inter3retation of Re#elation is entruste, oesnot eri#e her *ertainty a)out all re#eale truths from the holy (*ri3tures alone. oth (*ri3ture an

Traition must )e a**e3te an honoure with eual sentiments of e#otion an re#eren*e.$ %11'

A3ostoli* Traition an e**lesial traitions;- The Traition here in uestion *omes from the a3ostles an hans on what they re*ei#e from !esus7

tea*hin+ an e@am3le an what they learne from the Holy (3irit. the first +eneration of "hristians inot yet ha#e a written 8ew Testament, an the 8ew Testament itself emonstrates the 3ro*ess of li#in+

Traition.

Traition is to )e istin+uishe from the #arious theolo+i*al, is*i3linary, litur+i*al or e#otional

traitions, )orn in the lo*al *hur*hes o#er time. These are the 3arti*ular forms, aa3te to ifferent3la*es an times, in whi*h the +reat Traition is e@3resse. 2n the li+ht of Traition, these traitions *an

)e retaine, moifie or e#en a)anone uner the +uian*e of the "hur*h7s :a+isterium.

1=DC


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in this matter is e@er*ise in the name of !esus "hrist.$ %1/' This means that the task of inter3retation

has )een entruste to the )isho3s in *ommunion with the su**essor of Peter, the isho3 of Rome.

;9 Iet this :a+isterium is not su3erior to the ?or of Go, )ut is its ser#ant. 2t tea*hes only what has

)een hane on to it. At the i#ine *omman an with the hel3 of the Holy (3irit, it listens to thise#otely, +uars it with ei*ation an e@3ouns it faithfully. All that it 3ro3oses for )elief as )ein+

i#inely re#eale is rawn from this sin+le e3osit of faith.$ %1;'

;/ :inful of "hrist7s wors to his a3ostles0 He who hears you, hears me$, %1


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16DC &= J &5 *f.2 Tim 90=5 Tim &0&&1Cul+..

19DC &= J &5 *f. A*ts 01 Greek5 Pius M22, A3ost. "onst. :unifi*entissimus Deus, & 8o#em)er

&


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Iou re*all that one an the same ?or of Go e@tens throu+hout (*ri3ture, that it is one an the same

Utteran*e that resouns in the mouths of all the sa*re writers, sin*e he who was in the )e+innin+ Go

with Go has no nee of se3arate sylla)les5 for he is not su)Be*t to time. %96'

&=- For this reason, the "hur*h has always #enerate the (*ri3tures as she #enerates the Lor7s oy.(he ne#er *eases to 3resent to the faithful the )rea of life, taken from the one ta)le of Go7s ?or an

"hrist7s oy. %99'

&=1 2n (a*re (*ri3ture, the "hur*h *onstantly fins her nourishment an her stren+th, for she

wel*omes it not as a human wor, )ut as what it really is, the wor of Go$. %9/' 2n the sa*re )ooks,the Father who is in hea#en *omes lo#in+ly to meet his *hilren, an talks with them.$ %9;'

9-DC &-.91"f. He) &0&-

96(t. Au+ustine, En. in Ps. &=-, 1, &0 PL -/, &-/;5 *f. Ps &=15 !n &0&

99"f. DC &.9/Th 0&-5 *f. DC 1.

9;DC &.

22. 2ns3iration an Truth of (a*re (*ri3ture

&=6 Go is the author of (a*re (*ri3ture. The i#inely re#eale realities, whi*h are *ontaine an

3resente in the te@t of (a*re (*ri3ture, ha#e )een written own uner the ins3iration of the Holy(3irit.$ %9


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/-(t. ernar, (. missus est hom. 1, &&0 PL &;-, ;9.

/1"f. Lk 1016

222. The Holy (3irit, 2nter3reter of (*ri3ture

&=< 2n (a*re (*ri3ture, Go s3eaks to man in a human way. To inter3ret (*ri3ture *orre*tly, the reaer

must )e attenti#e to what the human authors truly wante to affirm, an to what Go wante to re#ealto us )y their wors. %/6'

&&= 2n orer to is*o#er the sa*re authors7 intention, the reaer must take into a**ount the *onitions

of their time an *ulture, the literary +enres in use at that time, an the moes of feelin+, s3eakin+ annarratin+ then *urrent. For the fa*t is that truth is ifferently 3resente an e@3resse in the #arious

ty3es of histori*al writin+, in 3ro3heti*al an 3oeti*al te@ts, an in other forms of literary e@3ression.$

%/9'

&&& ut sin*e (a*re (*ri3ture is ins3ire, there is another an no less im3ortant 3rin*i3le of *orre*tinter3retation, without whi*h (*ri3ture woul remain a ea letter. (a*re (*ri3ture must )e rea an

inter3rete in the li+ht of the same (3irit )y whom it was written.$ %//'

The (e*on Cati*an "oun*il ini*ates three *riteria for inter3retin+ (*ri3ture in a**oran*e with the(3irit who ins3ire it. %/;'

&& e es3e*ially attenti#e to the *ontent an unity of the whole (*ri3ture$. Different as the )ookswhi*h *om3ose it may )e, (*ri3ture is a unity )y reason of the unity of Go7s 3lan, of whi*h "hrist

!esus is the *enter an heart, o3en sin*e his Passo#er. %/


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e#ents re3orte in (*ri3ture ou+ht to lea us to a*t Bustly. As (t. Paul says, they were written for our

instru*tion$. %;6' -. the ana+o+i*al sense Greek0 ana+o+e, leain+$. ?e *an #iew realities an e#ents

in terms of their eternal si+nifi*an*e, leain+ us towar our true homelan0 thus the "hur*h on earth is

a si+n of the hea#enly !erusalem. %;9'

&&; A meie#al *ou3let summari4es the si+nifi*an*e of the four senses0

The Letter s3eaks of ees5 Alle+ory to faith5 The :oral how to a*t5 Ana+o+y our estiny. %;/'

&&< 2t is the task of e@e+etes to work, a**orin+ to these rules, towars a )etter unerstanin+ an

e@3lanation of the meanin+ of (a*re (*ri3ture in orer that their resear*h may hel3 the "hur*h to form

a firmer Bu+ement. For, of *ourse, all that has )een sai a)out the manner of inter3retin+ (*ri3ture isultimately su)Be*t to the Bu+ement of the "hur*h whi*h e@er*ises the i#inely *onferre *ommission

an ministry of wat*hin+ o#er an inter3retin+ the ?or of Go.$ %;;'

ut 2 woul not )elie#e in the Gos3el, ha not the authority of the "atholi* "hur*h alreay mo#e me.

%;


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"olossians, & an Thessalonians, & an Timothy, Titus, Philemon, the Letter to the He)rews, the

Letters of !ames, & an Peter, &, an - !ohn, an !ue, an Re#elation the A3o*aly3se.

The Ol Testament

&& The Ol Testament is an inis3ensa)le 3art of (a*re (*ri3ture. 2ts )ooks are i#inely ins3ire an

retain a 3ermanent #alue, %


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the Ol "o#enant 3refi+urations of what he a**om3lishe in the fullness of time in the 3erson of his

in*arnate (on.

&< "hristians therefore rea the Ol Testament in the li+ht of "hrist *ru*ifie an risen. (u*h

ty3olo+i*al reain+ is*loses the ine@hausti)le *ontent of the Ol Testament5 )ut it must not make usfor+et that the Ol Testament retains its own intrinsi* #alue as Re#elation reaffirme )y our Lor

himself. %&=6' esies, the 8ew Testament has to )e rea in the li+ht of the Ol. Early "hristian

*ate*hesis mae *onstant use of the Ol Testament. %&=9' As an ol sayin+ 3ut it, the 8ew Testamentlies hien in the Ol an the Ol Testament is un#eile in the 8ew. %&=/'

&-= Ty3olo+y ini*ates the ynami* mo#ement towar the fulfilment of the i#ine 3lan when Go

%will' )e e#erythin+ to e#eryone.$ %&=;' 8or o the *allin+ of the 3atriar*hs an the e@ous from

E+y3t, for e@am3le, lose their own #alue in Go7s 3lan, from the mere fa*t that they were intermeiate

sta+es.


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&=


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Arti*le &

2 EL2ECE

2. The O)eien*e of Faith

&11 To o)ey from the Latin o)auire, to hear or listen to$ in faith is to su)mit freely to the wor

that has )een hear, )e*ause its truth is +uarantee )y Go, who is Truth itself. A)raham is the moel

of su*h o)eien*e offere us )y (a*re (*ri3ture. the Cir+in :ary is its most 3erfe*t em)oiment.A)raham father of all who )elie#e$

&16 The Letter to the He)rews, in its +reat eulo+y of the faith of 2srael7s an*estors, lays s3e*ial

em3hasis on A)raham7s faith0 y faith, A)raham o)eye when he was *alle to +o out to a 3la*e

whi*h he was to re*ei#e as an inheritan*e5 an he went out, not knowin+ where he was to +o.$ %1' yfaith, he li#e as a stran+er an 3il+rim in the 3romise lan. %6' y faith, (arah was +i#en to *on*ei#e

the son of the 3romise. an )y faith A)raham offere his only son in sa*rifi*e. %9'

&19 A)raham thus fulfils the efinition of faith in He)rews &&0&0 Faith is the assuran*e of thin+s

ho3e for, the *on#i*tion of thin+s not seen$0 %/' A)raham )elie#e Go, an it was re*kone to himas ri+hteousness.$ %;' e*ause he was stron+ in his faith$, A)raham )e*ame the father of all who

)elie#e$. %


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22. 2 Know ?hom 2 Ha#e elie#e$ %&9'

To )elie#e in Go alone

&6= Faith is first of all a 3ersonal aheren*e of man to Go. At the same time, an inse3ara)ly, it is a

free assent to the whole truth that Go has re#eale. As 3ersonal aheren*e to Go an assent to his

truth, "hristian faith iffers from our faith in any human 3erson. 2t is ri+ht an Bust to entrust oneselfwholly to Go an to )elie#e a)solutely what he says. 2t woul )e futile an false to 3la*e su*h faith in

a *reature. %&/'

To )elie#e in !esus "hrist, the (on of Go

&6& For a "hristian, )elie#in+ in Go *annot )e se3arate from )elie#in+ in the One he sent, his

)elo#e (on$, in whom the Father is well 3lease$5 Go tells us to listen to him. %&;' The Lorhimself sai to his is*i3les0 elie#e in Go, )elie#e also in me.$ %&


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our i+nity to )elie#e what other 3ersons tell us a)out themsel#es an their intentions, or to trust their

3romises for e@am3le, when a man an a woman marry to share a *ommunion of life with one

another. 2f this is so, still less is it *ontrary to our i+nity to yiel )y faith the full su)mission of...

intelle*t an will to Go who re#eals$, %9' an to share in an interior *ommunion with him.

&66 2n faith, the human intelle*t an will *oo3erate with i#ine +ra*e0 elie#in+ is an a*t of the

intelle*t assentin+ to the i#ine truth )y *omman of the will mo#e )y Go throu+h +ra*e.$ %/'

Faith an unerstanin+

&69 ?hat mo#es us to )elie#e is not the fa*t that re#eale truths a33ear as true an intelli+i)le in the

li+ht of our natural reason0 we )elie#e )e*ause of the authority of Go himself who re#eals them, who*an neither e*ei#e nor )e e*ei#e$. %;' (o that the su)mission of our faith mi+ht ne#ertheless )e in

a**oran*e with reason, Go wille that e@ternal 3roofs of his Re#elation shoul )e Boine to the

internal hel3s of the Holy (3irit.$ %


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&9& elie#in+ in !esus "hrist an in the One who sent him for our sal#ation is ne*essary for o)tainin+

that sal#ation. %1' (in*e without faith it is im3ossi)le to 3lease Go an to attain to the

fellowshi3 of his sons, therefore without faith no one has e#er attaine Bustifi*ation, nor will anyone

o)tain eternal life 7ut he who enures to the en.7'

Perse#eran*e in faith

&9 Faith is an entirely free +ift that Go makes to man. ?e *an lose this 3ri*eless +ift, as (t. Paul

ini*ate to (t. Timothy0 ?a+e the +oo warfare, holin+ faith an a +oo *ons*ien*e. y reBe*tin+

*ons*ien*e, *ertain 3ersons ha#e mae shi3wre*k of their faith.$ %11' To li#e, +row an 3erse#ere in thefaith until the en we must nourish it with the wor of Go5 we must )e+ the Lor to in*rease our faith5

%16' it must )e workin+ throu+h *harity,$ a)ounin+ in ho3e, an roote in the faith of the "hur*h.

%19'

Faith the )e+innin+ of eternal life

&9- Faith makes us taste in a#an*e the li+ht of the )eatifi* #ision, the +oal of our Bourney here )elow.Then we shall see Go fa*e to fa*e$, as he is$. %1/' (o faith is alreay the )e+innin+ of eternal life0

?hen we *ontem3late the )lessin+s of faith e#en now, as if +a4in+ at a refle*tion in a mirror, it is as if

we alreay 3ossesse the wonerful thin+s whi*h our faith assures us we shall one ay enBoy. %1;'

&91 8ow, howe#er, we walk )y faith, not )y si+ht$5 %1


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1&DH &&5 *f. !n &;0-/5 &0-.

1"f. :k &90&95 !n -0-95 901= et al.

11& Tim &0&;&u. et u). 99 PG


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%&;' y #irtue of this 3romise, (arah *on*ei#es a son in s3ite of her ol a+e. %&


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:ary7s #ir+inity

1


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is naturally (on of the Father as to his i#inity an naturally son of his mother as to his humanity, )ut

3ro3erly (on of the Father in )oth natures.$ %&9&'

6=1 !esus is *on*ei#e )y the Holy (3irit in the Cir+in :ary7s wom) )e*ause he is the 8ew Aam, who

inau+urates the new *reation0 The first man was from the earth, a man of ust5 the se*on man is fromhea#en.$ %&9' From his *on*e3tion, "hrist7s humanity is fille with the Holy (3irit, for Go +i#es

him the (3irit without measure.$ %&9-' From his fullness$ as the hea of reeeme humanity we ha#e

all re*ei#e, +ra*e u3on +ra*e.$ %&91'

6=6 y his #ir+inal *on*e3tion, !esus, the 8ew Aam, ushers in the new )irth of *hilren ao3te inthe Holy (3irit throu+h faith. How *an this )e$ %&96' Parti*i3ation in the i#ine life arises not of

)loo nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, )ut of Go$. %&99' The a**e3tan*e of this life

is #ir+inal )e*ause it is entirely the (3irit7s +ift to man. the s3ousal *hara*ter of the human #o*ation in

relation to Go %&9/' is fulfille 3erfe*tly in :ary7s #ir+inal motherhoo.

6=9 :ary is a #ir+in )e*ause her #ir+inity is the si+n of her faith unaulterate )y any ou)t$, an of

her uni#ie +ift of herself to Go7s will. %&9;' 2t is her faith that ena)les her to )e*ome the mother of

the (a#iour0 :ary is more )lesse )e*ause she em)ra*es faith in "hrist than )e*ause she *on*ei#es

the flesh of "hrist.$ %&9


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&;"f. Gen -0&6, =.

&


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6& "on*ernin+ "hrist7s life the "ree s3eaks only a)out the mysteries of the 2n*arnation *on*e3tion

an )irth an Pas*hal mystery 3assion, *ru*ifi@ion, eath, )urial, es*ent into hell, resurre*tion an

as*ension. 2t says nothin+ e@3li*itly a)out the mysteries of !esus7 hien or 3u)li* life, )ut the arti*les

of faith *on*ernin+ his 2n*arnation an Passo#er o she li+ht on the whole of his earthly life. All that!esus i an tau+ht, from the )e+innin+ until the ay when he was taken u3 to hea#en$, %&/&' is to )e

seen in the li+ht of the mysteries of "hristmas an Easter.

6&- A**orin+ to *ir*umstan*es *ate*hesis will make use of all the ri*hness of the mysteries of !esus.Here it is enou+h merely to ini*ate some elements *ommon to all the mysteries of "hrist7s life 2, inorer then to sket*h the 3rin*i3al mysteries of !esus7 hien 22 an 3u)li* 222 life.

2. "HR2(T7( ?HOLE L2FE 2( :I(TERI

6&1 :any thin+s a)out !esus of interest to human *uriosity o not fi+ure in the Gos3els. Almost

nothin+ is sai a)out his hien life at 8a4areth, an e#en a +reat 3art of his 3u)li* life is notre*ounte. %&/' ?hat is written in the Gos3els was set own there so that you may )elie#e that !esus

is the "hrist, the (on of Go, an that )elie#in+ you may ha#e life in his name.$ %&/-'

6&6 The Gos3els were written )y men who were amon+ the first to ha#e the faith %&/1' an wante to

share it with others. Ha#in+ known in faith who !esus is, they *oul see an make others see the tra*es

of his mystery in all his earthly life. From the swalin+ *lothes of his )irth to the #ine+ar of hisPassion an the shrou of his Resurre*tion, e#erythin+ in !esus7 life was a si+n of his mystery. %&/6'

His ees, mira*les an wors all re#eale that in him the whole fullness of eity wells )oily.$

%&/9' His humanity a33eare as sa*rament$, that is, the si+n an instrument, of his i#inity an of thesal#ation he )rin+s0 what was #isi)le in his earthly life leas to the in#isi)le mystery of his i#ine

sonshi3 an reem3ti#e mission

"hara*teristi*s *ommon to !esus7 mysteries

6&9 "hrist7s whole earthly life his wors an ees, his silen*es an sufferin+s, inee his manner of)ein+ an s3eakin+ is Re#elation of the Father. !esus *an say0 ?hoe#er has seen me has seen the

Father$, an the Father *an say0 This is my (on, my "hosen5 listen to him$ %&//' e*ause our Lor

)e*ame man in orer to o his Father7s will, e#en the least *hara*teristi*s of his mysteries manifestGo7s lo#e. . . amon+ us$. %&/;'

6&/ "hrist7s whole life is a mystery of reem3tion. Reem3tion *omes to us a)o#e all throu+h the

)loo of his *ross, %&/


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always li#es to make inter*ession$ for us. %&;


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69 To )e*ome a *hil in relation to Go is the *onition for enterin+ the kin+om. %=6' For this, we

must hum)le oursel#es an )e*ome little. E#en more0 to )e*ome *hilren of Go$ we must )e )orn

from a)o#e$ or )orn of Go$. %=9' Only when "hrist is forme in us will the mystery of "hristmas

)e fulfille in us. %=/' "hristmas is the mystery of this mar#ellous e@*han+e$0

O mar#ellous e@*han+e :an7s "reator has )e*ome man, )orn of the Cir+in. ?e ha#e )een mae

sharers in the i#inity of "hrist who hum)le himself to share our humanity. %=;'

The mysteries of !esus7 infan*y

6/ !esus7 *ir*um*ision, on the ei+hth ay after his )irth, %=


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6-- The hien life at 8a4areth allows e#eryone to enter into fellowshi3 with !esus )y the most

orinary e#ents of aily life0

The home of 8a4areth is the s*hool where we )e+in to unerstan the life of !esus the s*hool of the

Gos3el. First, then, a lesson of silen*e. :ay esteem for silen*e, that amira)le an inis3ensa)le*onition of min, re#i#e in us. . . A lesson on family life. :ay 8a4areth tea*h us what family life is,

its *ommunion of lo#e, its austere an sim3le )eauty, an its sa*re an in#iola)le *hara*ter... A lesson

of work. 8a4areth, home of the "ar3enter7s (on$, in you 2 woul *hoose to unerstan an 3ro*laimthe se#ere an reeemin+ law of human work. . . To *on*lue, 2 want to +reet all the workers of theworl, holin+ u3 to them their +reat 3attern their )rother who is Go. %6'

6-1 The finin+ of !esus in the tem3le is the only e#ent that )reaks the silen*e of the Gos3els a)out the

hien years of !esus. %9' Here !esus lets us *at*h a +lim3se of the mystery of his total *onse*ration

to a mission that flows from his i#ine sonshi30 Di you not know that 2 must )e a)out my Father7swork$ %/' :ary an !ose3h i not unerstan these wors, )ut they a**e3te them in faith. :ary

ke3t all these thin+s in her heart$ urin+ the years !esus remaine hien in the silen*e of an orinary

life.

222. THE :I(TER2E( OF !E(U(7 PUL2" L2FE

The )a3tism of !esus

6-6 !esus7 3u)li* life )e+ins with his )a3tism )y !ohn in the !oran. %;' !ohn 3rea*hes a )a3tism of

re3entan*e for the for+i#eness of sins$. %


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6-; The Gos3els s3eak of a time of solitue for !esus in the esert immeiately after his )a3tism )y

!ohn. Dri#en )y the (3irit into the esert, !esus remains there for forty ays without eatin+5 he li#es

amon+ wil )easts, an an+els minister to him. %1&' At the en of this time (atan tem3ts him three

times, seekin+ to *om3romise his filial attitue towar Go. !esus re)uffs these atta*ks, whi*hre*a3itulate the tem3tations of Aam in Paraise an of 2srael in the esert, an the e#il lea#es him

until an o33ortune time$. %1'

6-< The e#an+elists ini*ate the sal#ifi* meanin+ of this mysterious e#ent0 !esus is the new Aam whoremaine faithful Bust where the first Aam ha +i#en in to tem3tation. !esus fulfils 2srael7s #o*ation3erfe*tly0 in *ontrast to those who ha on*e 3ro#oke Go urin+ forty years in the esert, "hrist

re#eals himself as Go7s (er#ant, totally o)eient to the i#ine will. 2n this, !esus is the e#il7s

*onueror0 he )ins the stron+ man$ to take )a*k his 3luner. %1-' !esus7 #i*tory o#er the tem3ter inthe esert anti*i3ates #i*tory at the Passion, the su3reme a*t of o)eien*e of his filial lo#e for the

Father.

61= !esus7 tem3tation re#eals the way in whi*h the (on of Go is :essiah, *ontrary to the way (atan

3ro3oses to him an the way men wish to attri)ute to him. %11' This is why "hrist #anuishe theTem3ter for us0 For we ha#e not a hi+h 3riest who is una)le to sym3athi4e with our weaknesses, )ut

one who in e#ery res3e*t has )een teste as we are, yet without sinnin+.$ %16' y the solemn forty

ays of Lent the "hur*h unites herself ea*h year to the mystery of !esus in the esert.

The kin+om of Go is at han$

61& 8ow after !ohn was arreste, !esus *ame into Galilee, 3rea*hin+ the +os3el of Go, an sayin+07The time is fulfille, an the kin+om of Go is at han0 re3ent, an )elie#e in the +os3el.7 %19' To

*arry out the will of the Father "hrist inau+urate the kin+om of hea#en on earth.$ %1/' 8ow the

Father7s will is to raise u3 men to share in his own i#ine life$. %1;' He oes this )y +atherin+ menaroun his (on !esus "hrist. This +atherin+ is the "hur*h, on earth the see an )e+innin+ of that

kin+oms$. %1


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in wor an ee his Father7s )ounless mer*y for them an the #ast Boy in hea#en o#er one sinner

who re3ents$. %6


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66- !esus entruste a s3e*ifi* authority to Peter0 2 will +i#e you the keys of the kin+om of hea#en,

an whate#er you )in on earth shall )e )oun in hea#en, an whate#er you loose on earth shall )e

loose in hea#en.$ %;/' The 3ower of the keys$ esi+nates authority to +o#ern the house of Go,

whi*h is the "hur*h. !esus, the Goo (he3her, *onfirme this manate after his Resurre*tion0 Feemy shee3.$ %;;' The 3ower to )in an loose$ *onnotes the authority to a)sol#e sins, to 3ronoun*e

o*trinal Bu+ements, an to make is*i3linary e*isions in the "hur*h. !esus entruste this authority to

the "hur*h throu+h the ministry of the a3ostles %;


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66; !esus re*alls the martyrom of the 3ro3hets who ha )een 3ut to eath in !erusalem. 8e#ertheless

he 3ersists in *allin+ !erusalem to +ather aroun him0 How often woul 2 ha#e +athere your *hilren

to+ether as a hen +athers her )roo uner her win+s, an you woul not$ %-=9' ?hen !erusalem *omes

into #iew he wee3s o#er her an e@3resses on*e a+ain his heart7s esire0 ?oul that e#en toay youknew the thin+s that make for 3ea*e ut now they are hi from your eyes.$ %-=/'

!esus7 messiani* entran*e into !erusalem

66< How will !erusalem wel*ome her :essiah Althou+h !esus ha always refuse 3o3ular attem3ts to

make him kin+, he *hooses the time an 3re3ares the etails for his messiani* entry into the *ity of hisfather Da#i$. %-=;' A**laime as son of Da#i, as the one who )rin+s sal#ation Hosanna means

(a#e$ or Gi#e sal#ation$, the Kin+ of +lory$ enters his "ity riin+ on an ass$. %-=


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&:t 0&5 *f. LH, E3i3hany, E#enin+ Prayer 22, Anti3hon at the "anti*le of :ary.

&-"f :t 05 8um 10&/&


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9=:t 90;.

9&"f. :k 10---1.

9"f. :t &-011165 0&&1.

9-"f. :t &0;-.91"f. :t &-0-


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-=


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the inter3retation of oral traition5 the *entrality of the Tem3le at !erusalem as the holy 3la*e where

Go7s 3resen*e wells in a s3e*ial way5 faith in the one Go whose +lory no man *an share.

2. !E(U( A8D THE LA?

6// At the )e+innin+ of the (ermon on the :ount !esus issue a solemn warnin+ in whi*h he 3resente

Go7s law, +i#en on (inai urin+ the first *o#enant, in li+ht of the +ra*e of the 8ew "o#enant0

Do not think that 2 ha#e *ome to a)olish the law or the 3ro3hets0 2 ha#e *ome not to a)olish )ut tofulfil. For truly 2 tell you, until hea#en an earth 3ass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will

3ass from the law, until all is a**om3lishe. Therefore, whoe#er )reaks one of the least of these

*ommanments, an tea*hes others to o the same, will )e *alle least in the kin+om of hea#en5 )utwhoe#er oes them an tea*hes them will )e *alle +reat in the kin+om of hea#en. %-


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that a**om3anie it. %-1/' This was the *ase es3e*ially with the sa))ath laws, for he re*alls, often with

ra))ini*al ar+uments, that the sa))ath rest is not #iolate )y ser#in+ Go an nei+h)our, %-1;' whi*h

his own healin+s i.

22. !E(U( A8D THE TE:PLE

6;- Like the 3ro3hets )efore him !esus e@3resse the ee3est res3e*t for the Tem3le in !erusalem. 2twas in the Tem3le that !ose3h an :ary 3resente him forty ays after his )irth. %-1


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6


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--;!er -&0--5 2s 10-, 9.

--


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Passion, many.. . )elie#e in him$, thou+h #ery im3erfe*tly. %-/;' This is not sur3risin+, if one re*alls

that on the ay after Pente*ost a +reat many of the 3riests were o)eient to the faith$ an some

)elie#ers. . . )elon+e to the 3arty of the Pharisees$, to the 3oint that (t. !ames *oul tell (t. Paul,

How many thousans there are amon+ the !ews of those who ha#e )elie#e5 an they are all 4ealousfor the Law.$ %-/


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!esus hane o#er a**orin+ to the efinite 3lan of Go$

6


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222. "HR2(T OFFERED H2:(ELF TO H2( FATHER FOR OUR (28(

"hrist7s whole life is an offerin+ to the Father

9=9 The (on of Go, who *ame own from hea#en, not to o his own will, )ut the will of him who

sent him$, %1&-' sai on *omin+ into the worl, Lo, 2 ha#e *ome to o your will, O Go.$ an )y

that will we ha#e )een san*tifie throu+h the offerin+ of the )oy of !esus "hrist on*e for all.$ % 1&1'From the first moment of his 2n*arnation the (on em)ra*es the Father7s 3lan of i#ine sal#ation in his

reem3ti#e mission0 :y foo is to o the will of him who sent me, an to a**om3lish his work.$

%1&6' The sa*rifi*e of !esus for the sins of the whole worl$ %1&9' e@3resses his lo#in+ *ommunionwith the Father. The Father lo#es me, )e*ause 2 lay own my life$, sai the Lor, for 2 o as the

Father has *ommane me, so that the worl may know that 2 lo#e the Father.$ %1&/'

9=/ The esire to em)ra*e his Father7s 3lan of reeemin+ lo#e ins3ire !esus7 whole life, %1&;' for his

reem3ti#e 3assion was the #ery reason for his 2n*arnation. an so he aske, an what shall 2 say7Father, sa#e me from this hour7 8o, for this 3ur3ose 2 ha#e *ome to this hour.$ %1&


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me. . .$ %1-6' Thus he e@3resses the horror that eath re3resente for his human nature. Like ours, his

human nature is estine for eternal life5 )ut unlike ours, it is 3erfe*tly e@em3t from sin, the *ause of

eath. %1-9' A)o#e all, his human nature has )een assume )y the i#ine 3erson of the Author of

life$, the Li#in+ One$. %1-/' y a**e3tin+ in his human will that the Father7s will )e one, he a**e3tshis eath as reem3ti#e, for he himself )ore our sins in his )oy on the tree.$ %1-;'

"hrist7s eath is the uniue an efiniti#e sa*rifi*e

9&- "hrist7s eath is )oth the Pas*hal sa*rifi*e that a**om3lishes the efiniti#e reem3tion of men,

throu+h the Lam) of Go, who takes away the sin of the worl$, %1-


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9= Our sal#ation flows from Go7s initiati#e of lo#e for us, )e*ause he lo#e us an sent his (on to

)e the e@3iation for our sins$ 2 !n 10&=. Go was in "hrist re*on*ilin+ the worl to himself$ "or

60&


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1&&:t =0;5 *f. Rom 60&;&


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Para+ra3h -. !E(U( "HR2(T ?A( UR2ED

91 y the +ra*e of Go$ !esus taste eath for e#ery one$. %16


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16


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9-1 The +os3el was 3rea*he e#en to the ea.$ %1;-' The es*ent into hell )rin+s the Gos3el

messa+e of sal#ation to *om3lete fulfilment. This is the last 3hase of !esus7 messiani* mission, a 3hase

whi*h is *onense in time )ut #ast in its real si+nifi*an*e0 the s3rea of "hrist7s reem3ti#e work to

all men of all times an all 3la*es, for all who are sa#e ha#e )een mae sharers in the reem3tion.

9-6 "hrist went own into the e3ths of eath so that the ea will hear the #oi*e of the (on of Go,

an those who hear will li#e.$ %1;1' !esus, the Author of life$, )y yin+ estroye him who has the

3ower of eath, that is, the e#il, an %eli#ere' all those who throu+h fear of eath were su)Be*t tolifelon+ )ona+e.$ %1;6' Hen*eforth the risen "hrist hols the keys of Death an Haes$, so that atthe name of !esus e#ery knee shoul )ow, in hea#en an on earth an uner the earth.$ %1;9'

Toay a +reat silen*e rei+ns on earth, a +reat silen*e an a +reat stillness. A +reat silen*e )e*ause the

Kin+ is aslee3. the earth trem)le an is still )e*ause Go has fallen aslee3 in the flesh an he has

raise u3 all who ha#e sle3t e#er sin*e the worl )e+an. . . He has +one to sear*h for Aam, our firstfather, as for a lost shee3. Greatly esirin+ to #isit those who li#e in arkness an in the shaow of

eath, he has +one to free from sorrow Aam in his )ons an E#e, *a3ti#e with him He who is )oth

their Go an the son of E#e. . . 2 am your Go, who for your sake ha#e )e*ome your son. . . 2 oreryou, O slee3er, to awake. 2 i not *reate you to )e a 3risoner in hell. Rise from the ea, for 2 am the

life of the ea.$ %1;/'

28 R2EF

9-9 y the e@3ression He es*ene into hell$, the A3ostles7 "ree *onfesses that !esus i really ie

an throu+h his eath for us *onuere eath an the e#il who has the 3ower of eath$ He) 0&1.

9-/ 2n his human soul unite to his i#ine 3erson, the ea "hrist went own to the realm of the ea.

He o3ene hea#en7s +ates for the Bust who ha +one )efore him.

1//A*ts -0&65 Rom ;0&&5 2 "or &60=5 *f. He) &-0=.

1/;"f. 2 Pt -0&;&


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To the ea, he has +i#en life. %1;


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911 E#en when fa*e with the reality of the risen !esus the is*i3les are still ou)tful, so im3ossi)le

i the thin+ seem0 they thou+ht they were seein+ a +host. 2n their Boy they were still is)elie#in+ an

still wonerin+.$ %6=9' Thomas will also e@3erien*e the test of ou)t an (t. :atthew relates that

urin+ the risen Lor7s last a33earan*e in Galilee some ou)te.$ %6=/' Therefore the hy3othesis thatthe Resurre*tion was 3rou*e )y the a3ostles7 faith or *reulity will not hol u3. On the *ontrary

their faith in the Resurre*tion was )orn, uner the a*tion of i#ine +ra*e, from their ire*t e@3erien*e

of the reality of the risen !esus.The *onition of "hrist7s risen humanity

916 y means of tou*h an the sharin+ of a meal, the risen !esus esta)lishes ire*t *onta*t with his

is*i3les. He in#ites them in this way to re*o+ni4e that he is not a +host an a)o#e all to #erify that the

risen )oy in whi*h he a33ears to them is the same )oy that ha )een torture an *ru*ifie, for it still

)ears the tra*es of his Passion. %6=;' Iet at the same time this authenti*, real )oy 3ossesses the new3ro3erties of a +lorious )oy0 not limite )y s3a*e an time )ut a)le to )e 3resent how an when he

wills5 for "hrist7s humanity *an no lon+er )e *onfine to earth, an )elon+s hen*eforth only to the

Father7s i#ine realm. %6=


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lay own my life, that 2 may take it a+ain. . . 2 ha#e 3ower to lay it own, an 2 ha#e 3ower to take it

a+ain.$ %6&/' ?e )elie#e that !esus ie an rose a+ain.$ %6&;'

96= The Fathers *ontem3late the Resurre*tion from the 3ers3e*ti#e of the i#ine 3erson of "hrist who

remaine unite to his soul an )oy, e#en when these were se3arate from ea*h other )y eath0 ythe unity of the i#ine nature, whi*h remains 3resent in ea*h of the two *om3onents of man, these are

reunite. For as eath is 3rou*e )y the se3aration of the human *om3onents, so Resurre*tion is

a*hie#e )y the union of the two.$ %6&


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96; "hrist, the first)orn from the ea$ "ol &0&;, is the 3rin*i3le of our own resurre*tion, e#en

now )y the Bustifi*ation of our souls *f Rom 901, an one ay )y the new life he will im3art to our

)oies *f Rom ;0&&.

1;;A*ts &-0---.

1;


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Arti*le 9

HE A("E8DED 28TO HEACE8 A8D 2( (EATED AT THE R2GHT HA8D OF THE FATHER$

96< (o then the Lor !esus, after he ha s3oken to them, was taken u3 into hea#en, an sat own at

the ri+ht han of Go.$ %6-&' "hrist7s )oy was +lorifie at the moment of his Resurre*tion, as 3ro#e

)y the new an su3ernatural 3ro3erties it su)seuently an 3ermanently enBoys. %6-' ut urin+ theforty ays when he eats an rinks familiarly with his is*i3les an tea*hes them a)out the kin+om,

his +lory remains #eile uner the a33earan*e of orinary humanity. %6--' !esus7 final a33arition ens

with the irre#ersi)le entry of his humanity into i#ine +lory, sym)oli4e )y the *lou an )y hea#en,where he is seate from that time forwar at Go7s ri+ht han. %6-1' Only in a wholly e@*e3tional an

uniue way woul !esus show himself to Paul as to one untimely )orn$, in a last a33arition that

esta)lishe him as an a3ostle. %6-6'

99= The #eile *hara*ter of the +lory of the Risen One urin+ this time is intimate in his mysteriouswors to :ary :a+alene0 2 ha#e not yet as*ene to the Father5 )ut +o to my )rethren an say to

them, 2 am as*enin+ to my Father an your Father, to my Go an your Go.$ % 6-9' This ini*ates a

ifferen*e in manifestation )etween the +lory of the risen "hrist an that of the "hrist e@alte to the

Father7s ri+ht han, a transition marke )y the histori*al an trans*enent e#ent of the As*ension.

99& This final sta+e stays *losely linke to the first, that is, to his es*ent from hea#en in the2n*arnation. Only the one who *ame from the Father$ *an return to the Father0 "hrist !esus. %6-/' 8o

one has as*ene into hea#en )ut he who es*ene from hea#en, the (on of man.$ %6-;' Left to its

own natural 3owers humanity oes not ha#e a**ess to the Father7s house$, to Go7s life an ha33iness.%6-


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6-/"f. !n &90;.

6-;!n -0&-5 *f. E3h 10;&=.

6-


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9/& Thou+h alreay 3resent in his "hur*h, "hrist7s rei+n is ne#ertheless yet to )e fulfille with 3ower

an +reat +lory$ )y the Kin+7s return to earth. %669' This rei+n is still uner atta*k )y the e#il 3owers,

e#en thou+h they ha#e )een efeate efiniti#ely )y "hrist7s Passo#er. %66/' Until e#erythin+ is su)Be*t

to him, until there )e reali4e new hea#ens an a new earth in whi*h Busti*e wells, the 3il+rim"hur*h, in her sa*raments an institutions, whi*h )elon+ to this 3resent a+e, *arries the mark of this

worl whi*h will 3ass, an she herself takes her 3la*e amon+ the *reatures whi*h +roan an tra#ail yet

an await the re#elation of the sons of Go.$ %66;' That is why "hristians 3ray, a)o#e all in theEu*harist, to hasten "hrist7s return )y sayin+ to him0 %66


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o#er the re#olt of e#il will take the form of the Last !u+ement after the final *osmi* u3hea#al of this

3assin+ worl. %6;='

61;Rom &10


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9/< "hrist is Lor of eternal life. Full ri+ht to 3ass efiniti#e Bu+ement on the works an hearts of men

)elon+s to him as reeemer of the worl. He a*uire$ this ri+ht )y his *ross. the Father has +i#en all

Bu+ement to the (on$. %6;9' Iet the (on i not *ome to Bu+e, )ut to sa#e an to +i#e the life he has

in himself. %6;/' y reBe*tin+ +ra*e in this life, one alreay Bu+es oneself, re*ei#es a**orin+ to one7sworks, an *an e#en *onemn oneself for all eternity )y reBe*tin+ the (3irit of lo#e. %6;;'

6;&"f. Dan /0&=5 !oel -15 :al -0 &


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The Ol Testament 3ro*laime the Father *learly, )ut the (on more o)s*urely. the 8ew Testament

re#eale the (on an +a#e us a +lim3se of the i#inity of the (3irit. 8ow the (3irit wells amon+ us

an +rants us a *learer #ision of himself. 2t was not 3ruent, when the i#inity of the Father ha not yet

)een *onfesse, to 3ro*laim the (on o3enly an, when the i#inity of the (on was not yet amitte, toa the Holy (3irit as an e@tra )uren, to s3eak somewhat arin+ly.... y a#an*in+ an 3ro+ressin+

from +lory to +lory,$ the li+ht of the Trinity will shine in e#er more )rilliant rays. %6'

9;6 To )elie#e in the Holy (3irit is to 3rofess that the Holy (3irit is one of the 3ersons of the HolyTrinity, *onsu)stantial with the Father an the (on0 with the Father an the (on he is worshi33e an+lorifie.$ %9' For this reason, the i#ine mystery of the Holy (3irit was alreay treate in the *onte@t

of Trinitarian theolo+y.$ Here, howe#er, we ha#e to o with the Holy (3irit only in the i#ine

e*onomy.$

9;9 The Holy (3irit is at work with the Father an the (on from the )e+innin+ to the *om3letion of the3lan for our sal#ation. ut in these en times,$ ushere in )y the (on7s reeemin+ 2n*arnation, the

(3irit is re#eale an +i#en, re*o+ni4e an wel*ome as a 3erson. 8ow *an this i#ine 3lan,

a**om3lishe in "hrist, the first)orn an hea of the new *reation, )e em)oie in mankin )y theout3ourin+ of the (3irit0 as the "hur*h, the *ommunion of saints, the for+i#eness of sins, the

resurre*tion of the )oy, an the life e#erlastin+.

&& "or &0-.

Gal 109.

-(t. 2renaeus, Dem. a3. /0 ("h 9, 1&1.12n &/0-.

6(t. Gre+ory of 8a4ian4us, Oratio theol., 6, 9 Q Oratio -&, 90 PG -9, &9&&9-.

98i*ene "ree5 see a)o#e, 3ar. 196.

ART2"LE ;

2 EL2ECE 28 THE HOLI (P2R2T$

9;/ 8o one *om3rehens the thou+hts of Go e@*e3t the (3irit of Go.$ %/' 8ow Go7s (3irit, who

re#eals Go, makes known to us "hrist, his ?or, his li#in+ Utteran*e, )ut the (3irit oes not s3eak of

himself. the (3irit who has s3oken throu+h the 3ro3hets$ makes us hear the Father7s ?or, )ut we onot hear the (3irit himself. ?e know him only in the mo#ement )y whi*h he re#eals the ?or to us an

is3oses us to wel*ome him in faith. the (3irit of truth who un#eils$ "hrist to us will not s3eak on

his own.$ %;' (u*h 3ro3erly i#ine selfeffa*ement e@3lains why the worl *annot re*ei#e him,

)e*ause it neither sees him nor knows him,$ while those who )elie#e in "hrist know the (3irit )e*ausehe wells with them. %


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in the si+ns of a3ostoli* an missionary life5

in the witness of saints throu+h whom he manifests his holiness an *ontinues the work of sal#ation.

/& "or 0&&.

;!n &90&-.


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&1 "f. !n &90&1.&6 (t. Gre+ory of 8yssa, De (3iritu (an*to, &90 PG 16, &-&A.

II. The Name, Titles, and Symbols of the Holy Spirit

The 3ro3er name of the Holy (3irit

9


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him the "hrist at his )irth, an 3rom3te (imeon to *ome to the tem3le to see the "hrist of the Lor.--

The (3irit fille "hrist an the 3ower of the (3irit went out from him in his a*ts of healin+ an of

sa#in+.-1 Finally, it was the (3irit who raise !esus from the ea.-6 8ow, fully esta)lishe as "hrist

in his humanity #i*torious o#er eath, !esus 3ours out the Holy (3irit a)unantly until the saints*onstitute in their union with the humanity of the (on of Go that 3erfe*t man to the measure of the

stature of the fullness of "hrist0-9 the whole "hrist, in (t. Au+ustine7s e@3ression.

9


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"hrist *omes u3 from the water of his )a3tism, the Holy (3irit, in the form of a o#e, *omes own

u3on him an remains with him.6< The (3irit *omes own an remains in the 3urifie hearts of the

)a3ti4e. 2n *ertain *hur*hes, the Eu*harist is reser#e in a metal re*e3ta*le in the form of a o#e

*olum)arium sus3ene a)o#e the altar. "hristian i*ono+ra3hy traitionally uses a o#e to su++estthe (3irit.

&9 "f. :t ;0&


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66 Lk &&0=.

69 E@ -&0&;5 "or -0-.

6/ LH, Easter (eason after As*ension, Hymn at Ces3ers0 i+itus 3aternae

[email protected]; "f. Gen ;0;&.

6< "f. :t -0&9 an 3arallels.

III. God's Spirit and ord in the Time of the !romises

/= From the )e+innin+ until the fullness of time,9= The Boint mission of the Father7s ?or an (3irit

remains hien, )ut it is at work. Go7s (3irit 3re3ares for the time of the :essiah. 8either is fullyre#eale )ut )oth are alreay 3romise, to )e wat*he for an wel*ome at their manifestation. (o, for

this reason, when the "hur*h reas the Ol Testament, she sear*hes there for what the (3irit, who has

s3oken throu+h the 3ro3hets, wants to tell us a)out "hrist.9&

y 3ro3hets the faith of the "hur*h here unerstans all whom the Holy (3irit ins3ire in the

*om3osition of the sa*re )ooks, )oth of the Ol an the 8ew Testaments. !ewish traitionistin+uishes first the Law the fi#e first )ooks or Pentateu*h, then the Pro3hets our histori*al an3ro3heti* )ooks an finally the ?ritin+s es3e*ially the wisom literature, in 3arti*ular the Psalms.9

2n *reation

/=- The ?or of Go an his reath are at the ori+in of the )ein+ an life of e#ery *reature09-

2t )elon+s to the Holy (3irit to rule, san*tify, an animate *reation, for he is Go, *onsu)stantial with

the Father an the (on.... Power o#er life 3ertains to the (3irit, for )ein+ Go he 3reser#es *reation in

the Father throu+h the (on.91

/=1 Go fashione man with his own hans %that is, the (on an the Holy (3irit' an im3resse his

own form on the flesh he ha fashione, in su*h a way that e#en what was #isi)le mi+ht )ear the i#ine

form.96

The (3irit of the 3romise

/=6 Disfi+ure )y sin an eath, man remains in the ima+e of Go, in the ima+e of the (on, )ut is

e3ri#e of the +lory of Go,99 of his likeness. the 3romise mae to A)raham inau+urates the

e*onomy of sal#ation, at the *ulmination of whi*h the (on himself will assume that ima+e9/ an

restore it in the Father7s likeness )y +i#in+ it a+ain its Glory, the (3irit who is the +i#er of life.

/=9 A+ainst all human ho3e, Go 3romises es*enants to A)raham, as the fruit of faith an of the

3ower of the Holy (3irit.9; 2n A)raham7s 3ro+eny all the nations of the earth will )e )lesse. This3ro+eny will )e "hrist himself,9< in whom the out3ourin+ of the Holy (3irit will +ather into one the

*hilren of Go who are s*attere a)roa./= Go *ommits himself )y his own solemn oath to +i#in+

his )elo#e (on an the 3romise Holy (3irit . . . %who is' the +uarantee of our inheritan*e until wea*uire 3ossession of it./&

2n Theo3hanies an the Law


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/=/ Theo3hanies manifestations of Go li+ht u3 the way of the 3romise, from the 3atriar*hs to :oses

an from !oshua to the #isions that inau+urate the missions of the +reat 3ro3hets. "hristian traition

has always re*o+ni4e that Go7s ?or allowe himself to )e seen an hear in these theo3hanies, inwhi*h the *lou of the Holy (3irit )oth re#eale him an *on*eale him in its shaow.

/=; This i#ine 3ea+o+y a33ears es3e*ially in the +ift of the Law./ Go +a#e the letter of the Law asa 3ea+o+ue to lea his 3eo3le towars "hrist./- ut the Law7s 3owerlessness to sa#e man e3ri#e

of the i#ine likeness, alon+ with the +rowin+ awareness of sin that it im3arts,/1 enkinles a esire

for the Holy (3irit. the lamentations of the Psalms )ear witness to this.

2n the Kin+om an the E@ile

/=< The Law, the si+n of Go7s 3romise an *o#enant, ou+ht to ha#e +o#erne the hearts an

institutions of that 3eo3le to whom A)raham7s faith +a#e )irth. 2f you will o)ey my #oi*e an kee3 my

*o#enant, . . . you shall )e to me a kin+om of 3riests an a holy nation./6 ut after Da#i, 2srael +a#e

in to the tem3tation of )e*omin+ a kin+om like other nations. the Kin+om, howe#er, the o)Be*t of the3romise mae to Da#i,/9 woul )e the work of the Holy (3irit5 it woul )elon+ to the 3oor a**orin+

to the (3irit.

/&= The for+ettin+ of the Law an the infielity to the *o#enant en in eath0 it is the E@ile, a33arently

the failure of the 3romises, whi*h is in fa*t the mysterious fielity of the (a#ior Go an the )e+innin+

of a 3romise restoration, )ut a**orin+ to the (3irit. the Peo3le of Go ha to suffer this3urifi*ation.// 2n Go7s 3lan, the E@ile alreay stans in the shaow of the "ross, an the Remnant of

the 3oor that returns from the E@ile is one of the most trans3arent 3refi+urations of the "hur*h.

E@3e*tation of the :essiah an his (3irit

/&& ehol, 2 am oin+ a new thin+./; Two 3ro3heti* lines were to e#elo3, one leain+ to the

e@3e*tation of the :essiah, the other 3ointin+ to the announ*ement of a new (3irit. They *on#er+e inthe small Remnant, the 3eo3le of the 3oor, who await in ho3e the *onsolation of 2srael an the

reem3tion of !erusalem./

catechism ofthe catholic church

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