DBFC COLLEGE on GOD THE FATHER, FAITH AND REVELATION

References: NEW JERUSALEM BIBLE or NEW AMERICAN BIBLE

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

This subject presents the Christian faith in the context of world religions. It focuses on God the
Father, his relation to the other persons of the Holy Trinity, his work of creation, and his plan
of revealing himself to humankind and of saving them from their sins. It also presents the
importance of faith as response to Him, as well as the various aspects of this faith.

What did Jesus do during his Ministry?

- Jesus called men to follow him. Those who followed Him and his teachings are called
DISCIPLES.
- Among His disciples, He chose and sent some to be his messengers and to be preachers
of his teachings. They are called APOSTLES.
- Jesus PREACHED and TAUGHT in the synagogues, among the crowds and with his
disciples.
- He also PERFORMED MIRACLES, fed the hungry, cured the sick, cast out demons
and raised the dead to life.

As disciples of Christ, we are called to preach to others the Good News of the Bible and to share
with others beauty of the Christian life.

The NATURE OF CATECHESIS

Catechesis is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and God's plan of salvation to humanity.
Catechesis in its very essence is communicating or echoing a person and aiming to bring people
into communion with Jesus Christ (cf. Catechesi Tradendae 5).
Catechesis is the process of transmitting the Gospel, as the Christian community has received it,
understands it, celebrates it, lives it and communicates it in many ways."  (General Directory
for Catechesis #105)

Jesus empowered the Church to continue His mission when He said, “Full authority has been
given to me both in heaven and on earth; go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations.
Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to
carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always, until the end
of time”. (Mt. 28:18-20)

Catechesis: is the “life of the Church.” the initial proclamation of the Gospel or missionary
preaching to arouse faith;
- The examination of the reasons for belief;
- the experience of Christian living;
- the celebration of the sacraments;
- the integration into the ecclesial community;
- the apostolic and missionary witness

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DBFC COLLEGE on GOD THE FATHER, FAITH AND REVELATION

WHAT IS THE CHURCH

The Church may refer to the Institutional Church composed of the Pope, the Bishops, the
Priests, Deacons and the Religious and the Consecrated Persons. (ang Simbahan)
The Church can also refer to the People of God, the Christian Community (ang Katilingban)

The Christian Church is divided into 3:

a. The Militant Church – consists of the faithful people still living on earth
b. The Suffering Church – are the souls who suffering in purgatory
c. The Triumphant Church – the known saints and all the souls enjoying the beatific
vision in heaven.

The Communion of Saints:

The souls in purgatory are being purified because of their sins. They are those in most need of
our prayers and intentions. We the faithful people on earth are obliged to pray for the souls in
purgatory. We also pray to the souls who are already in heaven, for their assistance and
intercession. Ultimately, it is God who answers all our prayers. The Blessed Mother and all the
saints are only intercessors (they petition God on our behalf).
We believe that souls in purgatory, who enter heaven because of our prayers, become our
intercessors in heaven.

The LIFE of the CHURCH is CATECHESIS

As Catechists it is important for us to know and understand:

a. the life of Jesus in the Bible, the Word of God or the Scriptures
b. his teachings – the meaning behind the stories, the miracles and the parables
(Christology)
c. beginnings of Christian life, the experience of the Apostles and the early Christians
(Church History),
d. the early teachings (Church Fathers) and the development of Christ’s teachings
(Theology and Catechism).

The 4 important pillars of Catechism

a. The CREED and the baptismal profession
b. The 7 SACRAMENTS of Faith
c. The COMMANDMENTS and the life of faith
d. The OUR FATHER and the prayers of the believer

UNDERSTANDING the NATURE OF GOD

The most fundamental formula of our Christian belief is: I believe in God the Father, in God
the Son and in God the Holy Spirit. And they are called the Blessed Trinity or the Holy
Trinity. We believe that they are 3 distinct and individual persons but only One God.

God the Father

- He is the first person of the Holy Trinity. He is also attributed as the Creator of the
Universe.
- He is Almighty and Omnipotent meaning he is all-powerful. He is Omniscient
meaning he is all knowing. He is Omnipresent meaning he is Eternal and everywhere.

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DBFC COLLEGE on GOD THE FATHER, FAITH AND REVELATION

In Genesis – Chapter 1 and 2 – the Creation Story (Adam / Eve and their Sons)
Chapter 6 – the Story of Noah and the Flood
Chapter 12 – 20 the Story of Abraham, Sarah and the 3 messengers of God
Chapter 21 – the birth of Isaac and the Testing of Abraham
Chapter 25 – Esau and Jacob and the adventures of Jacob
Chapter 37 – Joseph and his brothers
In Exodus Chapter 3 – the call of Moses and the burning bush
Read Exodus 3
Chapter 3: 13 -14 “But,” said Moses to God, “if I go to the Israelites and say to
them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’
what do I tell them?” God replied to Moses: I am who I am. * Then he added: This is what you
will tell the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.

The Relationship between Yahweh and his people

God in the Old Testament is called: the God of Abraham, of Isaac and Jacob. He is also called
the God of our forefathers. But in Moses God reveals his name. ‫ יהוה‬Yahweh meaning I Am
who Am.
In the Old Testament, the relationship between God (. ‫ יהוה‬Yahweh) and the Israelites was
Master and Servants. He is their God and they are his people.
- As their Lord and God, he gave the Israelites the 10 commandments so that they can
follow his Will.
- God is also their protector and their provider as long as they obey and worship him.

God the Father means he is the ORIGIN of everything and the AUTHORITY behind
creation.
As a Father, he shares goodness and love to all his children. God as a Father was only revealed
through Christ. God is described in the Old testament as the Almighty, the King and the Creator.

God the Son (will be discussed at length in the New Testament)

- He is the second person in the Holy Trinity. He is considered the only-begotten Son of
the Father. He is the purpose and the meaning of all Creation.
- He is the God-made-flesh, who became a human being and born of the Virgin Mary.
- He is referred to as the Savior and the Messiah.
- He intercedes for all our prayers, sacrifices and supplications.

God the Holy Spirit

- He is the third person of the Holy Trinity. In the Old Testament, he is called the
Wisdom of God, God’s power in action, his active force.

The Name, Titles and Symbols of the Holy Spirit

- The Proper Name of the Holy Spirit - RUAH
- Titles of the Holy Spirit in the Bible are: Paraclete and the Spirit of Truth
- St. Paul's Titles for the Holy Spirit: the Spirit of the Promise, the Spirit of adoption,
the Spirit of Christ , the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of God
- St. Peter's title: the Spirit of Glory

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DBFC COLLEGE on GOD THE FATHER, FAITH AND REVELATION

Symbols of the Holy Spirit

Water, Anointing, Fire, Cloud and Light, Seal, Hand, Finger, Dove

Where do we find the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures?

- In Genesis, during the creation, the Spirit was the symbol of the Wind (Gen. 1:1), the
Light (Gen 1:14), and the Breath of Life (Gen 2:7)
- The Spirit of the Promise (he has inspired the Prophets)
- In Theophanies, the manifestations of God – Baptism of Jesus, Transfiguration,
Pentecost
- In the Kingdom and the Exile (the Consoler and the Inspirer)
- Expectation of the Messiah and his Spirit

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:1-3)

But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the
LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a
spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.

1. Wisdom: it is the capacity to love spiritual things more than material ones; it is also the
Knowledge gained through experience.
2. Understanding: we comprehend how we need to live as followers of Christ. A person
with the gift of understanding is enlightened by the gift of truth and clarity although this
may sometimes cannot be explained by words.
3. Counsel (right judgement): with the gift of counsel/right judgment, we know the
difference between right and wrong, and we choose to do what is right. A person with
right judgment avoids sin and lives out the values taught by Jesus;
4. Fortitude (courage): with the gift of fortitude/courage, we overcome our fear and are
willing to take risks as a follower of Jesus Christ. A person with courage is willing to
stand up for what is right in the sight of God, even if it means accepting rejection, verbal
abuse, or physical harm. The gift of courage allows people the firmness of mind that is
required both in doing good and in enduring evil;
5. Knowledge: with the gift of knowledge, we understand the meaning of God. The gift of
knowledge is more than an accumulation of facts, it also helps us to choose the right
path through life;
6. Piety (reverence): with the gift of piety/reverence, we have a deep sense of respect for
God and the Church. A person with reverence recognizes our total reliance on God and
comes before God with humility, trust, and love. Piety is the gift whereby, at the Holy
Spirit's instigation, we pay worship and duty to God as our Father, Aquinas writes;
7. Fear of the Lord (wonder and awe): with the gift of fear of the Lord/wonder and awe,
we are aware of the glory and majesty of God. A person with wonder and awe knows
that God is the perfection of all we desire: perfect knowledge, perfect goodness, perfect
power, and perfect love. This gift is described by Aquinas as a fear of separating oneself
from God. He describes the gift as a "filial fear," like a child's fear of offending his
father, rather than a "servile fear," that is, a fear of punishment. Fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom.

CONFIRMATION- it is the sacrament by which Catholics receive a special outpouring of the

Holy Spirit, the fullness of the Gifts of the Spirit.

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DBFC COLLEGE on GOD THE FATHER, FAITH AND REVELATION

5|Page Notes by Bro. George Celis, SDB