The Trinity

The bible teaches to worship ONE GOD, which exists as three persons

 God the father- Shows: God has love + care over his creation and will protect his people
 God the son (Jesus)-Shows: God as a human, Catholics can see love of God, can see God’s
creativity
 God the holy spirit-Shows: God’s communication with humans, helps to explain Jesus’
teachings, is the presence of God in the world
 Trinity seen in worship: Mass begins in the name of the Trinity, main belief of the Nicene
Creed
 Trinity shows: God is ‘beyond us, with us and in us’. Through the trinity, can see the
differences in God’s presence in the world

SA= Nicene Creed states the Trinity is one God experienced as the Father, the Son and the Holy
spirit.

Creation

 In Genesis 1- God created the universe in 6 days, humans were to have authority over the
world. Shows God’s creation + how humans must respect God’s creation
 In Genesis 2 + 3- God created animals, Earth, vegetation, Adam and Eve who lived in the
Garden of Eden, where they ate a forbidden fruit (original sin)
 Creation shows God is:
-The Creator
-Omnipotent-all powerful (because he had the power to create the universe)
-Omnibenevolent-all loving (because he created the world for humans, shows he loves us)
-Eternal (because he had no start and end)
 Fundamental Protestants- Believe Genesis is factually correct. They don’t accept the big
bang (how the universe formed from an explosion) or evolution (how life forms evolved)
 Liberal Protestants- Believe Genesis is people’s words not God’s words, accept Big Bang and
evolution

SA= Genesis 1-‘God saw all that he had made and it was very good’.

Incarnation

 Incarnation- God became human as Jesus. Jesus had a virgin birth (he wasn’t achieved
through sex)
 This shows: God was in him, Jesus was fully human + fully divine, Jesus was the son of God,
Jesus is the word of God
 Important for Catholics, it shows: God cares for the world so much that he sent his only son
for our salvation (removal of sins) + Christians can see God’s nature

SA= Luke’s Gospel- The angel Gabriel told Mary of the virgin birth of Jesus

Matthews Gospel- An angel told Joseph that Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit and their
child (Jesus), would save people from their sins
Paschal Mystery

 Paschal Mystery- Death + Resurrection of Jesus. The events:

 Last supper- Jesus’ last meal with the disciples. The bread= His body. The wine= his
blood, which is the most important part of Christianity
 Garden of Gethsemane- Where Judas went to arrest Jesus
 The Trials- Jesus was found guilty of claiming to be the Son of God, and was sentenced to
be crucified
 The crucifixion- Jesus dies on the cross, which brought human’s forgiveness from sins
 Resurrection + ascension- Jesus was not found in the tomb where he was buried, later
he appeared to 2 disciples in Jerusalem + ascended into a cloud (heaven)

The church teaches Paschal mystery brings salvation from sin: Jesus offered himself for our
salvation + promises Christians’ resurrection + ascension into heaven

SA= Catechism states that the resurrection gives proof of Jesus’ divine authority

Sacramental nature of reality

Sacraments- Outward sign of inward gift of grace given by God. 7 Sacraments

 Baptism- Now member of Church + can receive other sacraments. Events: Priest pours water
over child (washing away original sin) baptises in name of Trinity, anoints with chrism (oil) +
gives lighted candle (Jesus’ eternal love).
 Confirmation- Now fully joined Church, gives strength to spiritual life, person’s own choice.
Events: Person renews vows made at baptism, priest puts hands on person (gift of Holy
spirit) + is anointed with chrism (called for special task)
 Eucharist- It unites people with Jesus + can grow closer to God, gives grace. Events: Given
bread + wine (body + blood of Jesus)
 Reconciliation- Strengthens relationship with God. Events: Priest forgives person’s sins,
admits responsibility + told not to sin again (contrition)
 Anointing of the sick- Gives the sick spiritual strength, grace + healing. Events: Priest lays
hand on sick, anoints with oil of sick, prays + gives them Holy Communion
 Catholics believe the first 5 sacraments are needed for salvation.
 Marriage- Gives grace, strength for a life long relationship of love and faithfulness for making
children in a Christian family. Events: Bible readings, prayers, homily, exchange of vows +
rings
 Holy Orders- Men are brough to ordained ministry. Event: Bishop lays hand on person, given
chrism (gives them grace, strength and authority)
 Most protestants- Believe only baptism and Eucharist are needed for salvation because they
were demonstrated by Jesus.

SA= Catechism states that the sacraments are signs of grace instituted by Christ

Catechism states that the sacraments are how the Holy Spirit spreads Christs grace throughout
the Church
Catholic Liturgical Worship (The Mass)

 Liturgical Worship- Uses a service book, set prayers + rituals- same format every mass. Bible
readings follow liturgical year (follows Bible’s main events)
 Set structure to Mass:
- Introductory Rite (makes Catholics aware they are sinners)
- Penitential Rite (confession + absolution)
- Liturgy of the word (Bible readings)
- Eucharist- Bread and Wine (body and blood of Christ
- Concluding Rite (give thanks and Priest gives congregation blessing)
 Mass is important to Catholics: Feel closer to God and get greater understanding of God,
mass is a celebration of the resurrection, have Eucharist
 Nonconformist Churches- Have Non- Liturgical worship, has hymns/gospels songs,
extempore prayers (made with out preparation), so the worship can be adapted to peoples
needs

SA= Catechism states that the Eucharist is the source of Christian life

Catholic Funeral Rite (a funeral)

 Involves: Vigil- Night before funeral. Events: the eulogy (speech, remembers the dead
person), prayers to them.
 Requiem Mass (funeral mass)- Giv praise and thanks to God for the persons life. Events:
Communion with deceased, ask God that’s the persons soul wont suffer in purgatory and
will have eternal rest, priest puts holy water and incense of coffin
 Rite of Committal- Burial at cemetery. Events: Reading on resurrection, prayers of farewell,
holy water put on coffin, prayer for eternal rest of soul + eternal life
 Important for Catholics because: Proclaims message of eternal life to community- shows
Christ’s sacrifice, celebrate deceased’s life and will be reunited with loved ones in heaven

SA= Catechism ‘by the Requiem Mass, the family of the deceased learn to live in communion
with the one who has fallen asleep in the Lord’

Prayer

 Prayer- Attempt to contact God. Involves: adoration-praise to God, thanksgiving- thanks

God, confession- ask for God to forgive, supplication- ask for God’s help.
 Set Prayers- Used in liturgical worship e.g. the Haily Mary, gives order + purpose to life
 Informal Prayers- Shows thoughts and emotion to God, more personal
 The prayer ‘Our Father’- shows adoration, confession and supplication
 Public worship- At set times gives sense of community
 Private worship- Shows emotions they can’t show in front of others
 Worship in home- Brings families close
 Importance of prayer to Catholics: Jesus told Catholics to pray, bring inner peace, have
healthy emotional life, better relationship with God.
 Joyful worship- Jolly
 Serious Worship- Prayer about serious matters e.g. death

SA= Matthews Gospel states that Jesus taught his followers the ‘Our Father’ as the best way to
pray
Popular Piety

Popular Piety- Forms of prayer and worship, can express devotion

 Rosary- Set prayers based on the rosary beads (based on Jesus’ life). Praying the rosary:
reminder of Jesus’ life and what he’s done for them
 Eucharistic Adoration- Adoration of the Eucharist. Helps worshippers contact Christ, can
honour Christ, bring world peace, follows example of the Popes.
 Stations of the Cross- 14 images showing Jesus’ journey from sentencing to tomb. Say set
prayers at each image. Helps Catholics to: see Jesus’ suffering, pray and give thanks to Jesus
 Protestants- Don’t: use the Rosary- It adores Mary (they believe she was just an ordinary
woman so they don’t worship Mary), use Eucharistic adoration- don’t believe the bread and
wines becomes the body and blood (transubstantiation)

SA= Catechism states that praying the Rosary helps Catholics meditate on the word of Jesus

Pilgrimage

 Pilgrimage- Travelling to Holy land/ places with saints. To become closer to God, adds
discipline to spiritual life, for healing/ hope holiness will rub off on them

Sites:
 Jerusalem- Where the last week of Jesus’ life was, where Jesus was arrested and route Jesus
took, where Jesus was buried and rose from the dead
 Rome- Has Vatican City- Home of the Pope and headquarters of the Church and 4 papal
basilicas (highest ranking buildings of Catholic Church)
 Lourdes- Bernadette’s vision of Mary at a grotto where a spring appeared. Healings have
taken place. There is a Eucharistic + Rosary procession every day
 Walsingham- Lady of the Manor had a vision of Mary, had a copy of Mary’s home in
Nazareth built so she can feel closer to Mary
 Protestant- Believe they can encounter God anywhere, so pilgrimage is wrong and they
don’t worship Mary (so they don’t go to Rome/Lourdes/ Walsingham)

SA= Catechism states that pilgrimage can strengthen faith and increase knowledge of Jesus

Catholic Social Teaching

 Catholic social teaching is based on: Jesus’ command to ‘love they neighbour’ , Bible
teaching to rule the world justly, Parable of the sheep- feed the hungry, visit the
sick/imprisoned, teaching of the Church to live in peace to bring people together
(reconciliation), ‘Laudato Si’ by Pope Francis told to tackle environmental problems
 SVP- Relieves poverty and suffering in the UK by: visiting lonely/depressed, children places
for children from poverty, furniture stores for homeless, housing associations (affordable
housing for poor)
 CAFOD- Ends world poverty by: helping Low Income countries become supported +
proclaiming how High Income countries can help them, disaster fund- help refugees,
promote Fairtrade- better prices, good working conditions and fair terms

SA= St Paul- ‘make every effort to do what leads to peace’

Catholic Mission and Evangelisation

 Missionary- Person sent by Church to bring people into Christianity

 Evangelisation- Proclaim message of Christianity to try and convert people
 Jesus’ Great Commission’ to his disciples- Go and convert the world (evangelising), churches
were founded and missions made, to share God’s love and give strength in life and get a
place in heaven
 Colonisation (strong countries ruling weak countries), Christian missionaries went with them
e.g. North America became protestant due to GB missionaries
 Missionary + evangelical work carried out: Local Churches- Support Christian schools + bring
people into Church, Alpha- Tries to convert non-churchgoers, Pontifical Council- Helps
bishops convert people

SA= In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis said Catholics are to be spirit-filled Evangelisers’

Second Vatican Council

 Second Vatican Council- Bring Church up to date, open Church up to Holy Spirit, bring
leadership of Church closer to people. Four Documents:
- Sacrosanctum Concilium (Sacred Council)- Changed worship- Mass in language of
people, congregation (laity) can now read + say prayers
- Lumen Gentium (Light of Humanity)- Changed nature of Church- Every Christian called to
serve Christ, baptised part of priesthood, Pope no longer in full control
- Gladium et Spes (Joy and Hope)- Affirmed human rights- Showed concern over morals in
world, claimed peace + justice is necessary for all.
- Dei Verbum (Word of God)- Bible read by Catholics in own language + apply teaching to
own lives
 Opinions of council:

 😊 Church listened to people and opened up to modern world.

 ☹ Wanted to keep Church same/Reforms didn’t go far enough e.g. married priests

SA=Documents by Vatican II carry authority of the church

Four Marks of the Church

The Four Marks of the Church, the church is:

 One- Church is based on 1 Jesus, 1 baptism, inspired by 1 Holy Spirit, has 1 faith.
 Holy- God made the Church so it is holy, the Church is the source of sacraments so it is holy,
the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit so is holy
 Catholic/Universal- Christianity is for the whole world, the Christian message can be
understood+ believed by everyone
 Apostolic- Founded by Apostles + teaches what Apostles taught, receives Apostolic Tradition,
authority of St Peter passed down by Apostolic Succession to Pope
 Protestants- Believe the Church is apostolic because it is based on the Bible.
 Orthodox- Believe the Church is based on Apostolic Tradition

SA= Nicene creed- ‘I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church’.
Mary as the mode of the Church

 Mary as model of Church- Mother of Christ + the Church, by her assumption (Mary went into
heaven + didn’t suffer), she shows the Church will take Christians into heaven. In Heaven,
she can answer Christian’s prayers
 Model of Christian discipleship- Obeyed God’s plan, immaculate conception (she was
conceived without sin) so Jesus was sinless + was sinless in life, she was devoted to Jesus +
with him to the end
 Example of faith- Believed message of Angel Gabriel at Annunciation (Gabriel told Mary she
would have the son of God) and she trusted God
 Example of charity- Gave her own life to bear God’s son (she could have refused, then Jesus
wouldn’t have been born), she helped people + prayed for people

SA= Catechism- ‘Mary, mother of Christ, Mother of the Church

Sources of personal and ethical decision making

 Jesus’s Life- To see what he would have done e.g. Golden Rule- ‘Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you’ + ‘Love thy neighbour’. But it says nothing about modern issues e.g
condoms, so conscience to make decisions about it
 Natural Law- Moral order to the universe, designed by God e.g. marriage between man
+woman in natural law because it creates a family + ensures the human race continues.
Order of creation is natural law
 Conscience- Inner feeling of right/ wrong , the voice of God.

- 😊 Christians should follow it +use it to make moral decision making

- ☹ Can be mistaken
 Teachings of Church- Authoritative guidance given by Pope + Bishops, inspired by the Holy
Spirit. Can use authority of Jesus/ Church to reject conscience

SA= Catechism states that it is important for Christians to hear + follow the voice of their
conscience

Architecture, design, and decoration of Catholic churches

Catholic Churches have inside:

 Nave (seating area)

 Sanctuary (where priests and servers are during mass)
 Altar (where priest offers Mass, showing Jesus offering himself)
 Candles (Jesus is the light of the world)
 Lectern (raised stand where bible is read) because faith and truth comes from the Bible
readings, used for Liturgy of the Word
 Tabernacle (where bread and wine is kept, makes person a member of the Church)
 Baptismal font (contains holy water)
 Sacred Heart of Jesus (eternal fire of God’s love), statues of saints + St Peter
  Different Styles e.g. Westminster is Neo-Byzantine. Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral is
concrete + aluminium

SA= Catechism states that the people of God should build a Church for worship

Different internal features of a Catholic Church

 Lectern- Should be suitable for dignity of God’s word. Gosep only read by ordained
deacon/priest/bishop. Bible readings are basis of Liturgy of Word in Mass
 Altar- Made of stone, consecrated by a bishop and is in the centre of the Church. Altar shows
the importance of redemption + at the altar, transubstantiation occurs
 Crucifix- Cross with Jesus on, shown to congregation during Mass, shows Christ’s redemption
(Jesus died to save us from sins), aids worship- thank Jesus for his sacrifice
 Tabernacle- Holds the bread (Jesus’ body) reminds Catholics of Jesus’ sacrifice, aids worship-
holy presence in the Church

SA= Catechism states that the Church building is a symbol of the Fathers house towards which
Christians are journeying

Sacred Object in Catholicism

Sacred Objects- Holy things used in prayer + worship, are respected:

 Sacred Vessels- Vessels for bread and wine, paten (plate, holds priest’s host), ciborium
(plate, holds people’s host), chalice (cup, holds wine and water), stoup (container on wall
hold holy water- washing humans clean from sin). All handled with care + washed + used in
the Eucharist
 Vestments- Clothes worn by Priest. Cloths- Covers for altar/ lectern/for priest to wear.
Different colours over the year e.g. whit/gold for special celebrations
 Sacrophagi- Containers for bones of saints, made of stone + displayed in Churches, Catholics
think holiness will rub off on them
 Hunger cloths- Shows scenes of Jesus’ life, hung over rood screen. Reflect Catholic belief
about need to follow example of Jesus + act for justice and peace
 Objects used out of Church: Holy images, statues and crucifixes used in private devotion +
prayer. Holy water sprinkled in home, votive candles lit

SA= Catechism- ‘ All the signs in the liturgical celebrations are related to Christ’

Paintings, Frescoes + Drawings

 Secular art- Not connected with religion: expresses emotions of artist, helps us to
understand more about God, back up belief + greater insight into Catholic faith
 Icons- Holy image e.g. of Angles/ Saints on wood. Shows: facial expression, persons’ nature,
halo (Jesus’ holiness, the gold halo= divinity), Holy book- Jesus is the word of God and Bible
comes from God
 Fresco- Painting on fresh plaster e.g. St Francis’ life was painted, shows: St Francis preaching
to birds (nature is part of God’s creation), Golden halo- Holiness of his life + God’s presence,
3 fingers raised- Trinity

SA= Catechism states that sacred art can evoke faith + adoration by portraying the mystery of
God
 Sculptures and Statues

Statues- Aid worship, focus prayer. Express beliefs as nothing is hidden

 Statues of Mary with baby- Shows Mary is the Mother of God. Statues of Mary with
adult son- Shows Jesus was her redeemer
 Statues of Sacred Heart of Jesus, surrounded by crown of thorns (shows passion of
Christ) with burning fire (shows his eternal love)
 Bronze statue of St Peter, 1 hand has keys to the kingdom of heaven, shows St Peter was
the rock which Christ built his Church on, and how he has been given authority to forgive
sings (keys of the kingdom)
 Crucifix, Madonna- Statue of the Virgin Mary
 Ask saints to help them so their prayers will be more likely answered. Places associated
with saints/ vision have statue of saint.

SA=Catechism states that human art expresses humans’ relationship with God

Symbolism and imagery in religious art

 Symbolism- Use an object/ word to represent abstract idea. Religious symbols- Shows
message of religion so its more accessible to people, have holiness
 The Cross- Shows Jesus’ love/forgiveness/ sacrifice. The Crucifix- Shows Jesus’ passion + how
he forgave the world’s sins
 The Fish- Symbolises Christianity (lots of fishes in Gospels + some disciples were fishermen)
 Dove- Symbolises the Holy Spirit. Eagles- Power + speed of God’s message

Evangelist Symbol Representing

Matthew Winged Man Spreading the Gospel
Mark Winged Lion Jesus is courageous and a
miracle worker
Luke Winged Ox Jesus’ sacrifice (ox’s were
sacrifices)
John Winged Eagle God’s word

SA= Isiah 45 states that those who wait for the Lord shall mount up with wings like eagles

Drama, Mystery, and Passion plays

 Drama- exciting/ emotional plays, used to put Christian message across. Priest re-enacts Last
Supper in the Mass
 Mystery plays- Medieval dramas, showed message of Christianity e.g. the creation/ Last
Supper, by: being in languages of people, were humorous, put in real life situations so
people can empathise, make spiritual message clear
 Passion Plays- Tell story of Jesus’ last days e.g. on the cross. Put across message of Jesus’
passion and forgiveness by: bringing events to life, lots of actors- big spectacle, used relevant
events in people’s lives, in language of people
 Veneration of the Cross (honouring/kissing cross)- People take part in drama to shows Jeus’
sacrifice
 SA= Catechism states that God gradually revealed himself to the world like a drama

Traditional + Contemporary music in worship

 Music- Used in: opening of the Mass, the Gloria, when bread and wine brought to the altar.
Shows God’s love, praise God. Early Christians composed canticles (songs) + praises of God
(doxology)

Music used in Ordinary worship

 Hymns- Songs of praise, addressed to God + show beliefs + emotions e.g. ‘Faith of our
Father’. Modern hymns are contemporary style e.g. ‘Here I am Lord’.
 Plainchant- Unaccompanied singing. 2 types: responsorial chant (soloist/choir sings with
response from choir/ congregation) + antiphonal chant (verses sung alternatively by soloist +
choir)
 Psalms- Sacred songs/hymns, contains singing + instruments, contain human emotions, e.g.
psalms of praise/thanksgiving. Relevant for modern worship
 Worship songs- Short hymns, put Bible verse/ Christian message to contemporary music
with guitar/ keyboard. Lively + dancers

SA= Catechism states that doxology (praise of God), comes from God’s salvation