8-4 Special Gifts of the Catholic Tradition Read and outline pages

Aim: What are the special Gifts of the Catholic Tradition? I.A sense of the Sacramental – that God and the sacred are encountered in the ordinary things and events of everyday life A.Symbols and symbolic actions 1.holy water, incense, candles, rosary beads, religious medals 2.sacramental are actions or rituals that help us find the present of God B.Seven Sacraments = Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, Holy Orders 1.Eucharist center of Catholic life and worship

II. An emphasis on the Communal – the Church, as a community, is essential to individual salvation and the life of faith A.we need guidance and wisdom of the community B.weekly Mass to stay connected, nourished and build it up C.Catholic Social Teaching show how the Scripture and Tradition can be applied to social issues and promote justice

III. A commitment o to both Faith and Reason – reliance on both human intelligence and faith in god to understand what God intends A.Scripture scholars, Thomas Aquinas, Teresa of Avila B.Catholic schools and universities

IV. Love for the Saints – a relationship with those who have died who were especially close to God and now are models and helpers for those still living A.Misunderstood, not a substitute for God B.sometimes excessive