1. Week 2 - Revelation By natural reason man can know God with certainty from creation and from our heart. But in order to ensure that all men come to know him, God has revealed himself and given himself to man. Revelation = unveiling CCC 50, Com 6 This order of knowledge man cannot possibly arrive at by his own powers is this divine Revelation. God tells us about his inner life and his divine plan for us

2. God reveals his plan of “loving goodness” God reveals his plan of “loving goodness”  God wants to communicate his own divine life to the men he freely created, in order to adopt them as his sons in his only- begotten Son, making us “children of God”.  By revealing himself God wishes to make human beings them capable of responding to him, and of knowing him, and of loving him far beyond their own natural capacity.  God reveals by deeds and words CCC 52-3, Comp 6

3. God’s Revelation gradually unfolds through history The Stages of Revelation – Various Covenants Covenant = solemn agreement between two, a personal relationship Adam, Noah, Abraham, Israel, Moses, Jesus Faith is man’s response to God who reveals himself and gives himself to man Faith is to affirm that “I believe” CCC 26 Jesus competes revelation; there will be no further revelation after Him. CCC 54-73, Com 7-9

4. A covenant is similar to a contract, but it is much more than merely a contract. A covenant establishes bonds of sacred kinship: it unites the participants in a family relation. A contract is a temporary business agreement, meant to last as long as current circumstances make it necessary. God’s covenant unites persons in a union that is meant to last. A corporation is a contract; a marriage is a covenant. Covenants vs. Contracts

5. The Covenants in the Bible

6. Discussion Question 1 p 16-17 USCCB 1.What are you willing to reveal about yourself to your family and friends? 2.How does God’s revealing of himself show he is treating us as his family and friends? 3.What in the United States has fostered a ‘culture of disbelief” about God’s Revelation?

7. Tradition = tradere = to hand down living transmission Tradition = tradere = to hand down living transmission God arranged that the things he had once revealed for the salvation of all peoples should remain in their entirety, throughout the ages, and be transmitted to all generations. The Good News of Jesus, the Gospel was handed on in two ways: —orally and —in writing This living, oral transmission, accomplished in the Holy Spirit, is called Tradition ; it is distinct from Sacred Scripture, though closely connected to it. Through Tradition, "the Church, in her doctrine, life, and worship perpetuates and transmits to every generation all that she is, all that she believes. CCC 74-78, Com 11-13

8. The apostles left bishops as their successors. They gave them their own position of teaching authority. The Pope, the Pope with the bishops, Council = the Magisterium CCC 80-82, Com 14 The Catholic Church does not derive her certainty about revealed truth from Scripture alone but from Scripture and Tradition. CCC 80-82, Com 14 Magisterium = teaching authority/ office of the Church A continuous line of succession until the end of time. Peter – 1 st Bishop of Rome to Pope Francis, the 266 th

9.  The Church's Magisterium exercises the authority it holds from Christ when it defines dogmas  Dogmas are truths contained in divine Revelation  Dogmas light up the path of faith  Dogmas help us by helping us know our faith and morals  Many times it is the belief in dogmas that define the difference between religions  Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium are inter- connected: each contributes to the salvation of souls. Dogmas = truths of the faith