1. Catechism of the Catholic Church
FOUR PILLARS OF THE CATECHISM

2. The Creeds – Credo “Synthesis” /“Professions” of Faith
Gathered from all Scriptures
“Summary of Faith encompassed in a few words the whole knowledge of the true religion contained in the Old Testament and the New Testament” – St. Cyril of Jerusalem

3. Baptismal Creed Three Parts
1st Divine Person – work of Creation
2nd Divine Person – mystery of Redemption
3rd Divine Person – Sanctification
12 Articles – separate but connected as articulations in the body
12 Apostles – fullness of Apostolic faith

4. Apostles Creed / Nicene Creed (oldest Roman Catechism) (325 & 381)
12 Articles
I believe in God Father/creator
I believe in the Holy Spirit
I believe in Jesus Christ
I believe in the Holy Catholic Church
Conceived by the Holy Spirit
I believe in the forgiveness of sins
Suffered, died, buried
I believe in the Resurrection
Descended into hell; rose on third day
I believe in life everlasting
Ascended into heaven
Will come to judge

5. God reveals His name to Moses on Sinai – Theophany
Article 1: “I believe in God the Father Almighty Creator of heaven and Earth”
Belief in God vs. One God
God reveals His name to Moses on Sinai – Theophany
“I am Who Am” – YHWH
Tetragrammaton
“Lord” = Adenai (Heb)
= Kyrios (Grk)

6. Implications of faith in one God
Article 1: “I believe in God the Father Almighty Creator of heaven and Earth”
God is truth and love
Truth itself – cannot deceive/ be deceived
Full Trust in His wisdom
Love –
Sheer gratuitous love
More than mother’s or spouse’s love.
Everlasting love.
God is Love (1 John)
Implications of faith in one God
To know God’s greatness and majesty
Living in Thanksgiving
Knowing the unity and dignity of all men

7. Implications (cont’d)
Article 1: “I believe in God the Father Almighty Creator of heaven and Earth”
Implications (cont’d)
Making good use of created things
Trusting God in every circumstance
Prayer of St. Teresa of Avila
“Let nothing trouble you/ Let nothing frighten you.
Everything passes/ God never changes
Patience / Obtains all
Whoever has God/ wants for nothing
God alone is enough”

8. Article 1, Paragraph 2: The Father
Baptism: In the NAME (not names) of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity
One God, Three Persons
Central mystery of the Faith; of God himself
Source of other mysteries
Essential teaching, fundamental in the hierarchy of the truths of faith
Only difference between three Persons is their relationship to one another

9. Article 1, Paragraph 2: The Father
Revelation of God as Trinity
Father revealed by the Son – Father is first origin & authority; goodness, loving care
Paternal tenderness is an image of motherhood
God transcends human distinction of sexes
Neither man nor woman, but God
Son is consubstantial with the Father (Nicaea 325)
Homo-ousius (Grk) – Consubstantialis (Latin)
Father and Son revealed by the Spirit
The Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (filioque)
Council of Florence (1438 AD)

10. Theological Terms/ Definitions
Homo-ousious vs. Homo-i-ousious
(Same) (Similar)
2 Processions
Son proceeds from the Father
Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son
Generation – function of God the Father only
Spiration – breathe of God, Father and Son breath the Holy Spirit
Relationship – the only difference between the three Persons is relationship between them
Hypostasis – technical term for Person
Substance – essence or nature

11. Formation of Trinitarian Dogma
Reasons for Formation:
1. Development of Dogma – to own understanding of faith.
2. To defend against heresy
Trinity is One – Consubstantial, each whole, entire (do not share one divinity)
Divine Persons distinct from one another
Divine Persons are relative to one another

12. Divine Works and Trinitarian Missions
The whole divine economy (oikonomia = works) is the common work of the three Divine Persons
All three are equally present in all works and missions
However, each Divine Persons performs the common work according to His unique personal property

13. Article 1, Paragraph 3: Almighty
God’s omnipotence or Power
1. Universal – all things are possible for Him
2. Loving – takes care of our needs. Filial adoption. Infinite mercy
3. Mystery – mysterious. Experience of evil and suffering. The almighty power revealed in voluntary humiliation and resurrection of the Son.