Introduction to Catholicism for Adults

includes index and biblioraphy

1: Called to holiness .....1 Thirst for christ .....1 Called to be perfect ....1 Close up: What is the catechism of the catholic church .....3 Called to holiness ......4 Close up: What was the second vatican council .....5 Close up: Augustine, the convert .....7 Called to be saints ......8 One body in christ .....9 Close up: Paul, apostle to the gentiles .....10 The gift of grace ......12 Close up: Becoming a saint .....13 The marks of a disciple .....15 Close up: Martyrs for the faith ......16 Evangelization .....18 Close up: Evangelization vs proselytization ......19 Conclusion ....20 Living the faith: St Josemaria escriva .....21 Supplementary reading: BL. John paul II , Seeking holiness in the twenty-first century: Pastoral planning in the new millennium ....23 For study and discussion .....25 Practical exercises .....27 From the catechism .....28 2: The existence of god and divine revelation God makes himself known to us Knowing god through the created world Close up: religion is for religious beings Knowing god through the human spirit Close up: The problem of evil Objections to belief in God Divine revelation and salvation history Close up: Motives of credibility Sacred tradition Close up: how the scriptures alone? A fundamental difference Sacred scripture Close up: How the scriptures came to be Establishing the canon The magisterium Interpreting scripture Close up: The canon of scripture Private revelation Close up: Major and minor prophets Our response: faith Conclusion Living the faith: st jerome Supplementary reading: Second ecumenical council of the vatican, handing on divine revelation For study and discussion Practical exercises From the catechism 3: The nature of God: The bleesed trinity Our mysterious god The blessed trinity Close up: A hierarchy of truths one god God reveals his name Close up: St. Patrick and the shamrock The trinity foreshadowed The trinity revealed The language of the trinity Close up: Nature and person The trinity in the early church Close up: St athanasius defender of the divinity of christ Perfect attibutes of god Close up: Knowing god by analogy Close up: A prayer to the blessed trinity The blessed trinity and the christian life Conclusion Living the faith: Bl. Elizabeth of the trinity Supplementary reading: The athanasian creed For study and discussion Practical exercises From the catehism 4: Creation, man, and original sin God of love God the creator Close up: The message of genesis In the image of god Close up: The church and evolution The fatherhood of god Close up: Called to be his children The fall The curse of original sin Close up: One set of parents Natural law The first gospel Preparing for the messiah Close up: Angels in creation Close up: The problem of evil and god`s providence Conclusion Living the faith: St Albert the great Supplementary reading: Joseph Cardinal ratzinger understanding original sin For study and discussion Practical exercises 5: Jesus christ incarnate of the blessed virgin Mary 6: The paschal mystery 7: The holy spirit 8: The holy catholic church 9: The resurrection of the body and life everlasting 10: Christian prayer 11: The sacraments 12: Sacraments of christian initiation: Baptism and confirmation 13: Sacraments of christian initiation: The eucharist 14: Sacraments of healing: Penance and the anointing of the sick 15: Sacraments at the service of communion: Holy orders 16: Sacraments at the service of communion: Matrimony 17: Freedom, morality and grace 18: The decalogue and the beatitudes 19: The first three commandments 20: The fourth commandment: Honor your father and mother 21: The fifth commandment: You shall not kill 22. The sixth and ninth commandments: Chastity in relationships 23: The seventh and tenth commandments: Theft and desire 24: The eighth commandment: Bearing false witness 25: The person and society