RCIA Session 24 : Ecumenism, The Priesthood of the Faithful, and - PDF document

10/23/2019 RCIA Session 24 : Ecumenism, The Priesthood of the Faithful, and Evangelization 1 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Separated Brethren Jesus Prays for Unity (John 17:20-23) • “ I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one , as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.” 2 2 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Separated Brethren Jesus Prays for Unity (John 17:17-19) • “Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.” Jesus Christ (2015) by Laur Iduc 3 3 1

10/23/2019 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Separated Brethren Christianity is Divided • True from the beginning (even in the Bible) • Schism : refusal to acknowledge Pope’s authority • Heresy : obstinate refusal to believe Church’s doctrine by a baptized person • Apostasy : complete repudiation of the faith 4 4 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Separated Brethren Christianity is Divided (cont.) • Two major types of division – Schism of the Eastern Orthodox Churches (11 th century) • Don’t accept papal primacy – Protestantism • Differences much greater than papal authority alone Martin Luther (1529) by Lucas Cranach the Elder 5 5 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Separated Brethren Christianity is Divided (cont.) • Non-Christian communities (non-Trinitarian and don’t acknowledge the divinity of Jesus) – Unitarian-Universalists – Mormons – Jehovah’s Witnesses 6 6 2

10/23/2019 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Separated Brethren Jesus Died to Save Everyone • Some understand “predestination” to mean Jesus died to save only some persons – Yet many Scripture passages affirm that He died for all, loves all, and wants all to be in Heaven • We are called to have faith in Jesus and to obey what He has commanded us 7 7 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Separated Brethren Jesus is Our Only Salvation • “ There is no salvation through anyone else , nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” (Acts 4:12) • “For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race , Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5) 8 8 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Separated Brethren Jesus is Our Only Salvation (cont.) • “ Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church , but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation .” (CCC 847, LG 16) 9 9 3

10/23/2019 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Separated Brethren The Role of the Church in the Salvation of All • “ [T]he Church […] is necessary for salvation […] Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.” (CCC 846, LG 14) 10 10 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Separated Brethren Role of the Church in the Salvation of All (cont.) • For those who are not formally members of the Church, “ the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using [other communions] as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Catholic Church.” (Pope John Paul II, That They All May Be One 10) 11 11 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Separated Brethren What We Must Do • Catholics must work for Christian unity • Personal conversion to seek holiness – Lack of fidelity to Gospel causes divisions • Fidelity to the authority of the Church – Root of nearly all divisions – Individual opinions above teaching authority 12 12 4

10/23/2019 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Separated Brethren What We Must Do (cont.) • Pray in common with other Christians • Joint efforts in good social works • Authentic Christian witness – True Christian love for everyone – Explaining the true faith that animates our lives – Always humble, never boastful 13 13 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Separated Brethren Practical Concerns • Don’t partake of Lord’s Supper in non-Catholic worship service • Explain why non-Catholics can’t partake of Eucharist at Mass 14 14 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Separated Brethren Reason for Hope • There has been progress toward Christian unity • Like Jesus, we must pray to the Father for unity 15 15 5

10/23/2019 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization The Priesthood of the Faithful Introduction • Baptism makes all Catholics members of Christ and His Church – Thus all share in His priesthood – All Christians are called by God to give witness to Him and to be examples of holiness – We are to draw all people back to God 16 16 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization The Priesthood of the Faithful The Laity • Those not called to priesthood or consecrated religious life • Vocation lived out primarily in the world 17 17 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization The Priesthood of the Faithful Mission of the Laity • Help spread he Kingdom of Christ • A right and an obligation by Baptism and Confirmation – “Then Jesus approached and said to them, ‘All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.’” (Mt 28:18-20) 18 18 6

10/23/2019 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization The Priesthood of the Faithful Mission of the Laity (cont.) • Priestly Role – Offer daily lives as spiritual sacrifices – Highest expression: Holy Eucharist • Offer sacrifices along with the priest through interior participation of the heart 19 19 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization The Priesthood of the Faithful Mission of the Laity (cont.) • Prophetic Role – Spread the Gospel by words and witness – Matrimony and Christian family life particularly powerful witness 20 20 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization The Priesthood of the Faithful Mission of the Laity (cont.) • Kingly Role – Work to establish the rule of Christ… • in our own lives • in the lives of others • throughout the world • In the secular world where it’s an obstacle 21 21 7

10/23/2019 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization The Priesthood of the Faithful The Three Goals of the Lay Apostolate • Evangelization – Testimonies of a good Christian life, charitable deeds, and words – Witnessing to non-Christians – Teaching and encouraging Catholics – Explaining and defending Catholic beliefs – This is our mission – we cannot keep silent 22 22 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization The Priesthood of the Faithful The Three Goals of the Lay Apostolate (cont.) • Renewal of the temporal order – All the things that make cultures and countries – Laity lives in the world so it is their special task 23 23 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization The Priesthood of the Faithful The Three Goals of the Lay Apostolate (cont.) • Charitable works and social aid – Christian charity: reach out to those in need 24 24 8

10/23/2019 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization The Priesthood of the Faithful The Spiritual Life of the Laity • A top priority • Christ is the source of our spiritual life – We must stay connected to Him to bear fruit • Prayer • Scripture • Living a sacramental life – No dichotomy between spiritual and secular 25 25 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Evangelization • The very nature of the Church is missionary • Sent to “make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28) – Draw all nations back into communion with the Father • Evangelization : proclaim saving message to all those we meet – For laity, accomplished in ordinary circumstances at every opportunity – Through words and actions 26 26 Session 24: Ecumenism, Priesthood of the Faithful, & Evangelization Evangelization • God wants all persons “to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tm 2:4) – We are His instruments to make this happen • Always respect the dignity of the human person – Evangelization is an invitation offered out of love 27 27 9