Our Catholic Faith
Living What We Believe
CHAPTER 5
Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins,
Eternal Life
 Eternal Destiny
 Communion of Saints
 One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins
 The Last Things: Eschatology
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
Eternal Destiny
The single most important goal in life here on
earth is to get to Heaven
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
Communion of Saints
In God’s family, each person shares in the
spiritual benefits of the other members:
 The Catholic faith
 The graces of the sacraments
 The spiritual benefits of the charisms of the
Holy Spirit
 The material goods shared among all
 The fruits of a just society
 The communion that results from charity
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
All members of God’s family
Communion of Saints
Pilgrim
Church
Those of us who
are living on
earth today
Church
Triumphant
The blessed
in Heaven
EUCHARIST
Church
Suffering
Those undergoing
purification in
Purgatory
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
Communion of Saints
Devotion to the Saints
 Every member of Christ’s Body has a call to holiness
 The example of canonized saints can help all friends
of Christ on the path to holiness
 By imitating their virtues and honoring
them through prayerful devotion
 Devotion involves veneration, not
worship
 True devotion involves studying their
lives and imitating their virtues
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
Communion of Saints
Mary, the Greatest Saint
 Mary plays a special role in Salvation History
 Mary fully cooperated with our Lord’s work of Salvation
 The Church honors Mary with many
titles which tell us something about
what we believe about her
 Mary intercedes on our behalf, just as
she did for the married couple at the
wedding in Cana
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
Communion of Saints
Titles for Mary
Our
Lady
Blessed
Mother
Advocate
Queen of
Heaven &
Earth
Helper
Mediatrix
Ever
Virgin
Mother
of God
Mother
of the
Church
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
Communion of Saints
Truths about Mary
Virgin Mary
Mary remained a virgin
“before, in, and after”
the birth of Jesus.
Assumption
At the completion of her
earthly life, Mary was
assumed body and
soul into heavenly
glory
Immaculate Conception
From the first moment of her
conception, Mary was
preserved immune from
Original Sin
Mother of God & Mother of the Church
Because Jesus is one Divine Person
possessing both a divine nature and a
human nature, Mary was the Mother of God.
Mary is a spiritual mother whose love for her
Son and for us helps bring birth to believers
in the Church
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins
Forgiveness of sins was an essential part of
Jesus’ earthly ministry
 Jesus instructed his disciples to continue to
forgive sins in his name.
 Baptism is the primary sacrament of
forgiveness and is the complete remission
of both Original Sin
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are
and personal sin.
forgiven them, and whose sins
you retain are retained.”
John 20:22-23
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins
Types of Sin
Sin
an offense against God
through a violation of truth,
Original Sin
Actual Sin
reason, and conscience
the prideful disobedience
personal, individual sin;
Sin
of Adam and Eve and the Degrees of
an act, word, or desire
Venial
sin
–
“lesser
sins”
that are
effects of this disobedience
contrary to eternal law
a
stumbling
block
on
the path
that all humans inherit Types of Sin
following
Jesus
1.tofreely
chosen
bad attitudes
Mortal
sin – the most
serious kind
or inordinate
desires
Conditions
for
Mortal
Sin
sin that
our relation to
2.offailure
to kills
act (omission)
● Grave
matter
and others
3.God
actions
directed against God,
● Sufficient reflection
neighbor, or self (commission)
● Full consent of the will
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins
The Sacrament of Penance
 Christ forgives mortal sins
through this sacrament
 It is a “second baptism” in which the
Church proclaims once again Christ’s
forgiveness of the contrite sinner
 Three signs of true contrition:
(1) a sincere intention to avoid sin in the future
(2) avoid the “near occasions” of sin
(3) as far as possible, repair any harm
our sins have caused
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
The Last Things: Eschatology
Death
 Scripture teaches that death is a
penalty for sin
 Jesus’ own acceptance of his Death
is a model for all
 Death is a profound mystery, but
Christian faith reveals that Jesus
Christ conquered death
 If we die in union with Christ, we
will rise on the last day with
Christ in his glory
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
The Last Things: Eschatology
The Resurrection of the Body
 When Christ comes again the most Blessed
Trinity will raise our bodies which will be
made incorrupt and will rejoin our souls
 The most important quality of the
resurrected body will be immortality
 Other attributes listed by St. Paul:
imperishable, glorious, powerful, spiritual
 The resurrected body will shine brightly,
reflecting the glory of the Beatific Vision
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
The Last Things: Eschatology
“What eye has not seen,
and ear has not heard,
and what has not entered the
human heart, what God
Purgatoryhas prepared for
those
The state of being of the
finalwho love him.”
Cor 2:9
purification of those who1die
in God’s grace and friendship.
Particular Judgment
Heaven
The individual judgment that determines
if we go to Heaven immediately, need
purification in Purgatory, or must
suffer the punishments of Hell
Our union with the loving,
Triune God, the Blessed
Mother, and all the angels
and saints
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
The Last Things: Eschatology
Death
Personal Judgment
Purgatory
Hell
Heaven
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
The Last Things: Eschatology
The Last or General Judgment
 Events of the last day of human history when
the resurrection of the just and
unjust will take place and the
Risen, Glorified Lord will come
again
 Christ, who is Truth itself,
will reveal each person’s
relationship with God
 Everyone will recognize God’s
saving plan in Christ Jesus
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
The Last Things: Eschatology
Amen
 Means “so be it, I agree, certainly, it is firm”
 When we says Amen, we are making an act
of faith, proclaiming the truth of what we
pray and celebrate.
 Jesus often said Amen to stress that what he
was about to teach was trustworthy, that it
came from his Father.
Ch. 5 Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, Eternal Life
VOCABULARY
 Communion of Saints
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(127)
Eschatology (127)
Heaven (127)
Charisms (127)
Purgatory (128)
Saint (129)
Immaculate
Conception (130)
Assumption (131)
Theo-tokos (131)
Sin (135)
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Venial sin (136)
Vices (136)
Capital sins (136)
Mortal sins (137)
Hell (137)
Resurrection of the body
(140)
Beatific Vision (141)
Particular judgment (142)
Last (General) judgment
(146)
Amen (147)
Prayer for Our Dear Departed
Chapter 4 The Church: The Body of Christ
O God Jesus, Whose loving heart was ever
troubled by the sorrows of others, look with
pity on the souls of our dear ones in Purgatory.
O Thou Who didst “love Thine own” hear our
cry for mercy, and grant that those whom Thou
hast called from our homes and hearts may soon
enjoy everlasting rest in the home of Thy Love
in Heaven. Amen.