The Creation of Adam at the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo c. 1512 "For you love all things that exist, and you loathe none of the things which you have made, for you would not have made anything if you had hated it." - Wisdom 11:24 Read: Genesis 1:1-31 Psalm 104 John 1:1-4 Study: 1) Handouts: Beauty; God the Creator; Providence 2) 3MC: 21 – What is creation according to the Church? 22 – Is there a contradiction between faith and science? 23 – Is there a contradiction between the Creation and Evolution? 3) CCC 279-314, 337-344, 385, 410, 1604, 2501 (YOUCAT 40 - 50, 466) Meditate: I what ways does mankind share in God's love and creation? How do I view life? Do I trust God in all circumstances, even when times are difficult and the purpose is not always clear? Am I thankful? In what ways do I express my love and thankfulness to God and to or for those who have participated in helping me be who I am? Spend some time meditating on the full text (often shortened in the popular "All Creatures of Our God and King") of St. Francis' Cantico di fratre sole (Song of Brother Sun): Considering the life of St. Francis and also that this was written near his death, what does it teach you about trusting in God's providence? Pray: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen. Imitate: St. Albert the Great Apply: In what ways can I help myself and others development a trust in God's great love and His providential care? Extra: St. Albert the Great: On Cleaving to God Catholic Encyclopedia: Divine Providence Fr Jean-Pierre de Caussade, SJ: Abandonment to Divine Providence Catholic Encyclopedia: Creation Creation and Genesis Adam, Eve, and Evolution The Galileo Controversy
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Meditate: How does knowing that God is a communion of love, a Blessed Trinity, change the way I view God, others, and my purpose in life? What does it mean to love like God loves? In what ways do I acknowledge God as Father? Pray: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Imitate: St. Hilary of Poitiers Apply: Being made in the image of God, how can I model my life and actions in light of the love of God? Extra: The Trinity Can you explain the Trinity in plain language? God in Three Persons Where's that in the Bible? The Holy Trinity Bishop Robert Barron: What is the Trinity? St. Hilary of Poitiers: On the Trinity St. Augustine: On the Trinity Novatian: On the Trinity Catholic Encyclopedia: The Blessed Trinity Tour of the Catechism #8 - The Father Tour of the Catechism #9 - The Holy Trinity
Death of Moses by Alexandre Cabanel "Something incomprehensible is not for that reason less real." - Blaise Pascal Read: Acts 17:22-28 Psalm 18 John 1:1-4 Study: 1) Handouts: Attributes of God; Does God Exist?; God’s Justice, God’s Love; Creed 2) 3MC: 05 – Is there proof for the existence of God? 06 – What are miracles? Bonus 1 – Why are Atheists wrong? Bonus 2 – Does Atheism lead to a better world? 12 – Who is God? 13 – Is God really all-powerful? 14 – Is God really unchanging? 15 – Is God a man with a long beard? 3) CCC 27-43, 198-226, 239, 268-272 (YOUCAT 1-6) Meditate: Believing in existence of God has what implications for the way I live? Meditate on the attributes of the Divine Nature, ask yourself: How does the nature of God affect my understanding of the world, of my circumstances, of myself? Knowing that God is so much greater than I could ever think or imagine, what will it be like to actually see Him in heaven "face to face"? Pray: God, though I don't see you, you see me. Though I do not know you, you know me even more than I know myself. Help me to believe and trust that your existence means that there is no one else who knows me more and still loves me. Amen. Imitate: St. Thomas the Apostle Apply: In what ways can I help others believe that God exists and help those who struggle with doubt? Extra: Kalam Cosmological Argument Leibniz' Contingency Argument Fine Tuning of the Universe Argument The Moral Argument The Argument from Desire God's Existence The Father's Splendor William Lane Craig website Catholic Encyclopedia: The Attributes and Nature of God No Apologies #21 - Prime Mover No Apologies #22 - "Uncreated Being" No Apologies #23 - Intelligent Design Tour of the Catechism #7 - Creeds, God the Father
3) CCC 26-183 (YOUCAT 7-19) Meditate: Considering your life experience and what you have learned in studying this subject, ask yourself: In what ways has God revealed Himself to me and what has been my response? Considering that Jesus is the fullness of God's revelation, ask yourself: Is it enough to know about Him? How can I come to know Him more deeply? In what ways does that change my life? Pray: Lord, inspire me to read your Scriptures and to meditate upon them day and night. I beg you to give me real understanding of what I need, that I in turn may put its precepts into practice. Yet, I know that understanding and good intentions are worthless, unless rooted in your graceful love. So I ask that the words of Scripture may also be not just signs on a page, but channels of grace into my heart. Amen. Imitate: St. Jerome Apply: In what ways can I help myself and others to discover and grow in their understanding of the fullness of God's revelation? Extra: Scott Hahn's free online Bible study Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation) Verbum Domini (The Word of the Lord) by Pope Benedict XVI Catholic Church Documents related to Biblical Studies Scripture and Tradition Not by Scripture Alone Catholic Encyclopedia: Revelation Catholic Encyclopedia: The Bible Catholic Encyclopedia: Inspiration of the Bible Catholic Encyclopedia: Tradition and Living Magisterium Catholic Encyclopedia: Dogma No Apologies #33 - The Historical Reliability of the Gospels No Apologies #34 - Gospel Integrity and Sincerity No Apologies #35 - Gospel Writers Were Reliably Informed Tour of the Catechism #2 - The Profession of Faith Tour of the Catechism #3 - God Comes To Meet Man Tour of the Catechism #4 - Relationship, Tradition, and Scripture Tour of the Catechism #5 - Sacred Scripture Tour of the Catechism #6 - Man's Response to God
Meditate: What implications does being made in God's image have upon my perspective on life and upon my actions? What is the purpose of my life and what are the tools God gives me to achieve that purpose? What is really at the depths of how I define who I am? What it is it that I desire most? What is it that I fear most? Pray: Lord and giver of all life, help us to value each person, created in love by you. In your mercy, guide and assist our efforts to promote the dignity and value of all human life, born and unborn. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Imitate: St. Katharine Drexel Apply: In what ways can I better honor the image of God in myself and in others? Extra: USCCB: Life and Dignity of the Human Person Catholic Encyclopedia: Man Catholic Encyclopedia: Soul The Importance of Free Choice: The Role of Our Will - Peter Kreeft Seven Proofs for the Natural Immortality of the Soul No Apologies #25 - Man has a Soul No Apologies #26 - Soul is Immortal (Part 1) No Apologies #27 - Soul is Immortal (Part 2) Tour of the Catechism #2 - The Profession of Faith Tour of the Catechism #11 - Heaven and Earth
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