RCIA Session 25 : The Communion of Saints and the Feasts of the - - PDF document

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RCIA

Session 25 : The Communion of Saints and the Feasts of the Ascension and Pentecost

Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Indulgences

Introduction

• Handling of these reached low point in 16th c.

– Buying and selling of these sinful, scandalous – Luther broke from the Church for this and more

• Teaching always correct,

though

– Should not lead to denial of authority, teachings

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Indulgences

The Consequences of Sin

• All sin leaves mark on soul even if repented of

and forgiven

– Weakens virtue – Strengthens disordered desires – Makes committing next sin easier

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Indulgences

Our Need for Reparation

• Consequences remain, reparation needed
• Body of Christ wounded, God offended
• Temporal punishment: here or in Purgatory
• Jesus’ saving actions don’t make our own

efforts at reparation unnecessary

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Indulgences

Our Need for Reparation (cont.)

• Ways to make reparation:

– Loving others (see 1 Peter 4:8) – Helping others back to Christ (see James 5:20) – In general: prayer, mortifications, good acts

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Indulgences

What Indulgences Are and How they Work

• Indulgence: “remission before God of the temporal

punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the actions of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfaction of Christ and the saints” (CCC 1471)

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Indulgences

What Indulgences Are & How they Work (cont.)

• Not forgiveness but removal of punishment
• Gain spiritual merit by good works

cooperating with grace

• Must…

– be in the state of grace – have the right intention – say given prayer/perform specific good work

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Indulgences

What Indulgences Are & How they Work (cont.)

• Partial indulgence: remits part of punishment
• Plenary indulgence: remits all

current punishment

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Indulgences

Indulgences May Not be Bought and Sold

• A good thing must not be misused

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Indulgences

Why Indulgences Can be Given to Others

• Our efforts can do good for the entire Church

– Tied to teaching on the Mystical Body of Christ

• Those in Purgatory can be helped as well

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Anastasis (Christ ascending from hell), apse fresco,

• c. 1320; in the Church of the Holy Saviour at the

Monastery of the Chora (now the Kariye Museum), Istanbul.

Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Canonization of Saints

• Saints: holy individuals who are in Heaven
• Canonization: process Church uses to

determine if a person is in heaven

– Must have led a holy life (cooperated with grace) – Must have demonstrated heroic virtue

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Canonization of Saints

• From earliest times

– Certain patriarchs, prophets, and other OT figures – Virgin Mary, Joseph, apostles, Paul, martyrs

• Since 10th century

– A formal process of evaluation

• Since 17th century

– Beatifications and canonizations done by the pope

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Canonization of Saints

• Process

– Must wait five years after death – Local bishop must start investigation

• Organized by postulator
• Tribunal set up to call witnesses
• Person investigated is “Servant of God”

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Canonization of Saints

• Process (cont.)

– Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome

• Long, detailed, scholarly investigation
• Postulator and Relator (oversees process)
• Positio: summarized documentation

– Approved by theologians, then congregation, then pope

• Person may now be “Venerable”

– Promoter of the Faith (Devil’s Advocate)

• Presents obstacles to the cause

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Canonization of Saints

• Process (cont.)

– Beatification phase

• Investigation of miracles
• Confirm cures unexplainable by natural laws
• One miracle must be approved to move forward
• Person is now “Blessed”
• Official feast day designated, usually during papal Mass

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Canonization of Saints

• Process (cont.)

– Canonization stage

• One more approved miracle post-beatification
• Ceremony takes place

during special Papal Mass

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Canonization of Saints

• Veneration of bodies and relics

– Biblical support: Peter (Acts 5:15) & Paul (Acts 19) – Altars built upon tombs of martyrs (Rev 6:9)

• To this day relics of saints in all permanent altars

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Canonization of Saints

• Canonization provides us…

– intercessors – models of holiness to imitate

• True power of the Church is Jesus manifested

in the holiness of the saints

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

• Jesus ascended under His own power

– Forty days after the Resurrection – Completed His salvific work

• Took His place at

the right hand of God (Mk 16:19)

– A place of authority and royalty

• Jesus is the one and eternal

priest and mediator

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Christi Himmelfahrt (c. 1893) by Gebhard Fugel

Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Solemnity of Pentecost

• Celebrated fifty days after Easter
• Mary and the apostles gathered

in prayer after the Ascension

• Public manifestation and

acceptance of the Church’s birth

– Actual birth came from Jesus’ side on the cross after His death (see John 12:32)

• Jesus promised the Spirit after He left (Jn 16:7)

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Solemnity of Pentecost

• What happened (Acts 2:1-4; 1 Cor 3:16)

– Holy Spirit came in like a mighty wind and descended as tongues of fire on those in Upper Room

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Pentecostby (1308) Duccio di Buoninsegna

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Session 25 : Communion of Saints & Feasts of Ascension & Pentecost

Solemnity of Pentecost

• Holy Spirit

– Dwells forever in the Church – Dwells forever in the hearts of the faithful – Bears witness to our adoption as sons and daughters – Counselor, Comforter, Sanctifier – Guides the Church into the fullness of truth – Gives the Church unity of fellowship and service – Divine source of love and gifts – Personal expression of God’s infinite love and interpersonal self-giving – Makes the Church catholic (i.e., universal) (see Acts 2:5-11)

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