12 Articles of the Catholic Faith

(1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

God as our Father:

Five Basic reasons why God is a Father
1. Our Creator ( Is. 42:-5-6)
2. Our Provider (Ps. 23:1; Lk. 12:28)
3. Our Redeemer (Is. 63: 16; Jn. 3:16)
4. God’s indwelling Spirit (1 Jn. 4:12-13)
5. Our Self-Identity and Destiny- we are his children and destined for eternal life
Our “motherly” Father
God is not sexual being
God’s fullness of life embraces both the paternal and maternal dimensions of love
Bases: Is. 66:13; Mt. 23:37

“God as Father”- revealed in Scripture

God revealed himself in the OT as:
1. a personal God (Gen.12:1-2; 22:18)
2. a liberating God (Ex. 3:7,10)
3. a faithful God
4. a father (2 Sam. 7:12,14)

God as “Abba” (NT)

Jesus revealed God as a “Father”
God is the Father of all
-Father was not an authoritarian paternalistic God
-a God incredibly committed to us
-a forgiving Father
-a Father who cannot be bribed, cajoled or fooled

God is Almighty
God is almighty is the only divine attribute cited in the Creed
Its importance can be explained under three specific qualities
1. universal
2. loving
3. mystery

Universal
God the Father’s power is universal because he is our PANTOKRATOR, the Creator and ruler of all things,
infinitely beyond any human father we experience
He is the Lord of Hosts (Yahweh Sabaoth) and Lord of Mountain (El Shaddai)
His power is beyond or transcendent(Is. 55:8-9;) and within us or immanent(Is. 6:3)

Loving
Bible revolutionizes the notion of God as ‘almighty’
Almighty:
-not impersonal, arbitrary, self-seeking force, imposing terror on all creatures
- re-creating personal energy of non-violent love (KAGANDAHANG-LOOB)

Mystery
“Question of evil”
God’s power is mystery because it appears as powerlessness
“The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than human
strength” (1 Cor. 1:23-25)

Mystery of evil: we must affirm

1. our unshakeable belief that God our Father is concerned precisely with each and every one of us in all our
troubles and sufferings.
2. our faith tells us that evil originated in the Fall of the first parents and not a defect in God.
3. moral evil is a result of free choice.

The mystery of all suffering and evil in the world (physical and moral) has to be viewed in terms of our
interrelated “world-in-process)
Faith offers spiritual strength to face human conditions than intellectual solution
Evil is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be faced
From evil, we can draw goodness

Church Teaching on Creation:

1. The world and everything in it comes from the loving power of God
2. All created things and human history have a meaning, purpose and destiny
3. The life of every person is not a private possession but is created, sustained and guided now by the
creative, saving will and love of the Almighty God
*Creation is the foundation of God’s saving plan and the beginning of salvation history which culminates in
Christ (CCC 280)

Creator:
“Creator”- most fundamental image of God
God - the only Uncreated
Reality
- the Primary Cause for
existing
- saving God of the
Covenant
God, the Creator is transcendent yet immanent in all, constantly sustaining it in existence (CCC 300)

Trinity in the Work of Creation:

Church Teachings: “The three Divine Persons act together as one God in creating, redeeming and sanctifying”
In Creation:
God the Father creates through his Son (Word), in the Holy Spirit (Wisdom) (1 Cor. 8:6; 2 Cor. 3:6; Jn. 1:1-3; Col.
1:15-17)
God’s Creative Action:
Accounts of Creation
1. Gen. 1:1-2:4a: God appears as the sovereign Lord who establishes creation in a formal six-day pattern
2. Gen. 2:4b-25: presents God in a closer relationship with human beings
These accounts present the religious faith insight into why all things exist and what is their ultimate meaning
and significance
Bible and Science
Science explains “how”
Bible explains “why”
Both explanations are valid and necessary. They complement each other and together

Church Teaching from Vatican I

1. God creates out of His divine goodness
2. God creates by a free, intentional, purposeful act
3. God creates out of nothing

Genesis accounts of creation:

1. Focus on “why”: the meaning and purpose of everything
2. Does not teach on how heaven was constructed but how to get there
3. It is not against the scientific theory of evolution

Christian Faith proclaims:

1. All creation is real (not an illusion)
 2. All creation is intelligible (not meaningless and purposeful)
3. All creation is good (nothing created is intrinsically evil)
Consequences:
 All creation is real and good in itself
 There is nothing to be worshipped

Man as Crown of Creation

Christian Faith: man is the crown and key to God’s creation:
“What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him? Yet thou
hast made him little less than God, and dost crown him with glory and honor. Thou hast given him dominion
over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet” (Ps. 8:5-7)

Only man is capable of knowing and loving his creator and called to share, by knowledge and love, in God’s
own life
Human individual possesses the dignity of a person as someone capable of self-knowledge, self-possession
and of freely giving himself and entering into communion with other persons
Man: Male and Female
They are for each other
For the purpose of procreation and subduing the earth

Meaning of Creation for human Person:

Personal Aspects of Creation
1. God’s continuing creativity
2. Personal responsibility
3. Creator’s promise to be with His creatures
Stewardship:
PCP II: we have responsibilities to our private property and ecological care of the earth
Responsibility means human solidarity, being responsible to all and for all
Fall from glory:
Bible on Sin
Gen. 3:5- “They wanted to be like God”
Image: serpent (evil force called “Satan”)
Effects of Sin :
1. Separation from each other
2. Separation from others
3. Separation form community
4. Separation from nature
5. Death

Church on Sin
- Original Sin is not the personal sin of Adam and Eve but the sinful condition we are born
- Thus we need redemption from Christ
- Original Sin is the state in which we are born as members of human race
- Original since it dates from the origin of human race.
- Sin because it is a state contrary to God’s will
Description of Sin Today:
1. Sin of the world- pollute atmosphere and sinful structures of injustice oppression and exploitation
2. Personal interior dimension of original sin- concupiscence
3. Ratification of original sin by our sinful thoughts, word and deeds

Angels:
St. Augustine: angel means ministering spirits to serve those who are to inherit salvation (Heb. 1:4; Mt. 4:11;
8:10; 26:53)
Angels are purely spiritual creatures with intelligence and will; personal and immortal creatures
surpassing in perfection all visible creatures
Role of Angels in Salvation History:
1. Protector
2. Messenger
 3. Signs and instruments of God’s love and care for his People

(2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

(SEE YOUR OWN LECTURE ABOUT JESUS DURING THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT

REVELATION )

(3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

(SEE YOUR OWN LECTURE ABOUT JESUS DURING THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT

REVELATION )

(4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

Pharisees, priests and scribes agreed to destroy Jesus (Mk.3:16)

Reasons:
1. Expelling demons
2. Forgiving sins
3. Healing on the Sabbath day
4. Interpretation of Law regarding purity
5. Familiarity with the tax collectors and public sinners
6. Suspected Jesus of demonic possession
7. Blasphemy and false prophecy which punishable by death

Jesus seems to be acting against essential institutions of the Chosen people:

1. Submission to the whole of the Law
2. Centrality of the Temple at Jerusalem
3. Faith in the one God
Truths about the death of Jesus:
 Jews are not collectively responsible for the death of Jesus
 All sinners were the authors of Christ Passion (Heb.12:3)
 The death of Jesus is part of the mystery of God’s plan (Acts 2:23)
 He died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures
 For our sake God made him to be sin (1 Pt.1:18-20)
 God takes the initiative of universal redeeming love
Christ’s death is the unique and definitive sacrifice
 Unique: because it completes and surpasses all other sacrifices (Heb. 10:10)
 Definitive: because it restores man to communion with God through his blood

Characteristics of Christ’s Suffering and Death:

1. Redemptive (Mk. 10:45; Rom. 3:24-25; Ti. 2:14)
2. Expiation from sin (Heb. 2:17)
3. His death is for us -for our sinfulness and to overcome sin and its effects(1 Cor. 15:3)

Profound Effects of Christ’s Death:

1. Universal, Eschatological and Empowering salvation
Universal- for all
Eschatological- to have eternal life in the age to come (Mk. 10:30)
Empowering- grace
2. Radical conversion- a call to conversion
- Trust God
- Reach out and share with others
- To man/woman for others
- To have simplicity in life

Christ was Buried:

Truths about the Burial of Jesus
1. Jesus tasted death, separation of his soul from his body
2. Christ ‘s stay in the tomb constitutes the real link between his passable state before Easter and his
glorious and risen state today
3. Christ’s death is a real death, though it was preserved from corruption (Is.53:8)

(5) He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.

Meaning of His Descent to the Realm of Dead:

“The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses. (Acts 3: 15)”
• This statement presupposes that the crucified one sojourned in the realm of dead (CCC 632)
• His soul joined together with the others in the realm of dead
• He descended there as Savior proclaiming the Good News to the spirits imprisoned there (1 Pt. 3:18-
19)
• Jesus did not descend into hell to deliver the damned, nor to destroy the hell of damnation, but to free
the just who had gone before him. (Mt. 27:52-53)
• The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had
fallen asleep were raised.
• Other testimonies: Jn.5:25, Mt.12:24; Rom. 10:7; Eph.4:9

On the Third Day He Rose Again:

We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you that what God promised our ancestors he has
brought to fulfillment for us, (their) children, by raising up Jesus (Acts 13:32-33)
The resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ
-the central truth of the Christian faith

Nature of the Resurrection:

1. It is a real event- (1 Cor. 15:3-4; Acts 9:3-18)

Proofs:
a. Empty tomb (Lk.24:5-6; Jn.20:2)
b. Appearance of the Risen One (Lk.24:9-10; Mt.28:9-10; Jn.20:11-18;
1 Cor.15:48; Acts 1:22)
c. Condition of Christ’s risen humanity (same body yet a glorified body
(Lk.24:30; Mt. 28:9)
2. Transcendent Event
-no one can say how it came about physically
- still it remains at the very heart of the mystery of faith as something that transcends and surpasses
human history

Effected by the Holy Trinity

Jesus’ resurrection was effected by the three divine persons working together, but each according to the
distinctiveness proper to each

Salvific Importance:

1. It is the confirmation of all Christ’s work and teachings

2. It is the fulfillment of the promises
3. Confirmation of Jesus’ divinity
4. Our justification that reinstate us in God’s grace
5. Brings us filial adoption
 6. Principle and source of our future resurrection

(6) He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

Ascension of Jesus:
Ascension: irreversible entry of Jesus’ humanity into divine glory (Acts 1:9;2:33;7:56;Lk.9:34-35)
Jn. 20:17- indicates a difference in manifestation between the glory of the risen Christ and that of the Christ
exalted to the Father’s right hand

Seated at the Right hand of the Father:

Meaning:
“We understand the glory and honor of the divinity, where he who exists as Son of God before all ages ,
indeed as in God, of one being with the Father, is seated bodily after he became incarnate and his flesh was
glorified”
 It signifies the inauguration of the Messiah’s Kingdom

(7) He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Christ reigns in the Church as head of the Church (Eph.1:22)

“And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church”
We are already at the last hour- final age of the world

He will Come Again in Glory:

Christ’s reign is present in the Church but it has to be fulfilled until everything is subject to him. (2 Pt. 3:13)
Present Time is
1. Of the Spirit and of witness
2. Marked of distress and the trail of evil
3. Waiting and watching

When will he come?

- At any moment
- It is suspended until his recognition by “all Israel (Rom.11:20-26; Mt. 23:39)
- Purpose: to judge the living and the dead

(8) I believe in the Holy Spirit

 Holy Spirit is the last of the persons of the Holy Trinity

 To believe in the Holy Spirit is to profess that the Holy Spirit is one of the persons of the Holy Trinity,
consubstantial with the Father and the Son
The Spirit Identity

Holy Spirit: Biblical description

1. Paraclete- “he who is called to help”
2. Advocate
3. Helper
4. Counsellor
5. Giver of life
Holy Spirit: Church’s faith
1. He proceeds from the Father and the Son (Nicene Creed)
2. Intimate life of the Triune God become totally gift (JPII)
3. Worship glorify with the Father and the Son
TRINITY:
Blessed Trinity: mystery of Personal Loving Communion
  God is one
 The three divine persons are equal, equally eternal
 Yet they are distinct to each other
 Shared themselves to us, their own divine life of LOVE, with us.
 Raised us from being “creatures” to “children of God” (grace)

How to Discover the Spirit?

(First Step)
Where do we look for the Spirit?
1. “within”- we experience in our thoughts and feelings
2. In our interpersonal experiences
3. In our work and social life in the community and parish
* It is in our actual, daily ongoing living in all these levels that we discover who the Holy Spirit is and how
He operates in our lives
 What is the spirit doing?
The Holy Spirit is involve in our very own identity:
a. Who we are
b. What we do
c. What we can hope for
* The Holy Spirit unites us with the Risen Christ and with one another in Christ’s Church
Difficulties in Recognizing the Spirit (Second Step)
1. Holy Spirit has no shape nor form and leads us not himself but to Christ and the Father
2. Our own limitations
a. Holy Spirit is within our subjective experiences
b. Self-centered tendency to seek extraordinary spiritual gifts
Overcoming Difficulties
( Third Step)
Where can we be sure of recognizing the Holy Spirit?
1. Sacred Scriptures
2. Sacred Tradition
3. Prayers
4. Christian Witness
How can we discover these actions of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
1. Faith in Jesus Christ
2. Actions according to our faith
3. Spiritual gifts for the service of the community
4. Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22)
5. Proper used of the gifts
6. Humility

Holy Spirit in the Time of the Promises:

Holy Spirit is ever active in human history:
1. Fall of our first parents
2. Abraham
3. Twelve tribes as Chosen People
4. Moses to liberate the Chosen People
5. Joseph who endowed with the Spirit of God (Gen. 41:38)
6. David (2 Sam.23:2)
7. Judges (Jg. 3:10;11:29)
8. Prophets

Holy Spirit in Christ

1. Mary: during the Immaculate Conception (CCC 722-26) and annunciation (Lk.1:35)
In and through Mary, therefore, the Holy Spirit:
○ Realized the saving plan of the Father
○ Manifested the Son of the Father before all
○ Began to draw all into communion with Christ
2. John the Baptist
 3. Inauguration of the Kingdom (Lk. 4:14;18)
Highlighted in his baptism (Lk.3:22), his retreat in the desert (Lk.4:1-2,14) and his transfiguration
(Mk.9:2-3,7)
4. Spirit in Christ’s paschal mystery in his agony, cross (Jn. 19:30) and in his resurrection (Rom.1:4)
5. Joint mission of Christ and the spirit
 When the Father sends his Word, he sends his Breath.
 Christ is the image of the invisible God, but the Spirit reveals him
 Christ gives the form and content of salvation, the Spirit makes present and extends this new
life

Holy Spirit in the Church

6. Pentecost: descent of the Holy Spirit and birth of the Church (Acts 2:4)
The Spirit therefore gives birth to the first Christian community, the Apostolic Church
Until today, the Holy Spirit gives life to the Church, unifies her and moves the whole Church

A. “The Holy Spirit unifies us”

How does the Holy Spirit unify the Church?
1. Prepares us to accept Christ and draws us to him
2. Manifest the Risen Christ to us interiorly, opening our minds and hearts to Christ’s words and deeds
most especially His passion, death and resurrection
3. Makes Christ present in the sacraments
4. Helps us to bear much fruit

B. “Holy Spirit Moves the Church towards its

Mission and Ministry”
1. As the principal agent of evangelization
2. Continues and brings the work of Christ to perfection
3. Precedes, accompanies and fructifies the work of the Church
4. Impels individual to proclaim the Gospel
5. Causes the word of salvation to be accepted and understood
6. Shows his presence in signs of times in history

C. The Holy Spirit joins us to Christ

 Christ’s presence among us through his Spirit
 Source of our life of faith by which we accept Christ (“no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the
Holy Spirit”- Cor. 12:3)
Therefore: we can come to know, recognize and experience Jesus only because the Holy Spirit makes it
possible

D. Holy Spirit Actions among us

1. Adopts us as children of the Father (Gal. 4:6)
2. Empowers us to love as Christ commanded (Rom. 5:5) to bear witness to Christ (Jn. 15:26ff) to know
the truth (Jn. 14:26; 16:13)
3. Draws us to into community service (PCP II 427)
4. Inspires us to live a true Christian life (2 Cor. 3:18)

(9) I believe in the Holy Catholic Church, Communion of Saints

(SEE YOUR OWN LECTURE ABOUT JESUS DURING THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT

REVELATION )

Communion of Saints
1. Communion in holy things (sancta)
2. Communion among holy persons (sancti)

Communion in Holy things

1. Communion in the faith
 2. Communion in the sacraments
3. Communion of Charisms
4. Communion in Charity
Communion of the Church of Heaven and Earth
Three States of the Church
1. Triumphant Church (Heaven)
2. Suffering Church (Purgatory)
3. Militant Church (Earth)

(10) I believe in the forgiveness of sins

Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ
The Church has the power to forgive sins (Lk.24:47; 2 Cor. 5:18)

(11) I believe in the resurrection of the body

“…after the death the righteous will live forever with the risen Christ and he will raise them up on the last day”
(Jn. 6:39-40)
How do the dead rise?
Through God’s almighty power
Who will rise?
Those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, those who have done evil, to the resurrection of
judgment
How?
Christ will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, into “spiritual body”
When?
Definitively at the last day, at the end of the world

(12) I believe in life everlasting. Amen.

Particular Judgment:
“The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his
Second Coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance
with his works and faith.” (CCC 1021)
Heaven:
“Those who died in God’s grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live for ever with Christ” (CCC
1023)
Heaven is a perfect life with the Holy Trinity, Virgin Mary, Angels and Saints

Purgatory: 2 Macc. 12:46

“All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their
eternal salvation, but after death, they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter
the joy of heaven” (CCC 1030)

Hell:
 The state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed
 Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell
 Punishment of hell: eternal separation from God