I BELIEVE

Fundamentals of Christian Faith

“Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrew 11:1

Learning Objective:

This course aims to present a concise overview of the essential and fundamental contents of Catholic
Teaching. By deepening the knowledge and understanding of the catholic teachings, participants of the
Fundamental of Christian Faith will be able to confidently profess the Catholic Faith, Explain the reason
of their faith and to apply the teachings of the Church in our daily life and in the life and mission of CFC.

Contents of the Lecture:

1. Doctrine - Profession of the Christian Faith: 12 Articles of Faith
2. Morals - Beatitudes, Virtues & 10 Commandments
3. Worship - 7 Sacraments of the Church & Christian Prayers
4. Methodology - Catechesis: How to pass on the faith

Introduction

The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God
never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops
searching for. (CCC 27)  Although man can forget God or reject him, He never ceases to call every man to
seek him, so as to find life and happiness. But this search for God demands of man every effort of
intellect, a sound will, "an upright heart", as well as the witness of others who teach him to seek God.
CCC 30. Therefore, "Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. (Psalm 105:3)

I. Doctrine: The Profession of the Christian Faith

185 Whoever says "I believe" says "I pledge myself to what we believe." Communion in faith needs a
common language of faith, normative for all and uniting all in the same confession of faith.

The Apostles' Creed is considered a faithful summary of the apostles' faith.  “This Creed is the spiritual
seal, our heart's meditation and an ever-present guardian; it is, unquestionably, the treasure of our
soul.” St. Ambrose.
 Apostles Creed:

1. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth

2. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord
3. He was conceived by the Power of the Holy Spirit, and was Born of the Virgin Mary
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was Crucified, died and was buried
5. He Descended into hell, on the third day he rose again
6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
7. He will Come Again to Judge the living and the dead
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit
9. I believe in the Holy Catholic Church
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sins
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body
12. I believe in life everlasting.

II. Morals: Life in Christ

OUR VOCATION TO BEATITUDE

I. The Beatitudes (CCC 1716-1717)

The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus' preaching. They take up the promises made to the chosen
people since Abraham. The Beatitudes fulfill the promises by ordering them no longer merely to the
possession of a territory, but to the Kingdom of heaven: (Matthew 5:3:12)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on
my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.

The Beatitudes depict the countenance of Jesus Christ and portray his charity. They express the vocation
of the faithful associated with the glory of his Passion and Resurrection; they shed light on the actions
and attitudes characteristic of the Christian life; they are the paradoxical promises that sustain hope in
the midst of tribulations; they proclaim the blessings and rewards already secured, however dimly, for
Christ's disciples; they have begun in the lives of the Virgin Mary and all the saints.
 Virtues & Vices
The seven deadly sins or vices- and their contrary virtues
1. Pride - Humility
2. Covetousness - Liberality
3. Lust - Chastity
4. Anger - Meekness
5. Gluttony - Temperance
6. Envy – Brotherly Love
7. Sloth - Diligence

Virtues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Theological Virtues

1. Faith – Act of Faith
2. Hope – Act of Hope
3. Charity - Charity

The Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

1. Wisdom
2. Understanding
3. Counsel
4. Fortitude
5. Knowledge
6. Piety
7. Fear of the Lord

Four Cardinal Virtues

1. Prudence
2. Understanding
3. Fortitude
4. Temperance

Seven Corporal Works of Mercy

1. To feed the Hungry
2. To give drink to the thirsty
3. To clothe the naked
4. To shelter the homeless
5. To visit the sick
6. To visit the imprisoned
7. To bury the dead
 Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy
1. To convert the sinner
2. To instruct the ignorant
3. To counsel the doubtful
4. To comfort the sorrowful
5. To bear wrongs patiently
6. To forgive injuries
7. To pray for the living and the dead

The Evangelical Counsels

1. Poverty
2. Chastity
3. Obedience

The Last Four Things

1. Death
2. Judgement
3. Hell
4. Heaven

The 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17; Dt. 5:6-21)

Exodus 20 2-17 Deuteronomy 5:6-21 A Traditional

Catechetical Formula

I am the LORD your God, I am the LORD your God, 1. I am the LORD your
who brought you out who brought you out God:
of the land of Egypt, of the land of Egypt, you shall not have
out of the house of bondage. out of the house of strange Gods before me.
bondage.

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall have no other
You shall not make for yourself a graven gods before me
image, . . .
or any likeness of anything that is in heaven
above,
or that is in the earth beneath,
or that is in the water under the earth;
you shall not bow down to them or serve
them;
for I the LORD your God am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children to the third and the fourth
generation of those who hate me, but
showing steadfast love to thousands of
those who love me and keep my
commandments.

You shall not take You shall not take 2. You shall not take
the name of the LORD your God in vain; the name of the LORD the name of the LORD
for the LORD will not hold him guiltless your God in vain your God in vain.
who takes his name in vain. . . .

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Observe the sabbath 3. Remember to keep
Six days you shall labor, and do all your day, holy the LORD'S Day.
work; to keep it holy
but the seventh day is a sabbath to the . . .
LORD your God;
in it you shall not do any work, you, or your
son,
or your daughter, your manservant,
or your maidservant or your cattle,
or the sojourner who is within your gates;
for in six days the LORD made heaven and
earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
and rested the seventh day;
therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day
and hallowed it.

Honor your father and your mother, Honor your father and 4. Honor your father and
that your days may be long in the land your mother your mother.
which the LORD your God gives you. . . .

You shall not kill. You shall not kill. 5. You shall not kill.

You shall not commit adultery. Neither shall you 6. You shall not commit
commit adultery. adultery.

You shall not steal. Neither shall you steal. 7. You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness Neither shall you bear 8. You shall not bear
against your neighbor. false witness false witness
against your neighbor. against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor's house; Neither shall you covet 9. You shall not covet
 you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, your neighbor's wife . . . your neighbor's wife.
or his manservant, or his maidservant,
or his ox, or his ass, You shall not desire . . . 10. You shall not covet
or anything that is your neighbor's. anything that is your your neighbor's goods.
neighbor's.

III. The Celebration of the Christian Mystery: The Sacraments Christian Celebrate
The Church and the Sacraments

Seven Sacraments:

Sacrament of Christian Initiation:

Baptism
Confirmation
Eucharist

Sacrament of Healing:
Reconciliation
Anointing of the Sick
Sacrament at the Service of Communion:
Holy Orders
Matrimony

Christian Prayers
There are different kinds of prayers:
 Intercessory prayers (Praying for others),
 Petitionary prayers (Prayers for our intentions),
 Prayers of thanksgiving (prayers for thanking God)
 Penitential prayers (Prayers for the forgiveness of sins),
 Meditative prayer (Listening to the voice of God).

Our Father (Prayer) – What the Church prays

a. “Our Father” : The Lord’s Prayer and the Prayer of the Church
i. We dare to say
ii. Father
iii. Our Father
iv. Who art in heaven
b. The Seven Petitions
i. Hallowed be thy name
ii. Thy Kingdome Come
iii. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
 iv. Give us this day our daily bread
v. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us
vi. And lead us not into temptation
vii. But deliver us from evil

Christian Prayers:
Angelus / Regina Caeli
Rosary / Memory
Divine Mercy Prayer
Consecration Prayers

IV. Methodology: How to pass on the faith

Nature of Catechetical Method

1. First Type: Methods based on Processes of Reasoning:

a. Inductive Method
b. Deductive Method
c. Memorization
 Creed , Our Father , Hail Mary, Doxology
 Acts of faith, hope and love; Act of contrition
 Responses to Mass, Ten Commandments, Beatitudes

2. Second, there are the worked-out processes for doing catechesis such as the :

“See, judge, act” pattern or “see, judge, act, celebrate, evaluate” – catechetical method

3. A third type would be based on methodological principles that are drawn from the nature,
purpose and content of the “Good News” itself
 Integration (Doctrine- Moral- Worship)
 Inculturation
 Community Forming

COLLABORATIVE DRILL

Choose an article of faith and explain by integrating the word of God and the teachings of the Catholic
Church and Christian prayer. APPLY THE SEE JUDGE ACT METHOD.