RCIA. Rite of Catholic Initiation of Adults Lent Nicene Creed. Lent. Lent. Lent Practices. Opening Prayer. Lent

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1 RCIA Rite of Catholic Initiation of Adults Lent Opening Prayer Lent Lent means spring Derives from the Germanic root for long because in the spring the days visibly lengthen Lent Lent The 40-day period leading up to Easter Represent the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert begin tempted by Satan From Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday 46 days in total but 40 excluding Sundays (a feast of the resurrection) Simple and serious season with no flowers in Church, Gloria or joyful Alleluia s in the Mass The colour violet represents penitence, reflection and also royal dignity Lent Practices Penance - repentance of sins Sacrament of Reconciliation Prayer - justice towards God (see Mt 6:5-8) Station of the Cross Self-denial (including fasting) - justice towards self (see Mt 6:16-18) Almsgiving - justice towards neighbour (see Mt 6:2-4) 1

2 Holy Week Last week of Lent Starts with Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter) Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem Culminate in the Easter Triduum Holy Thursday Mass Good Friday Service Fasting & Abstinence - What Fasting Only one full meal during the day. Up to two small meals or snacks, known as collations Together, these two smaller meals cannot be greater than a full meal. Only relate to solid food, not to drink. Easter Vigil Mass Fasting & Abstinence - What Abstinence Avoiding flesh meat and poultry for the entire day. Allowed: eggs, milk products, condiments made of animal fat and liquid food made from meat. Fasting & Abstinence - When Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are to be observed as special days of Fasting and Abstinence. In some countries, Fridays are days of abstinence. In Australia, Catholics are encourage to abstains on all Fridays during Lent. Fasting & Abstinence - Who The law of Fasting binds all those who are between 18 and 59 years old. The law of Abstinence binds all those who are 14 years and above. Except the frail and the sick Special Presentation: Fr Mike Schmitz - Preparing For Lent 2

3 Recap Lent 40 days leading up to Easter Penance, Prayer, Self-Denial, Almsgiving Fasting & Abstinence Summarises our Christian beliefs Used in the Mass to profess our faith Accepted by Catholic, the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and other Protestants (though not all). History of the Original version adopted at the First Council of Nicaea (325 AD) Arianism, a movement initiated by church elder Arius, denied that Jesus was fully God Conveyed by Emperor Constantine Declared the divinity of Jesus Expanded at the First Council of Constantinople (381 AD) Declared the divinity of the Holy Spirit Over the next few centuries, additional phrases were added to refute other errors I believe in one God, First Commandment: You shall have no other gods before me (Deuteronomy 5:7) the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, God the Father, to whom the work of creation of attributed Genesis 1:1-2:22 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth 3

4 of all things visible and invisible. There is a physical realm that we can see and that there is a spiritual realm that we cannot see. God created it all. We share in all both parts of this creation because we have both a body and a soul. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. Jesus is the only begotten son of God the Father. One-of-a-kind and unique. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15) God from God, Light from Light, The sun does not pre-exist the sunlight Jesus and the Father are co-eternal We see the sun through the sunlight it emits Whoever has seen me has seen the Father (John 14:9) true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; Jesus is not one of the Father s creation He is a true God. Jesus is eternally what the Father is eternally. God is timeless. Hence the Father does not pre-exist Jesus; Jesus is not waiting to assume the kingship of the Father. through him all things were made. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. (John 1:3) For in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible. (Colossians 1:16) Jesus is the agent through Whom all created things come to be. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. The angel said to her [Mary], The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. (Luke 1:35) Jesus is God Incarnate Jesus showed great humility and great love to be born a man we bow at these words 4

5 For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. Jesus suffered and died for our sins He then conquered death by rising again, a precursor to our eventual resurrection He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. (Colossians 1:18) He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God. (Romans 8:34) Jesus is God s right hand man. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. Second Coming of Christ, Last Judgement I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, The Holy Spirit is also called "Lord". He sustains our lives as Christians Christ s kingdom is eternal The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. (Revelation 20:5) A thousand years means a very long time who proceeds from the Father and the Son, The Holy Spirit originates equally from the Father and the Son The Son is said to be begotten, while the Holy Spirit is said to proceed. The Son and Holy Spirit are in special relationships to the Father Both are fully divine and co-eternal who proceeds from the Father and the Son, The filioque clause. Filioque (pronounce fili-o-que), Latin for and from the Son Disagreed by the Eastern Orthodox Church, who believe the Father alone is the source of the Spirit s divinity Proceeds from the Father through the Son 5

6 who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. The Holy Spirit is God as are the Father and the Son The Spirit inspired the prophets of old, and inspires the Church today. The Holy Spirit exists and was active before Pentecost. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. The Holy Spirit existed and was active before Pentecost. 4 signs of a true church : One Holy Catholic Apostolic (more on these in a later lesson) I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins The grace bestowed upon us at baptism All our past sins are forgiven, including original sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. to rise from the dead on the third day (Luke 24:46) Our turn will come, on the Last Day Amen. Let it be so We are affirming the we share these beliefs with the rest of the Church My Faith Journal ]xáâá Tea Break 6

7 Discussion Reflect on the Share with the group any verse that resonates particularly with you. I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. Recap The summarises our Christian beliefs: Father Son Holy Spirit Church Baptism Resurrection of the Dead Originally adopted at the First Council of Nicaea (325 AD) Q&A Further Readings (TBA) 7

8 Notices Copy of this presentation may be downloaded from the Parish Web Site ( Copyright Willetton Catholic Parish. The content of this presentation can be accessed, printed, downloaded and reproduced for religious education and personal study that is not for a direct or indirect commercial use. Any content printed, downloaded or reproduced may not be sold or licensed in whole or in part in any manner or in or on any media to any person. Rite Of Sending Rehearsal AS THE DEER PANTETH As the deer panteth for the water So my soul longeth after Thee. You alone are my heart s desire and I long to worship Thee. You alone are my strength, my shield You alone may my spirit yield You alone are my heart s desire And I long to worship Thee You re my friend and you are my brother Even though You are a King. I love you more than any other So much more than anything. You alone are my strength, my shield You alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart s desire And I long to worship Thee. I want you more than gold or silver Only You can satisfy. You alone are the real joy-giver And the apple of my eye. You alone are my strength, my shield You alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart s desire And I long to worship Thee. _ 8