What do you seek? The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" R.C.I.A. The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What do you seek?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. John 1:35-39 Life s Great Questions Need Answers What is the meaning of life? Who is God? Who is Jesus? How do I find real peace & happiness? What happens when we die? How do I get to heaven? What is the truth? St. Augustine of Hippo Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace. From the Confessions St. Augustine of Hippo You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you. For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11-14 1
R.C.I.A Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults A time to seek & encounter God A logical presentation of the Catholic Faith A time to ask questions & receive answers A time understand the reasons for why we believe and how we know they are true Key Goal: To encounter Jesus Christ as the way, the truth and the life To see the beauty of the Kingdom Jesus established, which is the Catholic Church Who can attend R.C.I.A.? Short answer Anyone! Everyone is invited to learn more about God and His plan for salvation in Catholicism Specifically Unbaptized adults looking into becoming Catholic (This is who RCIA is primarily for) Baptized non-catholics looking into becoming Catholic Anyone curious and wanting to learn more Terms in RCIA Inquirer: unbaptized person who has not gone through Rite of Acceptance Catechumen: unbaptized person who has been gone through the Rite of Acceptance Candidate: baptized Christians not yet Catholic Elect: catechumens after Rite of Election Neophyte: newly baptized R.C.I.A. Process Period of Evangelization To hear the Good News of Jesus Christ To encounter Jesus Christ & His Kingdom To get answers to your questions Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens You choose to take the next step & prepare Continuing classes Period of the Catechumenate More intense formation in the Gospel Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Election or Enrollment of Names We go to the Cathedral, the Archbishop welcomes you, you ask to receive the sacraments, and he calls you to receive them. Period of Purification and Enlightenment During Lent, more intense conversion time Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis or Mystagogy Understanding what happened & how to live it My Hope for You in R.C.I.A. To Know & Encounter the Love of God To Know & Encounter Jesus Christ To Find Your Place in the Kingdom of God & His plan for your life To See How AMAZING Catholicism is To learn the Truths that will set you Free To connect to other Catholics who want to support you in the crazy world 2
So Many Religions According to the World Christian Encyclopedia there are over 10,000 distinct religions in the world 150 religions have more than a million members There are about 33,000 Christian denominations, which one is right? How do you know which one is right? Is There Truth? Does God Really Exist? Is There Revelation? Is Jesus Really God? Did Jesus Start the Catholic Church 3
Five Key Questions Is there Truth? Does God Exist? Is there Revelation? Is Jesus God? Did Jesus start the Catholic Church? Is There Truth? Why Does Truth Matter? If religion is just a matter of opinion, then we should believe whatever we want. But if we can know the truth about God, religion, and how we are to live then that s important and we need to follow the truth. Life s most important questions need answering and those answers need to be rooted in truth and not just guessing or opinion. What is Truth? Truth is when our mind perceives and judges reality the way it exists; We see things as they really are. Objective vs. Subjective Truth Objective Truth something is true independent of whether I believe it E.g. The earth is round, 2+2=4 Subjective Truth something is true if I believe it so (e.g. I like ice cream) What is Truth? Are Religious Truths Objective? Yes because they deal with things that exist independent of us. God exists whether we believe in Him or not. Our belief doesn t make God exist. How can matters of faith be objective? We believe this stuff because it is true. Our faith is rooted in truth, in things that exist and really happened in history, not opinion Faith isn t contrary to reason but involves trust in God and in His Revelation which is true for everyone at all times. False Theories of Truth Relativism everybody has their own truth. Another way of saying there is no truth Response: Is it true for everyone that everyone has their own truth? Self-referentially inconsistent to say it is true that there is no truth Agnosticism / Skepticism you can t be sure about anything Response: are you sure about that? 4
User:Fredrik; vectorized:waterced 10/2/2018 Finding the Truth The truth doesn t conform to us, we conform to the truth. Seeking the truth is not about finding what works for you but finding the truth of how things really work We shouldn t be a member of a religion simply because it agrees with us, but because it is the truth. Catholicism is not Burger King it s not your way right away Faith and Reason Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth in a word, to know himself so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves. - St. John Paul II - Fides et Ratio Fr. George Lemaitre Priest, astronomer, and professor of physics Founder of the Big Bang Theory that the universe is expanding First to derive Hubble s law and Hubble s constant Catholic Scientists Gregor Mendal father of genetics Augustinian Monk Giuseppe Mercalli volcanologist Catholic priest Louis Pasteur Inventor of Pasteurization St. Giuseppe Moscati Pioneer in Treating Diabetes with Insulin Blessed Nicholas Steno bishop and pioneer in geology and anatomy (e.g. Stensen duct) Galileo Galilei Father of Modern Astronomy Remained a practicing Catholic, even after being put under house arrest. His daughter became a nun. 35 craters on the moon are named after Jesuits Faith and Science CCC 159 Faith and science: "Though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason. Since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind, God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth." "Consequently, methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things of faith derive from the same God. The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are." 5
St. Giuseppe Moscati Only one science is unshakeable and unshaken, the one revealed by God, the science of the hereafter! In all your works, look to Heaven, to the eternity of life and of the soul, and orient yourself then much differently from the way that merely human considerations might suggest, and your activity will be inspired for the good. Inviaggio - w:it Faith Seeking Understanding CCC 158 "Faith seeks understanding": it is intrinsic to faith that a believer desires to know better the One in whom he has put his faith, and to understand better what He has revealed; a more penetrating knowledge will in turn call forth a greater faith, increasingly set afire by love. The grace of faith opens "the eyes of your hearts" to a lively understanding of the contents of Revelation: that is, of the totality of God's plan and the mysteries of faith, of their connection with each other and with Christ, the center of the revealed mystery. "The same Holy Spirit constantly perfects faith by his gifts, so that Revelation may be more and more profoundly understood." In the words of St. Augustine, "I believe, in order to understand; and I understand, the better to believe. We encourage you to ask questions, there are answers! God is real and exists as a eternal communion of love: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit We are made in the image of God supernatural communion with God We are made for a but we sinned 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 called holy, the Son of God. Luke 1:35 God with us Mt 1:23 6
You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. " Matthew 16:18-19 Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is the union of God and man who died for our sins and rose from the dead to bring us communion with God. Jesus is alive! He is risen! Go make disciples of all nations My Lord and my God! John 20:28 I am with you always "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. John 14:6 I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10 Jesus started the Catholic Church to bring the graces of His salvation to the world. Follow me. Matthew 9:9 7
My Encouragement for You Pray, Pray, Pray Ask the Lord to draw you to His Heart, to help you believe and understand, and help you to encounter His love Study and Ask Questions the Catholic Church has the answers Go to Mass every Sunday and Holy Day If you are struggling, talk with a priest All in RCIA to receive sacraments, need to meet with a priest soon, preferably before November Attending a Catholic Mass Guide for Responses in Front of Hymnal Give yourself time to adjust Formed.org Programs Lectio Eucharist (10 part series) Symbolon Living the Faith Part 2 & 3 Biblical Walk Through the Mass by Edward Sri St. Joseph Missal Children s books on the Mass Daily Roman Missal St. Justin Martyr in 155AD On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place. The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits. When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things. Then we all rise together and offer prayers for ourselves...and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation. When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss. St. Justin Martyr in 155AD Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren. He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks that we have been judged worthy of these gifts. When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: 'Amen.' When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to those present the "eucharisted" bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent. For More Information www.catholicscomehome.org www.strangenotions.com www.stjoanarvada.org If you miss a class, watch online and do the homework please www.catholic.com www.ewtn.com www.formed.org parish code d1263 www.youtube.com/user/frmatthartley ascensionpresents.com Our Father Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. 8