Theology

Description:
Use the attached link to view the assignment, "Student Activity 1: Starting at the Beginning - The Church in Acts". This is taken from the end of Chapter 5 in your textbook (pg. 148).
Please answer Questions 1, 7, 8, and 9, in short answer format.
Luke, Chapters 1-4, found at: http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/1
· John, Chapter 14 and 16:8-17, found at: http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/14
· Acts, Chapters 1-5, found at: http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/1
· 1 Corinthians Chapters 12-13, found at: http://www.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/12
· Mueller, Section "How the Ripples Started" in Chapter 5 (p. 132-133).
· Class Notes (below)
What is the Blessed Trinity?
The mystery of the Trinity is the central doctrine of the Catholic faith. Upon it are based all other teachings of the Church. In the New Testament there is frequent mention of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (www.newadvent.org)
One God, Three Divine Persons – The Catholic Church teaches that the fathomless mystery we call God has revealed himself to humankind as a Trinity of Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 238 – 248). In the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons – truly distinct one from another.

Who is the Holy Spirit?
Catholics declare that they believe in the Holy Spirit when they proclaim in The Nicene Creed (Mueller, p. 137) “… I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, … I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ… 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. … 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”.
To believe that God is Spirit means to believe that on this earth you are meant to live a sanctifying life that is a created sharing in God’s own nature – a life which is the beginning of life eternal. “ The human person participates in the light and power of the divine Spirit. By his reason, he is capable of understanding the order of things established by the Creator. By free will, he is capable of directing himself toward his true good. He finds his perfection “in seeking and loving what is true and good.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1704). Thus, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Sanctifier and by the gift of Fortitude we are given the strength and resolve to overcome the obstacles to living the faith.
In John 14: 25-26, Jesus says, “ I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name – he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” Thus, the Holy Spirit is the parakletos, the Paraclete - the helper, advocate and comforter. It is the gift of Counsel which helps one see and correctly choose the best practical approach in serving God. ( Handbook For Today’s Catholic , p.22)
In place of the departed Christ, the faithful will have the Spirit. Jesus instructs the Apostles (John 16: 7), “Still, I must tell you the truth: it is for your own good that I am going because unless I go, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I do go, I will send him to you”. He, the Holy Spirit, is the Spirit of Truth, teaching them the meaning of Christ’s words, of his actions and signs that had been obscure to the disciples. (The New Jerusalem Bible, footnote, p. 181)
Jesus says to his followers (the Church), “… I will not leave you orphans”. (John 14:17 – 20) After Jesus’ death and Resurrection, the Apostles are filled with the Holy Spirit. This occurred on the feast of Pentecost. “… It is, he (Christ) had said, … John baptized with water but you, not many days from now, will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”. (Acts 1: 5) Thus, it is through the Holy Spirit that the Apostles were given the “gift of tongues” which allowed people of all languages to understand the teachings of Christ. The spreading of the Gospels, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is the mission of the Church. The gift of Wisdom, which helps a person value the things of heaven and the gift of Understanding, which enables a person to grasp the truths of religion, (Handbook for Today’s Catholic, p. 22), are the inner stirrings of the Holy Spirit that guide us to choose good and reject evil.
Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church is a personal community that continues Christ’s actions in the world. (Mueller, p. 197) Being “in the Spirit” with the rest of the Church, we live with others in such a way as to build a spirit of love and community. The gift of Knowledge, which helps a person see the path to follow and the dangers to one’s faith and the gift of Piety, which fills a person with confidence in God and an eagerness to serve him, (Handbook for Today’s Catholic, p. 22), are the inner stirrings of the Holy Spirit that help the people of God to live a life of love that is grounded “in the Spirit”.
Catholic belief teaches that openness to the promptings of the Holy Spirit gives the believer the ability to respond to the command of Christ, “… go out and bear fruit… What I command you is to love one another”. (John 15: 16 – 17) The gift of Fear of the Lord, make a person keenly aware of God’s sovereignty and the respect due to him and his laws, (Handbook for Today’s Catholic, p. 22) is the inner stirring of the Holy Spirit that makes it possible for the believer to accept the Supreme love of God.
If you live in the Holy Spirit, the Catholic Church teaches that you will bear fruit. If you listen to the inner stirrings of the Holy Spirit the fruit that you will bear will be: “charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity.