Church and the Kingdom of God

Question 1

Catholics beliefs on pilgrimage

Answer 1

Catholics believe life is a pilgrimage towards heaven and God.

Question 2

Dramatised prayer

Answer 2

Prayer involving physical actions. When Catholics pray before the Stations of the Cross, they accompany Jesus on his final journey with a type of dramatised prayer.

Question 3

Examples of important Catholic pilgrimage sites

Answer 3

Jerusalem
Lourdes
Rome

Question 4

Why is Lourdes significant as a pilgrimage site?

Answer 4

A town in France where a young girl called Bernadette saw visions of Mary, who told her to dig in the ground and when she did a spring appeared.
The waters of this spring are believed to have physical and spiritual healing powers.

Question 5

How are Catholic missionaries’ desires for actions expressing love and forgiveness to impact others, shown in film?

Answer 5

In Les Miserables, the Bishop of Digne stops the police throwing Valjean in jail for theft of silver, by sayihg it was a gift, this love and forgiveness persuades Valjean to become a better person

Question 6

Catholic attitudes towards mission/evangelism

Answer 6

God’s love is shown through doing actions that express God’s love and forgiveness, which impact others.
Missionaries and evangelists believe, due to Jesus, having the right attitude is more important than blindly following God’s law.
Mission and evangelism require total commitment to God,goodness may involve ignoring the demands of Church law and mission/evangelism require total commitment to God

Question 7

How is missionaries’ belief having the right attitude is more important than blindly following God’s law expressed in film?

Answer 7

In Les Miserables, Vajlean’s kind, rescuing act towards Javert saves Vajlean from imprisonment.

Question 8

How is goodness in mission or evangelism shown in film to ignore the demands of Catholic Church law?

Answer 8

In the Mission, some European priests are doing missionary work with a group of native people in South America.
When the native people are attacked by their slave traders, the priest stay to defend the native people - despite the danger to their own lives and the order of their bishops to abandon the people

Question 9

Kingdom of God

Answer 9

Not the place, but to the idea of God’s authority and rule

Question 10

Gradual process of the creation of the Kingdom of God

Answer 10

1) The Kingdom began when Jesus was born.
2) It was established through Jesus’s resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
3) It’s extended by Christians, who form and help to spread the Kingdom of God on earth.
4) It will be completed at the end of time, when all people will enjoy the eternal happiness of heaven.

Question 11

Catholic Church - importance of mission and evangelism in drama

Answer 11

“The production and showing of films that have value…ought to be encouraged and assured by every effective means.”(Inter Mirifica 14)

Question 12

Significance of Lord’s prayer

Answer 12

Gives an idea of what’s required for God’s Kingdom to grow on earth

Question 13

Lord’s Prayer showing God’s kingdom

Answer 13

“thy kingdom come”- A prayer for God’s kingdom to come and for people to accept the rule of God in their hearts.
“hallowed be thy name”- Accepts God as holy and important and the call to become members of God’s kingdom
“Deliver us from evil”- the kingdom will grow as more people choose to accept God rather than rejecting him

Question 14

Signs of the kingdom

Answer 14

Justice
Peace
Reconciliation

Question 15

Importance of justice

Answer 15

“Goods created by God for everyone should in fact reach everyone”(Catechism of the Catholic Church 2459)

Question 16

Peace importance

Answer 16

“Founded on truth, built up on justice, nurtured and animated by charity”(Pacem in Terris 167)

Question 17

Significance of reconciliation

Answer 17

Breaks barriers existing between people, helps peace and justice spread, which helps the Kingdom of God grow

Question 18

Cardinals

Answer 18

Appointed by the Pope, they elect his successor

Question 19

Priests

Answer 19

Responsible for a small area of the Church called a parish: administer the sacraments and preach the Word of God

Question 20

Deacon

Answer 20

Preach the Word of God and assist the priests

Question 21

Hierarchy of Catholic Church

Answer 21

1) The Pope
2) Cardinals
3) Bishops
4) Priests
5) Deacons
6) Lay people

Question 22

Four documents in the Second Vatican Council

Answer 22

Dei Verbum
Lumen Gentium(on the Church)
Gaudium et Spes(the Church in the Modern World)

Question 23

Dei Verbum document

Answer 23

Stresses the Bible should be taken seripusly as the word of God, but shouldn’t be read in a literal way

Question 24

Lumen Gentium document

Answer 24

Stresses all members of the Church have important roles to play, not just the Pope
Emphasises the idea of a pilgrim Church moving forward within modern society

Question 25

Gaudium et Spes

Answer 25

Deals with issues related to modern society
Stresses the Church shouldn’t be separate from modern society, but should guide people on how to live in the modern world

Question 26

Magnificat

Answer 26

A prayer Mary said after she became pregnant with Jesus and visited her cousin Elizabeth

Question 27

Significance of the Magnificat

Answer 27

Mary shows humility in recognising she’s only special because of what God has done for her, for example ‘for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant’
Mary praises God for showing love for all people by doing great things for her and for all humanity e.g. ‘My soul magnifies the Lord.. for the Mighty One has done great things for me.”
Mary shows her acceptance of God’s will and willingly accepted the role of mother of Jesus, with her praise of God in this prayer confirming her readiness to follow God’s will

Question 28

Opposing sides to Magnificat

Answer 28

Some people think the Magnificat encourages the weak and poor to rise up against those in power to spread the Kingdom of God on Earth - by creating greater equality,promoting justice and recognising the value of all people.

Question 29

Four marks of the Catholic Church

Answer 29

1) One- The Church is one united body
2) Catholic- The beliefs of the Church are universal
3) Apostolic- The Church’s teachings are built on the teachings of the 12 apostles

Question 30

Pope infallibility

Answer 30

The Pope can’t be wrong when making a formal declaration of an official doctrine in the Church as he’s speaking as the Head of Church

Question 31

The Church is pontifical

Answer 31

The Pope is the leader of the Catjolic Church with the highest authority, passed down over generations from Peter, who was chosen by Jesus to lead the apostles. This makes the Pope the representative of Christ on earth.

Question 32

Catholic social teachings

Answer 32

“The Church sincerely professes that all men… ought to work for the rightful betterment of this world in which all alike live”- Gaudium et Spes 21
“Today we… have to say ‘thou shalt not’ to an economy exclusion and inequality”- Evangelii Gaudium 53

Question 33

St Vincent de Paul Society

Answer 33

1) Has the main aim to offer friendship and practical help to people in need in the local area(an international Catholic charity working locally)
2) Runs slightly bigger projects to help the local community e.g. might run summer camps for children/provide food for the homeless
3) Members visit people in need in their homes/hospitals/care homes and prisons

Question 34

Vocation

Answer 34

Call from God to take on a certain role in life

Question 35

Examples of Christian vocations

Answer 35

Priesthood
Family life
Religious life

Question 36

Priesthood key features

Answer 36

Priests take a promise of celibacy(to not marry or have sex), committing themselves, body and soul to God.
Like Jesus, a priest serves others and because priests don’t have a family, they’re always free to help others.
Priests take a promise of obedience to their bishop, knowing they’re obeying the voice of God

Question 37

Religious life(vocation) key features

Answer 37

Catholics who commit to a religious life like a monk or nun take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to show they’ve committed to God’s values.
They live simple lives, dedicated to prayer and serving others.
They may take on roles like teachers, nurses and care workers.

Question 38

How has Pope Francis created justice

Answer 38

He aims to inspire others to live more simply to reduce inequality(e.g. lives in a small, modest flat rather than the large official apartments in the Vatican)
He criticises economic policies leading to inequality and exploitation, also speaking out against all forms of abuse, as this damages lives and contributes to injustice

Question 39

How has Pope Francis created peace

Answer 39

Uses public addresses to pray for peace - prays for areas in the world facing great conflict and tension.
He brings together leaders of countries that have been at war with each other(e.g. in 2014, he met and prayed with the Palestinian and Israeli presidents).

Question 40

How has Pope Francis tried to create reconciliation

Answer 40

He has visited areas of tension in the world, trying to restore harmony.
Every Maundy Thursday he goes to a local prison and washes the feet of 12 prisoners,including Muslims.