Catholic Core Theology

Catholic Core Theology, October 13th 2007

About our Faculty

Patrick serves as associate director of evangelization and catechesis. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Mt. Mary College Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, as well as an additional M.A. with an emphasis in moral theology. Following a brief time in politics, he worked in the area of public human rights advocacy, writing on Church moral teachings and interfacing with media and lobbied legislators at the state, national and international levels. Most recently, Patrick served at St. Ambrose Academy which served for valuable experience in designing and implementing a variety of history and religious education curriculums and bringing young people to a deeper understanding of and relationship with Christ and his Church. Patrick is a native Madisonian and graduate of Our Lady Queen of Peace grade school and Edgewood High School.

Click here to view Mr. Delaney's Class Notes in PDF. He also compiled a list of apologetic resources for your use.

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Preparatory Homework

The pre-class assignment for the October 13th class is designed to help participants:

    * Surface some of the questions that are often posed to us as Catholics by others regarding our teachings and beliefs.
    * Become familiar with some of the many resources available to assist us in “defending” the Catholic faith.
    * Craft a reasonable response to particular questions regarding our Catholic faith.

Required of All Participants:

* Prayerfully read and reflect on the Nicene Creed.

* Read questions 33-217 in the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. If you do not have a Compendium, it can be located online at the Vatican Webpage.

* Surface two to five questions related to the doctrinal beliefs and teachings we profess in the Nicene Creed that particularly interest you. These may be your own personal questiosn or perhaps questiosn that have been posed to you by another person. Suggestions are below. Choose one of these questions and prepare a brief response. Use Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and perahps, 1 or 2 other resources in developing your answer.

    * Now, attempt to engage another person in conversation about the question you developed in #3 above. TTHEN, critique your experience of the conversation:
      a. Was the conversation charitable, amicable and respectful?
      b. Were you confident in giving your response to the question?
      c. What was the “fruit” of the conversation (did the person respond positively to you, did your response make sense to that person)?
      d. What “more” do you need to know or do to better engage in a future conversation about this same topic or with this same person?

Some Possible Questions:

    * Why do Catholics make the Sign of the Cross; what does that gesture mean?
    * How can the Church teach that Jesus Christ is God?
    * Do Catholics really believe that bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ?
    * Is the papacy in the Bible?
    * When we say the Pope is infallible, do we mean that he never sins?
    * Why don’t Catholics believe in the Bible only?
    * Why do Catholic Bibles have 73 books?
    * Why are there four Gospels? Were other “Gospels” banned from the Bible?
    * Why should Mary be called the “Mother of God”?
    * Why do Catholics think that Jesus was Mary’s only child?
    * How can Mary be without sin?
    * Why do Catholics pray to saints and angels?
    * Aren’t statues of religious subjects forbidden; isn’t using them a form of idolatry?
    * Why do Catholics pray for the dead?
    * Is Purgatory in the Bible?
    * Are you saved; if you died tonight, would you go to heaven?

Bring your notes on the above assignment to the Oct. 13 session. Also bring the following:

* The Catechism of the Catholic Church
* A Catholic Bible

Audio Recordings

Audio will be posted here when available.

Homework

Pursuing an Ever-deeper Spiritual Transformation

Each night do a brief overview of your day, presenting the events to God (or a favorite saint) and answer the questions: What did God tell me? What was my response? What difference will make for tomorrow?

Follow-up to Today’s Class

1. Write a brief essay (no longer than one page) on the following question.

Email it to DLI@straphael.org by the end of the month.

Demonstrate to a non-Catholic brother or sister how scripture supports Mary as being both mother of Christ's disciples, and Queen of Heaven and Earth.

2. Exercise in Theological Reflection

Write up a verbatim on an incident. A verbatim is a report of the incident, including who said and did what, as closely as you can remember it. The incident should be something that caused discomfort, or a conflict, preferably in a church setting or a situation that raised issues about who God is or about Church teaching. Then evaluate the incident answering the following questions:

How did you feel about the interaction?
Where was God in that incident?
What scripture passage seems to pertain? (a teaching or an incident)
Does anything from our Catholic tradition have something to offer to your consideration?
“Speak” about the situation with the Father or Christ. What does he do or say?
How might the incident and your thoughts on it affect your future ministry or your relationship with God?

Practicum in Spiritual Formation

Lectio Divina Component

Theological Reflection