The everlasting life is the perfect and eternal communion of love with God in paradise. Concerning life after death, we believe the following:
Death: it is the separation of the soul from the body.
Judgment: the particular judgment takes place immediately after our death.
According to the verdict, the souls will enter Paradise or Hell; whose who still have some sins to be expiated go to Purgatory. The final judgment will take place at the end of the world.
Purgatory: it is the place where we are purified from our sins before entering into Paradise, as stated in 2 Maccabees 12:45.
Hell: it is the state of self-separation from the communion with God. The pains of hell, which we call "fires of hell," consist in the eternal separation from God.
Paradise: it is the state of perfect communion of love with God.
Showing posts with label Apostles' Creed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Apostles' Creed. Show all posts
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Apostles' Creed Part11 - I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body
At the end of the world, our mortal body will resurrected, transformed into a glorious body, and united again with its soul. When we die, our body is buried, while our soul passes immediately through the particular judgment.
Then, it goes straight to Hell, Purgatory, or Paradise. At the end of the world, our mortal body will rise and rejoin our soul. Then body and soul will pass through the final judgment, and proceed to Paradise, or Hell, for all eternity.
The resurrection is the act by which God gives eternal life to our mortal bodies, making them glorious bodies, and uniting them again with our soul. Jesus Christ was the first who rose from the dead.
As Scripture says: "Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruit of all who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20).
Then, it goes straight to Hell, Purgatory, or Paradise. At the end of the world, our mortal body will rise and rejoin our soul. Then body and soul will pass through the final judgment, and proceed to Paradise, or Hell, for all eternity.
The resurrection is the act by which God gives eternal life to our mortal bodies, making them glorious bodies, and uniting them again with our soul. Jesus Christ was the first who rose from the dead.
As Scripture says: "Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruit of all who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20).
Apostles' Creed Part 10 - I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins
All of us are sinners, and we deserve eternal death. However God, in his great mercy, sent his only Son to save us from our sins. As the Gospel says: "His name is Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
Jesus Christ entrusted to the Apostles and their successors the authority to forgive sins, when he said: "As the Father sent me, so I am sending you. Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained" (John 20:21-23).
The Church forgives sins through the sacraments of Baptism and Penance:
Baptism removes the original sin;
Penance removes all actual sins.
Since the Lord forgives all our sins, we must also forgive whole-heartedly our brothers and sisters. As we pray in the Our Father: "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us" (Matthew 6:12).
Jesus Christ entrusted to the Apostles and their successors the authority to forgive sins, when he said: "As the Father sent me, so I am sending you. Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained" (John 20:21-23).
The Church forgives sins through the sacraments of Baptism and Penance:
Baptism removes the original sin;
Penance removes all actual sins.
Since the Lord forgives all our sins, we must also forgive whole-heartedly our brothers and sisters. As we pray in the Our Father: "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us" (Matthew 6:12).
Apostles' Creed part 9 - I believe in the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints
The Church is the assembly of those who believe in Jesus, who are baptized, and who are in communion with the Pope. The Church has four characteristics, namely:
One:
There is only one true Church, as Jesus said to Peter: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church" (Matthew 16:18).
Holy:
The Church is holy because she is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Catholic:
The Church is Catholic because she is universal, meaning is present in all nations.
Apostolic:
The Church is apostolic because she is founded on the Apostles.
The Church is also called Roman because St.Peter died and was buried in Rome, and because Rome is the residence of the Pope.
The Communion of saints is the community of all Christians who are in the grace of God, either on Earth, Purgatory, or Paradise.
One:
There is only one true Church, as Jesus said to Peter: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church" (Matthew 16:18).
Holy:
The Church is holy because she is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Catholic:
The Church is Catholic because she is universal, meaning is present in all nations.
Apostolic:
The Church is apostolic because she is founded on the Apostles.
The Church is also called Roman because St.Peter died and was buried in Rome, and because Rome is the residence of the Pope.
The Communion of saints is the community of all Christians who are in the grace of God, either on Earth, Purgatory, or Paradise.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Apostles' Creed Part 8 - I believe in the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Blessed Trinity. It was revealed by Jesus himself, who said: "Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).
The Holy Spirit:
* spoke through the Prophets
* inspired the holy writers of the Bible
* conceived Jesus in the womb of the Virgin Mary
* descended upon him at the Baptism in the Jordan like a dove.
Finally, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Virgin Mary and the apostles on Pentecost Day like tongues of fire: "These separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:4).
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are seven:
1) Wisdom
2) Understanding
3) Council
4) Strength
5) Knowledge
6) piety
7) Fear of the Lord
The Holy Spirit:
* spoke through the Prophets
* inspired the holy writers of the Bible
* conceived Jesus in the womb of the Virgin Mary
* descended upon him at the Baptism in the Jordan like a dove.
Finally, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Virgin Mary and the apostles on Pentecost Day like tongues of fire: "These separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:4).
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are seven:
1) Wisdom
2) Understanding
3) Council
4) Strength
5) Knowledge
6) piety
7) Fear of the Lord
Apostles' Creed Part 7 - He will come to Judge the Living and the Dead.
At the end of the world, Jesus Christ will come to judge the living and the dead. The living are those who will be still alive at the coming of Jesus; the dead are those who died before the judgment day. The bodies will rise from the tombs, and will rejoin their souls.
Jesus will judge all men according to their deeds. The Judgment will revolve around the six eschatoligical questions, namely:
1) Did you feed the hungry?
2) Did you give water to the thirsty?
3) Did you welcome the strangers?
40 Did you clothe the naked?
5) Did you care for the sick?
6) Did you visit the prisoners?
Then the just will go to their eternal reward in Paradise, and the evil ones to eternal damnation in Hell (Matthew 25:31-46). The Judgment will not concern our faith, nationality, or state in life, but about the love we had for our neighbours.
Jesus will judge all men according to their deeds. The Judgment will revolve around the six eschatoligical questions, namely:
1) Did you feed the hungry?
2) Did you give water to the thirsty?
3) Did you welcome the strangers?
40 Did you clothe the naked?
5) Did you care for the sick?
6) Did you visit the prisoners?
Then the just will go to their eternal reward in Paradise, and the evil ones to eternal damnation in Hell (Matthew 25:31-46). The Judgment will not concern our faith, nationality, or state in life, but about the love we had for our neighbours.
Apostles' Creed Part 6 - He ascended into Heaven and is setaed at the right hand of the Father Almighty.
Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives, 40 days after his resurrection. Before leaving, he gave the apostles their missionary mandate: "Go, make disciple of all nations; baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).
They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two angels were standing near them. The angels said: "Men from Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there" (Acts 1:11).
We believe that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, which means, he has the power to carry out all his commands and to intercede for our salvation. As St.Paul said: "Jesus Christ stands at God's right hand and pleads for us" (Romans 8:34).
They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two angels were standing near them. The angels said: "Men from Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there" (Acts 1:11).
We believe that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, which means, he has the power to carry out all his commands and to intercede for our salvation. As St.Paul said: "Jesus Christ stands at God's right hand and pleads for us" (Romans 8:34).
Apostles' Creed Part 5 - He descended into Hell; on the third day he rose again form the dead.
As the body of Jesus was reposed into the tomb, his soul descended into the Sheol, or Ades, which is the place where the souls of the just stayed before the resurrection of Christ (1Peter 3:18-19). Paradise was closed by Adam's original sin, and opened again by Christ's redemption.
At dawn of Sunday, Mary Magdalene and other women went to the tomb, where they met the angel of the Lord, who said : "Jesus is not here, he has risen" (Matthew 28:6).
Upon hearing the news, Peter and John ran to the tomb; after seeing the linen cloths on the ground, they believed.
Eight days later Jesus appeared again to the disciples,
and said to Thomas: "Doubt no longer but believe!"
Thomas replied: "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus said to him: You believe because you can see me, Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe" (John 20:27-29).
At dawn of Sunday, Mary Magdalene and other women went to the tomb, where they met the angel of the Lord, who said : "Jesus is not here, he has risen" (Matthew 28:6).
Upon hearing the news, Peter and John ran to the tomb; after seeing the linen cloths on the ground, they believed.
Eight days later Jesus appeared again to the disciples,
and said to Thomas: "Doubt no longer but believe!"
Thomas replied: "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus said to him: You believe because you can see me, Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe" (John 20:27-29).
Apostles' Creed Part 4 - He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.
The passion of Christ begun in the Garden of Gethsemane, after the Last Supper. As Jesus was praying with his apostles, Judas appeared with many soldiers, and betrayed him with a kiss. Jesus was brought to Pontius Pilate to have him condemned to death.
Pilate realized that Jesus did nothing wrong, but he was afraid of the people; so he ordered Jesus first to be scourged and crucified.
Upon reaching the Golgotha, the soldiers crucified Jesus together with two robbers. At three in the afternoon, Jesus cries out: "My God, my god, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). Then he yielded up his spirit.
When evening came, Joseph of Arimathea, the Virgin Mary and other pious women, took the body of Jesus, wrapped it in a clean shroud, and put it in the tomb. They rolled a large stone across the entrance of the womb and went away.
Pilate realized that Jesus did nothing wrong, but he was afraid of the people; so he ordered Jesus first to be scourged and crucified.
Upon reaching the Golgotha, the soldiers crucified Jesus together with two robbers. At three in the afternoon, Jesus cries out: "My God, my god, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). Then he yielded up his spirit.
When evening came, Joseph of Arimathea, the Virgin Mary and other pious women, took the body of Jesus, wrapped it in a clean shroud, and put it in the tomb. They rolled a large stone across the entrance of the womb and went away.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Apostles' Creed Part 3 - He was Conceived by the tPower of the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary
Jesus Christ was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, as declared by the archangel Gabriel: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God" (Luke 1:35). St.Joseph was not the real father of Jesus, but only his foster father. We believe in four marian dogmas, namely:
1) Mary Mother of God:
Mary is the mother of Jesus, Jesus is God: therefore, Mary is the Mother of God.
2)Perpetual Virginity:
Mary remained virgin for her whole life, because she was completely consecrated to God, and also because it was not proper that the Mother of God should have other children.
3) Immaculate Conception:
Mary was conceived without original sin, and was never stained by any sin, in view of her divine motherhood.
4) Assumption:
At the end of her life, Mary was assumed body and soul to Paradise, because God did not want the body who conceived Jesus to experience decay.
1) Mary Mother of God:
Mary is the mother of Jesus, Jesus is God: therefore, Mary is the Mother of God.
2)Perpetual Virginity:
Mary remained virgin for her whole life, because she was completely consecrated to God, and also because it was not proper that the Mother of God should have other children.
3) Immaculate Conception:
Mary was conceived without original sin, and was never stained by any sin, in view of her divine motherhood.
4) Assumption:
At the end of her life, Mary was assumed body and soul to Paradise, because God did not want the body who conceived Jesus to experience decay.
Apostles' Creed Part 2 - I believe in Jeus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord
Jesus Christ is the second person of the Blessed Trinity. He is true God and true man. In him there are two natures, DIVINE and HUMAN, but only one is eternal and was never created. His human nature is mortal and was conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. As scripture says: "the Word was made flesh, he lived among us" (John 1:14).
The name Jesus means "God Saves" (Matthew 1:21), because his mission is to save us from sins and to bring us to Paradise. In order to be saved, we must believe in the name of Jesus. As Scripture says: "Of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved" (Acts 4:12).
The title Christ in Greek, or Messiah in Hebrew, means anointed. Jesus is the Christ because he is true prophet, king, and priest. God the Father revealed Jesus as the Messiah at the Baptism in the Jordan, when he said: "You are my Son, the Beloved, my favour rest on you" (Mark 1:11)
The name Jesus means "God Saves" (Matthew 1:21), because his mission is to save us from sins and to bring us to Paradise. In order to be saved, we must believe in the name of Jesus. As Scripture says: "Of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved" (Acts 4:12).
The title Christ in Greek, or Messiah in Hebrew, means anointed. Jesus is the Christ because he is true prophet, king, and priest. God the Father revealed Jesus as the Messiah at the Baptism in the Jordan, when he said: "You are my Son, the Beloved, my favour rest on you" (Mark 1:11)
Apostles' Creed Part 1 - I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth
1st Day : God created Light and separates darkness.
2nd Day : God dividing the waters of the firmament from the water of the earth
3rd Day : God creates all kinds of plants and trees
4th Day : God creates the Sun, Moon and Stars
5th Day : God creates Fishes and birds
6th Day : God creates land animals and makes Man in his own image
Faith id the theological virtue by which we believe in existence of God and his revelation. In order to be saved, we need FAITH and GOOD WORKS as St.James said "Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17).
The basic truth of our Christian faith is the Dogma of the Blessed Trinity, which declares: "God is one Divine Nature in three Divine Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit". It was revealed by Jesus himself, who said "Go, therefore and make disciples of all nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).
We believe that God created the universe out of nothing and out of love. The Bible, begins with this solemn declaration: In the beginning, God created heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).
God created also the angles, with the purpose of serving him and guarding his creation. But some of them rebelled and were cast into hell. Man is the finest creature of God, because he was created "in the image and likeness" (Genesis 1:26).
2nd Day : God dividing the waters of the firmament from the water of the earth
3rd Day : God creates all kinds of plants and trees
4th Day : God creates the Sun, Moon and Stars
5th Day : God creates Fishes and birds
6th Day : God creates land animals and makes Man in his own image
Faith id the theological virtue by which we believe in existence of God and his revelation. In order to be saved, we need FAITH and GOOD WORKS as St.James said "Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17).
The basic truth of our Christian faith is the Dogma of the Blessed Trinity, which declares: "God is one Divine Nature in three Divine Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit". It was revealed by Jesus himself, who said "Go, therefore and make disciples of all nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).
We believe that God created the universe out of nothing and out of love. The Bible, begins with this solemn declaration: In the beginning, God created heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).
God created also the angles, with the purpose of serving him and guarding his creation. But some of them rebelled and were cast into hell. Man is the finest creature of God, because he was created "in the image and likeness" (Genesis 1:26).
The Apostles' Creed
Apostles' Creed (profession of Faith)
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again.
He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen
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