“will teach you everything”

 
“The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”[i] The Catechisms of the Catholic Church that have been copied and written, are only the beginning of “everything” Jesus speaks of. The Holy Spirit is always at work to remind us of all that Jesus told us. There is no new teaching in the Church, just reminders of what Jesus has already taught. Catechisms, encyclicals, councils, pastoral letters, etc. contain no new teaching, but only reminders. They may be presented in different ways or fashions, but the essence of the truth of the teachings never changes. We are constantly reminded. Below are 10 reminders (teachings) The Most Reverend Robert F. Vasa, Bishop of Santa Rosa gave his diocese when he was the Bishop of Baker.[ii] These teachings of course are not all the teachings of Christ and His Church, but they are ten of the most important issues regarding morals (1-4) and faith (5-10) in our world today.
 
ACTIVITY – Ten Teachings
It might be good to first post either on a white board or projector the ten areas and simply find out if your group knows the Church’s teaching on each. It might also be good to remind the group of cannon law and the obligation of Catholics. We do not just say what we think about these areas, what our opinion is or what popular opinion is, we must know what the Church teachings. “In matters of opinion, moreover, they are to avoid setting forth their own opinion as the doctrine of the Church.”[iii] Yes we may have an opinion, but we may not set forth our own opinion as the doctrine of the Church. We should strive to think as Christ and His Church thinks. Once, Saint Augustine was asked what he thought about a matter and he said, “I think as the Church thinks.” The Catechism references have been given for further study. It is also important to understand that we will not love, what we do not believe, and we will not live what we do not love. It is not necessary to only believe the teachings of Christ and His Church, but to come to a love of them and a wiliness to show the greatest sign of love; to lay down our life for them.

“I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church teaches, believes and proclaims to be revealed by God.” In particular:


Dignity of Human Life
 
I affirm and believe the Church’s teaching about the inviolability of human life. In accord with that teaching I affirm that human life is sacred and must be protected and respected from the moment of conception until natural death. I affirm that I reject direct, intentional abortion and I do not recognize the legitimacy of anyone’s claim to a moral right to form their own conscience in this matter. I am not pro-choice. I further attest that I am not affiliated with, nor supportive of, any organization which supports, encourages, provides or otherwise endorses abortion or euthanasia. (cf. CCC 2270-2283)

Contraception

I affirm and believe the Church’s teaching about the sinfulness of contraception. I affirm, in accord with the teachings of the Church that “every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible” is intrinsically evil. (CCC 2370)

Chastity / Extra-marital Sexual Relationships

I affirm and believe that every person is called to chastity in accord with their present state of life and that it is only in marriage between man and woman that the intimacy of spouses becomes a sign and pledge of spiritual communion. (CCC 2337—2365) I accept the Church’s teaching that any extra-marital sexual relationships are gravely evil and that these include pre-marital relations, masturbation, fornication, the viewing of pornography and homosexual relations.

Homosexual Acts
 
I affirm and believe the teaching of the Church about the evil of homosexual acts. I accept the formulation in the Catechism which states: “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.” (CCC 2357)

The True Presence: The Most Holy Eucharist

I affirm and believe all that the Church teaches about the Reality and Presence of Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist. Specifically I believe that Jesus is present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity under each of the forms of bread and wine and that receiving either one is Communion with the whole Christ. I recognize that worship and adoration are appropriate, not only during Mass but also outside of Mass and that the Most Holy Eucharist must always be handled with the utmost care and devotion. (CCC 1373-1381)

Mary, Mother of God, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church

I affirm and believe the teachings of the Church regarding Mary, Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church. I accept with the Church that it is fitting and proper to honor the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. (CCC 963-975)

The reality of Hell

I affirm and believe that it is possible for a person to choose to remain separated from God for all eternity and that “This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called “hell.”” (CCC 1033)

Purgatory

I affirm and believe that those who die in God’s grace and friendship but are still imperfectly purified undergo additional purification so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joys of heaven. I affirm
that the Church’s name for this final purification is Purgatory. (CCC 1030-1032)

One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church

I affirm and believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and embrace the teachings about that Church as enunciated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. (cf. CCC 748-962)

Authority of the Pope and Bishops and infallibility

I affirm and believe that the Church teaches with God-given authority and that the promise of Christ to remain with His Church always, until the end of time is a reality. I further acknowledge that those teachings pronounced in a definitive manner, even though not as an infallible definition, are binding on the consciences of the faithful and are to be adhered to with religious assent. (CCC 892)

To these and to all the teaching of the Catholic Church I give my assent. I attest that I believe these things and, while I am aware of my own sinfulness and shortcomings, I strive in my beliefs and life style to conform to this Affirmation of Personal of Faith.
 
How do the four moral issues relate? If we do not practice chastity, we will strive to gratify our sexual desires outside the will of God, that is outside of the purposes of the unity of a married couple and the openness to life. For those that are no chaste, sexual gratification is sought at any cost, first that of contraception, and when contraception fails at the cost of life it self, abortion. The sexual gratification becomes even perverse and against the natural order, “Therefore God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God handed them over to their undiscerning mind to do what is improper.”

Why does God allow perversion? God does not will anything perverse or unholy but he does allow it or in the words of Saint Paul “handed them over” to perversity and un-holiness. God hands us over to un-holiness because He has given us free-will. We can use our free-will to choose good (virtue) or choose evil (sin).

[i] John 14:26
[ii] The Most Reverend Robert F. Vasa, Giving Testimony to the Truth, A Pastoral Letter for Diocesan Lay Ministers; April 2004
[iii] Code of Cannon Law - 227