I still remember very well the day I walked into my church two years ago and made the first honest confession of my sins. I didn't know the priest; he had arrived after I left the faith, and was new to my parish. I rambled about it having been a long time, about always lying in the past to the priests and bragging afterward. He told me it would be okay, just to sit, relax and talk about it.
I told him everything, and when I was done, I heard these familiar words: "God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins. Through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His mercy endures forever. The Lord has freed you from your sins; go in peace."
Just like that, ten tons of weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Everything was behind me. I was home.
Most converts and "reverts" like myself can tell a story like this one. It's usually one of the most difficult things they'll ever do for their faith, but the majority will admit that when it's over, the joy is indescribable.
Some get upset with the Church when they hear we confess our sins to a priest. Men can't forgive sins, they might say, and there is no mediator between God and man but Jesus. So where do flawed priests get the authority to forgive sins? How is the Sacrament of Confession biblical at all? These two verses explain the foundation:
[Jesus said to Peter,] "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." --Matthew 16:19
"(Jesus) said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.'" --John 20:21-23
Jesus gave His Apostles the power to wipe away sins in His name, and because the Apostles passed their authority on to others, all our priests can forgive sins. It's not his own authority that does it, but the power of God working through him. We confess our sins simply because the Bible tells us to; the book of James says plainly, "Confess your sins to one another" (5:16). Why would Jesus allow men to forgive sins if he didn't want us to confess to them?
Confession gives us the closure that is sometimes absent from just asking God to forgive us. Like all our Sacraments, it's a real and physical way to express what is happening spiritually. The best part is that our priests are bound to utmost secrecy. Every priest I've spoken with has said that they forget our sins almost immediately, no matter how heinous. Plus, it's also good to have an objective confidante who can counsel us, and spot patterns or motivators we would otherwise overlook.
This video, while humorous, does a fantastic job shedding more light on Confession. There are six minutes of actual content and then bloopers, so it's really not that bad. Check it out; you'll be glad you did.
One last note: kneeling behind the screen is optional today. Many people, particularly in my generation, were raised confessing in a comfortable and well-lit room, face to face with their priest. You usually have a choice of both options. It's also a good idea to choose a priest with whom you feel comfortable.
Showing posts with label beliefs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beliefs. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Trial By Fire
When Catholics mention areas of our faith like praying for the dead, and the mysterious realm of purification we call Purgatory, others may raise their eyebrows in skepticism. There can't be a Purgatory--it would negate the entire point of Jesus coming to die, they might argue. Jesus suffered so we won't have to. He paid the price and wiped us clean.
These are all true statements, but this viewpoint is missing a few key details that are essential to understanding what Purgatory is, and why we believe it exists.
God is perfect in every sense of the word. He is the epitome of holiness, purity, and love--in the Bible, every person who has come face-to-face with Him has gone straight to his or her face in awe. In reality, this is how facing God at the end of our lives will be for all of us; in our fallible human state, in the sight of that beauty, we'll be crippled. We can't handle God in His perfection because we are imperfect.
Jesus was sent to die so we gain the opportunity to join God face-to-face in heaven. Of course, sin hinders us on that journey, and if it's serious enough, it can sever our connection to Him altogether. Jesus may wash away the initial mark of our sins, but the hurt they leave in our lives and the "puncture wounds" made in our soul afterward cannot always be healed completely in life. This is where Purgatory comes in.
Check out this passage from 1 Corinthians: If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, the work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire (itself) will test the quality of each one's work. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.
The foundation Paul mentions here is Jesus, and what we "build" is our life--those deeds and choices that either honor or disobey Him. When we die, we're immediately judged by both our faith in Christ and the things we've done. If all of our works don't stand up to God's standards (and they never can), we need to be purified before we enter Heaven. Voila--Purgatory.
It's important to note here that Purgatory and Hell aren't the same thing. Once you go to Hell, you're there for good, eternally separated from the love of God because you have consciously rejected Him. "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." ;) On the other hand, there is joy in Purgatory; while tradition tells us that Purgatory is worse than even the greatest human pain, the dead are encouraged in knowing that in the end, they'll emerge completely new in eternal peace. This may be a crude analogy, but it's a bit like putting bleach on clothes that were stained after coming out of the washing machine.
That's why we pray for all those who have died. We pray that their time of purification might pass quickly, so they can join God as soon as possible.
"May these, and all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace."
These are all true statements, but this viewpoint is missing a few key details that are essential to understanding what Purgatory is, and why we believe it exists.
God is perfect in every sense of the word. He is the epitome of holiness, purity, and love--in the Bible, every person who has come face-to-face with Him has gone straight to his or her face in awe. In reality, this is how facing God at the end of our lives will be for all of us; in our fallible human state, in the sight of that beauty, we'll be crippled. We can't handle God in His perfection because we are imperfect.
Jesus was sent to die so we gain the opportunity to join God face-to-face in heaven. Of course, sin hinders us on that journey, and if it's serious enough, it can sever our connection to Him altogether. Jesus may wash away the initial mark of our sins, but the hurt they leave in our lives and the "puncture wounds" made in our soul afterward cannot always be healed completely in life. This is where Purgatory comes in.
Check out this passage from 1 Corinthians: If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, the work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire (itself) will test the quality of each one's work. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.
The foundation Paul mentions here is Jesus, and what we "build" is our life--those deeds and choices that either honor or disobey Him. When we die, we're immediately judged by both our faith in Christ and the things we've done. If all of our works don't stand up to God's standards (and they never can), we need to be purified before we enter Heaven. Voila--Purgatory.
It's important to note here that Purgatory and Hell aren't the same thing. Once you go to Hell, you're there for good, eternally separated from the love of God because you have consciously rejected Him. "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." ;) On the other hand, there is joy in Purgatory; while tradition tells us that Purgatory is worse than even the greatest human pain, the dead are encouraged in knowing that in the end, they'll emerge completely new in eternal peace. This may be a crude analogy, but it's a bit like putting bleach on clothes that were stained after coming out of the washing machine.
That's why we pray for all those who have died. We pray that their time of purification might pass quickly, so they can join God as soon as possible.
"May these, and all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace."
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Physical Signs, Intangible Graces
Over the winter last year, I was going through a really hard time in almost every way: school was kicking my butt as I struggled to meet deadlines and set up a summer internship; my grandmother was ill again; and my then-boyfriend was laid off unexpectedly. To say I was stressed would be an understatement, and predictably, my faith had begun to suffer. I dragged myself to church on the weekends regardless, knowing that being there far outweighed the benefits of staying home.
After Mass during one particularly rough week, I approached my pastor and, choking up, asked for a blessing. He placed one hand on my shoulder, the other on my feverish forehead, and prayed for God to give me the physical strength and spiritual peace I needed to persevere. It was a beautiful and impromptu ritual, and in the days following, I really did find things were beginning to even out. Beyond that, there was something so comforting in the words and touch that consoled me in a way personal prayer couldn't.
Christianity is full of physical rituals like these that act as instruments of God's very real power. The Catholic Church in particular has seven of these major rituals, called sacraments. We believe that each one was given to the Church by Jesus in order to bring intangible gifts down to our human level. Wisely, He chose to do it through our five senses. Most of these are performed only once as life milestones, but Confession and Communion should both be taken advantage of regularly. That's what they're there for, after all. The Sacraments, coupled with faith, are centering points for all Catholics. It's through them that we truly encounter God. Let's break them down.
After Mass during one particularly rough week, I approached my pastor and, choking up, asked for a blessing. He placed one hand on my shoulder, the other on my feverish forehead, and prayed for God to give me the physical strength and spiritual peace I needed to persevere. It was a beautiful and impromptu ritual, and in the days following, I really did find things were beginning to even out. Beyond that, there was something so comforting in the words and touch that consoled me in a way personal prayer couldn't.
Christianity is full of physical rituals like these that act as instruments of God's very real power. The Catholic Church in particular has seven of these major rituals, called sacraments. We believe that each one was given to the Church by Jesus in order to bring intangible gifts down to our human level. Wisely, He chose to do it through our five senses. Most of these are performed only once as life milestones, but Confession and Communion should both be taken advantage of regularly. That's what they're there for, after all. The Sacraments, coupled with faith, are centering points for all Catholics. It's through them that we truly encounter God. Let's break them down.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Saints among us...
It's a common Catholic tradition that everyone has a patron saint, usually the saint who is recognized on his or her birthday. When people ask me who my patron is, I love the looks on their faces when I laugh and say, "All of them!"
Yesterday, I celebrated my 20th birthday on the Solemnity of All Saints, a holy day in the Church's calendar. This means that I technically have every single person in heaven as personal advocates. Not too shabby!
So many people are under the impression that saints are these incredibly holy people that lived sinless lives. Even I struggle with that at times, and I was raised in the Church. Let's set the record straight right now, though: saints aren't perfect. Far from. If God had desired a bunch of perfect robots, He would have never created us with free will.
How would you react if I said that among our list of recognized saints, there are repentant murderers, prostitutes, thieves and rapists? St. Paul (who wrote many of the letters in the New Testament) personally tortured and oversaw the murder of many Christian martyrs; St. Francis of Assissi was an aristocrat known for his love of liquor and partying; St. Augustine struggled with lust, and the term "ladies' man" is a bit of an understatement here--he even fathered a child out of wedlock. One of the first saints we informally recognize is Dismas, the thief who was crucified with Jesus and begged for His forgiveness. There is a whole book of these stories called Saints Behaving Badly. It's a lot of fun, so check it out.
Saints aren't just those that the Church recognizes publicly for some heroic deed. With every decision we make to do good for someone else or avoid temptation, we are a little bit closer to heaven and sainthood. So many of the saints are ordinary, and that's beautiful. When we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and become fully initiated members of the Church, we often take the name of a saint who we want to make our role model. My Confirmation saint is Maria Goretti, a 12-year-old girl from a small town in Italy who was stabbed 14 times after refusing to have sex with her father's apprentice. The apprentice (who, after a vision of Maria from prison years later, repented) said that Maria refused because she wanted to protect him from sin. Two days later, on her deathbed, she forgave him, telling her mother that she wanted him to join her in heaven someday. It was this instant, unprompted forgiveness and commitment to purity from such a young girl that inspired me to choose her when I was confirmed at 13.
Just as we ask our friends and family to pray for us, we believe that those in heaven (including Mary) continue to love and care about those of us still alive, and are always praying to God for our needs. In essence, they are our friends and allies that have already reached the goal we on earth still strive for. In great or small ways, they are our success stories. Armed with that knowledge, we can be assured that we're never alone in the journey. I think that's pretty awesome.
Max Kolbe (patron of journalists), pray for me!
Yesterday, I celebrated my 20th birthday on the Solemnity of All Saints, a holy day in the Church's calendar. This means that I technically have every single person in heaven as personal advocates. Not too shabby!
So many people are under the impression that saints are these incredibly holy people that lived sinless lives. Even I struggle with that at times, and I was raised in the Church. Let's set the record straight right now, though: saints aren't perfect. Far from. If God had desired a bunch of perfect robots, He would have never created us with free will.
How would you react if I said that among our list of recognized saints, there are repentant murderers, prostitutes, thieves and rapists? St. Paul (who wrote many of the letters in the New Testament) personally tortured and oversaw the murder of many Christian martyrs; St. Francis of Assissi was an aristocrat known for his love of liquor and partying; St. Augustine struggled with lust, and the term "ladies' man" is a bit of an understatement here--he even fathered a child out of wedlock. One of the first saints we informally recognize is Dismas, the thief who was crucified with Jesus and begged for His forgiveness. There is a whole book of these stories called Saints Behaving Badly. It's a lot of fun, so check it out.
Saints aren't just those that the Church recognizes publicly for some heroic deed. With every decision we make to do good for someone else or avoid temptation, we are a little bit closer to heaven and sainthood. So many of the saints are ordinary, and that's beautiful. When we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and become fully initiated members of the Church, we often take the name of a saint who we want to make our role model. My Confirmation saint is Maria Goretti, a 12-year-old girl from a small town in Italy who was stabbed 14 times after refusing to have sex with her father's apprentice. The apprentice (who, after a vision of Maria from prison years later, repented) said that Maria refused because she wanted to protect him from sin. Two days later, on her deathbed, she forgave him, telling her mother that she wanted him to join her in heaven someday. It was this instant, unprompted forgiveness and commitment to purity from such a young girl that inspired me to choose her when I was confirmed at 13.
Just as we ask our friends and family to pray for us, we believe that those in heaven (including Mary) continue to love and care about those of us still alive, and are always praying to God for our needs. In essence, they are our friends and allies that have already reached the goal we on earth still strive for. In great or small ways, they are our success stories. Armed with that knowledge, we can be assured that we're never alone in the journey. I think that's pretty awesome.
Max Kolbe (patron of journalists), pray for me!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Suffering
I feel dead.
Okay, maybe I shouldn't be such a drama queen, but only I would be lucky enough to get sick the week of midterms. God's idea of humor and mine are apparently two very different things--I guess that's what it means when Scripture says "My ways are above your ways, and my thoughts are above your thoughts." Ha.
I've heard a few Christians voice disapproval about the way we Catholics tend to dwell on suffering, and I guess I can see where they come from; from where I sit at the Newman house, I only have to look up to see a large, wooden crucifix on the wall. That crucifix is a staple in every single Catholic church worlwide; each one hangs a crucifix in a prominent place behind the altar.
Well, why? In other non-Catholic churches, almost all display an empty cross, and the rationale makes sense. That business--the Crucifixion--is done with, right? Even we proclaim that at Mass when we sing, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again."
Wrong. It doesn't stop there. If the Crucifixion was a one time deal (and it was, in reality), only the people alive in Jesus' time would have been saved. But because the one dying was God Himself, the event transcends time. That one sacrifice continues now, and will continue until the end. That's why Catholics wear and display crucifixes--without suffering, we'd have no hope. We never want to forget that.
That's why in times of sickness or trouble we "offer up" our sufferings in prayer for ourselves and others. Anything is possible for God, and if we humbly give Him ourselves in weakness, it's amazing how we'll be blessed in return. It also helps to remember as I go through a whole box of tissues that He suffered much worse. It puts things in perspective.
So, as some old school folks say, I guess I'll just "quit complaining and offer it up!" :P
Okay, maybe I shouldn't be such a drama queen, but only I would be lucky enough to get sick the week of midterms. God's idea of humor and mine are apparently two very different things--I guess that's what it means when Scripture says "My ways are above your ways, and my thoughts are above your thoughts." Ha.
I've heard a few Christians voice disapproval about the way we Catholics tend to dwell on suffering, and I guess I can see where they come from; from where I sit at the Newman house, I only have to look up to see a large, wooden crucifix on the wall. That crucifix is a staple in every single Catholic church worlwide; each one hangs a crucifix in a prominent place behind the altar.
Well, why? In other non-Catholic churches, almost all display an empty cross, and the rationale makes sense. That business--the Crucifixion--is done with, right? Even we proclaim that at Mass when we sing, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again."
Wrong. It doesn't stop there. If the Crucifixion was a one time deal (and it was, in reality), only the people alive in Jesus' time would have been saved. But because the one dying was God Himself, the event transcends time. That one sacrifice continues now, and will continue until the end. That's why Catholics wear and display crucifixes--without suffering, we'd have no hope. We never want to forget that.
That's why in times of sickness or trouble we "offer up" our sufferings in prayer for ourselves and others. Anything is possible for God, and if we humbly give Him ourselves in weakness, it's amazing how we'll be blessed in return. It also helps to remember as I go through a whole box of tissues that He suffered much worse. It puts things in perspective.
So, as some old school folks say, I guess I'll just "quit complaining and offer it up!" :P
The best way to keep your peace of heart is to accept everything as coming directly from the hands of the God who loves you.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Saved!
Last winter, my baby cousin Cameron was baptized at my church by one of our deacons. While my family doesn't typically go to church, weddings, funerals and baptisms bring them out in droves. I remember in the parking lot seeing one of the baby's relatives that hadn't been at the ceremony.
"Hey!" my mom called out, glad to see him. "Why weren't you at church?"
"Oh, I'm not a...I'm a Christian," he told us, a little aggressively.
I bristled; this wasn't the first time I had encountered something like this. I was going to let it go, but to my surprise, Mom replied without hesitation, "Yeah, so are Catholics."
For a while after my reversion in 2007, comments like this hurt and confused me. Where did people hear some of the things they would tell me? Why did they think they had the right to tear me down? Last spring, it even happened during a Sociology lecture without me saying a word to invite the criticism. It took some time before I realized that this happens because people don't know what we're really about. Our rituals are ancient and often solemn; we offer respect to Mary, saints, and priests who act as our guides. But are we saved? Do we Catholics have a living and vibrant relationship with Jesus?
The answer is the same one that can be given for any other church or religion: sometimes. Sure, there are many Catholics who practice the faith without believing it, but there are just as many others who do "love the Lord . . . with all their strength" (Mark 12:30).
The primary difference between Catholics and other Christians is that there is usually a concrete moment where a Christian repents and accepts Christ into their life from that point forward. Some believe that nothing you do, no matter how horrendous, can cause you to "lose your salvation." Catholics believe that while we are saved through faith, it is a process that takes our entire lives, and does not occur in an instant. If we sin, we can be separated from God until we turn to Him and confess our sins in the Sacrament of Confession (more on this later). While doing good things cannot save us, neither can faith alone. Our faith is only alive if we live it out. Without works, our faith is dead.
Put simply, our view of salvation looks like this:
[Living faith] + [Obedience to Jesus' teachings] + [God's grace (free mercy and love)] = [Heaven]
I've been saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also in the process of being saved (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved at the end of my life (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). [Those verses used as references were from Catholic.com, a handy site that explains a lot about the faith.]
It may seem difficult, and honestly, it really can be. But, as my pastor put it once, all good things are worth working for in the end...
"Hey!" my mom called out, glad to see him. "Why weren't you at church?"
"Oh, I'm not a...I'm a Christian," he told us, a little aggressively.
I bristled; this wasn't the first time I had encountered something like this. I was going to let it go, but to my surprise, Mom replied without hesitation, "Yeah, so are Catholics."
For a while after my reversion in 2007, comments like this hurt and confused me. Where did people hear some of the things they would tell me? Why did they think they had the right to tear me down? Last spring, it even happened during a Sociology lecture without me saying a word to invite the criticism. It took some time before I realized that this happens because people don't know what we're really about. Our rituals are ancient and often solemn; we offer respect to Mary, saints, and priests who act as our guides. But are we saved? Do we Catholics have a living and vibrant relationship with Jesus?
The answer is the same one that can be given for any other church or religion: sometimes. Sure, there are many Catholics who practice the faith without believing it, but there are just as many others who do "love the Lord . . . with all their strength" (Mark 12:30).
The primary difference between Catholics and other Christians is that there is usually a concrete moment where a Christian repents and accepts Christ into their life from that point forward. Some believe that nothing you do, no matter how horrendous, can cause you to "lose your salvation." Catholics believe that while we are saved through faith, it is a process that takes our entire lives, and does not occur in an instant. If we sin, we can be separated from God until we turn to Him and confess our sins in the Sacrament of Confession (more on this later). While doing good things cannot save us, neither can faith alone. Our faith is only alive if we live it out. Without works, our faith is dead.
Put simply, our view of salvation looks like this:
[Living faith] + [Obedience to Jesus' teachings] + [God's grace (free mercy and love)] = [Heaven]
I've been saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also in the process of being saved (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved at the end of my life (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). [Those verses used as references were from Catholic.com, a handy site that explains a lot about the faith.]
It may seem difficult, and honestly, it really can be. But, as my pastor put it once, all good things are worth working for in the end...
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Credo
Credo means 'I believe' in Latin, traditionally the official language of the Church. (Today, most Masses are held in the vernacular, though.)
It can be surprising sometimes to hear some of the things that people say Catholics believe. I've had people tell me that I worship Mary, the Pope, statues, a piece of bread...the list goes on. Actually, none of that is true, and these next few posts will be dedicated to setting the record straight.
First, take a look at the Nicene Creed. This statement of belief was developed in the 4th century, and is professed by Catholics at every Sunday Mass. (Note: 'Mass' is what we call a worship service.) I'm going to use the creed as a reference point for explaining our core beliefs in a simpler way. So, without further delay:
The Quick and Dirty Creed
We believe in one God who made everything, both concrete and abstract, like heaven and angels. There is no other God beside Him. However, God is present in three forms, or persons. The three persons all make up one God. They are:
Father- Yahweh, all-powerful, all-knowing, present everywhere, creator and judge. He is the God of the Jews in the Old Testament.
Son- Jesus (Christ), the savior of all mankind. God the Father formed Jesus from Himself ("begotten, not made" means they're the same in essence, just separated). After the fall of man from grace, we needed a redeemer to heal our shattered connection to the Father. Scripture explains what happened next: "For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believed in Him would not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Jesus came down from Heaven, and was born of a human woman (making Him both fully God and fully man, like us in every way except imperfection) to suffer and die for our sins/failings. Jesus is God, and in dying, He took our place before the Father so that we don't have to experience eternal punishment (Hell). After three days, however, Jesus miraculously rose from the dead, defeating death and suffering while promising all those who believed in Him the same--Heaven, eternal paradise with God, after we die. (Those who don't accept Jesus will still go to Hell.)
Holy Spirit- Wisdom, comforter, inspirer. The Holy Spirit is the drive in us to do good, to be moral, and to follow God faithfully.
We believe in only one Church that is protected by God; it is universal and has descended from Christ through his disciples and those who became leaders after them. We believe that baptism--a washing in water with prayer--washes away the original sin of Adam and Eve and gives us the strength to fight temptation. We believe that all the dead that accepted Jesus while alive will be given new life at the end of time.
Amen--"this is true"--this is what we believe.
It can be surprising sometimes to hear some of the things that people say Catholics believe. I've had people tell me that I worship Mary, the Pope, statues, a piece of bread...the list goes on. Actually, none of that is true, and these next few posts will be dedicated to setting the record straight.
First, take a look at the Nicene Creed. This statement of belief was developed in the 4th century, and is professed by Catholics at every Sunday Mass. (Note: 'Mass' is what we call a worship service.) I'm going to use the creed as a reference point for explaining our core beliefs in a simpler way. So, without further delay:
The Quick and Dirty Creed
We believe in one God who made everything, both concrete and abstract, like heaven and angels. There is no other God beside Him. However, God is present in three forms, or persons. The three persons all make up one God. They are:
Father- Yahweh, all-powerful, all-knowing, present everywhere, creator and judge. He is the God of the Jews in the Old Testament.
Son- Jesus (Christ), the savior of all mankind. God the Father formed Jesus from Himself ("begotten, not made" means they're the same in essence, just separated). After the fall of man from grace, we needed a redeemer to heal our shattered connection to the Father. Scripture explains what happened next: "For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believed in Him would not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Jesus came down from Heaven, and was born of a human woman (making Him both fully God and fully man, like us in every way except imperfection) to suffer and die for our sins/failings. Jesus is God, and in dying, He took our place before the Father so that we don't have to experience eternal punishment (Hell). After three days, however, Jesus miraculously rose from the dead, defeating death and suffering while promising all those who believed in Him the same--Heaven, eternal paradise with God, after we die. (Those who don't accept Jesus will still go to Hell.)
Holy Spirit- Wisdom, comforter, inspirer. The Holy Spirit is the drive in us to do good, to be moral, and to follow God faithfully.
We believe in only one Church that is protected by God; it is universal and has descended from Christ through his disciples and those who became leaders after them. We believe that baptism--a washing in water with prayer--washes away the original sin of Adam and Eve and gives us the strength to fight temptation. We believe that all the dead that accepted Jesus while alive will be given new life at the end of time.
Amen--"this is true"--this is what we believe.
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