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The Catholic Parishes in Waterloo Present
Monthly Catechism
An Adult Education and Formation
Opportunity for Individuals and Small Groups
This monthly formation guide is designed to help Catholic adults
and young adults become more familiar with the teaching and beliefs of
the Catholic Church.
Each month, we provide a timely theme and appropriate references
from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults and
the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Individuals or small faith-sharing groups will need copies of
these resources in order to use this guide.
The
information presented here is
prepared by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops'
Publishing Office and reprinted here for educational purposes
only.
March 2010
“Reconciling Ourselves to God”
Introduction
"In
order to respond to the call of God and start on our journey, it
is not necessary to be already perfect. We know that the
prodigal son’s awareness of his own sin allowed him to set out
on his return journey and thus feel the joy of the
reconciliation with the Father. Weaknesses and human limitations
do not present an obstacle, as long as they help make us more
aware of the fact that we are in need of the redeeming grace of
Christ."—Pope Benedict XVI,
Spiritual Thoughts: In the First Year of His Papacy
The season of Lent is a wonderful time to pause and reflect on
the opportunity each of us has to reconcile ourselves to God and
to one another. As Pope Benedict states, “it is not necessary to
be already perfect,” and we know that we are not perfect.
However, our awareness of our imperfections can be a part of
this Lenten journey and a call to take positive steps in our
life to accept and celebrate the transforming love of God and to
truly be the Easter People that we are called to be.
• • •
From the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults:
Reading the following chapters in the Catechism.
•
Chapter 18.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation: God is rich in mercy.
For personal reflection or group discussion:
• What did you find most interesting, helpful or confusing in
this chapter?
• In what way(s) does this chapter challenge your personal
attitude or
behavior as a Catholic Christian?
• In what way(s) does this chapter challenge the attitude or
behavior of
the Church as a community of believers?
• What part of this chapter would you like to reflect on at
further length this
month?
• • •
From the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Consult the following questions in the Compendium.
50. What does it mean to
say that God is Almighty?
201. Why does the Church have the power to forgive sins?
230. For what reason are the sacraments necessary for salvation?
294. Why do we say “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass
against us”?
295. How is forgiveness possible?
296. What is the name of this sacrament?
297. Why is there a sacrament of Reconciliation after Baptism?
98. Why did he institute this sacrament?
299. Do the baptized have need of conversion?
302. What are the essential elements of the sacrament of
Reconciliation?
For personal reflection or group discussion:
• Which question did you find most interesting, helpful or
confusing?
• Which question did you find most challenging to your personal
attitude
or behavior?
• Which question did you find most challenging to our attitude
or behavior
as a faith community?
• Choose one question to reflect on during the month.
• • •
You may purchase copies of the United States Catholic Catechism
for Adults, the Reader’s Journal for the United States Catholic
Catechism for Adults or the Compendium of the Catechism of the
Catholic Church from local book stores, online booksellers or
from:
www.usccbpublishing.org
Last Update:
03.05.10
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