El Buen Pastor - Catechism

Una, Santa, Católica y Apostólica

The Holy Trinity   The Church   Catechism   The 7 Sacraments   The Great Commandment   The 10 Commandments   Sign of the Cross   The Lord's Prayer   Hail Mary   Gloria Patri   The Apostles' Creed   Your Bedtime Prayers   Pray The Rosary   Prayers to the Holy Spirit   Decisions   Links

Who is God?

The Trinity,
3 persons in one God:
• Father
• Son
  
• Holy Spirit

Who is God the Father?

Our father and the creator of everything.

Who is God the Son?

He is our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
For us, he
• was born - became human.
  
• lived as one of us.
  
• suffered and died for us.
  
• is risen from the dead.
  
• and will come again.

Who is God the Holy Spirit?

God continually at work in:
• our lives.
  
• the Church.
  
• the world.

What is the name of our church?

• El Buen Pastor, Iglesia Episcopal.
• In the Diocese of California
• which is part of the Episcopal Church, the name of the Anglican Church in the USA,
• in the Anglican Communion worldwide.
• Catholic by faith and tradition.
• Reformed because we recognize that the Pope can make mistakes about faith and doctrine. (We recognize him as a bishop.)
• We belong to the Christian community of faith, which follows Jesus Christ.
• We are Episcopalians, Anglicans, Catholics, Reforned, and Christian.

Sacrament	Exterior	Interior
1   Baptism*	Holy water; Promises Father, Son, and Holy Spirit	New life in Christ; Entry to the Church
2   Communion	Bread and wine	The Body and Blood of Christ; Spiritual nourishment
3   Confirmation*	The bishop's hands; Renewal of Baptismal promises	Confirmation of our faith; Grace to fulfill our promises
4   Reconciliation (Confession)	Recognition of our sins; Repentance	Pardon of our sins; Grace to live in Christ
5   Matrimony*	Rings, lazo, arras; Promises	Two people become one; Grace to unite the family
6   Anointing of the Sick	Holy oil; Prayers; The minister's hands	Healing of body, mind, and spirit
7   Ordination*	The bishop's hands; Promises	Deacons, presbyters (priests), bishops

* These sacraments are received once in a lifetime.

* About the Sacrament of Matrimony:
Before marriage: Your job is to get to know one another and to develop the level of commitment that you will need for one another, to the family you will create, and to God and the Christian life. You will avoid many problems by taking your time, talking to one another, and deciding to make God a central part of your family life.

The couple who's having problems: Early help from your pastor or a counselor can help you avoid separation or divorce in the future. Your children deserve your trying your hardest to keep the family together.

When separation or divorce is unavoidable (for example when a spouse or the children are beaten or abused): Speak with your pastor so that you will have spiritual support during this difficult process. Divorce does not separate you from God or the Church. All people who are baptized and try to follow Christ are invited to receive the Sacraments, including Communion. At the same time, the children need you both. These decisions must be made seriously and upon reflexion and prayer - and with understanding and sensitivity for your children, who are your main responsibility. The Episcopal Church allows remarriage after divorce. Talk about it with your pastor.

Jesus said, "The first commandment is this:
    Hear, o Israel: The Lord our God is the only Lord.
    Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
    with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.

The second is this:
    Love your neighbor as yourself.

There is no other commandment greater than these.

What are the 10 commandments?

They are the laws given to Moses and to the people of Israel.

What is our duty to God?

Our duty is to believe and trust in God;
I - To love and obey God and to bring others to know him;
II - To put nothing in the place of God;
III - To show God respect in thought, word, and deed;
IV - And to set aside regular times for worship, prayer, and the study of God's ways.

What is our duty to our neighbors?

Our duty to our neighbors is: to love them as ourselves, and to do to other people as we wish them to do to us;

V - To love, honor, and help our parents and family; to honor those in authority, and to meet their just demands;

VI - To show respect for the life God has given us; to work and pray for peace; to bear no malice, prejudice, or hatred in our hearts; and to be kind to all the creatures of God;

VII - To use our bodily desires as God intended;

VIII - To be honest and fair in our dealings; to seek justice, freedom, and the necessities of life for all people; and to use our talents and possessions as ones who must answer for them to God;

IX - To speak the truth, and not to mislead others by our silence;

X - To resist temptations to envy, greed, and jealousy; to rejoice in other people's gifts and graces; and to do our duty for the love of God, who has called us into fellowship with him.

Hear the commandments of God to his people:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Father in heaven,
   hallowed be your Name,
   your kingdom come,
   your will be done,
       on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
   as we forgive those
       who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
   and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
   the power,
   and the glory are yours,
    now and forever. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace,
   the Lord is with you.
   Blessed are you among women,
   and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, mother of God,
   pray for us sinners
   now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
   and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
    and will be forever. Amen.

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 power of 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.

Start and end with the Sign of the Cross.

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, Gloria Patri

Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.

Holy Spirit, come to us, remain with us, and enlighten our hearts.

Give us light and strength to know your will, to make it our own, and to live it in our lives.

Guide us by your wisdom, support us by your power, unite us to yourself and our community in the bond of love, and keep us faithful to all that is true.

You live and reign with the Father and the Son, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

A method to analyze an issue:

• Holy Scripture - What does the Bible say?
• Tradition - What does the Church teach?
• Reason - What do I think is the right thing to do? What past experiences can help inform my decision? What do I think that Jesus would do?

What was the example Jesus gave us?

• First, he tried to to search out God's will. He prayed. He asked God and he took the time to listen to God. He read the Bible. He looked in his faith tradition and in his personal experience of the God. What does God ask of you regarding this decision?
• He treated all people, regardless of their situation, with the respect that they deserved. He recognized that everyone is made in the image and likeness of God. Are you treating people this way?
• He knew how to maintain his priorities. Jesus focused on those things that are truly important, that last, not in what satisfies for the moment but then goes away. What do you think is truly important? How will your decision effect those things that you hold as important?

Rights and duties

• What are your rights?
• What are your duties?

Speak with people who have more experience

With whom? With the people you trust. Choose people respect, who have made life choices consistent with your priorities - what you think is truly important.

• With your parents.
• With your pastor.
• With your godparents or relatives.
• With other people who live sane and healthy lives and are committed to follow Christ.

GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU MAKE THOSE DECISIONS THAT WILL SHAPE YOUR LIFE, THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU, AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. REMEMBER THAT GOD LOVES YOU AND IS ALWAYS WITH YOU.