INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIANITY

Christianity is considered as the world’s largest religion, a religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ
who is considered the Son of God and the Messiah or Savior.
In the Philippines alone, an estimated 92.5% of Filipinos are Christians with over 500 distinct and separate
forms of Christianity.
Christians periodically gather together as one, in buildings called Churches in which they pray, sing, eat
together, get married, prepare the dead, instruct each other in the Bible, do catechesis, listen sermons and
homilies.
Usually, these churches carry a cross. People swallow small quantities of bread, sip tiny amounts of wine, at
times they sprinkle babies and children with water, or immerse adults or teenagers in a special pool.
Despite the differences, what makes a Christian is a faith based on the teachings of Jesus.
A Christian, therefore, is one relating to or professing Christianity or its teachings. A person who has
received Christian baptism or is a believer in Christianity.
Technically, it is in the New Testament that the term Christian has been first recorded. In the Acts 11:26,
after Barnabas brought Saul (Paul) to Antioch where they taught the disciples for about a year, it is then
written that “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch”.
As a common ground, several Christian groups look at the cross which serves as a symbol of Christ’s
victory over sins when he died on the cross to save or redeem humanity.
On the other hand, in the Roman Catholic Church, the crucifix is a regular feature with the image of Christ
nailed on the cross which gives emphasis on his sacrifice which is his suffering and death to redeem
humanity.
To better understand Christianity, one must understand JESUS CHRIST and his teachings. CHRIST – is a
Greek word for Savior.
Jesus was born around 4BC into a Jewish family, but began to teach a new type of Judaism with emphasis
on God’s love for humanity.
Traditionally, Roman Catholicism has understood the church to be instituted by Christ. This is based on
Matthew’s gospel (16:18) where Jesus says, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” He not
only establishes his church but gives primacy to Peter among all the apostles
Jesus did not found a mere bureaucratic institution but a life-giving community that is sustained by the
presence of the Holy Spirit. As Luke’s gospel shows, Jesus begins proclaiming the Good News of God’s
kingdom by reading Isaiah’s words, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” (Luke 4:18). In John’s gospel,
where Jesus speaks of the coming of the Paraclete in many places, the Holy Spirit takes a leading role in
founding and sustaining the church. The Spirit is the ongoing presence of Jesus on earth and is the mover,
sustainer, teacher, and guide of the church.
As Jesus Christ taught, an assembly of people gathered who also proclaimed his teachings even after his
suffering and death on the cross. This proclamation of the teachings of Christ continued up until today. It
connotes proclamation by following his examples with the hope on resurrection – a life after death - which
refers to one’s salvation.
Proclamation is not done by Roman Catholic Christians alone, the diverse Christian groups also have their
own way of proclaiming and following Jesus. Thus, there is a diverse practice on being a Christian.
The Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life’s different stresses. Our duty is not to
abandon ship, but to keep her on her course.
— St. Boniface

The Common Prayers of the Catholic Church

PRAYER
The raising of one’s mind and heart to God, or the petition of good things from him in accord with his will.
Christian prayer is the personal and living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is
infinitely good, with his Son Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit who dwells in their hearts
PRAYER in the Old Testament
Abraham is a model of prayer because he walked in the presence of God, heard and obeyed him. His prayer
was a battle of faith because he continued to believe in the fidelity of God even in times of trial. He dared to
intercede for sinners with bold confidence.
Moses’s prayer was a type of contemplative prayer. God, who called Moses from the burning bush, lingered
in conversation with him often and at length, “face to face, like a man with his friend” (Exodus 33:11). In
this intimacy with God, Moses attained the strength to intercede for his people.
The prophets drew from prayer the light and strength to exhort the people to faith and to conversion of
heart. They entered into great intimacy with God and interceded for their brothers and sisters to whom they
proclaimed that they had seen and heard from the Lord.
Elijah was the father of the prophets, of those who sought the face of God.
The Psalms are the summit of prayer in the Old Testament: the Word of God become the prayer of man.
Used either personal or communal
An essential and permanent element of the prayer of the Church suited to people of every condition and
time.
Jesus is our model. With his human heart, he learned how to pray from his biological parents and from the
Jewish tradition. But his prayer sprang from a more secret source because he is the eternal Son of God who
in his holy humanity offers his perfect filial prayer to his Father.
The Gospel often shows Jesus t prayer. We see him draw part to pray in solitude, even at night. He prays
before the decisive moments of his mission or that of his apostles. In fact, all his life is a prayer.
Jesus teaches us to pray not only the ‘Our Father’ but also when he prays.
Mary’s prayer was characterized by faith and by the generous offering of her whole being to God. The
mother of Jesus is also the New Eve, the “Mother of all the living”. She prays to Jesus for the needs of all
people.
Along with the prayer of Mary at Cana in Galilee, the Gospel gives us the ‘Magnificat’ (Luke 1:46-55)
which is the song both of the Mother of God and of the Church.
At the beginning of the ‘Acts of the Apostles’ it is written that in the first community of Jerusalem, educated
in the life of prayer by the Holy Spirit, the faithful “devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to
the communal life, to the breaking of the bread, and to the prayers” (Acts 2:42).
Because of her singular cooperation with the action of the Holy Spirit, the Church loves to pray with Mary,
to “magnify” and invoke the Lord with her. Mary in effect shows us the “Way” who is her Son.
Any time is suitable for prayer
 - morning and evening prayer, prayer before and after meals, the Liturgy of the Hours, Sunday
Eucharist, the Rosary, and feasts of the liturgical year.
Common Prayers of the Catholic Church
The Sign of the Cross
- In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Our Father
- Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as
it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen!
The Hail Mary
- 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 be to the Father
- Glory be 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!
The Angelus
Verse: the Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
Response: and she conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary…
V: Behold the handmaid of the Lord
R: be it done unto me according to your word
Hail Mary…
Common Prayers of the Catholic Church
V: and the Word was made flesh
R: and dwelt among us.
Hail Mary…
V: Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R: that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Common Prayers of the Catholic Church
Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts; that we to whom the incarnation of Christ,
your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may be his Passion and Cross, be brought to the
glory of his resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
The Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our
Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come
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 life everlasting. Amen.
Penitential Act
I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned through my
thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; through my fault, through
my fault, through my grievous fault; therefore I ask the blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints,
and you my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
OUR FATHER
- The Our Father is the "summary of the whole Gospel" (Tertullian), "the perfect prayer" (Saint Thomas
Aquinas) Found in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5- 7), it presents in the form of prayer
the essential content of the Gospel.
- it is called as the “Lord’s Prayer” or “Oratio Dominica” as it was taught by our Lord Jesus Christ himself.
- We can invoke the "Father" because the Son of God made man has revealed Him to us and because his
Spirit makes Him known to us. The invocation, Father, lets us enter into His mystery with an ever new sense
of wonder and awakens in us the desire to act as His children. When we pray the Lord's Prayer, we are
therefore aware of our being sons of the Father in the Son.
Why do we say “Our” Father?
- it expresses our totally new relationship with God. When we pray to the Father, we adore and glorify Him
with the Son and the Holy Spirit. In Christ we are “His” people and He is “our “ God now and for eternity.
IN fact, we also say “our” Father because the Church of Christ is the communion of a multitude of brothers
and sisters who have but “one heart and mind” (Acts 4:32).
- to pray the “Our Father” makes us to pray with all the people and for all people that they may know the
one true God and be gathered into unity.
- to address “who art in Heaven” does not literally indicate a place but a way of being: that God transcends
everything. It refers to the majesty, the holiness of God, and also to His presence in the hearts of the just.
There are seven petitions in the “Our Father”
“Hallowed be thy Name” – to hallow or make holy the Name of God is above all a prayer of praise that
acknowledges God as holy. In fact God revealed His holy Name to Moses and wanted His people to be
consecrated for Him as a holy nation in which he would dwell.
“Thy Kingdom come” – the Church prays of the the final coming of the Kingdom of God through Christ’s
return in glory. The Church prays also that the Kingdom of God increase from now on through people’s
sanctification in the Spirit and through their commitment to the service of justice and peace in keeping with
the Beatitudes. This petition is the cry of the Spirit, “Come Lord, Jesus” (Revelation 22:20.
“Thy will be done” – The will of the Father is that "all men be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4). For this Jesus came:
to perfectly fulfill the saving will of his Father. We pray God our Father to unite our will to that of his Son
after the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints. We ask that this loving plan be fully realized on
earth it is already in heaven. It is through prayer that we can discern "what is the will of God" (Romans
12:2) and have the "steadfastness to do it” (Hebrews 10:36).
“Give us this day our daily bread” - Asking God with the filial trust of children for the daily nourishment
which is necessary for us all we recognize how good God is, beyond all goodness. We ask also for the grace
to know how to act so that justice and solidarity may allow the abundance of some to remedy the needs of
others.
“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” - By asking God the Father to
pardon us, we acknowledge before Him that we are sinners. At the same time we proclaim His mercy
because in His Son and through the sacraments we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians
1:14) Still our petition will be answered only if we for our part have forgiven first.
“Lead us not into temptation” - We ask God our Father not to leave us alone and in the power of
temptation. We ask the Holy Spirit to help us know how to discern, on the one hand, between a trial that
makes us grow in goodness and a temptation that leads to sin and death and, on the other hand, between
being tempted and consenting to temptation. This petition unites us to Jesus who overcame temptation by his
prayer. It requests the grace of vigilance and of final perseverance.
“But deliver us from evil” - "Evil" indicates the person of Satan who opposes God and is "the deceiver of
the whole world" (Revelation 12:9). Victory over the devil has already been won by Christ. We pray,
however, that the human family be freed from Satan and his works. We also ask for the precious gift of
peace and the grace of perseverance as we wait for the coming of Christ who will free us definitively from
the Evil One.
The meaning of the final Amen
- At the end of the prayer, you say 'Amen' and thus you ratify by this word that means 'so be it' all that is
contained in this prayer that God has taught us. (SAINT CYRIL OF JERUSALEM)
PERSONAL AND COMMUNAL PRAYER
Prayers can be separated into two categories, communal prayer and personal prayer.
Communal prayer – this is referring to the liturgical prayers. The prayers that is prayed on behalf of the
Church. Examples are the Holy Eucharist or the mass, the celebration of the sacraments, as well as the
recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours.
- this simply means that prayer becomes communal as Liturgy is not prayed by individuals but by the entire
body of Christ.
- as liturgical prayer belongs to the entire Body of Christ, it is usually accompanied by instructions (often
called general instructions) as to how the prayer is to be prayed. These instructions cover a range of things
from the order of prayers, gestures and postures, and roles of different people during the prayers.
- this ritualization of the prayer ensures that, since the prayer is being prayed by the one body of Christ,
everyone who prays the prayer is united, expressing not their own personal ideas and notions, but those of
the universal Church.
Personal prayer – it is a prayer of an individual, or even group of individuals, offering their own personal
praise to God. Such prayer is called individual prayer, even if it is prayed in large groups, for in this prayer it
is not the entire body of Christ that is praying, but individuals.
For a Catholic, both forms of prayer are necessary. There are times when we need to be united with the
entirety of the Body of Christ. In such times we band together, united with Jesus Christ as our head, to offer
proper worship to God. There are also times when we need to come to the Lord as individuals, worshipping
God in ways specific to our own identity as individuals.
By developing habits of participating in both communal and personal prayer, we can develop a life of prayer
that is unique to us as individuals, while at the same time is part of something much bigger than our
individual selves.
THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS
- are the fruits of the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
- divided into three types which touches all the important moments of Christian life
 ◦ The sacraments of Christian Initiation
◦ The sacraments of Healing
◦ The sacraments at the service of communion and mission
The Sacraments of Christian Initiation
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Holy Eucharist
BAPTISM - To baptize means to “immerse” in water. The one who is baptized is immersed into the death of
Christ and rises with him as a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This sacrament is also called as the “bath
of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5) and it is called “enlightenment” because the
baptized becomes “a son of light” (Ephesians 5:8).
- At the beginning of his public life Jesus had himself baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan.
- After his Resurrection he gave to his apostles this mission: “Go forth and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
- The essential rite of this sacrament consists in immersing the candidate in water or pouring water over his
or her head while invoking the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
- Every person not yet baptized is able to receive Baptism.
- The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and the priest. In the Latin Church the deacon also can
baptize. In case of necessity any person can baptize provided he has the intention of doing what the Church
does. This is done by pouring water on the head of the candidate while saying the Trinitarian formula for
Baptism: “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.
Confirmation - is called Confirmation because it confirms and strengthens baptismal grace.
- The essential rite is the anointing with Sacred Chrism which is done by the laying on of the hand of the
minister who pronounces the sacramental words proper to the rite “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy
Spirit”.
- The effect is a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit like that of Pentecost. This outpouring impresses on
the soul an indelible character and produces a growth in the grace of Baptism. It gives a special strength to
witness to the Christian faith.
- Bishop is the original minister
HOLY EUCHARIST - It is the very sacrifice of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus which he instituted to
perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until his return in glory.
- Jesus instituted the Eucharist on the Holy Thursday “the night on which he was betrayed” (1 Corinthians
11:23), as he celebrated the Last Supper with his apostles.
- Jesus took bread in his hands. He broke it and gave it to them saying, “Take this and eat it, all of you; this
is my Body which will be given up for you”. Then, he took the cup of wine in his hands and said, “Take this
and drink of this, all of you. This is the cup of my Blood, the Blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It
will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me”. (Matthew 26).
- It is the source and summit of all Christian life. Our worship reaches its highest point. Communion with
divine life and the unity of the People of God are both expressed and affected by the Eucharist.
- It is also called as: Holy Mass, the Lord’s Supper, the Breaking of the Bread, the Eucharistic Celebration,
the Memorial of the Passion, death and Resurrection of the Lord, the Holy Sacrifice, the Holy and Divine
Liturgy, the Sacred Mysteries, the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, and Holy Communion.
- It unfolds in two great parts which together form one, single act of worship. The Liturgy of the Word
involves proclaiming and listening to the Word of God. The Liturgy of the Eucharist includes the
presentation of the bread and wine, the prayer containing the words of consecration, and communion.
- The celebrant of the Eucharist is a validly ordained priest (bishop or priest) who acts in the Person of
Christ the Head and in the name of the Church.
- The Church obliges the faithful to participate at Holy Mass every Sunday and on holy days of obligation.
She recommends participation at Holy Mass on other days as well.
The Sacraments of Healing
- Penance
- Anointing of the Sick
- Christ, the physician of our soul and body, instituted these sacraments because the new life that he gives us
in the sacraments of Christian initiation can be weakened and even lost because of sin. Therefore, Christ
willed that his Church should continue his work of healing and salvation by means of these two sacraments.
PENANCE- since the new life of grace received in Baptism does not abolish the weakness of human nature
nor the inclination to sin, Christ instituted this sacrament for the conversion of the baptized who have been
separated from him by sin.
- On the evening of Easter Jesus showed himself to his apostles and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven, if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:22-
23).
- It can be expressed in many various ways but above all in fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.
- The essential elements are two: the acts of the penitent who comes to repentance through the action of the
Holy Spirit, and the absolution of the priest who in the name of Christ grants forgiveness and determines the
ways of making satisfaction.
- This involves careful examination of conscience, contrition, confession, and satisfaction.
- There is secrecy in penance as ministers are bound to maintain “the sacramental seal”.
Anointing of the sick- This sacrament is intended specifically for the benefit of the sick. As Saint James
attested: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call in the presbyters of the Church and let them pray over
him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord” ( James 5:14-15).
- Any member of the faithful can receive this sacrament as soon as he or she begins to be in danger of death
because of sickness or old age.
- The celebration consists in an anointing with oil which is blessed by the bishop. The anointing is on the
forehead and on the hands of the sick person or also on other parts of the body accompanied by the prayer of
the priest who asks for the special grace of this sacrament.
The Sacraments at the Service of Communion and Mission
- Holy Orders
- Matrimony
Holy Orders- It is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to
be exercised in the Church until the end of time.
- Through a special gift of the Holy Spirit, this sacrament enables the ordained to exercise power in the name
and with the authority of Christ for the service of the People of God.
- This sacrament was prefigured in the Old Covenant in the service of the Levites, in the priesthood of
Aaron, and in the institution of the seventy “Elders” (Numbers 11:25). These prefigurations find their
fulfilment in Christ Jesus who by the sacrifice of the cross is the “one mediator between God and men” (1
Timothy 2:5), the “High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:10). The one priesthood
of Christ is made present in the ministerial priesthood.
- The ordained priest is consecrated to preach the Gospel, to celebrate divine worship, especially the
Eucharist from which his ministry draws its strength, and to be a shepherd of the faithful.
- Only validly ordained bishops, as successors of the apostles can confer the sacrament of Holy Orders. This
sacrament yields a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit which configures the recipient to Christ in his triple
office as Priest, Prophet, and King.
MATRIMONY- God who is love and who created man and woman for love has called them to love. By
creating man and woman he called them to an intimate communion of life and of love in marriage: “So that
they are no longer two, but one flesh” (Matthew 19:6). God said to them in blessing “Be fruitful and
multiply” (Genesis 1:28).
- The union of man and woman by its very nature is ordered to the communion and good of the couple and
to the generation and education of children. This union is inseparable, as Jesus Christ affirmed: “ What God
has joined together, let no man put asunder” (Mark 10:9).
- Christ raised the dignity of this sacrament, giving spouses a special grace to live out their marriage as a
symbol of Christ’s love for his bride the Church: “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the Church”
(Ephesians 5:25).
- This sacrament establishes a perpetual and exclusive bond between spouses. God himself seals the consent
of the spouses.
- The Christian family is called the domestic church because the family manifests and lives out the
communal and familial nature of the Church as the family of God. Each family member contributes toward
making the family a community of grace and prayer, a school of human and Christian virtue and the place
where the faith is first proclaimed to children.