The Apostle's Creed Articles 1-6 PDF

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THE APOSTLES’ CREED
The book is a complete explanation of

the 12 Articles of the Apostles’ Creed.
To purchase the Book, or for theological

inquiries (e-mails only), contact the author:
AUTHOR Rev. Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI
EDITION 1st Edition, Manila, May 19, 2013
PUBLISHER Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
Quality Catholic Publications
Isabella De Rosis St., Multinational
1708 Parañaque City, Philippines
Telefax (02) 828-2338
Tel. (02) 828-9509
sonsmaryphil@yahoo.com
Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
ARTICLE 1:
I BELIEVE IN GOD, THE FATHER
ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND
EARTH
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3. WHAT ARE THE FIVE PARTS

OF THE 1ST ARTICLE?
The 1st Article of the

Creed is divided into
five parts:
1. The Virtue of Faith,

2. The Holy Trinity,
3. God the Creator,
4. Angels and Demons,
5. Man and Original Sin. The Icon of the Holy Trinity
4. THE VIRTUE OF FAITH:

What Is Faith?
 Faith is the theological
virtue by which we
believe in the existence of
God and in his revelation.
 Etymologically, it comes
from the Latin word
fides, which means “the
act of believing.”
 Abraham is the Father of
All Believers, because he
followed the will of God to
the extent of sacrificing
his son Isaac.
The Sacrifice of Isaac.
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What are the three Theological Virtues?
1. FAITH, by which we believe in the existence of God
and his revelation, is the virtue that concerns the
past.
2. LOVE, or charity, by which we do good deeds for God
and neighbor, is the virtue that concerns the present.
3. HOPE, by which
we desire Eternal
Life as the reward
for our faith and
good works, is
the virtue that
concerns the
future.

Are we saved by faith or by good works?
 According to Martin Luther,
who initiated the Protestant
Reformation in 1521,
salvation can be achieved by
faith alone; his motto was:
“By faith alone, by grace
alone, by Scriptures alone.”
 On the contrary, we Catholics
believe that salvation can be
achieved by faith and good
works; and that grace must
be accompanied by the
Sacraments, and Scriptures
by the Church’s Tradition. The
apostle James wrote: “Faith of
itself, if it does not have
works, is dead” (James 2:17).
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Can we demonstrate God’s existence?
 The existence of God can be
rationally demonstrated by
applying the Principle of
Causality: for every effect
there must be a corresponding
cause. A watch (effect)
requires a watchmaker
(cause); a building, an
architect; the universe, God.
 On the other hand, the truths
of Revelation, such as the
Trinity and the Divinity of
Christ, cannot be rationally
demonstrated but must be
accepted by Faith.
8. THE HOLY TRINITY:

What is the Dogma of the Holy Trinity?
 The Dogma of the Holy Trinity says: “God is One Divine Nature in
Three Divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
 Although acting as One God, each Person has a specific task: the
Father creates, the Son redeems, the Holy Spirit sanctifies.
 The word Trinity comes from the Latin trinus and unitas, meaning
“three in one.”
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Where in the Bible
can we find the
Trinity?
The Dogma of the

Trinity is based on
Jesus’ proclamation:
“Go, therefore, 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).

What are the biblical proofs of the Trinity?
 The divinity of God the Father is evident in Jesus’
words: “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your
name (Luke 11:2).
 The divinity of God the Son is revealed:
A) In the Prologue of the Gospel of John (“In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God” - John 1:1).
B) In the answer given to Philip (“Whoever has seen me
has seen the Father - John 14:9-10).
C) In Thomas’ profession of faith (“My Lord and my God” -
John 20:28).
 The divinity of God the Holy Spirit was revealed on
Pentecost Day: “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit
enabled them to proclaim” (Acts 2:4).
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Can we rationally demonstrate the Holy Trinity?
 The Dogma of the Holy
Trinity cannot be
demonstrated with human
reason, but it is accepted
by faith.
 St. Augustine saw a child
scooping water from the
sea into a hole in the sand.
When the Saint laughed at
the impossible task, the
child replied: “It is easier
to empty the ocean in this
small hole, than to place
the mystery of the Trinity
into your small mind.”

What are the Trinitarian heresies?
 ARIANISM: This heresy denies the divinity of Christ and,
consequently, the Trinity.
 MACEDONIANISM: This false doctrine rejects the divinity
of the Holy Spirit, by saying that he was created by the
Father.
 MODALISM: This error claims that there is only one God,
and that the three Persons are only different
manifestations of him.
 TRITEISM: This heresy maintains that there are three
gods, represented by the three Persons of the Father, the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
To remain free from Trinitarian heresies, St. John Damascene

formulated the following principle: “The three Persons are
united but not confused; distinct but not divided.”
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Why is the Holy Family the Icon of the Trinity?
 The Holy Family of
Nazareth, composed of
three persons united in
a relationship of love,
is the closest possible
representation of the
Trinity.
 The Trinity is a
mystery of love,
because “God is love”
(1 John 4:8), and only
those who love, can
understand it.
14. GOD THE CREATOR:

Who created the
universe?
 The universe was
created by God, as the
Bible says: “In the
beginning God created
the heavens and the
earth” (Genesis 1:1).
 God created out of
nothing, because he
did not use any pre-
existing matter.
 God created out of
love, in order to share
and manifest his
goodness.
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Why is Christ the Alpha and Omega of creation?
 Christ is creation’s
“Alpha and the
Omega”, which are
the first and the last
letters of the Greek
alphabet, because the
creation was done by
him and for him.
 This truth is
expressed at the
Paschal Vigil, during
the blessing of the
Paschal Candle.

What are the heresies about creation?
 PANTHEISM: this heresy identifies God with the creation.
The Church replies that God is distinct from his creation, as a
painter is distinct from his painting.
 DUALISM: this error believes in the existence of two gods:
the good-god who created goodness, and the bad-god who
created evil. The Church answers that there is only one God,
who is good; and evil is the absence of goodness.
 DEISM: this philosophy states that God, like a watch-maker,
created the universe and then left it to itself. Therefore, any
form of prayer or trust in the divine Providence is useless.
The Church answers that God is not only the creator, but also
the provider for all his creatures.
 MATERIALISM: this philosophy denies the existence of God,
and claims that the universe is an interplay of eternal matter.
The Church replies that order and design cannot originate by
themselves, but require God as supreme designer.
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What is the Problem of Evil?
The Problem of Evil consists of this enigma: “If God
created all things out of nothing, why is there evil in the
world?” The Church gives two answers:
 Evil is the absence of good,
and was not created by God.
For instance, cutting off the
hand of a neighbor is evil; but
it is man’s fault, and not
God’s.
 God allows evil for a
greater good, which is the
freedom of man; because the
gift of freedom is greater than
all the evil man can ever THE MAGUINDANAO
commit. MASSACRE

What is the Divine Providence?
 The Divine Providence is the disposition by which God cares for
all his creatures. The title El-Shaddai means “God Provides.”
 Although God could provide personally for all his creatures, he
wants man’s cooperation. Thus, we must work to support
ourselves, our family, and make a better world.
The Holy Family doing their daily work.

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Are Creation and Evolution compatible?
Concerning the origin of the universe, and of the species of plants
and animals, there are three basic theories:
 The Theory of Creation believes that they were created by
God directly and out-of-nothing. The main argument is that
their order and design cannot originate spontaneously. This is
the Bible’s teaching.
 The Theory of Evolution speculates that the Universe came
into existence after a Big Bang Explosion, and that life
originated by the random combination of atoms. This theory,
that was proposed by Charles Darwin (1859) and never
demonstrated, is atheistic and cannot be accepted by a
Christian.
 The Theory of Theistic Evolution maintains that God created
the matter from which the Universe and the living beings
evolved. This syncretism of Creation and Evolution, that was
initiated by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955), may be
accepted by a Christian, although it was never demonstrated.

A comparison between Creation and Evolution
 The Theory of Creation, revealed in the Bible, believes that
God created the universe and all species of plants and animals,
and that purpose of man is eternal life in Paradise.
 The Theory of Evolution, proposed by Charles Darwin with his
book On the Origin of Species (1859), believes that God does
not exist, that living beings originated by a random combination
and evolution of bacteria; and that the destiny of man is
extinction.
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Did God create the Universe in six days?
We believe that God
created the universe in
six days; however, there
are two interpretations,
both acceptable:
 Literal
interpretation: God
created the universe
in six days of 24
hours, and rested on
the seventh.
 Day-age
interpretation: The
six days of Genesis
are geological ages of
millions of years.
22. ANGELS AND DEMONS:

Who are the angels?
 The angels are
spiritual and immortal
beings created by God.
Angelos in Greek means
“messenger,” because
their office is to serve
God and to announce
his Word to men.
 The Guardian Angel is
the one assigned by
God to each person, to
guide and protect him.
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Who are the archangels?
The archangels are angels endowed with
extraordinary gifts, namely:
 RAPHAEL  GABRIEL  MICHAEL
(Medicine-of-God), (Power-of-God), who (Who-is-like-God?),
who was given the has the power of who has the power
gift of healing. actualizing God’s plans. of defeating Satan.

Who are the demons?
 The demons are fallen
angels, who disobeyed God
and were cast into Hell; their
leader is Lucifer.
 Lucifer, meaning Bearer-of-
Light, was the brightest
archangel, but he grew proud
and wanted to take the place
of God. After being banished
from Heaven, his name was
changed into Satan, which
means Accuser; Devil,
meaning Divider; and
Beelzebul, which means
God-of-Flies.
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How can Demons affect our life?
The demons can interact with men in three ways:
 TEMPTATION  OBSESSION  POSSESSION
is the act of alluring is the act of scaring a is the act of taking
a person to commit person away from God, over the intellect and
sin, by appealing to by affecting external will of a person, and
man’s intellect and objects and appearing can only be removed
will. in visions. by an exorcism.
Jesus tempted St. Anthony Abbot Jesus exorcises the

by the Devil. obsessed by the Devil. possessed man.
26. MAN AND ORIGINAL SIN:

Why did God create man in his image and likeness?
 Man was created “in the image and likeness of God”, meaning, he
was endowed with intellect and will, to be able to love God.
 Plants have the vegetative soul (birth, growth, and
reproduction); Animals possess the sensitive soul (internal and
external senses); men have the rational soul (intellect and will).
Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel,

Creation of Adam.
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What is the Original Sin?
 The Original Sin is the first act of disobedience committed by Adam
and Eve, who ate the Forbidden Fruit. As a punishment, they lost the
original holiness, acquired the concupiscence, and were destined to die.
 The original sin is transmitted to all men, with the exception of the
Virgin Mary, who is Immaculate, meaning: she was conceived without
the Original Sin.

What is the Protoevangelium?
 The Protoevangelium, or
“The First Gospel,” is the
first announcement of the
coming of the Messiah.
 God made a promise to
Adam and Eve: “I will put
enmity between you [the
Devil] and the woman
[Virgin Mary], and between
your offspring and hers
[Jesus]; They will strike at
your head, while you strike
at their heel” (Genesis
3:15).
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ARTICLE 2:
I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST,
HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD
3. WHAT ARE THE FOUR PARTS

OF THE 2ND ARTICLE?
The 2nd Article of the

four parts:
1. Jesus Christ,
2. The Two Natures of
Jesus Christ,
3. The Name “Jesus,”
4. The Title “Christ.”
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4. JESUS CHRIST:
Who is Jesus Christ?
 Jesus Christ is the Second Person of the Blessed
Trinity, because he existed from eternity as God-
the-Son, in unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
 He is also the Incarnated Son of God because he
became a man in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
The Sacrifice of Isaac.
5. JESUS CHRIST:
What are the Old Testament prophecies
concerning Jesus Christ?
GENESIS 3:15: The first ISAIAH 7:14: Prophet Isaiah
announcement of the coming of announced that the Messiah
Christ (Protoevangelium), was would be born of a Virgin
made by God to Adam and Eve. Mother.
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6. JESUS CHRIST: :
What is the
Genealogy of Jesus?
 The Genealogy of the Family
Record of Jesus, beginning from
Adam and Eve to St. Joseph.
 The Genealogy demonstrates
that Jesus is the true Messiah,
being:
1) from the People of Israel;
2) From the Tribe of Judah;
3) From the Family of Jesse;
4) From the House of David.
 St. Joseph met all these
prophetic requirements, which
were legally acquired by his
adopted son.
7. THE TWO NATURES OF JESUS:

What are the two natures of Jesus Christ?
 Jesus Christ is one divine person with two natures: human and divine.
The hypostatic union of the two natures, declared by the Council of Ephesus
(431 AD) is beyond human comprehension and can be accepted only by faith.
 The Church requires the icons of Jesus to have a color coding: blue, the color
of heaven, to signify his divine nature; and red, the color of blood, to signify
his human nature.
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What are the proofs of the divine nature of Jesus?
 The Prologue of St. John: “In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
 Jesus’ answer to St. Philip: “Whoever has seen me has seen
the Father”(John 14:9).
 St. Thomas’
profession of
faith: “My Lord
and my God” (John
20:28). And Jesus
commented: “Have
you come to
believe because
you have seen me?
Blessed are those
who have not seen
and have believed”
(John 20:29).
9. THE TWO NATURES

OF JESUS:
What are the proofs of the
human nature of Jesus?
 The incarnation in Mary’s
womb: The term
“incarnation” comes from the
Latin words in and carnem,
which literally means “to
enter into the flesh,” or “to
become a man.”
 The death of Jesus: The
ultimate demonstration of
the human nature of Christ is
his death on the cross,
because God cannot die; only
humans do.
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What are the Christological heresies?
1. Ebionism: They regarded Jesus as a man normally born of
Joseph and Mary.
2. Adoptionism: They considered him as a normal man, who was
adopted by God as his Son during the baptism at the Jordan.
3. Docetism: They considered Jesus as God, who seemed to be a
man; thus, his human appearance was merely a phantasm.
4. Arianism: They rejected the divine nature of Jesus and
considered him as a man.
5. Apollinarianism: They believed that the human nature of
Jesus was incomplete, consisting in a body without the rational
soul.
6. Nestorianism: They maintained that the two natures of Christ
remained separated, and were not united into one divine
person.
7. Monophysitism: They asserted that the human nature of
Jesus was completely absorbed by his divine nature.
11. THE NAME “JESUS”:

What is the meaning of the name “Jesus”?
 Jesus is a Hebrew name which
means God Saves, because
his mission was to save
mankind.
 The original Hebrew name
Yehosua, which literally
means “Yahweh Saves,” was
translated:
Yeshua in Aramaic;
Iesous in Greek;
Iesus in Latin;
Jesus in English;
Hesus in Tagalog;
Gesù in Italian;
Jesús in Spanish.
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Why do we celebrate the name of Jesus?
 In order to be saved we must
believe in the name of Jesus, and
all liturgical prayers conclude with
the words: “Through our Lord
Jesus Christ.”
 We celebrate the feast of the Holy
Name of Jesus on January 3.
 The greatest promoter of the Holy
Name of Jesus was St. Bernardine
of Siena, who coined the
Christogram “IHS,” which stands
for Iesus Hominum Salvator (Jesus
Savior of Men). The devotion to
the Holy Name became so popular
that the IHS was often inscribed in
churches, liturgical vestments, and
on the Eucharistic bread.

Do biblical names have meaning?
In the Bible, a name identifies a person’s character and
mission. It is important to give Christian names to our
children, so that they may find guidance in life.
1. Lucifer: Bearer of Light;
2. Michael: Who-Is-Like-God;
3. Raphael: Medicine-of-God;
4. Gabriel: Power-of-God;
5. Adam: Earth;
6. Eve: Mother of the Living;
7. Abraham: Father of a Multitude;
8. Isaac: Laughter;
9. Jacob: Supplanter;
10.Israel: Strong with God;
11.John: God is Gracious;
The naming of Jesus
12.Miriam: Princess.
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Why do the Popes and some religious
change their name?
 The newly elected Pope
chooses a name which signifies
his personality and spirituality.
The practice was established
by Jesus who changed Simon’s
name into Peter.
 Some religious change their
name to signify their new life
totally dedicated to Christ;
others retain their baptismal
name, to emphasize that
religious life is the fulfillment
of their Baptism.
15. THE TITLE “CHRIST”:

What is the meaning of the title “Christ”?
 The title Christ, which is

the Greek translation of
the Hebrew word
Messiah, means anointed.
 Christ is not the family
name of Jesus, but a title
which identifies his
mission. Thus, the
expression Jesus Christ is
a profession of faith,
meaning: “Jesus is the
Christ.”
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Why majority of the Jews do not believe
that Jesus is the Christ?
 Although Jesus was a Jew,
majority of his countrymen did
not believe in him, as he
prophesized: “No prophet is
accepted in his own country”
(Luke 2:24).
 They were expecting a glorious
Messiah, and instead they got a
poor man, “the son of the
carpenter” (Matthew 13:55).
 The Jews are still waiting for the
arrival of their Messiah, but all
the claimants died without a
trace.
17. THE TITLE “CHRIST”: Why is the Christ

the ultimate Prophet, King, and Priest?
The Old Testament prophets,
kings, and priests, were
instituted by anointing,
prefiguring the ultimate
“anointed:” the Messiah – who is:
1. The Greatest Prophet,

because announces and fulfills
the Word of God.
2. The Universal King, because
all power and glory belong to
him.
3. The Highest Priest, because
his sacrifice on the Cross
completes and fulfills all
others.
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What are the other titles of Jesus Christ?
 The Son of God: because he is the
second person of the Blessed Trinity.
 The Lord: because he is God – since
Lord (English), Kyrios (Greek),
Dominus (Latin) is the Translation of
the Hebrew name Yahweh.
 The Immanuel: since, with his
incarnation, he became God-Is-With-
Us.
 The Redeemer: because he paid for
us the debt due for our sins.
 The Pantocrator: a Greek title which
means All-Powerful, because all power
was given to him.
 The King of the Universe: because
he is the Alpha and Omega of creation,
and all in heaven and earth belongs to
him.
ARTICLE 3:
HE WAS CONCEIVED
BY THE HOLY SPIRIT,
BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY.
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3. WHAT ARE THE THREE PARTS

OF THE 3RD ARTICLE?
The 3rd Article of the

three parts:
1. The Four
Marian Dogmas,
2. Jesus’ Early Life,
3. Jesus’ Public Ministry
4. THE FOUR MARIAN DOGMAS:

What are the Marian Dogmas?
A dogma is a doctrine of faith officially declared by
the Church, which every Catholic must believe. The
Four Marian Dogmas are:
1) Mary, 2) The 3) The 4) The
Mother Perpetual Immaculate Assumption
of God Virginity Conception
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5. MARY, MOTHER OF GOD:

What is the meaning of the First Marian Dogma?
 The First Marian Dogma,
defined by the Council of
Ephesus in 431 AD, declares
that the Virgin Mary is the
Mother of God, or in Greek
Theotokos. The solemnity is
celebrated on January 1.
 The reason of the dogma is
this: Mary is the Mother of
Jesus; Jesus is God:
therefore, Mary is the Mother
of God. To be precise, Mary is
the Mother of the
Incarnate Son of God, and
she is not a goddess.

What are the biblical proofs of the First Marian Dogma?
1) The Annunciation: Gabriel 2) The Visitation: Elizabeth
said to Mary: “You will conceive exclaimed: “How does this
… the Son of the Most High” happen that the mother of
(Luke 1:31-32). Since Mary is my Lord should come to
the mother of Jesus; Jesus is me?” (Luke 1:43). The title
God: therefore, she can be “Lord”, or Kyrios in Greek, is
called Mother of God. applied only for God.
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What is the history of the First Marian Dogma?
 The First Marian Dogma was
defined by the Council of
Ephesus in 431 AD. It was
declared against the heresy of
Nestorius, Patriarch of
Constantinople, who had
objected that Mary should be
called “Mother of Christ”
(Christotokos) and not “Mother of
God” (Theotokos).
 The dogmatic definition declared:
“If somebody does not believe
that the Immanuel is God, and
that therefore the Holy Virgin is
Theotokos, since she generated
in the flesh the Word who is God,
be excommunicated.”
8. THE PERPETUAL VIRGINITY

What is the meaning of the Second Marian Dogma?
 The Dogma of the
Perpetual Virginity of
Mary, solemnly defined
by the Council of Nicea
(325 AD), states that
she remained virgin
for her whole life.
 The Greek term for this
dogma is Aeiparthenos,
which means “Ever
Virgin.” This implies that
Mary remained virgin
before, during, and
after the birth of
Christ.
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9. THE PERPETUAL VIRGINITY

Who are “the brothers and sisters” of Jesus?
 The “brothers and
sisters” of Jesus
(Mark 3: 32),
mentioned in the
Gospel are not
children of Mary,
but her
relatives.
 The Greek word
adelphoi could
mean “brothers”
or “relatives,” or
“community
members.”
 If Jesus had real brothers and sisters, from the cross he
should have entrusted Mary to them, and not to St. John.
10. THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION:

What is the meaning of the Third Marian Dogma?
 The Dogma of the Immaculate
Conception says that the Virgin
Mary was conceived without
the Original Sin, and remained
sinless for her whole life.
 It was solemnly declared by
Pope Pius IX on December 8,
1854, with the bull Ineffabilis
Deus.
 The title Immaculate derives
from the Latin words in and
macula, meaning “without stain.”
 We celebrate the Immaculate
Conception on December 8,
exactly nine months before the
Nativity of Mary (September 8).
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What are the three common errors about
the Immaculate Conception?
1. Mary is immaculate because she was conceived by
the power of the Holy Spirit. The truth is that Mary was
conceived in a natural manner by her parents, Joachim
and Anne, but without the stain of the Original Sin.
2. Mary is immaculate because she is a virgin. Indeed,
the fact that Mary is immaculate has nothing to do with
her virginity, lest we consider the natural intercourse
between husband and wife a sin.
3. Mary is immaculate, therefore she did not need a
Savior. In truth, all men need to be saved by Jesus; but
in the case of Mary, salvation was anticipated to her
conception, so that Jesus Christ could be born from a
sinless and perfectly pure mother.
12. THE IMMACULATE

CONCEPTION:
What are the biblical
proofs of the Immaculate
Conception of Mary?
 Genesis 3:15: “I will put
enmity between you and
the woman.” This affirms
the incompatibility
between Satan (sin) and
Mary.
 Luke 1:28: “Hail Mary,
full of grace, the Lord is
with you” (Luke 1:28).
Being full of the grace of
God, she was immune
from any stain of sin.
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What is the history of the Dogma of the
Immaculate Conception?
 In the Middle Ages, there was a
theological debate, between the
Dominicans and the Franciscans,
whether Mary was conceived
immaculate.
 In 1476, Sixtus IV established the
liturgical feast of the Immaculate
Conception on December 8; in 1854,
Pius IX officially proclaimed the Dogma
of the Immaculate Conception with
the constitution Ineffabilis Deus.
 Four years later, on February 1858,
during the apparitions in Lourdes,
Mary said to St. Bernadette Soubirous:
“I am the Immaculate Conception.”
14. THE ASSUMPTION:

What is the meaning of the Fourth Marian Dogma?
 The Dogma of the Assumption
of Mary states: “The Virgin
Mary, having completed the
course of her earthly life,
was assumed body and soul
into heavenly glory.”
 It was declared by Pius XII on
November 1, 1950, with the
bull Munificentissimus Deus, and
the solemnity is on August 15.
 The Assumption of Mary is
different from the Ascension of
Jesus: she was taken up into
Heaven by God; whereas Christ
ascended by his own power.
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15. THE ASSUMPTION:

What is the biblical proof of the Assumption of Mary?
 Revelation 12:1: “A great sign
appeared in the sky: a woman
clothed with the sun, with the
moon under her feet, and on
her head a crown of twelve
stars.”
 She is crowned with 12 stars,
representing the 12 apostles,
because she is the Mother of
the Church.
 She is clothed with the sun,
representing the Holy Spirit.
 She has the moon under her
feet because she reflects like
the moon the love of God.
16. THE ASSUMPTION:

Did the Virgin Mary actually die?
The dogma does not specify
whether the Virgin Mary died or
fell asleep. There are two
traditions on the matter.
1. The Ephesus Tradition: The
Virgin Mary did not die but
simply fell asleep at Ephesus.
This is known as the Dormitio
Mariae
2. The Jerusalem Tradition: In
jerusalem the Virgin Mary died
and was buried. Three days
later, they found the tomb
completely empty and they
realized that she was assumed
body and soul to Paradise.
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17. THE PROPOSED FIFTH MARIAN DOGMA:

What is the proposed Fifth Marian Dogma?
 The proposed Fifth Marian Dogma is
defined in these terms: “Mary is the
Co-redemptrix, the Mediatrix of all
graces, and the Advocate.” So far no
official approval has been given by the
Church.
 Paul VI said that Mary is Advocate and
Mediatrix, but refused to add the
qualifier “of all graces.”
 Blessed John Paul II used the title Co-
redemptrix and Mother of the Redeemer,
but refused any dogmatic definition.
 Benedict XVI did not make any official
declaration, indicating that more time
and prayers are needed before the
Church could take a definite stand on the
issue.
18. JESUS’ EARLY LIFE:

Annunciation and Visitation
 The life is Jesus is divided into three parts:
1) EARLY LIFE: from birth to the age of 30;
2) PUBLIC MINISTRY: from baptism till Palm Sunday excluded;
3) PASCHAL MYSTERY: from Palm Sunday to Ascension.
The Annunciation: Gabriel The Visitation: Mary visited her
announced unto Mary that she cousin Elizabeth at Ein Karem, and
would become the mother of the proclaimed the Magnificat (cf.
Messiah (cf. Luke 1:26-38); The Luke 1:41-56). The feast day is
feast day is on March 25. on May 31.
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Nativity and Circumcision
The Nativity: In Bethlehem, The Circumcision and Naming of
Mary gave birth to Jesus and laid Jesus: Eight days after the Nativity,
him in a manger (cf. Luke 2:1- the Holy Infant was circumcised and
14). The feast day is on was named Jesus (cf. Luke 2:21).
December 25. The feast day is on January 1.

Presentation and Finding of Jesus
The Presentation of Jesus to The Finding of Jesus in the
the Temple: Forty days after Temple: When Jesus was twelve
Christmas, Jesus was presented years old, he was lost in
to the Temple of Jerusalem (cf. Jerusalem. After three days he was
Luke 2:21-35). The feast day is found him in the Temple (cf. Luke
on February 2. 2:42-52).
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21. JESUS’ PUBLIC MINISTRY:

Baptism and Temptations
The Baptism at the Jordan: The Temptations of Christ: After
At 30, Jesus was baptized by his Baptism, Jesus was tempted for
John in the Jordan (cf. Mark 40 days by the Devil. (cf. Matthew
1:4-11). The feast day is on the 4:1-11). We commemorate those
Sunday after Epiphany. 40 days during Lent.

Calling of the Apostles and Wedding at Cana
The Calling of the Apostles: The Wedding at Cana: The first
Jesus chose 12 disciples to miracle of Jesus was to transform
become his apostles. They ought water into wine at Cana, through
to be 12, in correspondence with the intercession of Mary (cf. John
the 12 tribes of Israel. 2:1-11).
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Transfiguration and Beatitudes
The Transfiguration: Jesus was The Beatitudes: The summary
transfigured on Mount Tabor, in of Jesus’ preaching are the eight
Galilee, at the presence of Peter, Beatitudes, which define the
James and John (cf. Mark 9:2-9). true Christians (cf. Matthew
The feast day is on August 6. 5:1-12).
ARTICLE 4:
HE SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE,
WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED AND WAS BURIED.
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3. WHAT ARE THE

TWO PARTS OF
THE 4TH ARTICLE?
The 4th Article of the

two parts:
1. The Mystery of
Redemption,
2. The Passion of
the Christ.
4. THE MYSTERY OF REDEMPTION:

What is the Mystery of Redemption?
 It is the divine plan to save
mankind from the slavery of
sin and death. The term
redemption comes from the
Latin word redimere,
meaning “to buy back,” by
paying the ransom.
 Humankind was imprisoned
by Satan because of the
Original Sin, and the price
for our redemption was
Jesus’ life.
 In the Mass, the expression
“for many” rather than “for
all” means that salvation
requires the personal
acceptance of faith.
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Why is Jesus the Lamb of God?
 In the Old Testament, sins were
forgiven by sacrificing an unblemished
lamb.
 In the New Testament, the
unblemished lamb is Jesus, whose
death on the cross paid all the debts
due to sin. As the Baptist exclaimed:
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes
away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
 This sacrifice of Christ, which is
reenacted at every Mass, is
definitive. For this reason, God allowed
the Temple of Jerusalem, were
sacrifices were offered, to be destroyed
by the Roman Army in 70 AD.

Was it necessary for Jesus to die on the cross?
Jesus chose to suffer and die for three reasons.
1. That we may love God. God is love, and wants us to

love him back. Given that “there is no greater love than
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13), the
sacrifice of Jesus is the most sublime manifestation of
God’s love for us.
2. That we may hate sin. Since “Christ died for our sins”
(1 Corinthians 15:3), the more we meditate on his
passion, the more we detest sin.
3. That we may learn how to suffer. Jesus gave us an
example on how to accept suffering with patience, and to
endure persecution with love, as explained by St. Peter:
“Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you
should follow in his footsteps” (1 Peter 2:21).
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Who is responsible for the death of Jesus?
 Since that Jesus died because
of the sins of men, ultimately
all of us sinners are
responsible for his death.
 St. Francis said: “Nor did
demons crucify him; it is you
who have crucified him and
crucify him still, when you
delight in your vices and
sins.”
 It is unjust and illogical to
believe that the Jews are
collectively responsible for
Jesus’ death: because the
crime of a few Jews
cannot be extended to a
whole nation.
8. THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST:

The Entry into Jerusalem
The passion of the Christ begun with the entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem, riding a humble donkey, while the people spread
their cloaks and tree branches on the road, shouting:
“Hosanna to the Son of David! (Matthew 21: 9).
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The Cleansing of the Temple
 Then Jesus entered the
Temple area and drove
out all who were
buying and selling
there. He overturned
the tables of the money
changers and the
benches of those
selling doves.
 He said to them: “It is
written: ‘My house
shall be a house of
prayer,’ but you are
making it a den of
thieves” (Matthew
21:12-13).

The Last Supper
On Thursday evening, Jesus and his apostles celebrated the
Last Supper at the Cenacle in Jerusalem. During the sacred
meal, Jesus instituted the sacraments of the Eucharist and
of Ordination (cf. Luke 22:19-20).
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The Agony in Gethsemane
 After supper, Jesus went to
the Garden of
Gethsemane, on the
Mount of Olives, to pray,
along with his apostles.
 Jesus experienced a deep
agony, and his sweat was
like drops of blood, and
exclaimed: “Father, if you
are willing, take this cup
from me; yet not my will
but yours be done.”
 Then the soldiers arrived to
arrest Jesus, and Judas
betrayed him with a kiss
(cf. Luke 39-48).

Jesus Before Pilate
 After his arrest, Jesus was
brought before the
Sanhedrin, presided by
Caiaphas the high priest,
then to King Herod, and
finally to the Roman
governor.
 Although Pontius Pilate
knew that Jesus was
innocent, he washed his
hands and had him
crucified.
 The soldiers made Jesus
wear a crown of thorns,
and scourged him (cf.
Matthew 27:11-31).
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The Way of the Cross
 On the way to Calvary, Jesus
met the women of
Jerusalem, who wept for him,
and said: “Daughters of
Jerusalem, do not weep for me;
weep for yourselves and for
your children” (Luke 23:28).
 Then, Simon the Cyrenian
was pressed into service to
carry his cross (cf. Matthew
27:32).
 According to the tradition, Jesus
also met his mother Mary and
Veronica, who wiped his face
with a linen, that retained the
image of his face.

The Crucifixion
 When they had reached the
Golgotha, the soldiers crucified
Jesus, and placed the sign:
“This is Jesus, the King of
the Jews.”
 One of the criminals insulted
him; but the other said: “Jesus,
remember me when you enter
into your kingdom.” And Jesus
replied: “Today you will be
with me in Paradise” (cf.
Luke 23:42-43).
 Then Jesus entrusted his
mother to John, saying:
“Woman, behold your son;”
and to John, “Behold your
mother” (cf. John 19:26-27).
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15. THE PASSION

OF THE CHRIST:
The Death of Jesus
 From noon onward,
darkness came over the
whole land. At three in the
afternoon, Jesus cried out in
a loud voice: “My God, my
God, why have you
forsaken me?” Then he
gave up his spirit.
 And behold, the veil of the
sanctuary was torn in two
from top to bottom and the
earth quaked.
 The centurion said: “Truly,
this was the Son of God!”
(cf. Matthew 27:45-56).

The Burial of Jesus
Before sunset,
Joseph of
Arimathea,
accompanied by
the Virgin Mary and
other pious
women, took the
body of Jesus,
wrapped it in a
clean linen shroud,
and laid him in his
new tomb that he
had hewn in the
rock (cf. Matthew
27:57-66).
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ARTICLE 5:
HE DESCENDED INTO HELL;
ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN
FROM THE DEAD
3. WHAT ARE THE

THREE PARTS OF THE
5TH ARTICLE?
The 5TH Article of the

Three Parts:
1. The Descent Into
The Dead
2. The Resurrection
of Christ
3. The Sequence of
Events After the
Resurrection
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4. THE DESCENT INTO THE DEAD:

Why did Christ descend into the dead?
 After his death, the
body of Jesus was
reposed into the tomb;
while his human soul,
united to his divine
person, went down
among the dead, or the
netherworld.
 Jesus descended in the
netherworld to liberate
the souls of the just
from the power of
death, and to open for
them the gate of
Paradise.
5. THE DESCENT INTO

THE DEAD:
Why did the souls of
the just had to wait
for the resurrection of
Christ?
 They had to wait in the
netherworld because
the gates of Heaven
were closed after the
Original Sin.
 After the
resurrection of
Christ, the souls go, in
accordance to their
merits, either to Hell,
Purgatory, or Paradise.
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6. THE DESCENT INTO THE DEAD:

What is the difference between the
Netherworld and Hell?
 The Netherworld (also called Sheol in Hebrew, Hades
in Greek, and Inferi in Latin), is the place where the
souls of the just awaited for Christ’s resurrection.
 Hell (also called Gehenna in Hebrew, Tartarus in Greek,
and Infernum in Latin), is the place of eternal
damnation for the demons and the wicked souls.
 Did Jesus descend into the Netherworld or into
Hell? Since the Greek text of the Apostles’ Creed uses
the word katotata (“those below”), and the Latin inferos
(“the spirits of the underworld”), the literal translation
should be: “He descended into the dead.”
 The Limbo, the alleged place where the souls of the
unbaptized waited for the Redeemer, was never defined
as a dogma.
7. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST:

When did Jesus rise from the dead?
 Jesus rose from the
death on Sunday
morning, three days
after his death. As the
angels announced unto
the women : “He is not
here, but he has been
raised” (Luke 24:6).
 The resurrection of Christ
is the crowning truth
of our faith, as St. Paul
proclaimed: “If Christ has
not been raised, our faith
is useless” (1 Corinthians
15:14).
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8. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST:

What is the difference between
resuscitation and resurrection?
 Resuscitation is the reunion of the soul with the mortal body, like
the rising of Lazarus (cf. John 11:43-44).
 Resurrection is the reunion of the souls with the glorified body,
like the case of Jesus, whose body was so transfigured that
Magdalene did not recognize him (cf. John 20:15).
9. THE RESURRECTION
OF CHRIST:
What is the Holy
Shroud of Turin?
 It is the linen cloth that
wrapped the dead body of
Jesus, and it is now
preserved at the Cathedral
of Turin, Italy.
 The image of Christ is
impressed like a picture
on a film, and so far no
scientific explanation could
be given on the process.
 The probable solution is
that the resurrection was a
burst of unknown
energy that impressed
the features of his body on
the shroud.
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10. THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AFTER THE RESURRECTION:

The Resurrection of Christ
 Jesus rose from the death
early on Sunday morning.
 Mary Magdalene and the
other Mary saw the empty
and reported to the
Apostles.
 Peter and John arrived at
the tomb, they found the
empty tomb, and the burial
clothes. They were
confused and left the
scene, but Mary Magdalene
remained behind (cf. John
20:1-10).

Noli me Tangere
 Mary Magdalene turned around and saw Jesus, but did not
recognize him, thinking he was the gardener.
 Then Jesus said:
“Touch me not [in
Latin: Noli me
tangere], for I have
not yet ascended to
the Father. But go
to my brothers and
announce unto
them” (cf. John
20:11-18).
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The Disciples of Emmaus
 On Sunday afternoon
two disciples were
going from Jerusalem
to Emmaus, when
suddenly Jesus
appeared and walked
with them, but they did
not recognize him.
 As they approached
Emmaus, the two
disciples invited the
Lord to dine with them,
and they recognized
him at the breaking
of bread (cf. Luke
24:13-35).

The Doubting Thomas
 St. Thomas is called the Doubting Apostle because he did not
believe the report that Jesus had risen from the death.
 One week later, Jesus appeared again and asked Thomas to
probe his fingers into his wounded hands and side. Thomas
exclaimed: “My Lord and my God!” (cf. John 20:26-29).
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Do you love me?
 Before the
ascension,
Jesus asked
Peter three
times, “Do you
love me?”, in
reparation for
his three
denials.
 Then, he
reconfirmed
Peter as the
Head of his
Church (cf.
John 21:15-19).
ARTICLE 6:
HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN,
AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF
GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY
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3. WHAT ARE THE

TWO PARTS OF THE
6TH ARTICLE?
The 6TH Article of the

Two Parts:
1. The Ascension of
Jesus,
2. Jesus Sits at the
Right Hand of
God
4. THE ASCENSION 0F JESUS:

When did Jesus ascend into Heaven?
 Jesus ascended into Heaven
40 days after the
resurrection.
 Then two angels said:
“Jesus will return in the
same way as you have seen
him going into Heaven”
(Acts 1:11).
 Although the ascension
took place on a
Thursday, the celebration
was moved to the next
Sunday, to allow a greater
participation of people.
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Did Jesus ascend from the
Mount of Olives or from Galilee?
 St. Luke said that the Ascension of
Jesus took place on the Mount of
Olives, near Jerusalem (Acts 1:12).
 However, St. Matthew said that Jesus
gave his last farewell in Galilee, 100 km
north of Jerusalem (Mt. 28:16).
 The discrepancy has two explanations:
First, after the farewell, the Apostles
moved back to the Mount of Olives
where the ascension took place.
Second, the word Galilee in this context
refers to a portion of the Mount of
Olives where the Galileans used to
camp out, known as “The field of the
Galileans,” or simply Galilee.

What is the “missionary mandate”?
The missionary mandate is the last farewell of Jesus: “Go, therefore,
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
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What are the three parts of the
missionary mandate?
1. GO: Every Christian ought to be a missionary and to
evangelize: beginning from our family till the ends of the
earth.
2. TEACH: We can teach the Gospel in three ways: by
means of preaching, like St. Francis Xavier, who traveled
to India and Japan to proclaim the Good News; by
means of praying, like St. Therese of the Child Jesus,
who never left the convent of Lisieux in France, but
offered her prayers and sufferings for the missionaries;
and by means of providing for the material needs of the
missions.
3. BAPTIZE: The first sacrament to be administered is
Baptism, which makes us children of God; and should be
followed by the other six sacraments.

What is the difference between
assumption and ascension?
 The assumption is the act of being  The ascension is the
brought up into Heaven, body and soul, act of going up to
by the power of God: this was the case Heaven by one’s own
of Enoch, Elijah, and of the Virgin Mary. power: this case refers
exclusively to Jesus.
ENOCH ELIJAH MARY JESUS
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Why did the risen Lord
remain on earth for 40 days?
1. To prove that he had
truly risen, as it is
written: “He presented
himself alive to them by
many proofs” (Acts 1:3).
2. To prepare the
Apostles for the task of
continuing his mission,
as it is written: “Jesus
was taken up, after
giving instructions
through the Holy Spirit to
the Apostles” (Acts 1:2).
10. JESUS SITS AT THE

RIGHT HAND OF GOD:
What happened to
Jesus after his
ascension?
 After ascending into
Heaven, Jesus sat
at the right hand
of God the Father.
 As the Gospel
proclaims: “The Lord
Jesus was taken up
into Heaven and
took his seat at
the right hand of
God” (Mark 16:19).
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11. JESUS SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD:

What is the meaning of “sitting at the right hand”?
 “To seat at the right hand” is an
idiomatic expression that
means “to have full trust and
authority.”
 In antiquity, the prime minister
used to seat at the right hand
of the king. The custom arose
from the fact that the right
arm was a symbol of power,
because kings carried their
swords on the right side.
 To profess that Jesus sits at
the right hand of the Father
means that he has the absolute
power to carry out all his
commands.
12. JESUS SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD:

What is Jesus doing in Heaven?
 Jesus Christ in Heaven
intercedes constantly for
us, as professed by St.
Paul: “Jesus Christ is at the
right hand of God and
indeed intercedes for us”
(Romans 8:34).
 We can reach him anytime
we pray, and especially
during the Eucharist, as he
said: “Where two or three
are gathered together in
my name, there am I in
the midst of them”
(Matthew 18:20).
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THE APOSTLES’ CREED

The book is a complete explanation of

To purchase the Book, or for theological

Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate

Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate

3. WHAT ARE THE FIVE PARTS

The 1st Article of the

1. The Virtue of Faith,

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4. THE VIRTUE OF FAITH:

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5. THE VIRTUE OF FAITH:

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6. THE VIRTUE OF FAITH:

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7. THE VIRTUE OF FAITH:

8. THE HOLY TRINITY:

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9. THE HOLY TRINITY:

The Dogma of the

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10. THE HOLY TRINITY:

11. THE HOLY TRINITY:

12. THE HOLY TRINITY:

To remain free from Trinitarian heresies, St. John Damascene

Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate

13. THE HOLY TRINITY:

14. GOD THE CREATOR:

15. GOD THE CREATOR:

16. GOD THE CREATOR:

17. GOD THE CREATOR:

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18. GOD THE CREATOR:

The Holy Family doing their daily work.

19. GOD THE CREATOR:

20. GOD THE CREATOR:

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21. GOD THE CREATOR:

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22. ANGELS AND DEMONS:

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23. ANGELS AND DEMONS:

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24. ANGELS AND DEMONS:

25. ANGELS AND DEMONS:

Jesus tempted St. Anthony Abbot Jesus exorcises the

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26. MAN AND ORIGINAL SIN:

Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel,

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27. MAN AND ORIGINAL SIN:

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28. MAN AND ORIGINAL SIN:

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3. WHAT ARE THE FOUR PARTS

The 2nd Article of the

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The Sacrifice of Isaac.

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7. THE TWO NATURES OF JESUS:

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