STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

SEC. 1: THE HOLINESS OF GOD

• Holiness- a spiritual trait to which we are called.
• Virtue- the vigorous disposition to which we are called.
• Sanctify- to make holy or consecrate.

SECTION 1 CONTINUED

• The theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity make it possible to relate to God and grow in our understanding of being made in God's image and likeness.
• Holiness puts us on the path of perfection Jesus asks us to seek.
• The Son of God took on our human nature so we could share his divinity.

SEC. 2: BY WAY OF THE CROSS

• Canonization- the solemn deceleration by the pope that a decreased number of the faithful May be proposed as a model to intercessor to the Christian faithful and venerated as a saint.
• Intercessor- someone who prays on behalf of someone else.
• Patron saint- a canonized person asked to intercede to help or protect a particular place or group of people.

SECTION 2 CONTINUED

• Holiness is a gift from God for each of us.
• Making the Sign of the Cross is a blessing that means we are accepting the life of Christ as our own.
• Saints are examples to the whole Catholic community to be holy.

SEC. 3: HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD

• Immaculate Conception- the idea that Mary was conceived without Original Sin from the first moment of conception.
• Perpetual virginity- the Catholic idea Mary remained a virgin for her entire life before, during, and after the birth of Jesus.
• Assumption- the idea that at the end of her earthly life Mary was taken, body and soul, into Heaven.
• Dogma- a revealed teaching so proclaimed by the church's Magisterium to be believed by all the faithful.
• Infallibility- "the gift of the Holy Spirit whereby the pope and bishops in union with him.

SECTION 3 CONTINUED

• Mary is the model for all Christians because she accepted the life God planned for her.
• We receive internal strength through God's grace.
• Catholics honor Mary by praying the rosary, and calling on her intercession in time of need.

SEC. 4: PRECEPTS AND PURIFICATION

• Precepts- positive laws made by church authorities.
• Reparation- making amends or compensation for sins, wrongs committed, or harm done.

SECTION 4 CONTINUED

• Church law includes pastoral direction for living our faith through the Precepts.
• The Eucharist is the source and summit of our holiness because our ultimate goal as Christians is to be like him.
• Making an examination of conscience a regular spiritual practice will show how you can better respond to the call of holiness.
• These penitential practices are concrete behaviors that open us to God's grace and in becoming instruments of the Holy Spirit.

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