Lucas Pollice - Open Wide the Doors to Christ: Discovering Catholicism

Emmaus Road Publishing
827 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, Ohio 43952

2008 Lucas R. Pollice

All rights reserved. Published 2013
Printed in the United States of America.
17 16 15 14 13 2 3 4 5 6

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013950305

ISBN: 978-1-937155-16-2

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)

copyright 2011, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C.

Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America copyright 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.-Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica copyright 1997,

United States Catholic Conference, Inc.Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

Noted as CCC in the text.

Excerpts from the Glossary and Index Analyticus copyright 2000, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

All rights reserved. Used with Permission.

Cover design and layout by: Theresa Westling

Image credit: Archway into the Sun / iStockphoto

Imprimatur: Most Rev. Kevin W. Vann, JCD, DD

Bishop of Fort Worth

October 21, 2008

The Imprimatur is an official declaration that a book is free from doctrinal or moral error.

No implication is contained therein that those who grant the imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

Acknowledgements

To Pope John Paul II

The Church is forever indebted and grateful to you for your example, your teachings, and your great love for Christ.

Well done, my good and faithful servant.... Come, share your masters joy. (Mt. 25:21)

Pope John Paul II, pray for us.

Many people made this book possible in a variety of ways, to all of whom I am truly grateful. I am deeply indebted to my mother-in-law, Marynell Konderla, for all of her countless hours spent in tedious editing and layout. Without her unselfish dedication, this book would not have been possible. I am also very grateful to my father-in-law, John Konderla, for believing in the vision of this book and for providing the financial support necessary for making this a reality.

Thanks also to my sister Jennifer Darrow, Matt and Lauren Warner, Christi Morrow, Shannon Morrow, and John and Mandy Cox, for their help in the cover design, editing, and for their many great ideas and insights.

I also thank those who have supported me in my ministry over the years. I especially thank Bishop Kevin Vann for his confidence in me and for his enthusiastic support for this book. I also thank Fr. Jim Gigliotti, T.O.R., and Fr. Mike Ciski, T.O.R., for their friendship, guidance, and pastoral wisdom. Thanks also to the many members of the RCIA team at Saint Maria Goretti Church for their dedication, support, and encouragement in the writing of
this book.

I also thank the Konderla family for the great kitchen table theological discussions and insights, much of which are in this work.

I certainly am very indebted to the many professors who were so influential in my theological education at both Franciscan University of Steubenville and the Institute for Pastoral Theology at Ave Maria University. I especially thank Professor Douglas Bushman for his inspiration and love for the Church.

I am deeply grateful to my parents, John and Kathy Pollice, for their love, prayers, and constant encouragement, and especially for giving me the gift of my Catholic faith.

Finally, to my beloved wife, Mary, and to my children, Cecilia, Nick, Tim, Christian, and Julia: thank you for your inspiration, for your daily witness to me of Christs love, and for the many sacrifices you have made to make this book possible. To you all, I am forever grateful!

Contents

Part One
The Creed: The Profession of Faith

Section I: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth

Section II: I believe in Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God

Section III: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, and Life Everlasting

Part Two
The Sacraments:
The Celebration of the Christian Mystery

Part Three
Living and Witnessing the Christian Life

Abbreviations

Gen. Genesis

Ex. Exodus

Lev. Leviticus

Num. Numbers

Deut. Deuteronomy

Josh. Joshua

Judg. Judges

Ruth Ruth

1 Sam. 1 Samuel

2 Sam. 2 Samuel

1 Kings 1 Kings

2 Kings 2 Kings

1 Chr. 1 Chronicles

2 Chr. 2 Chronicles

Ezra Ezra

Neh. Nehemiah

Tob. Tobit

Jdt. Judith

Esth. Esther

1 Macc. 1 Maccabees

2 Macc. 2 Maccabees

Job Job

Ps. Psalms

Prov. Proverbs

Eccl. Ecclesiastes

Song Song of Songs

Wis. Wisdom

Sir. Sirach

Is. Isaiah

Jer. Jeremiah

Lam. Lamentations

Bar. Baruch

Ezek. Ezekiel

Dan. Daniel

Hos. Hosea

Joel Joel

Am. Amos

Ob. Obadiah

Jon. Jonah

Mic. Micah

Na. Nahum

Hb. Habakkuk

Zeph. Zephaniah

Hg. Haggai

Zech. Zechariah

Mal. Malachi

Mt. Matthew

Mk. Mark

Lk. Luke

Jn. John

Acts Acts of the Apostles

Rom. Romans

1 Cor. 1 Corinthians

2 Cor. 2 Corinthians

Gal. Galatians

Eph. Ephesians

Phil. Philippians

Col. Colossians

1 Thess. 1 Thessalonians

2 Thess. 2 Thessalonians

1 Tim. 1 Timothy

2 Tim. 2 Timothy

Titus Titus

Philem. Philemon

Heb. Hebrews

Jas. James

1 Pet. 1 Peter

2 Pet. 2 Peter

1 Jn. 1 John

2 Jn. 2 John

3 Jn. 3 John

Jude Jude

Rev. Revelation

Note to the Reader

• All quotes have been presented exactly as they were in the original source; therefore, pronouns and adjectives relating to God may differ in style with the text of this book. This also creates differences in the capitalization of some words, as well as punctuation differences.
• Bold WordsAt the end of each chapter is a list of Key Words to Know from the Catechism (also referred to as CCC). A bolded word within a chapter indicates that the word is included on this list.
• Italicized wordsWithin the text are italicized words that indicate that they are of special importance and meaning to the issue being addressed.

Foreword

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

When we recently observed the thirtieth anniversary of the election of Pope John Paul II, I thought back to the time when I was watching this momentous event on a television set at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. We were just finishing lunch in the seminary refectory when one of the professors came into the dining hall to announce that, The smoke is white! We all rushed to the various television sets in the seminary. Somehow we knew that we were making history that day, and then again some days later when during the Mass to inaugurate the beginning of this pontificate he challenged each one of us to Do not be afraid.... Open wide the doors to Christ.

We are only beginning just now, I believe, to appreciate the impact of his pontificate on the Body of Christ, the Church. Therefore, I believe that the title for this new important work of catechesis,