The Creed and Core Beliefs Flashcards

The doctrine of the 'Immaculate Conception' (defined 1854 by Pope Pius IX) teaches that:

Answer: Mary was conceived without original sin by a special grace in anticipation of Christ's merits

The Immaculate Conception teaches that Mary, from the first moment of her conception, was preserved from original sin by a special grace — uniquely in advance — through Christ's anticipated merits.

The heresy of 'Modalism' (Sabellianism) differs from orthodox Trinitarianism by teaching that:

Answer: God appears in three modes or masks sequentially, not as three distinct persons simultaneously

Modalism (Sabellianism) held that God is one person who manifests successively as Father (creation), Son (incarnation), and Holy Spirit (Pentecost) — denying the distinct, simultaneous personhood of three.

The doctrine of 'penal substitution' in Protestant atonement theology holds that:

Answer: Christ bore the penalty for human sin in our place, satisfying divine justice

Penal substitution teaches that God's justice required punishment for sin, and Christ voluntarily bore that punishment in our place, satisfying divine wrath and enabling forgiveness.

In Catholic teaching, 'purgatory' is understood as:

Answer: A state of final purification for those who die in God's friendship but are not yet fully purified

Purgatory is the final purification of those who die in God's grace but need purification before entering heaven — a transitional state, not a second chance at salvation.

The 'beatific vision' in Catholic theology refers to:

Answer: The direct, immediate knowledge and enjoyment of God in heaven

The beatific vision is heaven's essential gift: the direct, unmediated knowledge and love of God face to face — the eternal fulfillment for which humanity was created.

The 'sensus fidei' (sense of the faithful) in Catholic theology refers to:

Answer: The supernatural instinct of faith by which the whole body of believers perceives what belongs to the faith

Sensus fidei (sense of the faith) is the Spirit-given instinct of the whole Church by which all the baptized intuitively perceive authentic Christian teaching — a source of doctrinal development.