Theology & Doctrinal Knowledge Flashcards

According to the Catholic doctrine of inspiration, what is the principal author of Sacred Scripture?

Answer: The Holy Spirit, with human authors as true secondary authors

Catholic doctrine holds that God is the principal author of Scripture, inspiring human authors so that they wrote what He willed while using their own faculties and skills (Dei Verbum 11).

Which of the following correctly describes the relationship between Scripture and Tradition in Catholic teaching?

Answer: Scripture and Tradition flow from the same divine source and together form one Deposit of Faith

Dei Verbum teaches that Scripture and Tradition both flow from the same divine wellspring, together forming one sacred deposit of the Word of God, interpreted by the Magisterium.

In Catholic social teaching, the principle of 'subsidiarity' holds that:

Answer: Decisions should be made at the lowest competent level of authority, with higher levels assisting only when necessary

Subsidiarity, articulated in Quadragesimo Anno and the Catechism, holds that larger or higher authority should support ('subsidize') but not absorb the functions proper to smaller or local communities.

The Catholic doctrine of the 'Real Presence' affirms that in the Eucharist:

Answer: Christ is truly, really, and substantially present — body, blood, soul, and divinity — under the eucharistic species

The Council of Trent solemnly defined that Christ is truly, really, and substantially present — body, blood, soul, and divinity — under the species of bread and wine in the Eucharist.

What is the difference between a 'dogma' and a 'doctrine' in Catholic theological usage?

Answer: Dogmas are formally defined as divinely revealed and require the assent of faith; doctrines are authoritative teachings that may include non-defined truths

A dogma is a truth formally defined by the Church as divinely revealed, demanding the assent of faith; doctrine is a broader term covering authoritative Catholic teaching, not all of which has been formally defined.

In the theology of grace, 'actual grace' refers to:

Answer: A transient divine assistance given for a specific act or moment

Actual grace is a transient divine intervention or assistance God gives to enlighten the mind or strengthen the will for a specific good act, distinct from habitual (sanctifying) grace.

Which theological concept describes the total self-communication of God to humanity, culminating in Jesus Christ?

Answer: Divine self-revelation / supernatural revelation

Supernatural (or divine) self-revelation is God's free act of communicating himself and his saving plan to humanity, reaching its fullness and unsurpassable summit in Jesus Christ (Dei Verbum 2).