Part 1:  The Creed and Chapter 1:  Laying a Firm Foundation ~ Lawn Chair Catechism

We’re introduced to the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church this week through Paprocki’s H.E.L.P. acronymn:

• H = We Hold on to our faith that is revealed to us through Scripture and Tradition and is summarized in theCreed.
• E = We Express our faith in the liturgy and sacraments of the Church.
• L = We Live our faith according to Catholic morality.
• P = We Pray our faith by maintaining a healthy prayer life.

As we begin Part 1, we’ll be looking at the Creed, the “H” for “Hold” above.

At the end of Chapter 1, Paprocki writes,

What difference does it make for Catholics to believe that “Christians are made, not born”? It means that we are called to be receptive. Faith is something that we receive. It does not belong to us but is passed on to us like a family heirloom that we treasure, protect, and pass on faithfully.

Questions for Reflection and Disucssion:

1. Who is someone you know who has a “well-built faith” and what do you attribute that to?  My cousin, Nena.  I attribute that to being brought up in a Catholic atmosphere. Mass every week; studying the Faith; having a father that led the family to God and Mass with joy and veneration.
2. What have you been doing/could you be doing to deepen your understanding of the Catholic faith?  Studying the Faith; attending Mass every week (this is something I have fallen short of.  I work so much that going to Sunday Mass has lessened, it is something I want to do better-attending more in the near future); keeping Christ in your mind on a continuous basis.  
3. Who has been a “pillar of faith” in your life? My cousins in California, and my oldest son.  
4. What event(s) in your life have most significantly shaped you into the person you are today? The births of my four children. Children can bring out the best in a parent.
5. Creed: What is the difference between an idea and a belief? I think, an idea is something that comes to you that you'd like to try out or carry out, perchance?  A belief is something you feel with your mind and heart wholeheartedly to be true. What role does trust play in believing? Trust is something you feel without doubt.  Sometimes I have trouble with this.
6. Sacraments: When was a time you felt compelled to express yourself without using words? All of the time, I guess.  I haven't been blessed with the gift of 'speech'; therefore expressing myself has always been difficult. So, I go about my business, being silent and mostly listening to others.  Most people around me can tell that I am happy because I smile alot.
7. Morality: Why do you think it is so difficult for us as God’s own people to live moral lives? Because of our secular world, temptation is in abundance.  Because society attempts to make us believe that some things which we know are really wrong, is right.  
8. Prayer: With whom do you have the best communication?  My cousin, Nena.  She should be my sister.  She knows me so well.  What makes that communication so effective?  Listening and understanding.  She knows the Catholic Faith and continues to learn more about it.  She encourages me to trust everything to God.     How good is your communication with God? My communication with God is through everything; such as my daily walks around a local college campus~seeing God through a million stars or touching him through the soft falling of rain on my skin), cooking (bringing Christ to the table), sewing, (clothing our bodies) reading, reading, meditating on the rosary, looking to the saints to help me in my endeavors through their invocation. I think God communicates in many ways.  We have to use all our senses, I think, to know he is there. Always.