CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

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- Table of Contents -
See also: Index of footnotesStatistics and graphs (Occurrences: 250836. Words: 12492)

• PROLOGUE
  • I. The life of man - to know and love God
  • II. Handing on the Faith: Catechesis
  • III. The Aim and Intended Readership of the Catechism
  • IV. Structure of this Catechism
  • V. Practical Directions for Using this Catechism
  • VI. Necessary Adaptations
    
    
• PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
  • SECTION ONE "I BELIEVE" - "WE BELIEVE"
    • CHAPTER ONE MAN'S CAPACITY FOR GOD
      • I. The Desire for God
      • II. Ways of Coming to Know God
      • III. The Knowledge of God According to the Church
      • IV. How Can We Speak about God?
      • IN BRIEF
        
        
    • CHAPTER TWO GOD COMES TO MEET MAN
      • Article 1 THE REVELATION OF GOD
        • I. God Reveals His "Plan of Loving Goodness"
        • II. The Stages of Revelation
        • III. Christ Jesus -- "Mediator and Fullness of All Revelation"
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 2 THE TRANSMISSION OF DIVINE REVELATION
        • I. The Apostolic Tradition
        • II. The Relationship Between Tradition and Sacred Scripture
        • III. The Interpretation of the Heritage of Faith
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 3 SACRED SCRIPTURE
        • I. Christ - The Unique Word of Sacred Scripture
        • II. Inspiration and Truth of Sacred Scripture
        • III. The Holy Spirit, Interpreter of Scripture
        • IV. The Canon of Scripture
        • V. Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
    • CHAPTER THREE MAN'S RESPONSE TO GOD
      • Article 1 I BELIEVE
        • I. The Obedience of Faith
        • II. "I Know Whom I Have Believed"
        • III. The Characteristics of Faith
          
          
      • Article 2 WE BELIEVE
        • I. "Lord, Look Upon the Faith of Your Church"
        • II. The Language of Faith
        • III. Only One Faith
        • IN BRIEF
        • The Credo
          
          
  • SECTION TWO I. THE CREEDS
    • CHAPTER ONE I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER
      • Article 1 "I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH"
        • Paragraph 1. I BELIEVE IN GOD
        • Paragraph 2. THE FATHER
        • Paragraph 3. THE ALMIGHTY
        • Paragraph 4. THE CREATOR
        • Paragraph 5. HEAVEN AND EARTH
        • Paragraph 6. MAN
        • Paragraph 7. THE FALL
          
          
    • CHAPTER TWO I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY SON OF GOD
      • ARTICLE 2 "AND IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD"
        • I. Jesus
        • II. Christ
        • III. The Only Son of God
        • IV. Lord
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 3 "HE WAS CONCEIVED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND WAS BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY"
        • Paragraph 1. THE SON OF GOD BECAME MAN
        • Paragraph 2. "CONCEIVED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY"
        • Paragraph 3. THE MYSTERIES OF CHRIST'S LIFE
          
          
      • Article 4 "JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED AND WAS BURIED"
        • Paragraph 1. JESUS AND ISRAEL
        • Paragraph 2. JESUS DIED CRUCIFIED
        • Paragraph 3. JESUS CHRIST WAS BURIED
          
          
      • Article 5 "HE DESCENDED INTO HELL. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN"
        • Paragraph 1. CHRIST DESCENDED INTO HELL
        • Paragraph 2. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD
          
          
      • Article 6 "HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER"
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 7 "FROM THENCE HE WILL COME AGAlN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD"
        • I. He Will Come Again in Glory
        • II. To Judge the Living and the Dead
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
    • CHAPTER THREE I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
      • ARTICLE 8 "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT"
        • I. The Joint Mission of the Son and the Spirit
        • II. The Name, Titles, and Symbols of the Holy Spirit
        • III. God's Spirit and Word in the Time of the Promises
        • IV. The Spirit of Christ in the Fullness of Time
        • V. The Spirit and the Church In the Last Days
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 9 "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH"
        • Paragraph 1. THE CHURCH IN GOD'S PLAN
        • Paragraph 2. THE CHURCH - PEOPLE OF GOD, BODY OF CHRIST, TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
        • Paragraph 3. THE CHURCH IS ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC
        • Paragraph 4. CHRIST'S FAITHFUL - HIERARCHY, LAITY, CONSECRATED LIFE
        • Paragraph 5. THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
        • Paragraph 6. MARY - MOTHER OF CHRIST, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH
          
          
      • Article 10 "I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS"
        • I. One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins
        • II. The Power of the Keys
          
          
      • Article 11 "I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY"
        • I. Christ's Resurrection and Ours
        • II. Dying in Christ Jesus
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 12 "I BELIEVE IN LIFE EVERLASTING"
        • I. The Particular Judgment
        • II. Heaven
        • III. The Final Purification, or Purgatory
        • IV. Hell
        • V. The Last Judgment
        • VI. Hope of the New Heaven and the New Earth
        • IN BRIEF
        • "Amen"
          
          
• PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY
  • SECTION ONE THE SACRAMENTAL ECONOMY
    • CHAPTER ONE THE PASCHAL MYSTERY IN THE AGE OF THE CHURCH
      • Article 1 THE LITURGY - WORK OF THE HOLY TRINITY
        • I. The Father-Source and Goal of the Liturgy
        • II. Christ's Work in the Liturgy
        • III. The Holy Spirit and the Church in the Liturgy
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 2 THE PASCHAL MYSTERY IN THE CHURCH'S SACRAMENTS
        • I. The Sacraments of Christ
        • II. The Sacraments of the Church
        • III. The Sacraments of Faith
        • IV. The Sacraments of Salvation
        • V. The Sacraments of Eternal Life
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
    • CHAPTER TWO THE SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATION OF THE PASCHAL MYSTERY
      • Article 1 CELEBRATING THE CHURCH'S LITURGY
        • I. Who Celebrates?
        • II. How is the Liturgy Celebrated?
        • III. When is the Liturgy Celebrated?
        • IV. Where is the Liturgy Celebrated?
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 2 LITURGICAL DIVERSITY AND THE UNITY OF THE MYSTERY
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
  • SECTION TWO THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
    • CHAPTER ONE THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION
      • Article 1 THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
        • I. What is This Sacrament Called?
        • II. Baptism in the Economy of Salvation
        • III. How is the Sacrament of Baptism Celebrated?
        • IV. Who can Receive Baptism?
        • V. Who can Baptize?
        • VI. The Necessity of Baptism
        • VII. The Grace of Baptism
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 2 THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
        • I. Confirmation in the Economy of Salvation
        • II. The Signs and the Rite of Confirmation
        • III. The Effects of Confirmation
        • IV. Who can Receive This Sacrament?
        • V. The Minister of Confirmation
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 3 THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST
        • I. The Eucharist - Source and Summit of Ecclesial Life
        • II. What is This Sacrament Called?
        • III. The Eucharist in the Economy of Salvation
        • IV. The Liturgical Celebration of the Eucharist
        • V. The Sacramental Sacrifice Thanksgiving, Memorial, Presence
        • VI. The Paschal Banquet
        • VII. The Eucharist - "Pledge of the Glory To Come"
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
    • CHAPTER TWO THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING
      • Article 4 THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION
        • I. What is This Sacrament Called?
        • II. Why a Sacrament of Reconciliation after Baptism?
        • III. The Conversion of the Baptized
        • IV. Interior Penance
        • V. The Many Forms of Penance in Christian Life
        • VI. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
        • VII. The Acts of the Penitent
        • VIII. The Minister of This Sacrament
        • IX. The Effects of This Sacrament
        • X. Indulgences
        • XI. The Celebration of the Sacrament of Penance
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 5 THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK
        • I. Its Foundations in the Economy of Salvation
        • II. Who Receives and Who Administers This Sacrament?
        • III. How is This Sacrament Celebrated?
        • IV. The Effects of the Celebration of This Sacrament
        • V. Viaticum, the Last Sacrament of the Christian
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
    • CHAPTER THREE THE SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION
      • ARTICLE 6 THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS
        • I. Why Is This Sacrament Called "Orders"?
        • II. The Sacrament of Holy Orders in the Economy of Salvation
        • III. The Three Degrees of the Sacrament of Holy Orders
        • IV. The Celebration of This Sacrament
        • V. Who Can Confer This Sacrament?
        • VI. Who Can Receive This Sacrament?
        • VII. The Effects of the Sacrament of Holy Orders
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 7 THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
        • I. Marriage in God's Plan
        • II. The Celebration of Marriage
        • III. Matrimonial Consent
        • IV. The Effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony
        • V. The Goods and Requirements of Conjugal Love
        • VI. The Domestic Church
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
    • CHAPTER FOUR OTHER LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS
      • Article 1 SACRAMENTALS
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 2 CHRISTIAN FUNERALS
        • I. The Christian's Last Passover
        • II. The Celebration of Funerals
          
          
• PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST
  • SECTION ONE MAN'S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT
    • CHAPTER ONE THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
      • Article 1 MAN: THE IMAGE OF GOD
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 2 OUR VOCATION TO BEATITUDE
        • I. The Beatitudes
        • II. The Desire for Happiness
        • III. Christian Beatitude
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 3 MAN'S FREEDOM
        • I. Freedom and Responsibility
        • II. Human Freedom in the Economy of Salvation
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 4 THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS
        • I. The Sources of Morality
        • II. Good Acts and Evil Acts
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 5 THE MORALITY OF THE PASSIONS
        • I. Passions
        • II. Passions and Moral Life
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 6 MORAL CONSCIENCE
        • I. The Judgment of Conscience
        • II. The Formation of Conscience
        • III. To Choose in Accord With Conscience
        • IV. Erroneous Judgment
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 7 THE VIRTUES
        • I. The Human Virtues
        • II. The Theological Virtues
        • III. The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 8 SIN
        • I. Mercy and Sin
        • II. The Definition of Sin
        • III. The Different Kinds of Sins
        • IV. The Gravity of Sin: Mortal and Venial Sin
        • V. The Proliferation of Sin
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
    • CHAPTER TWO THE HUMAN COMMUNION
      • Article 1 THE PERSON AND SOCIETY
        • I. The Communal Character of the Human Vocation
        • II. Conversion and Society
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 2 PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL LIFE
        • I. Authority
        • II. The Common Good
        • III. Responsibility and Participation
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 3 SOCIAL JUSTICE
        • I. Respect For the Human Person
        • II. Equality and Differences Among Men
        • III. Human Solidarity
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
    • CHAPTER THREE GOD'S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE
      • Article 1 THE MORAL LAW
        • I. The Natural Moral Law
        • II. The Old Law
        • III. The New Law or the Law of the Gospel
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 2 GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION
        • I. Justification
        • II. Grace
        • III. Merit
        • IV. Christian Holiness
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 3 THE CHURCH, MOTHER AND TEACHER
        • I. Moral Life and the Magisterium of the Church
        • II. The Precepts of the Church
        • III. Moral Life and Missionary Witness
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
  • SECTION TWO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
    • • IN BRIEF
        
        
    • CHAPTER ONE YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND
      • Article 1 THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
        • I. "You Shall Worship the Lord Your God and Him Only Shall You Serve"
        • II. "Him Only Shall You Serve"
        • III. "You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me"
        • IV. "You Shall Not Make For Yourself a Graven Image . . ."
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 2 THE SECOND COMMANDMENT
        • I. The Name of the Lord is Holy
        • II. Taking the Name of the Lord in Vain
        • III. The Christian Name
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 3 THE THIRD COMMANDMENT
        • I. The Sabbath Day
        • II. The Lord's Day
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
    • CHAPTER TWO YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF
      • ARTICLE 4 THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT
        • I. The Family in God's Plan
        • II. The Family and Society
        • III. The Duties of Family Members
        • IV. The Family and the Kingdom
        • V. The Authorities In Civil Society
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 5 THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT
        • I. Respect for Human Life
        • II. Respect for the Dignity of Persons
        • III. Safeguarding Peace
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 6 THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
        • I. "Male and Female He Created Them . . ."
        • II. The Vocation to Chastity
        • III. The Love of Husband and Wife
        • IV. Offenses Against the Dignity of Marriage
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 7 THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT
        • I. The Universal Destination and the Private Ownership of Goods
        • II. Respect for Persons and Their Goods
        • III. The Social Doctrine of the Church
        • IV. Economic Activity and Social Justice
        • V. Justice and Solidarity Among Nations
        • VI. Love For the Poor
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 8 THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT
        • I. Living in the Truth
        • II. To Bear Witness to the Truth
        • III. Offenses Against Truth
        • IV. Respect for the Truth
        • V. The Use of the Social Communications Media
        • VI. Truth, Beauty, and Sacred Art
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 9 THE NINTH COMMANDMENT
        • I. Purification of the Heart
        • II. The Battle for Purity
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 10 THE TENTH COMMANDMENT
        • I. The Disorder of Covetous Desires
        • II. The Desires of the Spirit
        • III. Poverty of Heart
        • IV. "I Want to See God"
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
• PART FOUR: CHRISTIAN PRAYER
  • SECTION ONE PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
    • CHAPTER ONE THE REVELATION OF PRAYER - THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO PRAYER
      • Article 1 IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 2 IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 3 IN THE AGE OF THE CHURCH
        • I. Blessing and Adoration
        • II. Prayer of Petition
        • III. Prayer of Intercession
        • IV. Prayer of Thanksgiving
        • V. Prayer of Praise
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
    • CHAPTER TWO THE TRADITION OF PRAYER
      • Article 1 AT THE WELLSPRINGS OF PRAYER
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 2 THE WAY OF PRAYER
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 3 GUIDES FOR PRAYER
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
    • CHAPTER THREE THE LIFE OF PRAYER
      • Article 1 EXPRESSIONS OF PRAYER
        • I. Vocal prayer
        • II. Meditation
        • III. Contemplative Prayer
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
      • Article 2 THE BATTLE OF PRAYER
        • I. Objections to Prayer
        • II. Humble Vigilance of Heart
        • III. Filial Trust
        • IV. Perservering in Love
          
          
      • Article 3 THE PRAYER OF THE HOUR OF JESUS
        • IN BRIEF
          
          
  • SECTION TWO THE LORD'S PRAYER
    • Article 1 "THE SUMMARY OF THE WHOLE GOSPEL"
      • I. At the Center of the Scriptures
      • II. The Lord's Prayer
      • III. The Prayer of the Church
      • IN BRIEF
        
        
    • Article 2 "OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN"
      • I. "We Dare To Say"
      • II. Abba - "Father!"
      • III. "Our" Father
      • IV. "Who Art in Heaven"
      • IN BRIEF
        
        
    • Article 3 THE SEVEN PETITIONS
      • I. "Hallowed be Thy Name"
      • II. "Thy Kingdom Come"
      • III. "Thy Will Be Done on Earth as It is in Heaven"
      • IV. "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread"
      • V. "And Forgive Us Our Trespasses, as We Forgive Those Who Trespass AGAINST US"
      • VI. "And Lead Us not into Temptation"
        
        
    • Article 4 THE FINAL DOXOLOGY
      • IN BRIEF