BASIC CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES
Formulas
of Catholic doctrine and key excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church
and its Compendium
Download the one-page leaflet here.
The plan of God for man: to know and love God
God, infinitely
perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of pure goodness freely created man
to make him share in his own blessed life. God the Father sent his Son as the
Redeemer and Savior of all human beings, fallen into sin, thus calling all into
his Church and, through the work of the Holy Spirit, making them adopted children
and heirs of his eternal happiness.
God “desires all
men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”, that is, of Jesus
Christ. For this reason, Christ must be proclaimed to all according to his own
command, “Go forth and teach all nations”.
I. PROFESSION OF FAITH. Faith is man’s response to God who reveals himself and
gives himself to man. It means the full surrender of ourselves to God and the
acceptance of his truth.
The Apostles’ Creed: summary of the faith of the Apostles. I believe in God
the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died,
and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the
dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father
almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe
in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic
Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of
the body and life everlasting. Amen.
The center of the Christian life is Jesus and his Paschal Mystery. The Paschal Mystery of Jesus, which comprises his passion, death, resurrection, and glorification, stands at the center of the Christian faith because God's saving plan was accomplished once for all by the redemptive death of his Son Jesus Christ.
Three offices of Christ, in which all Christians participate:
Priest, Prophet
and King
Four properties of Christ’s Church: One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic
Four last things: Death, Judgment, Hell and Heaven
II. THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY. Christ makes present his work of salvation through the
liturgy. In the liturgy, it is principally his own Paschal mystery that Christ signifies and makes present.
The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace instituted by Christ and
entrusted to the Church. Through them divine life is given to us as a gift.
Seven sacraments: Sacraments of Christian Initiation: (1) Baptism, (2) Confirmation, (3) Holy Eucharist. Sacraments of Healing: (4) Penance, (5) Anointing of the Sick. Sacraments at the Service of Communion: (6) Holy Orders, and (7) Matrimony.
The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. It makes the Paschal Mystery present. It is the culmination of Christ's saving action and our worship.
III. LIFE IN CHRIST. Through the sacraments, Christians receive the grace
which give them the capability of living a new life as children of God in
Christ whom they have received in faith. “O Christian, recognize your dignity.”
(Saint Leo the Great) All the faithful
are called to Christian holiness. Jesus said “Come, follow Me”. To follow Jesus
involves keeping the commandments.
Two commandments of love: the fullness of the law, which interprets the 10 commandments. (1) You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (2) You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Three theological
virtues: foundation of Christian moral
activity. God is their origin, motive and object. Faith, Hope and Charity (Love). Charity, friendship
and communion, is the greatest virtue and the goal towards which we run.
Four cardinal
virtues: pivotal human virtues which
dispose man for communion with divine love. Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance
Eight Beatitudes: depict
the countenance of Christ and authentic Christian life. Blessed are: (1) The poor in spirit (2) They who
mourn (3) The meek (4) They who hunger and thirst for righteousness, (5) The
merciful, (6) The pure of heart, (7) The peacemakers, (8) Those who are
persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
Golden Rule: Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Works of mercy. Corporal: (1) Feed the hungry. (2)
Give drink to the thirsty. (3) Clothe the naked. (4) Shelter the homeless. (5) Visit the sick. (6) Visit the
imprisoned. (7) Bury the dead. Spiritual:
(1) Counsel the doubtful. (2) Instruct the ignorant. (3) Admonish sinners.
(4) Comfort the afflicted. (5) Forgive offenses. (6) Bear wrongs patiently. (7) Pray for the living
and the dead.
Seven capital sins: engender other sins and vices. (1) Pride (2) Avarice (3) Lust (4) Envy (5) Gluttony (6) Anger (7) Sloth
IV: CHRISTIAN PRAYER. Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to
God. It is the personal and living relationship of the children of God with
their Father, with his Son Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit. It ought to
animate us at every moment.
Essential forms
of Christian prayer: Blessing and
adoration, the prayer of petition and intercession, thanksgiving and praise.
Suitable time for
prayer. Anytime. To nourish
continual prayer, the Church proposes: morning and evening prayer, before and
after meals, Liturgy of the Hours, Sunday Eucharist, Rosary and feasts.
Expressions of
prayer: Vocal prayer, meditation
and contemplation. Common to all is the recollection of the heart.
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