The Catechism of the Catholic Church

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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? 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 In the beginning God makes himself known The covenant with Noah God chooses Abraham God forms his people Israel III. CHRIST JESUS - "MEDIATOR AND FULLNESS OF ALL REVELATION"²⁵ God has said everything in his Word There will be no further Revelation ARTICLE 2: THE TRANSMISSION OF DIVINE REVELATION I. THE APOSTOLIC TRADITION In the apostolic preaching. . . . . . continued in apostolic succession II. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADITION AND SACRED SCRIPTURE One common source. . . . . . two distinct modes of transmission Apostolic Tradition and ecclesial traditions III. THE INTERPRETATION OF THE HERITAGE OF FAITH The heritage of faith entrusted to the whole of the Church The Magisterium of the Church The dogmas of the faith The supernatural sense of faith Growth in understanding the faith 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 The senses of Scripture IV. THE CANON OF SCRIPTURE The Old Testament The New Testament The unity of the Old and New Testaments V. SACRED SCRIPTURE IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH CHAPTER THREE: MAN'S RESPONSE TO GOD ARTICLE 1: I BELIEVE I. THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH Abraham - "father of all who believe" Mary - "Blessed is she who believed" II. "I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED"¹⁶ To believe in God alone To believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God To believe in the Holy Spirit III. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FAITH Faith is a grace Faith is a human act Faith and understanding The freedom of faith The necessity of faith Perseverance in faith Faith - the beginning of eternal life ARTICLE 2: WE BELIEVE I. "LORD, LOOK UPON THE FAITH OF YOUR CHURCH" II. THE LANGUAGE OF FAITH III. ONLY ONE FAITH SECTION TWO: THE PROFESSION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH THE CREEDS Among all the creeds, two occupy a special place in the Church's life: 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 I. "I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD" II. GOD REVEALS HIS NAME The living God "I Am who I Am" "A God merciful and gracious" God alone IS III. GOD, "HE WHO IS", IS TRUTH AND LOVE God is Truth God is Love IV. THE IMPLICATIONS OF FAITH IN ONE GOD Paragraph 2. The Father I. "IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT" II. THE REVELATION OF GOD AS TRINITY The Father revealed by the Son The Father and the son revealed by the spirit III. THE HOLY TRINITY IN THE TEACHING OF THE FAITH The formation of the Trinitarian dogma The dogma of the Holy Trinity IV. THE DIVINE WORKS AND THE TRINITARIAN MISSIONS Paragraph 3. The Almighty "He does whatever he pleases"¹⁰⁴ "You are merciful to all, for you can do all thing"¹⁰⁸ The mystery of God's apparent powerlessness Paragraph 4. The Creator I. CATECHESIS ON CREATION II. CREATION - WORK OF THE HOLY TRINITY III. "THE WORLD WAS CREATED FOR THE GLORY OF GOD" IV. THE MYSTERY OF CREATION God creates by wisdom and love God creates "out of nothing" God creates an ordered and good world God transcends creation and is present to it God upholds and sustains creation V. GOD CARRIES OUT HIS PLAN: DIVINE PROVIDENCE Providence and secondary causes Providence and the scandal of evil Paragraph 5. Heaven and Earth I. THE ANGELS The existence of angels - a truth of faith Who are they? Christ "with all his angels" The angels in the life of the Church II. THE VISIBLE WORLD Paragraph 6. Man I. "IN THE IMAGE OF GOD" II. "BODY AND SOUL BUT TRULY ONE" III. "MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM" Equality and difference willed by God "Each for the other" - "A unity in two" IV. MAN IN PARADISE Paragraph 7. The Fall I. WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE ABOUNDED ALL THE MORE The reality of sin Original sin - an essential truth of the faith How to read the account of the fall II. THE FALL OF THE ANGELS III. ORIGINAL SIN Freedom put to the test Man's first sin The consequences of Adam's sin for humanity A hard battle. . . IV. "YOU DID NOT ABANDON HIM TO THE POWER OF DEATH" CHAPTER TWO: I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY SON OF GOD The Good News: God has sent his Son "To preach. . . the unsearchable riches of Christ"¹⁰ At the heart of catechesis: Christ ARTICLE 2: "AND IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD" I. JESUS II. CHRIST III. THE ONLY SON OF GOD IV. LORD 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 I. WHY DID THE WORD BECOME FLESH? II. THE INCARNATION III. TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN IV. HOW IS THE SON OF GOD MAN? Christ's soul and his human knowledge Christ's human will Christ's true body The heart of the Incarnate Word Paragraph 2. "Conceived by the Power of the Holy Spirit and Born of the Virgin Mary" I. CONCEIVED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. . . II....BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY Mary's predestination The Immaculate Conception "Let it be done to me according to your word. . ." Mary's divine motherhood Mary's virginity Mary-"ever-virgin" Mary's virginal motherhood in God's plan Paragraph 3. The Mysteries of Christ's Life I. CHRIST'S WHOLE LIFE IS MYSTERY Characteristics common to Jesus' mysteries Our communion in the mysteries of Jesus II. THE MYSTERIES OF JESUS' INFANCY AND HIDDEN LIFE The preparations The Christmas mystery The mysteries of Jesus' infancy The mysteries of Jesus' hidden life III. THE MYSTERIES OF JESUS' PUBLIC LIFE The baptism of Jesus Jesus' temptations "The kingdom of God is at hand" The proclamation of the kingdom of God The signs of the kingdom of God "The keys of the kingdom" A foretaste of the kingdom: the Transfiguration Jesus' ascent to Jerusalem Jesus' messianic entrance into Jerusalem ARTICLE 4: "JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED AND WAS BURIED" Paragraph 1. Jesus and Israel I. JESUS AND THE LAW II. JESUS AND THE TEMPLE III. JESUS AND ISRAEL'S FAITH IN THE ONE GOD AND SAVIOUR Paragraph 2. Jesus Died Crucified I. THE TRIAL OF JESUS Divisions among the Jewish authorities concerning Jesus Jews are not collectively responsible for Jesus' death All sinners were the authors of Christ's Passion II. CHRIST'S REDEMPTIVE DEATH IN GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION "Jesus handed over according to the definite plan of God" "He died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures" "For our sake God made him to be sin" God takes the initiative of universal redeeming love III. CHRIST OFFERED HIMSELF TO HIS FATHER FOR OUR SINS Christ's whole life is an offering to the Father "The Lamb who takes away the sin of the world" Jesus freely embraced the Father's redeeming love At the Last Supper Jesus anticipated the free offering of his life The agony at Gethsemani Christ's death is the unique and definitive sacrifice Jesus substitutes his obedience for our disobedience Jesus consummates his sacrifice on the cross Our participation in Christ's sacrifice Paragraph 3. Jesus Christ was Buried Christ in the tomb in his body "You will not let your Holy One see corruption" "Buried with Christ. . ." 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 I. THE HISTORICAL AND TRANSCENDENT EVENT The empty tomb The appearances of the Risen One The condition of Christ's risen humanity The Resurrection as transcendent event II. THE RESURRECTION - A WORK OF THE HOLY TRINITY III. THE MEANING AND SAVING SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESURRECTION ARTICLE 6: "HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER" ARTICLE 7: "FROM THENCE HE WILL COME AGAlN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD" I. HE WILL COME AGAIN IN GLORY Christ already reigns through the Church. . . . . . until all things are subjected to him The glorious advent of Christ, the hope of Israel The Church's ultimate trial II. TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD 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 THE NAME, TITLES, AND SYMBOLS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The proper name of the Holy Spirit Titles of the Holy Spirit Symbols of the Holy Spirit III. GOD'S SPIRIT AND WORD IN THE TIME OF THE PROMISES In creation The Spirit of the promise In Theophanies and the Law In the Kingdom and the Exile Expectation of the Messiah and his Spirit IV. THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME John, precursor, prophet, and baptist "Rejoice, you who are full of grace" Christ Jesus V. THE SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH IN THE LAST DAYS Pentecost The Holy Spirit - God's gift The Holy Spirit and the Church ARTICLE 9: "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH" Paragraph 1. The Church in God's Plan I. NAMES AND IMAGES OF THE CHURCH Symbols of the Church II. THE CHURCH'S ORIGIN, FOUNDATION AND MISSION A plan born in the Father's heart The Church- foreshadowed from the world's beginning The Church - prepared for in the Old Covenant The Church - instituted by Christ Jesus The Church - revealed by the Holy Spirit The Church - perfected in glory III. THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH The Church - both visible and spiritual The Church - mystery of men's union with God The universal Sacrament of Salvation Paragraph 2. The Church - People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy Spirit I. THE CHURCH - PEOPLE OF GOD Characteristics of the People of Got A priestly, prophetic, and royal people II. THE CHURCH-BODY OF CHRIST The Church is communion with Jesus "One Body" "Christ is the Head of this Body" The Church is the Bride of Christ III. THE CHURCH IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Charisms Paragraph 3. The Church Isa One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic I. THE CHURCH IS ONE "The sacred mystery of the Church's unity" (UR 2) Wounds to unity Toward unity II. THE CHURCH IS HOLY III. THE CHURCH IS CATHOLIC What does "catholic" mean? Each particular Church is "catholic" Who belongs to the Catholic Church? The Church and non-Christians "Outside the Church there is no salvation" Mission - a requirement of the Church's catholicity IV. THE CHURCH IS APOSTOLIC The Apostles' mission The bishops - successors of the apostles The apostolate Paragraph 4. Christ's Faithful - Hierarchy, Laity, Consecrated Life I. THE HIERARCHICAL CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH Why the ecclesial ministry? The episcopal college and its head, the Pope The teaching office The sanctifying office The governing office II. THE LAY FAITHFUL The vocation of lay people The participation of lay people in Christ's priestly office Participation in Christ's prophetic office Participation in Christ's kingly office III. THE CONSECRATED LIFE Evangelical counsels, consecrated life One great tree, with many branches The eremitic life Consecrated virgins and widows Religious life Secular institutes Societies of apostolic life Consecration and mission: proclaiming the King who is corning Paragraph 5. The Communion of Saints I. COMMUNION IN SPIRITUAL GOODS II. THE COMMUNION OF THE CHURCH OF HEAVEN AND EARTH Paragraph 6. Mary - Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church I. MARY'S MOTHERHOOD WITH REGARD TO THE CHURCH Wholly united with her Son . . . . . . also in her Assumption . . . she is our Mother in the order of grace II. DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN III. MARY-ESCHATOLOGICAL ICON 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 The progressive revelation of the Resurrection How do the dead rise? Risen with Christ II. DYING IN CHRIST JESUS Death The meaning of Christian death 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. THE HOPE OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH "AMEN"