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CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CATECHI SM OF THE CATHOLI C CHURCH
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROLOGUEI . The l i f e of man - t o know and l ove GodI I . Handi ng on t he Fai t h: Cat echesi sI I I .
The Ai m and I nt ended Reader shi p of t he Cat echi smI V. St r uct ur e of t hi s Cat echi smV.
Pr act i cal Di r ect i ons f or Usi ng t hi s Cat echi smVI . Necessar y Adapt at i ons
PART ONE: THE PROFESSI ON OF FAI THSECTI ON ONE "I BELI EVE" - "WE
BELI EVE"CHAPTER ONE MAN' S CAPACI TY FOR GODI . The Desi r e f or GodI I . Ways of
Comi ng t o Know GodI I I . The Knowl edge of God Accor di ng t o t he Chur chI V. How Can We
Speak about God?I N BRI EF
CHAPTER TWO GOD COMES TO MEET MANAr t i cl e 1 THE REVELATI ON OF GODI . God
Reveal s Hi s "Pl an of Lovi ng Goodness"I I . The St ages of Revel at i onI I I . Chr i st Jesus - -
"Medi at or and Ful l ness of Al l Revel at i on"I N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 2 THE TRANSMI SSI ON OF DI VI NE REVELATI ONI . The Apost ol i c Tr adi t i onI I . The
Rel at i onshi p Bet ween Tr adi t i on and Sacr ed Scr i pt ur eI I I . The I nt er pr et at i on of t he Her i t age
of Fai t hI N BRI EF
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Ar t i cl e 3 SACRED SCRI PTUREI . Chr i st - The Uni que Wor d of Sacr ed Scr i pt ur eI I .
I nspi r at i on and Tr ut h of Sacr ed Scr i pt ur eI I I . The Hol y Spi r i t , I nt er pr et er of Scr i pt ur eI V. The
Canon of Scr i pt ur eV. Sacr ed Scr i pt ur e i n t he Li f e of t he Chur chI N BRI EF
CHAPTER THREE MAN' S RESPONSE TO GODAr t i cl e 1 I BELI EVEI . The Obedi ence of
Fai t hI I . "I Know Whom I Have Bel i eved"I I I . The Char act er i st i cs of Fai t h
Ar t i cl e 2 WE BELI EVEI . "Lor d, Look Upon t he Fai t h of Your Chur ch"I I . The Language of
Fai t hI I I . Onl y One Fai t hI N BRI EFThe Cr edo
SECTI ON TWO I . THE CREEDSCHAPTER ONE I BELI EVE I N GOD THE FATHERAr t i cl e
1 "I BELI EVE I N GOD THE FATHER ALMI GHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND
EARTH"Par agr aph 1. I BELI EVE I N GODPar agr aph 2. THE FATHERPar agr aph 3. THE
ALMI GHTYPar agr aph 4. THE CREATORPar agr aph 5. HEAVEN AND EARTHPar agr aph 6.
MANPar agr aph 7. THE FALL
CHAPTER TWO I BELI EVE I N JESUS CHRI ST, THE ONLY SON OF GODARTI CLE 2 "AND
I N JESUS CHRI ST, HI S ONLY SON, OUR LORD"I . JesusI I . Chr i st I I I . The Onl y Son of
GodI V. Lor dI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 3 "HE WAS CONCEI VED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPI RI T, AND WAS
BORN OF THE VI RGI N MARY"Par agr aph 1. THE SON OF GOD BECAME MANPar agr aph
2. "CONCEI VED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPI RI T AND BORN OF THE VI RGI N
MARY"Par agr aph 3. THE MYSTERI ES OF CHRI ST' S LI FE
Ar t i cl e 4 "JESUS CHRI ST SUFFERED UNDER PONTI US PI LATE, WAS CRUCI FI ED,
DI ED AND WAS BURI ED"Par agr aph 1. JESUS AND I SRAELPar agr aph 2. JESUS DI ED
CRUCI FI EDPar agr aph 3. JESUS CHRI ST WAS BURI ED
Ar t i cl e 5 "HE DESCENDED I NTO HELL. ON THE THI RD DAY HE ROSE AGAI N"Par agr aph
1. CHRI ST DESCENDED I NTO HELLPar agr aph 2. ON THE THI RD DAY HE ROSE FROM
THE DEAD
Ar t i cl e 6 "HE ASCENDED I NTO HEAVEN AND I S SEATED AT THE RI GHT HAND OF THE
FATHER"I N BRI EF
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Ar t i cl e 7 "FROM THENCE HE WI LL COME AGAl N TO JUDGE THE LI VI NG AND THE
DEAD"I . He Wi l l Come Agai n i n Gl or yI I . To Judge t he Li vi ng and t he DeadI N BRI EF
CHAPTER THREE I BELI EVE I N THE HOLY SPI RI TARTI CLE 8 "I BELI EVE I N THE HOLY
SPI RI T"I . The Joi nt Mi ssi on of t he Son and t he Spi r i t I I . The Name, Ti t l es, and Symbol s of
t he Hol y Spi r i t I I I . God' s Spi r i t and Wor d i n t he Ti me of t he Pr omi sesI V. The Spi r i t of Chr i st
i n t he Ful l ness of Ti meV. The Spi r i t and t he Chur ch I n t he Last DaysI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 9 "I BELI EVE I N THE HOLY CATHOLI C CHURCH"Par agr aph 1. THE CHURCH I N
GOD' S PLANPar agr aph 2. THE CHURCH - PEOPLE OF GOD, BODY OF CHRI ST, TEMPLE
OF THE HOLY SPI RI TPar agr aph 3. THE CHURCH I S ONE, HOLY, CATHOLI C, AND
APOSTOLI CPar agr aph 4. CHRI ST' S FAI THFUL - HI ERARCHY, LAI TY, CONSECRATED
LI FEPar agr aph 5. THE COMMUNI ON OF SAI NTSPar agr aph 6. MARY - MOTHER OF
CHRI ST, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH
Ar t i cl e 10 "I BELI EVE I N THE FORGI VENESS OF SI NS"I . One Bapt i sm f or t he For gi veness
of Si nsI I . The Power of t he Keys
Ar t i cl e 11 "I BELI EVE I N THE RESURRECTI ON OF THE BODY"I . Chr i st ' s Resur r ect i on and
Our sI I . Dyi ng i n Chr i st JesusI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 12 "I BELI EVE I N LI FE EVERLASTI NG"I . The Par t i cul ar Judgment I I . HeavenI I I . The
Fi nal Pur i f i cat i on, or Pur gat or yI V. Hel l V. The Last Judgment VI . Hope of t he New Heaven
and t he New Ear t hI N BRI EF"Amen"
PART TWO: THE CELEBRATI ON OF THE CHRI STI AN MYSTERYSECTI ON ONE THE
SACRAMENTAL ECONOMYCHAPTER ONE THE PASCHAL MYSTERY I N THE AGE OF THE
CHURCHAr t i cl e 1 THE LI TURGY - WORK OF THE HOLY TRI NI TYI . The Fat her - Sour ce and
Goal of t he Li t ur gyI I . Chr i st ' s Wor k i n t he Li t ur gyI I I . The Hol y Spi r i t and t he Chur ch i n t he
Li t ur gyI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 2 THE PASCHAL MYSTERY I N THE CHURCH' S SACRAMENTSI . The Sacr ament s
of Chr i st I I . The Sacr ament s of t he Chur chI I I . The Sacr ament s of Fai t hI V. The Sacr ament s
of Sal vat i onV. The Sacr ament s of Et er nal Li f eI N BRI EF
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CHAPTER TWO THE SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATI ON OF THE PASCHAL MYSTERYAr t i cl e
1 CELEBRATI NG THE CHURCH' S LI TURGYI . Who Cel ebr at es?I I . How i s t he Li t ur gy
Cel ebr at ed?I I I . When i s t he Li t ur gy Cel ebr at ed?I V. Wher e i s t he Li t ur gy Cel ebr at ed?I N
BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 2 LI TURGI CAL DI VERSI TY AND THE UNI TY OF THE MYSTERYI N BRI EF
SECTI ON TWO THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCHCHAPTER ONE THE
SACRAMENTS OF CHRI STI AN I NI TI ATI ONAr t i cl e 1 THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTI SMI .
What i s Thi s Sacr ament Cal l ed?I I . Bapt i sm i n t he Economy of Sal vat i onI I I . How i s t he
Sacr ament of Bapt i sm Cel ebr at ed?I V. Who can Recei ve Bapt i sm?V. Who can Bapt i ze?VI .
The Necessi t y of Bapt i smVI I . The Gr ace of Bapt i smI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 2 THE SACRAMENT OF CONFI RMATI ONI . Conf i r mat i on i n t he Economy of
Sal vat i onI I . The Si gns and t he Ri t e of Conf i r mat i onI I I . The Ef f ect s of Conf i r mat i onI V. Who
can Recei ve Thi s Sacr ament ?V. The Mi ni st er of Conf i r mat i onI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 3 THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARI STI . The Euchar i st - Sour ce and Summi t
of Eccl esi al Li f eI I . What i s Thi s Sacr ament Cal l ed?I I I . The Euchar i st i n t he Economy
of Sal vat i onI V. The Li t ur gi cal Cel ebr at i on of t he Euchar i st V. The Sacr ament al Sacr i f i ce
Thanksgi vi ng, Memor i al , Pr esenceVI . The Paschal Banquet VI I . The Euchar i st - "Pl edge of
t he Gl or y To Come"I N BRI EF
CHAPTER TWO THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALI NGAr t i cl e 4 THE SACRAMENT OF
PENANCE AND RECONCI LI ATI ONI . What i s Thi s Sacr ament Cal l ed?I I . Why a Sacr ament
of Reconci l i at i on af t er Bapt i sm?I I I . The Conver si on of t he Bapt i zedI V. I nt er i or PenanceV.
The Many For ms of Penance i n Chr i st i an Li f eVI . The Sacr ament of Penance and
Reconci l i at i onVI I . The Act s of t he Peni t ent VI I I . The Mi ni st er of Thi s Sacr ament I X.
The Ef f ect s of Thi s Sacr ament X. I ndul gencesXI . The Cel ebr at i on of t he Sacr ament of
PenanceI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 5 THE ANOI NTI NG OF THE SI CKI . I t s Foundat i ons i n t he Economy of Sal vat i onI I .
Who Recei ves and Who Admi ni st er s Thi s Sacr ament ?I I I . How i s Thi s Sacr ament
Cel ebr at ed?I V. The Ef f ect s of t he Cel ebr at i on of Thi s Sacr ament V. Vi at i cum, t he Last
Sacr ament of t he Chr i st i anI N BRI EF
CHAPTER THREE THE SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVI CE OF COMMUNI ONARTI CLE 6
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERSI . Why I s Thi s Sacr ament Cal l ed "Or der s"?I I . The
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Sacr ament of Hol y Or der s i n t he Economy of Sal vat i onI I I . The Thr ee Degr ees of t he
Sacr ament of Hol y Or der sI V. The Cel ebr at i on of Thi s Sacr ament V. Who Can Conf er Thi s
Sacr ament ?VI . Who Can Recei ve Thi s Sacr ament ?VI I . The Ef f ect s of t he Sacr ament of
Hol y Or der sI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 7 THE SACRAMENT OF MATRI MONYI . Mar r i age i n God' s Pl anI I . The Cel ebr at i on
of Mar r i ageI I I . Mat r i moni al Consent I V. The Ef f ect s of t he Sacr ament of Mat r i monyV. The
Goods and Requi r ement s of Conj ugal LoveVI . The Domest i c Chur chI N BRI EF
CHAPTER FOUR OTHER LI TURGI CAL CELEBRATI ONSAr t i cl e 1 SACRAMENTALSI N
BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 2 CHRI STI AN FUNERALSI . The Chr i st i an' s Last Passover I I . The Cel ebr at i on of
Funer al s
PART THREE: LI FE I N CHRI STSECTI ON ONE MAN' S VOCATI ON LI FE I N THE
SPI RI TCHAPTER ONE THE DI GNI TY OF THE HUMAN PERSONAr t i cl e 1 MAN: THE I MAGE
OF GODI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 2 OUR VOCATI ON TO BEATI TUDEI . The Beat i t udesI I . The Desi r e f or Happi nessI I I .
Chr i st i an Beat i t udeI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 3 MAN' S FREEDOMI . Fr eedom and Responsi bi l i t yI I . Human Fr eedom i n t he
Economy of Sal vat i onI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 4 THE MORALI TY OF HUMAN ACTSI . The Sour ces of Mor al i t yI I . Good Act s and
Evi l Act sI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 5 THE MORALI TY OF THE PASSI ONSI . Passi onsI I . Passi ons and Mor al Li f eI N
BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 6 MORAL CONSCI ENCEI . The Judgment of Consci enceI I . The For mat i on of
Consci enceI I I . To Choose i n Accor d Wi t h Consci enceI V. Er r oneous Judgment I N BRI EF
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Ar t i cl e 7 THE VI RTUESI . The Human Vi r t uesI I . The Theol ogi cal Vi r t uesI I I . The Gi f t s and
Fr ui t s of t he Hol y Spi r i t I N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 8 SI NI . Mer cy and Si nI I . The Def i ni t i on of Si nI I I . The Di f f er ent Ki nds of Si nsI V. The
Gr avi t y of Si n: Mor t al and Veni al Si nV. The Pr ol i f er at i on of Si nI N BRI EF
CHAPTER TWO THE HUMAN COMMUNI ONAr t i cl e 1 THE PERSON AND SOCI ETYI . The
Communal Char act er of t he Human Vocat i onI I . Conver si on and Soci et yI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 2 PARTI CI PATI ON I N SOCI AL LI FEI . Aut hor i t yI I . The Common GoodI I I .
Responsi bi l i t y and Par t i ci pat i onI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 3 SOCI AL JUSTI CEI . Respect For t he Human Per sonI I . Equal i t y and Di f f er ences
Among MenI I I . Human Sol i dar i t yI N BRI EF
CHAPTER THREE GOD' S SALVATI ON: LAW AND GRACEAr t i cl e 1 THE MORAL LAWI . The
Nat ur al Mor al LawI I . The Ol d LawI I I . The New Law or t he Law of t he Gospel I N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 2 GRACE AND JUSTI FI CATI ONI . Just i f i cat i onI I . Gr aceI I I . Mer i t I V. Chr i st i an
Hol i nessI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 3 THE CHURCH, MOTHER AND TEACHERI . Mor al Li f e and t he Magi st er i um of t he
Chur chI I . The Pr ecept s of t he Chur chI I I . Mor al Li f e and Mi ssi onar y Wi t nessI N BRI EF
SECTI ON TWO THE TEN COMMANDMENTSCHAPTER ONE YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD
YOUR GOD WI TH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WI TH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WI TH ALL YOUR
MI NDAr t i cl e 1 THE FI RST COMMANDMENTI . "You Shal l Wor shi p t he Lor d Your God and
Hi m Onl y Shal l You Ser ve"I I . "Hi m Onl y Shal l You Ser ve"I I I . "You Shal l Have No Ot her
Gods Bef or e Me"I V. "You Shal l Not Make For Your sel f a Gr aven I mage . . . "I N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 2 THE SECOND COMMANDMENTI . The Name of t he Lor d i s Hol yI I . Taki ng t he
Name of t he Lor d i n Vai nI I I . The Chr i st i an NameI N BRI EF
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Ar t i cl e 3 THE THI RD COMMANDMENTI . The Sabbat h DayI I . The Lor d' s DayI N BRI EF
CHAPTER TWO YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEI GHBOR AS YOURSELFARTI CLE 4 THE
FOURTH COMMANDMENTI . The Fami l y i n God' s Pl anI I . The Fami l y and Soci et yI I I . The
Dut i es of Fami l y Member sI V. The Fami l y and t he Ki ngdomV. The Aut hor i t i es I n Ci vi l
Soci et yI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 5 THE FI FTH COMMANDMENTI . Respect f or Human Li f eI I . Respect f or t he Di gni t y
of Per sonsI I I . Saf eguar di ng PeaceI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 6 THE SI XTH COMMANDMENTI . "Mal e and Femal e He Cr eat ed Them . . . "I I . The
Vocat i on t o Chast i t yI I I . The Love of Husband and Wi f eI V. Of f enses Agai nst t he Di gni t y of
Mar r i ageI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 7 THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENTI . The Uni ver sal Dest i nat i on and t he Pr i vat e
Owner shi p of GoodsI I . Respect f or Per sons and Thei r GoodsI I I . The Soci al Doct r i ne of t he
Chur chI V. Economi c Act i vi t y and Soci al Just i ceV. Just i ce and Sol i dar i t y Among Nat i onsVI .
Love For t he Poor I N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 8 THE EI GHTH COMMANDMENTI . Li vi ng i n t he Tr ut hI I . To Bear Wi t ness t o
t he Tr ut hI I I . Of f enses Agai nst Tr ut hI V. Respect f or t he Tr ut hV. The Use of t he Soci al
Communi cat i ons Medi aVI . Tr ut h, Beaut y, and Sacr ed Ar t I N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 9 THE NI NTH COMMANDMENTI . Pur i f i cat i on of t he Hear t I I . The Bat t l e f or Pur i t yI N
BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 10 THE TENTH COMMANDMENTI . The Di sor der of Covet ous Desi r esI I . The Desi r es
of t he Spi r i t I I I . Pover t y of Hear t I V. "I Want t o See God"I N BRI EF
PART FOUR: CHRI STI AN PRAYERSECTI ON ONE PRAYER I N THE CHRI STI AN
LI FECHAPTER ONE THE REVELATI ON OF PRAYER - THE UNI VERSAL CALL TO
PRAYERAr t i cl e 1 I N THE OLD TESTAMENTI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 2 I N THE FULLNESS OF TI MEI N BRI EF
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Ar t i cl e 3 I N THE AGE OF THE CHURCHI . Bl essi ng and Ador at i onI I . Pr ayer of Pet i t i onI I I .
Pr ayer of I nt er cessi onI V. Pr ayer of Thanksgi vi ngV. Pr ayer of Pr ai seI N BRI EF
CHAPTER TWO THE TRADI TI ON OF PRAYERAr t i cl e 1 AT THE WELLSPRI NGS OF
PRAYERI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 2 THE WAY OF PRAYERI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 3 GUI DES FOR PRAYERI N BRI EF
CHAPTER THREE THE LI FE OF PRAYERAr t i cl e 1 EXPRESSI ONS OF PRAYERI . Vocal
pr ayer I I . Medi t at i onI I I . Cont empl at i ve Pr ayer I N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 2 THE BATTLE OF PRAYERI . Obj ect i ons t o Pr ayer I I . Humbl e Vi gi l ance of Hear t I I I .
Fi l i al Tr ust I V. Per ser ver i ng i n Love
Ar t i cl e 3 THE PRAYER OF THE HOUR OF JESUSI N BRI EF
SECTI ON TWO THE LORD' S PRAYER Ar t i cl e 1 "THE SUMMARY OF THE WHOLE
GOSPEL"I . At t he Cent er of t he Scr i pt ur esI I . The Lor d' s Pr ayer I I I . The Pr ayer of t he
Chur chI N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 2 "OUR FATHER WHO ART I N HEAVEN"I . "We Dar e To Say"I I . Abba - "Fat her ! "I I I .
"Our " Fat her I V. "Who Ar t i n Heaven"I N BRI EF
Ar t i cl e 3 THE SEVEN PETI TI ONSI . "Hal l owed be Thy Name"I I . "Thy Ki ngdom Come"I I I .
"Thy Wi l l Be Done on Ear t h as I t i s i n Heaven"I V. "Gi ve Us Thi s Day Our Dai l y Br ead"V.
"And For gi ve Us Our Tr espasses, as We For gi ve Those Who Tr espass AGAI NST US"VI .
"And Lead Us not i nt o Tempt at i on"
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Ar t i cl e 4 THE FI NAL DOXOLOGYI N BRI EF