CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

CONTENTS

APOSTOLIC LETTER LAETAMUR MAGNOPERE IN WHICH THE LATIN TYPICAL EDITION OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS APPROVED AND PROMULGATED

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APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION FIDEI DEPOSITUM ON THE  PUBLICATION OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH PREPARED FOLLOWING THE SECOND VATICAN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

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PROLOGUE

• I. The Life of Man – To Know and Love God
• II. Handing on the Faith: Catechesis
• III. The Aim and Intended Readership of This 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. 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 Chart

SECTION TWO: THE PROFESSION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

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

• I. “I Believe in One God”
• II. God Reveals His Name
• III. God, “He Who Is,” Is Truth and Love
• IV. The Implications of Faith in One God
  • IN BRIEF

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
• III. The Holy Trinity in the Teaching of the Faith
• IV. The Divine Works and the Trinitarian Missions
  • IN BRIEF

Paragraph 3. The Almighty

• • IN BRIEF

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
• V. God Carries Out His Plan: Divine Providence
  • IN BRIEF

Paragraph 5. Heaven and Earth

• I. The Angels
• II. The Visible World
  • IN BRIEF

Paragraph 6. Man

• I. “In the Image of God”
• II. “Body and Soul but Truly One”
• III. “Male and Female He Created Them”
• IV. Man in Paradise
  • IN BRIEF

Paragraph 7. The Fall

• I. Where Sin Abounded, Grace Abounded All the More
• II. The Fall of the Angels
• III. Original Sin
• IV. “You Did Not Abandon Him to the Power of Death”
  • IN BRIEF

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

• I. Why Did the Word Become Flesh?
• II. The Incarnation
• III. True God and True Man
• IV. How Is the Son of God Man?
  • IN BRIEF

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
  • IN BRIEF

Paragraph 3. “The Mysteries of Christ’s Life”

• I. Christ’s Whole Life Is Mystery
• II. The Mysteries of Jesus’ Infancy and Hidden Life
• III. The Mysteries of Jesus’ Public Life
  • IN BRIEF

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 Savior
  • IN BRIEF

Paragraph 2. Jesus Died Crucified

• I. The Trial of Jesus
• II. Christ’s Redemptive Death in God’s Plan of Salvation
• III. Christ Offered Himself to his Father for Our Sins
  • IN BRIEF

Paragraph 3. Jesus Christ Was Buried

• • IN BRIEF

ARTICLE 5: “HE DESCENDED INTO HELL ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN”

Paragraph 1. Christ Descended into Hell

• • IN BRIEF

Paragraph 2. On the Third Day He Rose from the Dead

• I. The Historical and Transcendent Event
• II. The Resurrection – A Work of the Holy Trinity
• III. The Meaning and Saving Significance of the Resurrection
  • IN BRIEF

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 AGAIN” 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 Names, 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

• I. Names and Images of the Church
• II. The Church’s Origin, Foundation, and Mission
• III. The Mystery of the Church
  • IN BRIEF

Paragraph 2. The Church – People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy Spirit

• I. The Church – People of God
• II. The Church – Body of Christ
• III. The Church is the Temple of the Holy Spirit
  • IN BRIEF

Paragraph 3. The Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic

• I. The Church Is One
• II. The Church Is Holy
• III. The Church Is Catholic
• IV. The Church Is Apostolic
  • IN BRIEF

Paragraph 4. Christ’s Faithful – Hierarchy, Laity, Consecrated Life

• I. The Hierarchical Constitution of the Church
• II. The Lay Faithful
• III. The Consecrated Life
  • IN BRIEF

Paragraph 5. The Communion of Saints

• I. Communion in Spiritual Goods
• II. The Communion of the Church of Heaven and Earth
  • IN BRIEF

Paragraph 6. Mary – Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church

• I. Mary’s Motherhood with Regard to the Church
• II. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin
• III. Mary – Eschatological Icon of the Church
  • IN BRIEF

ARTICLE 10: “I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS”

• I. One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins
• II. The Power of the Keys
  • IN BRIEF

ARTICLE 11: “I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY”

• I. Christ’s Resurrection and Ours
• II. Dying in Jesus Christ
  • 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. The Hope of the New Heaven and the New Earth
  • IN BRIEF
  • “Amen”

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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

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 the 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 the 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 Pascal 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. It’s Foundation 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

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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 COMMUNITY

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
  • THE TEN COMMANDMENTS CHART

SECTION TWO: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

• • IN BRIEF

CHAPTER ONE: “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOU 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 and the Kingdom
• 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

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PART FOUR – CHRISTIAN PRAYER

SECTION ONE: PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

WHAT IS PRAYER?

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

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. Persevering in Love

ARTICLE 3: THE PRAYER OF THE HOUR OF JESUS

• • IN BRIEF

SECTION TWO: THE LORD’S PRAYER: “OUR FATHER!”

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. “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. “The 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”
• VII. “But Deliver Us From Evil”

ARTICLE 4: THE FINAL DOXOLOGY

• • IN BRIEF

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• ABBREVIATIONS
• INDEX

My Source –  vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/ccc_toc.htm