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Essential Catholic Beliefs, Doctrines, Ideas, Practices,and CustomsAn Outline of Basic Catholic Beliefs

This section (in alphabetical order) contains a concise overview of major, essentialCatholic beliefs. Not every essential belief is included. For a more in-depth look atdifferent Catholic beliefs and concepts, please click the links provided in the text below and near the bottom of this page. Also, check out our Catholic Essays andArticles, for information on more specific topics. For even more information, pleaseconsult theCatechism of the Catholic Church.

Authority: The Bible, Tradition, Etc

Catholics have various sources of authority: The Bible,Tradition,the Creeds, the Bishops, and the Pope, among others. Ultimately, Christ is our authority, but thisauthority has been passed from Christ to His Apostles. The Bible and Tradition comefrom the same Apostolic Deposit, and we do not pit them against each other. Thus theChurch understands that the Bible must be interpreted, and the Church does so usingthe Tradition of the Apostles. The Catholic Church (and the Orthodox Church) hasretained this Apostolic authority through Apostolic Succession, which is the passingdown of authority from the apostles to their successors. The pope, or bishop of Rome,has a first place among the successors to the apostles as the successor to Peter, the"Rock," and prince of the apostles, and in certain rare occasions can speak infallibly on behalf of the Church. However, this does not mean everything the pope says is error free, or that the pope is sinless. While Catholics (and the Orthodox, many Anglicans,and the early Church) do not embrace

sola scriptura

, the 16th century belief that theBible alone is our final authority, Catholics hold the Bible in high regard as the wordof God and cannot teach contrary to the Bible's Teachings. For information aboutinterpreting the Bible, please see There is no Plain Meaning of Scripture.

The Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic

TheCatholic Church is the Church that Jesus Christ established. Thus the Church subsists in the Catholic Church. However, other Christians are also in communionwith the Catholic Church by virtue of their sacraments. The Orthodox Churches possess fully valid sacraments, and are true particular Churches, whereas ProtestantChristians are in communion with the Catholic Church on account of their baptism;still, this communion is impaired. The Church in one, because it is unified in Christacross regions and time periods. The Church is Holy on account of the grace of Christgiven to it and the holy sacraments it provides. The Church is Catholic because itcontains the fullness of the Apostolic Deposit of Faith, thus is it truly "according to thewhole" and "universal." Finally, the Church is Apostolic because its Teachings andAuthority come from the Apostles themselves.

Creation

Catholics believe that creation is good, that God uses it for His purposes, but that it ismarred by Original Sin, the result of the sin of the first human beings. Catholictheologians (and Orthodox ones as well) have never agreed on one particular interpretation of the creation stories in the Book of Genesis. A few early Christians

read them literally, others allegorically, and others in light of the science of the day.Some read them all three ways at the same time. All three ways were seen asacceptable, so long as Christ was at the center of creation. So Catholics are free tounderstand Genesis completely literally, but also to read Genesis in light of modernscience, so long as certain conditions are met; reading Genesis in light of modernscience doesn't mean that one is free to read Genesis without God, Jesus, and so forth.This view may some evangelical Christians whose churches were founded during themodernist controversies of the 19th and 20th centuries. Surprisingly, insisting on anentirely literal understanding of Genesis is actually a quite modern concept.

God: The Trinity

Catholics believe in the Nicene Creed, and therefore believe in one God who exists as three persons ("person" in this usage means "an individual reality," not a human being). Essentially Catholics believe the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are allGod, one in substance and will, but distinct in some way, but not divided. In additionto an intellectual understanding of the Trinity, we are to develop a relationship withthe Triune God through prayer and worship. The Trinity is not tritheism (the belief inthree gods), but rather a dynamic monotheism.

Jesus Christ: God and Man

Catholics believe Jesusis fully God and fully Man, with a human will and a divine will. He is the King of Cosmos, the Word of God, and the awaited Messiah of Israel.He was born of a Virgin, Mary, suffered, was crucified, truly died, and rose again

Our Basic Catholic Pages

Catholic Practices, Duties, and Common Lists

You have asked for it, so we have delivered it: all the common Catholic lists and practices in one place. The Seven Deadly Sins, The Cardinal and Theological Virtues,The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, the Duties of a Catholic, and more! Weare always saying, "now what is that 4th corporal work of mercy again?" or "I can'tremember the last deadly sin!" Now you don't have to sweat it.

Reconciliation: The Sacrament of Conversion

Reconciliation (commonly called "confession") is one of the most meaningfulsacraments of the Catholic Church, yet one of the most misunderstood and under-appreciated. Jonathan explains the history of the sacrament, the guidelines governingits use, as well including personal reflections, a helpful FAQ, and reading list.

We Believe in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church

Being a part of the Catholic Church means being a part of the worldwide, universaland historical Church. To find the fullness of the Christian faith, choosing the catholicFaith is really the only option. In a postmodern era of relativity and accommodation tosecular culture by many churches, the timeless faith has a powerful pull.

The Resurrection Of Jesus: A Catholic View

This is a primer on the resurrection of Jesus. This article explains the historical beliefsabout the resurrection. Jonathan Bennett tackles many issues, including why it isessential that Christians believe in the bodily resurrection, the meaning of theresurrection, and some proofs of the resurrection's veracity.

Who is Jesus?: The Catholic Understanding of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ, his person and his actions, is the basis of the Christian faith. A lot has been written and said about Jesus lately. In this article, we provide a Catholic pictureof who Jesus is. This article emphasizes the importance of

knowing

Jesus when tryingto understand who he is. This is not a comprehensive treatment of the issue, but hey,this section is called the "Basics!"

Creeds: Why do We Need a Creed?

We all have beliefs, i.e. creeds, and so does the Church. If we go without creeds, wego without belief.

The Nicene Creed: Ancient Symbol of the Catholic Faith

The Nicene Creed is the unifying symbol of the historical Christian faith that, amongother beliefs, provides guidelines for the Trinity, Jesus' divinity, and the creation of the world by one God.

Sacraments: Meet God Through Our Own World

Bread, Wine, Oil, and Water...God uses them all. God could be more esoteric, but Heknows that we live in the physical world.

We Believe in the Virgin Birth

The virgin birth, that is the belief that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary without a human father, is part of classical Christian doctrine.While we can never fully explain the miracle of Mary's virginity, we do our best here.