Rachel Evans
Catholicism is a Christian religion that follows the teachings of its founder, Jesus Christ, who is believed to be the messiah or the Son of God. The Catholic Church is the largest Christian church, with 1.4 billion followers worldwide, and is led by the Pope, who resides in Vatican City. The Catholic faith is expressed in the Nicene Creed, which states the belief in one God, the Father almighty, and his Son, Jesus Christ, who was sent to Earth to redeem those who sin. Catholics believe in the Holy Trinity, which comprises God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Catholic Church also believes in the Bible as the inspired, error-free, and revealed word of God, as well as in the importance of tradition, which includes the teachings and writings of Christ's apostles, passed down through generations of bishops.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Belief in the Holy Spirit | The Lord, giver of life, proceeding from the Father and the Son |
| Belief in the Church | One, holy, catholic, and apostolic |
| Belief in God | One supreme being, with three aspects: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit |
| Belief in the Bible | Inspired by God, written without error, and containing sacred literature |
| Belief in the Eucharist | The real presence of Jesus Christ in the form of bread and wine |
| Belief in Mary | Mother of God, mother of Jesus, and the greatest among saints |
| Belief in the Apostles | The original 12 disciples of Christ, led by Peter |
| Belief in the Pope | The successor of Saint Peter, and leader of the Church |
| Belief in Sacraments | Seven sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ, including Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation |
| Belief in Confession | A sacrament of healing, where sins are confessed and forgiven |
| Belief in Canonization | A process of declaring individuals as saints, based on holiness of life |
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What You'll Learn
The Nicene Creed
The Creed also includes a profession of faith in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and the giver of life. It affirms the belief in one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church and the forgiveness of sins through Baptism. It concludes with an expectation of the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
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The Bible is the inspired word of God
The Catholic Church holds the Bible as the inspired word of God. This belief is based on the understanding that the Bible is God's self-revelation, inspired and written without error. The Scriptures are believed to be sacred literature, with God revealing Himself through the Patriarchs and Prophets in the Old Testament and through Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
The Catholic view of biblical inspiration is deeply rooted in the belief in the historical authenticity of an infallible Church, and Jesus' grant of teaching authority to that church through his Apostles. The Catholic Church designated the biblical canon, and its authority to identify the inspired books is accepted. This belief has been preserved through the centuries in the Church's monasteries and libraries.
The term "inspiration" in the context of the Scriptures means "God-breathed" or divine influence. It refers to the belief that God divinely influenced the human authors of the Scriptures so that what they wrote was the very Word of God. This is supported by verses such as 2 Timothy 3:16, which states, "All Scripture is inspired by God [theopneustos] and is useful for teaching", and 2 Peter 1:21, which indicates that God divinely inspired the very words written by men with their distinctive personalities and writing styles.
The belief in the Bible as the inspired word of God leads to the conclusion that the Scriptures are also inerrant and authoritative. This is because God, being all-powerful, all-knowing, and completely perfect, would naturally impart these characteristics to His Word. Thus, the Bible is considered the final authority for moral, spiritual, and even civil matters.
The Catholic Mass is a Eucharistic celebration and a celebration of God’s word in Scriptures. It is through the Mass and other traditions that the living transmission of the Word of God, or "tradition", is passed on. This tradition, along with Scripture, comprises the deposit of the Word of God and infuses the entire life of the Church.
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The Holy Trinity
The Father is described as God, the Son as begotten of the Father, and the Holy Spirit as proceeding from the Father and the Son. This procession of the Holy Spirit is referred to as "spiration," derived from the Latin word for "spirit" or "breath." It is not a generative process but rather an act of love between the Father and the Son, so perfect and infinite that it becomes a "He" in the third person of the Trinity.
The distinction between the three persons lies in their relations: the Father is unbegotten, the Son is begotten of the Father, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son. Despite their apparent difference in origin, all three persons are eternal and omnipotent. This belief in the Holy Trinity is considered by Catholics to be a revelation of God's nature, delivered to the world by Jesus Christ.
The concept of the Holy Trinity is expressed in the Nicene Creed, a central statement of belief in Catholic and many other Christian churches: "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible." It is also reflected in the Athanasian Creed: "the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God."
The Fathers of the Church, as described in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, distinguish between "theology" and "economy." "Theology" refers to the mystery of God's inner life within the Trinity, while "economy" encompasses all the works by which God reveals himself and communicates his life. Through God's works and actions, we gain insight into his nature and mystery, just as we come to know a person through their actions.
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The Virgin Mary
Mary is also believed to have remained a virgin throughout her life, including during the birth of Jesus. This belief was settled by the Second Council of Constantinople in 553, which bestowed upon Mary the title of Aeiparthenos, or Perpetual Virgin. This belief was held by many of the early Church Fathers, including Origen, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, Athanasius, Jerome, and Augustine.
Mary's status as the Mother of God is another key aspect of Catholic belief. This is based on the understanding that Jesus Christ, her son, is God. As such, Mary is seen as the New Eve, with a singular dignity above the saints. Catholics venerate Mary with great reverence and devotion because of her role as the Mother of God.
The Assumption of Mary is another important belief in Catholicism. This states that at the end of her earthly life, Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven. This belief was dogmatized by Pope Pius XII in 1950, although accounts of the bodily assumption of Mary have circulated since at least the 5th century.
The study of Mary and her relation to Jesus Christ is known as Mariology, and it plays a significant role in Catholic theology. Pope John Paul II emphasized the importance of studying Mary as a path to gaining a better understanding of Christ. While some other Christian denominations view Catholic Mariology as unbiblical, it is deeply rooted in Catholic tradition and theology.
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The Last Supper
During the Last Supper, Jesus predicts his betrayal and establishes a special priesthood for his disciples, distinct from the "priesthood of all believers." He also washes their feet, setting an example of service and humility. This foot-washing ritual is reenacted during Mass, with the priest washing the feet of parishioners.
The meal itself included a Passover feast with bread and wine. Jesus blesses and breaks the bread, offering it to his disciples with the words, "This is my body," followed by "which is given for you." He then passes the cup filled with wine, saying, "This is my blood." These actions are believed to have instituted the Holy Eucharist, or Communion, where Catholics partake of the bread and wine as a sacred meal, remembering Christ's sacrifice and his presence with them.
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Frequently asked questions
The core beliefs of the Catholic faith are found in the Nicene Creed, which is common to the Christian churches of the East and West. The creed is recited at Sunday Masses and is a concise doctrinal statement of religious beliefs. The creed begins: "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible."
Catholics believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. They believe that the Bible is a collection of canonical books in two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The Catholic Mass is a Eucharistic celebration and a celebration of God's word in Scriptures. The Mass involves scripture readings and, at times, a homily. The Mass is believed to transcend time and unite the participants with those in the heavenly kingdom.
Belief, in the Catholic context, refers to a state of mind that assents to propositions, not because of their intrinsic evidence but because of authority. Belief is often used interchangeably with faith, especially in Protestant theology.
