Joshua Bennett
To act as a Catholic, one must first become a Catholic. This involves a serious commitment to God and the local Catholic community, and it is a decision that should not be taken lightly. The process of joining the Catholic Church is called the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults. It involves receiving instruction in the faith, learning the teachings, beliefs, and practices of the Catholic Church, and participating in the local Catholic community by attending Mass and becoming involved in parish life. Catholics are required to live a Christian life, pray daily, participate in the sacraments, obey the moral law, and accept the teachings of the Church. They must also respect and honour their parents and the possessions of others, and refrain from immoral sexual activity and lying.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Attend RCIA classes | To learn about and deepen your faith |
| Attend Mass | To follow Jesus' command to "do this in memory of me" by sharing in the Eucharist |
| Pray daily | To communicate with God |
| Participate in the sacraments | To obey the moral law |
| Obey the commandments | To respect possessions, not bear false witness, and not covet thy neighbour's wife or goods |
| Honour your parents | To show respect for your parents, both as a child and an adult |
| Approach God through intermediaries | To communicate with God through Mary or the saints |
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What You'll Learn
Learn the history, values, and teachings of the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptised Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions and has played a prominent role in the history and development of Western civilisation.
The core beliefs of the Catholic Church are found in the Nicene Creed, also known as the Apostles' Creed. Catholics believe in God, the Father Almighty, the creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only son, born of the Virgin Mary. They also believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
The celebration of Mass, or Eucharist, is central to the Catholic faith. It commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus, during which he blessed bread and wine and asked his disciples to "do this in remembrance" of him. During Mass, Catholics receive Holy Communion and are given the 'Mission' to spread the Word of God to all people.
The Catholic Church teaches that it is the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic church founded by Jesus Christ. The Pope, the bishop of Rome, is considered the chief pastor of the church and the successor of Saint Peter, upon whom primacy was conferred by Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church shared communion with the Eastern Orthodox Church until the East-West Schism in 1054, primarily over disputes regarding the authority of the Pope.
Throughout history, the Catholic Church has had a significant influence on Western art, architecture, music, science, laws, and institutions. It sponsored renowned Renaissance artists such as Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci. During the colonial era, Catholic missionaries generally supported European conquests in Africa and were reluctant to defend African rights or promote equality with Europeans. In the 20th century, under Popes Benedict XV and Pius XII, the Church maintained public neutrality during the World Wars, while secretly assisting the anti-Hitler resistance and providing aid to victims.
Catholics' Political Leanings: Democrat or Republican?
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Attend Mass and participate in the sacraments
As a Catholic, one of the most important ways to practice your faith is by regularly attending Mass and participating in the sacraments. Mass is a central ritual in the Catholic Church, where Catholics gather as a community to worship God, hear the Word of God, and receive the Eucharist. Here are some detailed instructions on how to attend Mass and participate in the sacraments:
Before Mass
Before you attend Mass, it is important to prepare yourself spiritually and logistically. If you are new to the Catholic faith or are returning after a long absence, it is advisable to research the Mass schedule of your local parish and arrive a few minutes early to familiarise yourself with the surroundings. You may also want to You may want to see also Honouring one's parents and respecting their property is a cornerstone of Catholic teachings. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) explains that the Fourth Commandment, "Honour your father and your mother", is the only commandment with a promise attached: "Observing the fourth commandment brings its reward: 'Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.' Respecting this commandment provides, along with spiritual fruits, temporal fruits of peace and prosperity." The Fourth Commandment obliges children to respect, love, and obey their parents in all that is not sinful and to help them when they are in need. This commandment applies to both children and adults, who are expected to care for their parents when they become old and infirm. Honouring one's parents is not only about obedience to the Fourth Commandment but also about honouring God, our Heavenly Father, who united all families together. By seeing God as the source of our parental relationships, we can hope to see glimpses of Him in both our fathers and mothers. However, honouring one's parents does not mean obeying them if their actions or rules fail to love and lead one into sin, inflict any type of abuse, or bring one farther away from God. For example, if one's parents do not allow them to attend Mass on Sundays or another Holy Day of Obligation, it would not be considered "failing to honour them" by disobeying that rule. Respecting one's parents' property aligns with the Seventh and Tenth Commandments, which focus on respecting and honouring the possessions of others. This includes not taking, wanting, or coveting someone else's property, as well as not cheating people of their money or property, depriving workers of their just wages, or committing acts of vandalism. In conclusion, for Catholics, honouring one's parents and respecting their property is about more than just earthly relationships and possessions. It is about honouring God and upholding the moral and social doctrines of the Church. You may want to see also
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To act as a Catholic, one must live a Christian life, pray daily, participate in the sacraments, obey the moral law, and accept the teachings of the Catholic Church. This includes following the Ten Commandments, which form the basis of Catholic moral teaching. The Sixth and Ninth Commandments honour human sexuality and forbid immoral sexual activity, specifically adultery, which is defined as sexual intercourse between a married person and someone who is not their spouse. Adultery is considered a grave sin in Catholicism, as it violates the sacred nature of marriage, which is viewed as a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman. To avoid immoral sexual activity and adultery, Catholics must respect the sanctity of marriage and remain faithful to their spouses. This includes avoiding lustful thoughts and desires, as Jesus condemns adultery even in desire. Catholics should view their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit and understand that sexual sin is committed against one's own body and is, therefore, an inhumane exploitation of oneself. Additionally, Catholics should dress modestly and avoid seductive nudity, as these are considered immoral sexual acts against one's own body. Furthermore, Catholics must understand that sexuality is a divine gift from God and is sacred only within the context of marriage. Therefore, sexual relations outside of marriage, including premarital sex and homosexual practices, are considered immoral and sinful. It is important to note that the Catholic Church offers second chances and welcomes anyone who sincerely seeks to follow the teachings of Jesus as interpreted by the Church. You may want to see also Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. However, this does not exclude a secondary mediating role for Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the saints. The Catholic Church teaches that Mary was conceived and born without the stain of original sin from the sin of Adam and Eve, and she is known as the "New Eve". She is seen as having a singular dignity above the saints, receiving a higher level of veneration than all angelic spirits and blessed souls in heaven. Mary's role as a mediatrix arises from her cooperation in the Incarnation and the Redemption of mankind. Through her "yes" (Luke 1:38), she became the Theotokos (God-bearer), and as the "New Eve," she is "the Mother of all living". Irenaeus (A.D. 120-200) wrote, "As by a virgin the human race had been bound to death, by a virgin it is saved, the balance being preserved, a virgin's disobedience by a virgin's obedience." Eve made the Fall possible, but Adam effected it; Mary made our Redemption possible by consenting to bring the Savior into the world, but Jesus effected it. The teaching that Mary intercedes for all believers, especially those who request her intercession through prayer, has been held in the church since early times. For example, Ephraim the Syrian wrote, "after the mediator a mediatrix for the whole world." Mediation is something that can be said of all the heavenly saints, but Mary is seen as having the greatest power of mediation. The earliest surviving recorded prayer to Mary is the Sub tuum praesidium, written in Greek. Many people think that the practice of praying to the saints goes against the Bible, claiming that Catholics are making them mediators between God and man and thus diminishing Jesus' role as the sole mediator. However, Catholics believe that their mediating in no way diminishes the role of Christ as mediator; in fact, it glorifies the Father, because it is through Jesus that we can approach with confidence the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:14-16). You may want to see also The process of becoming Catholic is called the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults. It involves receiving instruction in the faith and participating in the local Catholic community. You will need to learn about the teachings, beliefs, and practices of the Catholic Church, and attend Mass and become involved in parish life. You will also need to be baptised and receive the sacraments of confirmation and the Eucharist. Catholics are required to live a Christian life, pray daily, participate in the sacraments, obey the moral law, and accept the teachings of the Church. This includes honouring the Sabbath and attending Mass every Sunday, following the Ten Commandments, and receiving Holy Communion. The Ten Commandments are a set of moral laws that form the basis of Catholic moral teaching. They include honouring and respecting your parents, not murdering, respecting human sexuality, not coveting your neighbour's spouse, respecting the property of others, not bearing false witness (lying), and honouring the truth.Pope Francis: A Catholic Perspective
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