Ethan Walker
Catholicism is a Christian religion established in the Mediterranean region during the first century. It is the largest of the three major branches of Christianity, with 1.2 to 1.4 billion followers worldwide, 40% of whom live in Latin America. Catholics adhere to the teachings of the Pope and Catholic religious doctrine, and worship God, who they believe consists of the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They also believe in the Incarnation, the doctrine that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ. Catholics have a unique set of beliefs and a conversion process that differs from other Christian denominations. They place great emphasis on social justice and caring for the vulnerable, and believe in the importance of good works as a response to God's grace.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Monotheistic | Catholics believe in one supreme being, God. |
| Trinity | God has three aspects: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. |
| Divinity of Christ | Jesus Christ was the messiah, born to a virgin, and was without sin. |
| Virgin Mary | The Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Jesus, is highly regarded and given the title 'Mother of God'. |
| Saints | Holy men and women who pray for us and aid us. Many churches are named after them. |
| Liturgy | The Catholic Church is highly liturgical, meaning they practice ceremonial worship. |
| Hierarchy | The Church has a strict hierarchy, from parish priests to bishops and archbishops to the Pope. |
| Transubstantiation | The bread and wine of the Eucharist become the actual body and blood of Christ during Mass. |
| Sacraments | Important rituals in the Catholic faith, such as Baptism, Eucharist, Confession, and Marriage. |
| Good Works | Good works are an important response to God's grace and are essential to Christian discipleship. |
| Social Justice | The Church emphasizes social justice and caring for the vulnerable. |
| Second Coming | Catholics believe in the Second Coming of Christ and anticipate the return of Jesus at the end of time. |
| Holy Days | Catholics are expected to worship on holy days and avoid activities that hinder the renewal of the soul and body. |
| Fasting and Abstinence | Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence, and penance is encouraged on Fridays throughout the year. |
| Beatitudes | A summary of the difficulties faced by faithful Christians and the rewards they will receive if they are loyal. |
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What You'll Learn
The Holy Trinity and the Incarnation
Catholicism is a Christian religion, a reformation of the Jewish faith that follows the teachings of its founder, Jesus Christ. The Catholic God has three aspects, known as the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. God the Father is the creator, who has no origin and holds the sole power of creation. He resides in heaven and watches over and guides everything on earth. God the Son is the "messiah," the son aspect of the Trinity, sent to Earth and born to redeem those who sin against the true religion. Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh (logos) through which God made all things. He has a human body and soul, identical to other humans, but without sin. God the Holy Spirit is the personification of goodness and sanctity, arising from both the Father and the Son. It is the bond between the Father and the Son, through which God's love is made manifest.
The Incarnation reveals that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity, the Word made flesh through which God made all things. It points to the eternal self-giving love of the Trinity. The mystery of the Incarnation is described in John 1:1-3, where John the Disciple references the creation story in Genesis and equates Jesus Christ with God, prefacing the divinity of Jesus Christ. Luke interprets the conception of Christ in light of the Trinity, as revealed by the angel's words to Mary: "You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David." The Holy Spirit also shares in the Incarnation, and it is through His action that the conception is unique and unrepeatable.
The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are present and active in the Incarnation to involve us in their life. As St. Cyprian stated, the community of God's children is "a people made one with the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Through Jesus Christ, we are saved and brought back into communion with the Trinity.
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The Virgin Mary and the Saints
Catholicism is a Christian religion, a reformation of the Jewish faith that follows the teachings of its founder, Jesus Christ. The Catholic religion was established in the Mediterranean region during the first century. There are currently 1.2 billion to 1.4 billion Catholics in the world, with roughly 40% of them living in Latin America.
The Virgin Mary
The Virgin Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ. Catholics hold Mary, the biblical figure who gave birth to Jesus, in high regard, giving her the title 'Mother of God'. According to the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception taught by the Catholic Church, Mary was conceived and born without the stain of original sin from the sin of Adam and Eve. This means she was saved by God at the moment of her conception and is also 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.
The four Marian dogmas are Mary's Divine Motherhood, or being the Mother of God, also known as Theotokos in Greek; her Immaculate Conception (having no stain of original sin); her Perpetual Virginity, and the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. The Assumption, promulgated in 1950 by Pope Pius XII, states that "the immaculate Mother of God, Mary ever virgin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven."
Catholics view Mary as subordinate to Christ but uniquely above all other creatures. Devotion to the Virgin Mary does not amount to worship, which is reserved for God. In 787, the Second Council of Nicaea affirmed a three-level hierarchy of latria, hyperdulia and dulia that applies to God, the Virgin Mary, and then the other saints.
The Saints
The saints are significant or sanctified figures in the Catholic religion. They do not have powers of creation and are not worshipped, but they can be appealed to for intercession in prayers. The study of Mary, or Catholic Mariology, is a separate discipline in its own right, contributing to a fuller understanding of Christ.
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The Sacraments
The Catholic Church has seven sacraments that "touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life". These sacraments are visible rites seen as signs and channels of the grace of God. They are often classified into three categories: the sacraments of initiation, the sacraments of healing, and the sacraments of service.
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The Mass and the Eucharist
The Eucharist, derived from the Greek word 'eucharistia' meaning 'thanksgiving', is a sacrament that Catholics believe contains the body and blood of Christ in the form of bread and wine. This belief is known as transubstantiation, where the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ during the Mass. The Eucharist is a sacred moment where Catholics express their unity with Christ and the Catholic Church worldwide.
The celebration of the Mass and the Eucharist is a sacred tradition for Catholics, uniting them with Christ's sacrifice and with each other. It is a highly liturgical practice that sets Catholicism apart from other Christian denominations. The Eucharist is also a form of worship outside of the Mass, known as Eucharistic adoration and meditation, where Catholics devote themselves to Christ's Holy Wounds and offer reparations for their sins.
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Penance, Confession and Good Works
Catholicism is a Christian religion, a reformation of the Jewish faith that follows the teachings of its founder, Jesus Christ. The Catholic God has three aspects, known as the Trinity: the Father (God), the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.
Penance, Confession, and Good Works
The Sacrament of Penance (also called the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession) is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Through this sacrament, Catholics are absolved from sins committed after baptism and reconciled with the Christian community. During reconciliation, mortal sins must be confessed, and venial sins may be confessed for devotional reasons. Only those ordained as priests may grant absolution.
The Catholic Church teaches that penance is necessary to make reparation for the punishment due to our sins. Christ instituted this sacrament to give a means of obtaining remission for sins committed after baptism. According to the Council of Trent, Christ instituted the priesthood to forgive sins and administer the sacrament of the Eucharist. Through confession of sin to a priest, by his absolution and the performance of the prescribed penance, an individual can receive forgiveness of sins.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that men can make atonement for their sins through works of penance, thereby meriting God's mercy, forgiveness, and justification. These works are said to bring an individual into a higher state of spirituality and enable him to earn the grace of God and thereby heaven through his good works.
In the United States, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence, and all other Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence only. Some form of penance is especially encouraged on all Fridays throughout the year. Fasting and abstinence are recognized forms of penance, and by doing these, Catholics can realize the interior change of heart that is necessary for all Christians.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholicism is a Christian religion, a reformation of the Jewish faith that follows the teachings of its founder, Jesus Christ. It is one of the three major branches of Christianity, along with Orthodox Christianity and Protestantism.
Central to the Catholic faith is the belief in the Holy Trinity, which holds that God is one being in three divine persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Catholics also believe in the Incarnation, the doctrine that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ. Other core beliefs include the importance of good works, social justice, and care for the vulnerable.
Catholics observe various rituals and practices, including the seven sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation (Penance/Confession), Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Marriage. The Mass is a Eucharistic celebration where Catholics believe that the bread and wine used for Communion become the actual body and blood of Christ.
The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church and is considered infallible, appointed by God. He resides in Vatican City and is the central authority for Catholics worldwide.
Catholicism differs from other Christian denominations in its beliefs about the sacraments, the importance of the Virgin Mary and the saints, and the role of the Pope. It is also highly liturgical, with a strict hierarchy and an emphasis on ceremonial worship and recitation.
