Basic Catholic Beliefs and Practices

[admin]

Basic Catholic Beliefs and Practices

Essential Catholic Beliefs, Doctrines, Ideas, Practices, and Customs

   An Outline of Basic Catholic Beliefs

This section (in alphabetical order) contains a concise overview of major, essential Catholic beliefs. Not every essential belief is included. For a more in-depth look at different 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 and Articles, for information on more specific topics. For even more information, please consult the Catechism 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 this authority has been passed from Christ to His Apostles. The Bible and Tradition come from the same Apostolic Deposit, and we do not pit them against each other. Thus the Church understands that the Bible must be interpreted, and the Church does so using the Tradition of the Apostles. The Catholic Church (and the Orthodox Church) has retained this Apostolic authority through Apostolic Succession, which is the passing down 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 the Bible alone is our final authority, Catholics hold the Bible in high regard as the word of God and cannot teach contrary to the Bible's Teachings. For information about interpreting the Bible, please see There is no Plain Meaning of Scripture.

The Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic

The Catholic Church is the Church that Jesus Christ established. Thus the Church subsists in the Catholic Church. However, other Christians are also in communion with the Catholic Church by virtue of their sacraments. The Orthodox Churches possess fully valid sacraments, and are true particular Churches, whereas Protestant Christians 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 Christ across regions and time periods. The Church is Holy on account of the grace of Christ given to it and the holy sacraments it provides. The Church is Catholic because it contains the fullness of the Apostolic Deposit of Faith, thus is it truly "according to the whole" and "universal." Finally, the Church is Apostolic because its Teachings and Authority come from the Apostles themselves.
 
Creation

Catholics believe that creation is good, that God uses it for His purposes, but that it is marred by Original Sin, the result of the sin of the first human beings. Catholic theologians (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 as acceptable, so long as Christ was at the center of creation. So Catholics are free to understand Genesis completely literally, but also to read Genesis in light of modern science, so long as certain conditions are met; reading Genesis in light of modern science 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 the modernist controversies of the 19th and 20th centuries. Surprisingly, insisting on an entirely 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 all God, one in substance and will, but distinct in some way, but not divided. In addition to an intellectual understanding of the Trinity, we are to develop a relationship with the Triune God through prayer and worship. The Trinity is not tritheism (the belief in three gods), but rather a dynamic monotheism.

Jesus Christ: God and Man

Catholics believe Jesus is 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 bodily, all for our sins. He ascended into heaven and is still alive interceding on our behalf before the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. Jesus was a great Teacher, and His Teachings are the very Teachings of God.
 
The Sacraments

The sacraments are divinely instituted signs that give the grace that they signify. Catholics and Orthodox accept seven sacraments: Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Holy Orders, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick. Click this link to find out more about each sacrament: The Sacraments: Meeting God in our own World.

Salvation and Grace

Catholics believe we are saved only by God's grace working in us. Thus we are justified, transformed from the state of unrighteousness into a state of holiness and the sonship of God, on account of Christ. Justification is the merciful and freely given act of God which takes away our sins and makes us just and holy in our whole being. This justification is given to us in the sacrament of baptism. Justification is the beginning of our free response to God, that is our faith in Christ and our cooperation with the grace of the Holy Spirit. Thus Catholics believe in salvation by grace alone, solely on account of the work of Christ. However, neither Catholics nor Orthodox accept the reformation concept of forensic justification or "justification by faith alone."
Yes, the Catholic Church does believe a person must be born again to be saved. However, Catholics believe that one is born again at Baptism. In fact, when Christians for the first 1500 years of Christianity, including Martin Luther, used the phrase "born again," they were referring to baptism. Please check out, Are Catholics Born Again?: Reclaiming the New Birth for more information. The Catholic Church recognizes the possibility of salvation for Protestants and even for non-Christians, although in Catholic Teaching, all salvation comes through Jesus, who is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

The Virgin Mary

Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, thus she is called theotokos (God-Bearer) and "mother of God." Catholics, like Protestants, believe that Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus. However, Catholics and Orthodox believe that Mary remained a Virgin her entire life. Catholics believe that Mary was conceived without original sin in order to be a sinless bearer of God incarnate: Jesus Christ. This is known as the immaculate conception. This sinlessness was accomplished only on account of God's grace, and not on Mary's merits. The Orthodox too believe that Mary was sinless when bearing Jesus, but the moment at which she became sinless is debated. Catholics and Orthodox both believe that after Mary completed the course of her earthly life, she was assumed into heaven, similar to the way the great saint Elijah was. Mary is the Mother of us and the mother of the Church, and just as Christ is the new Adam, Mary is the new Eve, who obeyed God where Eve disobeyed.

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! We are always saying, "now what is that 4th corporal work of mercy again?" or "I can't remember 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 meaningful sacraments of the Catholic Church, yet one of the most misunderstood and under-appreciated. Jonathan explains the history of the sacrament, the guidelines governing its 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, universal and historical Church. To find the fullness of the Christian faith, choosing the catholic Faith is really the only option. In a postmodern era of relativity and accommodation to secular 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 beliefs about the resurrection. Jonathan Bennett tackles many issues, including why it is essential that Christians believe in the bodily resurrection, the meaning of the resurrection, 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 picture of who Jesus is. This article emphasizes the importance of knowing Jesus when trying to 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, we go without belief.
The Nicene Creed: Ancient Symbol of the Catholic Faith
The Nicene Creed is the unifying symbol of the historical Christian faith that, among other 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 He knows 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.

What About the Virgin Mary? (A Brief Catechism on Mary)

Learn the basics about the Virgin Mary. Do Catholics and Orthodox worship Mary? Was she really a virgin her entire life? Is she God's mother? Why give Mary Such respect? We help dispel a few myths, as well as explain the basic catholic beliefs concerning the virgin Mary. This is done in a helpful Q and A format. This is cross referenced in our Objections Page.

Communion of Saints: The Whole Family of God

Living, dead, here, and there, we are all one Christian community of God, united in our worship.

Baptism: More Than Just a Bath
The early Church saw baptism as communal, sacramental, and life changing. Postmodern people are rediscovering its meaning in opposition to the individualism of our culture.

Eucharist: The Medicine of Immortality

Called Lord's Supper, Communion, or Mass, the ritual is the hallmark of our worship. While some churches advertise "featured speakers" present each week, we have Jesus, the biggest star, present, in the Eucharist.
The Christian Tradition: Living, Holy, and Relevant
We are a part of a living, God-guided Church, and Tradition is its history.

The Bible: Inerrant, Inspired, or Just A Good Read?

What is the Bible? Some Christians say it's error free to the letter, others say it's riddled with error. We say that Jesus Christ is the Word of God and the Bible effectively and accurately reveals Him. However, we have little affiliation with modernist positions on scripture.

Catholic Teaching on the Salvation of Protestants and Non-Catholics

In some Christian denominations, only members are given the possibility of salvation. Some Christians suggest everybody gets to heaven, and that all religions are equally valid. What does the Catholic Church teach on this touchy matter? How can non-Christians be saved if Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life?" Can non-Catholics be saved if "outside the Church there is no salvation?"

The 15 Marks of the Church by St. Robert Bellarmine

St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) builds upon the traditional four marks of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. These 15 marks provide an important way of looking at what makes a Church "true."

The Vincentian Canon by St. Vincent of Lerins

The Canon, taken from the writings of Vincent of Lerins, provides a fine basis for the catholic faith. The faith is "that which has been believed everywhere, always, and by all." In some ways it provides a good basis for "consensual" Catholicism, which protects regional diversity, but also excludes much novel innovation. However, there are limits to Vincent's canon. Doctrinal truths develop and unfold, much like an idea held only in the mind may unfold into one's outer life and become more refined over time.