Catholic Information & Terms

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father; through Him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven, by the power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and His kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, with the Father and the Son He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Ten Commandments
I. You shall not have strange gods before me.
II. You shall not take God's name in vain.
III. Remember to keep holy the Lord's day.
IV. Honor your father and your mother.
V. You shall not kill.
VI. You shall not commit adultery.
VII. You shall not steal.
VIII. You shall not bear false witness.
IX. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
X. You shall not covet you neighbor's goods.

The Great Commandment

You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

The Laws of the Church (Precepts)
To attend Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation; and to avoid those activities that hinder the renewal of soul and body or the growth in union with the Lord.
To go to confession at least once a year; and to receive Holy Eucharist during the Easter season.
To study the teachings of the Church in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation and then to use the knowledge gained in that study to advance the cause of Christ and the mission of the Church in evangelizing this world and bringing it to a knowledge of Christ.
To observe (obey) the laws of the Church concerning marriage; to provide religious training and an example of sanctity to one's children; and to avail oneself of the facilities provided by the parish to advance their and one's own religious education.
To strengthen and to support the Church, by which one means one's own parish community, pastors, bishops and the Holy Father.
To fast and abstain on the days appointed; i.e., to do penance, including, but not limited to, fasting from food and abstaining from the use of meat on the days appointed.  
To join in the missionary spirit and apostolate of the Church.

Holy Days of Obligation

January 1--Octave of the Nativity: Mary

40 Days after Easter--Ascension Thursday

August 15--Assumption of the Blessed Virgin

November 1--All Saints Day

December 8--The Immaculate Conception

December 25--Christmas Day

The Seven Sacraments
Baptism
Reconciliation
Eucharist
Confirmation
Marriage
Holy Orders
Anointing of the Sick.  

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Piety, Counsel, Fear of the Lord, Fortitude

Fruits of the Holy Spirit

Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Long-suffering, Humility, Fidelity, Modesty, Continence, Chastity

The Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy
To counsel the doubtful.
To instruct the ignorant.
To admonish the sinner.
To comfort the sorrowful.
To forgive all injuries.
To bear wrongs patiently.
To pray for the living and the dead.

The Corporal Works of Mercy
To feed the hungry.
To give drink to the thirsty.
To clothe the naked.
To shelter the homeless.
To visit the sick.
To visit the imprisoned.
To bury the dead.

Seven Capitol Sins
Pride--unrestrained appreciation of self.
Greed--immoderate desire for earthly goods.
Lust--longing for impure pleasures.
Anger--inordinate desire for revenge.
Gluttony--unrestrained use of food/drink.
Envy--sorrow over another's good fortune.
Sloth--laxity in keeping the Faith and the practice of virtue, due to the effort involved.

Catholic Terms

Advent--the season of the Church's year leading up to Christmas.

Altar--the table on which the sacrifice of Mass is celebrated.

Apostles--normally this refers to the twelve men chosen by Jesus to be the bearers of his teachings to the world. It also refers to one who follows the teachings of Jesus.

Baptism--sacrament of initiation into the Church.

Bible--the inspired written word of God.

Bishop--the chief priest of a diocese. Bishops are responsible for the pastoral care of their dioceses. In addition, bishops have a responsibility to act in council with other bishops to guide the Church.

Cardinal Virtues--prudence, fortitude, temperance, justice.

Creation--the act whereby God brings the entire substance of a thing into existence from a state of non-existence.

Crucifix--a cross with the figure of the crucified Jesus upon it.

Eucharist--Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ truly present under the species of bread or wine.

Good Friday--the day on which the crucifixion of Jesus is commemorated.

Heaven--the term heaven has come to designate both the happiness and the abode of the just in the next life.

Hell--the state of eternal rejection of God. It is we who will reject God. God will not reject us.

Holy Water--water which has been blessed by a priest. Catholics sprinkle themselves with Holy Water as they make the sign of the cross upon entering a Church as a reminder of their baptism. Holy Water is also used for blessings.

Incense--material used to produce a fragrant odor when burned; is used as a symbol of the Church’s offering; the rising smoke represents the prayers of the assembly rising to God.

Jesus--Son of God.

Lent--a period of six weeks leading up to Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and is a time of self-denial in preparation for Easter.

Mass--the common name for the Eucharistic liturgy of the Catholic Church.

Nun--member of a religious order of women.

Pope--the Bishop of Rome, successor of St. Peter, leader of the Catholic Church.

Prayer--communication with God.

Priest--someone who is ordained to minister within the Church. The primary duties of the priest are celebrating Mass, administering the other sacraments and exercising a role of leadership within the Church.

Reconciliation--Sacrament in which forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is granted through the priest's absolution to those who, with true sorrow, confess their sins and promise to satisfy for the same.

Resurrection--when Jesus rose from the dead.

Rosary--a form of prayer reflecting on the main events in the life of Jesus and Mary, his mother.

Sacrament--an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.

Saints--members of the Church whose holiness of life is recognized after their deaths and who are venerated by the Church on earth.

Sign of the Cross--a formula Catholics use to bless themselves. It is made with the right hand touching the forehead, the breast and shoulders while saying these words: In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Catholics make the sign of the cross at the beginning of Mass and at the beginning of other forms of prayer.

St. Mary, Virgin Mary--the Mother of Jesus. In traditions since apostolic times, the Church and the faithful have accorded to Mary the highest forms of veneration. She is not worshiped. Catholics do not pray to Mary. They ask Mary to pray with them and for them.

Stations of the Cross--a series of fourteen meditations on incidents in the suffering and death of Christ.

Statues--three-dimensional representations of Jesus, Mary, the saints, or angels; often found in churches, but away from the main altar. Catholics do not pray to statues they are merely meant to inspire prayer and a good life by remembering the saints who have gone before us.

The Trinity--One and the same God in three distinct Divine persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.