THE 3 PERSONS IN ONE GOD

1. God the Father

2. God the Son
3. God the Holy Spirit
 “The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery
of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself.
It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the
light that enlightens them. It is the most fundamental and
essential teaching in the 'hierarchy of the truths of faith.' The
whole history of salvation is identical with the history of the
way and the means by which the one true God, Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, reveals himself to men" (CCC, 234).
 As the priest begins the celebration of the Holy Mass he
makes the Sign of the Cross and greets the assembly by
saying: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of
God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2
Cor 13:13). In baptism we become children of God, brothers
and sisters in Christ, and temples of the Holy Spirit-"partakers
of the divine nature" (2 Pt 1:4).Our faith in the one true God
tells us that God revealed himself as three divine Persons
who, though really distinct from one another, are one and the
same God, having one and the same divine nature. The
mystery of the three divine Persons in one God is called the
mystery of the Blessed Trinity.
8 The Faith Enumerated

 which make man docile in following the promptings of the not because it was written by the apostles themselves, but
Holy Spirit" (CCC, 1830). because it is a faithful summary of the apostles' faith and
 The Holy Spirit gives us gifts which enable us to respond teachings.
easily and joyfully to what God asks us to do. These gifts have THE 4 PILLARS OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH
to be nurtured that we may become always spiritually strong 1. Creed
in fulfilling God's will. 2. Sacraments
3. Commandments
THE 12 FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 4. Prayer
1. Charity
• The Profession of Faith
2. Joy "Those who belong to Christ through faith and Baptism must
3. Peace confess their baptismal faith before men... The profession of
4. Patience faith summarizes the gifts that God gives man: as the Author
5. Kindness of all that is good; as Redeemer; and Sanctifier" (CCC, 14).
6. Goodness The Sacraments of Faith
7. Generosity "God's salvation, accomplished once for all through Jesus
8. Gentleness Christ and the Holy Spirit, is made present in the sacred
9. Faithfulness actions of the Church's liturgy, especially in the seven
10. Modesty sacraments" (CCC, 15).
11. Self-control The Life of Faith
12. Chastity The beatitude is the final end of man created in the image of
 "The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit God. One reaches it through right conduct freely chosen, with
forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory" (CCC, 1832). the help of God's law and grace, and through conduct that
 Life driven by the Holy Spirit is a life which is simple yet fulfills the twofold commandments of charity, specified in
God's Ten Commandments (CCC, 16).
grace-filled. One who is filled with the Spirit bears abundant
fruits and reaches out to share them with others. Prayer in the Life of Faith
Prayer is important in the life of believers. The seven petitions
The Faith We Profess 21 of the Lord's Prayer, sums up all the good
10 The Faith Enumerated
 5. Philip THE 4 MARKS OF THE CHURCH
6. Bartholomew 1. One
7. Matthew 2. Holy
8. Thomas 3. Catholic
9. James the Less (son of Alpheus) 4. Apostolic
10. Thaddeus (or Jude)  "This is the sole Church of Christ, which in the Creed we
11. Simon (the Zealot) profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic. These four
12. Judas Iscariot (replaced by Matthias, Acts 1:23-26) characteristics, inseparably linked with each other, indicate
essential features of the Church and her mission. The Church
 "From the beginning of his public life Jesus chose certain
does not possess them of herself; it is Christ who, through
men, twelve in number, to be with him and to participate in
the Holy Spirit, makes his Church one, holy, catholic and
his mission. He gives the Twelve a share in his authority and
apostolic, and it is he who calls her to realize each of these
sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal.
qualities" (CCC, 811).
They remain associated for ever with Christ's kingdom, for
 The Church is the new People of God, the congregation of
through them he directs the Church" (CCC, 551).
all baptized persons united in the same faith, the same
 The apostles were the 12 men originally chosen by Jesus in
sacrifice and the same sacraments, under the successor of
order to make them pillars of the Church and shepherds who,
Peter, the Pope, and the bishops in union with him. By the
in the person of Christ (in persona Christi), will sanctify,
marks of the Church we mean certain clear signs by which
teach and govern the Church.
all men can recognize her as the true Church founded by
THE 4 EVANGELISTS Jesus Christ. Only the Roman Catholic Church bears these
1. St. Matthew essential and visible signs.
2. St. Mark THE 3 ATTRIBUTES OF THE CHURCH
3. St. Luke 1. Authority
4. St. John 2. Infallibility
3. Indefectibility
 "The Gospels are the heart of all the Scriptures because they
are our principal source for the life and teaching of the  "In order to preserve the Church in the purity of the faith
Incarnate Word, our Savior... The fourfold Gospel handed on by the apostles, Christ who is the Truth
The Faith We Profess 13 18 The Faith Enumerated

The Book of Ruth (Ru)

The First Book of Samuel (1 Sm) The Book of Amos (Am)
The Second Book of Samuel (2 Sm) The Book of Obadiah (Ob)
The First Book of Kings (1 Kgs) The Book of Jonah (Jon)
The Second Book of Kings (2 Kgs) The Book of Micah (Mi)
The First Book of Chronicles (1 Chr) The Book of Nahum (Na)
The Second Book of Chronicles (2 Chr) The Book of Habakkuk (Hb)
The Book of Ezra (Ezr) The Book of Zephaniah (Zep)
The Book of Nehemiah (Neb) The Book of Haggai (Hg)
The Book of Tobit (Tb) The Book of Zechariah (Zec)
The Book of Judith (dt) The Book of Malachi (Mal)
The Book of Esther (Est) THE 27 BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
The First Book of Maccabees (1 Mc) The Gospels and Acts
The Second Book of Maccabees (2 Mc) The Gospel according to Matthew (Mt)
The Wisdom Books The Gospel according to Mark (Mk)
The Book of Job (7b) The Gospel according to Luke (Lk)
The Book of Psalms (Ps) The Gospel according to John (n)
The Book of Proverbs (Pro) The Acts of the Apostles (Acts)
The Book of Ecclesiastes, or Qohelet (Eccl) The Letters (Epistles) and Revelation
The Song of Songs (Song) The Letter of Paul to the Romans (Rom)
The Book of Wisdom (Wis) The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (1 Cor)
The Book of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus (Sir) The Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (2 Cor)
The Prophetic Books The Letter of Paul to the Galatians (Gal)
The Book of Isaiah (Is) The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians (Eph)
The Book of Jeremiah (Jer) The Letter of Paul to the Philippians (Phil)
The Book of Lamentations (Lam) The Letter of Paul to the Colossians (Col)
The Book of Baruch (Bar) The First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians (1 Thes)
The Book of Ezekiel (Ez) The Second Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians (2 Thes)
The Book of Daniel (Dn) The First Letter of Paul to Timothy (1 Tm)
The Book of Hosea (Hos) The Second Letter of Paul to Timothy (2 Tm)
The Book of Joel (7) 16 The Faith Enumerated
The Faith We Profess 15
 endowed the Church's shepherds with the charism of • Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture make up a single
infallibility. The power which they exercise personally in the sacred deposit of faith. Although they are two distinct modes
name of Christ, is proper, ordinary and immediate, although of transmitting the Word of God, they have one common
its exercise is ultimately controlled by the supreme authority source: the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. Both of them,
of the Church" (CCC, 889; 895). therefore, must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments
 They are called attributes because they are qualities which of devotion and reverence. The Scripture itself affirms that it
belong to the nature of the Church. The Church has the power does not offer a complete account of what Jesus did (cf. Jn 21,
to safeguard the purity of doctrine and to regulate the 25), so there must be another source of faith, namely the
exercise of her mission (authority); the charism to teach Christian Tradition.
without error in matters of faith and morals (infallibility); and The Christian
- in Tradition
early Church historyis contained:
the gift of perpetuity (indefectibility), that she will last - in- early
in theChurch
decreeshistory
of early Councils
always as promised by Christ: "I am with you always until - ininthe
primitive
decreesliturgies
of early Councils
the end of the age" (Mt 28, 20). - in the Acts
in primitive of the Martyrs
liturgies
THE 3 STATES OF THE CHURCH - in- the
in the books
Acts ofMartyrs
of the the early Fathers and Doctors
of the Church and ecclesiastical writers
1. Pilgrim or Militant Church (on Earth) - in- in
theinscriptions
books of the early
in the Fathers and Doctors of the Church
Catacombs
2. Suffering Church (in Purgatory) and- on Christian archeological monuments
3. Triumphant Church (in Heaven)
 "We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ,
those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being
• The Magisterium of the Church is the living teaching office of
purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one
the Church, that is, the Pope and the bishops in communion
Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful
with him. It has the authority to interpret authentically the
love of God and his saints is always [attentive] to our
Word of God, whether in its written or oral form, which it
prayers" (CCC, 962).
exercises in the name of Jesus Christ. Its tasks are to listen
 In the celebration of the Holy Mass, as we offer our devoutly to the Word of God, to guard it dedicatedly, and to
thanksgiving and worship to God, we express three things: 1. Simon (called Peter)
expound it faithfully.
2. Andrew (brother of Peter)
our unity as brothers and sisters in Christ, our union with
those who have died and our communion with the angels and THE 3. 12
James the Greater (son of Zebedee)
APOSTLES
4. John (brother of James)
saints in heaven.
The Faith We Profess 19 12 The Faith Enumerated

The Letter of Paul to Titus (Ti) holds a unique place in the Church, as is evident in the
The Letter of Paul to Philemon (Phlm) veneration which the liturgy accords it and in the surpassing
The Letter to the Hebrews (Heb) attraction it has exercised on the saints at all times" (CCC,
The Letter of James (Jas) 125; 127).
The First Letter of Peter (1 Pt) • The four evangelists were inspired by the Holy Spirit to
The Second Letter of Peter (2 Pt) write down the life and mission of Jesus Christ as the Son of
The First Letter of John (1 Jn) God, the Word made flesh, his acts, teachings, Passion and
The Second Letter of John (2 Jn) glorification, and his Church's beginnings.
The Third Letter of John (3 Jn) The four Gospels give different pictures of Jesus:
The Letter of Jude (Jude) Matthew - Jesus is Man
The Book of Revelation, or the Apocalypse (Rv, Apoc) Mark - Jesus is Teacher
 "It was by the apostolic Tradition that the Church discerned Luke - Jesus is Sanctifier
which writings are to be included in the list of the sacred John - Jesus is God
books. This complete list is called the canon of Scripture. It The four symbols that represent the four Evangelists:
includes 46 books for the Old Testament (45 if we count Man - St. Matthew
Lion - St. Mark
Jeremiah and Lamentations as one) and 27 for the New" Bull - St. Luke
(CCC, 120). Eagle - St. John
 Holy Scripture, the Scriptures, or the Bible are the names THE 46 BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
given to the collection of the sacred books of the Jews and
The Pentateuch (The Torah - "law")
Christians. The Bible is the word of God written by the
The Book of Genesis (Gn)
sacred authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that
The Book of Exodus (Ex)
God be known, and his counsels and goodness be made
The Book of Leviticus (Lv)
manifest.
The Book of Numbers (Nm)
 There are other writings contemporary with the Old and New
The Book of Deuteronomy (Dt)
Testament writings but do not belong to the Canon of
The Historical Books
Scripture because they are not inspired by the Holy Spirit.
The Book of Joshua (Jos)
Many of them, like the Gospel of Judas, are even contrary to
The Book of Judges (gs)
the divinely revealed truths which the Catholic Church
accepts and teaches. 14 The Faith Enumerated
THE 12 ARTICLES OF FAITH
1. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven THE 9 CHOIRS OF ANGELS
and earth. 1. Angels
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, our Lord. 2. Archangels
3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and was 3. Principalities
born of the Virgin Mary. 4. Powers
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and 5. Virtues
was buried. 6. Dominations
5. He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again. 7. Thrones
6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of 8. Cherubim
the Father Almighty. 9. Seraphim
7. From thence He will come in glory to judge the living and
the dead.  "The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit. Sacred Scripture usually called 'angels' is a truth of faith.
9. I believe in the Holy Catholic Church The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sins. Tradition. As purely spiritual creatures angels have
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body. intelligence and will: they are personal and immortal
12. I believe in life everlasting. creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures, as
the splendor of their glory bears witness" (CCC, 328; 330).
 "As on the day of our Baptism, when our whole life was
entrusted to the 'standard of teaching,' let us embrace the  The word 'angel' means messenger. In the order of creation,
Creed of our life-giving faith. To say the Credo with faith is to God created angels before anything else. They serve a
enter into communion with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, double purpose: to praise and worship God eternally and to
and also with the whole Church which transmits its faith to us be His servants and messengers. They also assist us not only
and in whose midst we believe" (CCC, 197). in spiritual things, but in material things as well, from the
 The 12 articles of faith are the chief truths taught by Jesus moment of our birth until the day we die to ensure our
Christ through the Catholic Church in the Apostles' Creed. salvation.
This creed is called Apostles' Creed,

The Faith We Profess 9 22 The Faith Enumerated

things which we must hope for, and which our heavenly Father THE 4 LAST THINGS
wants to grant us (CCC, 17). 1. Death
2. Judgment
• Christ commanded the apostles to preach the Gospel and "to 3. Heaven
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the 4. Hell
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to
 "Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul
observe all that I have commanded you" (Mt 28:19-20). The
at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that
Acts of the Apostles shows that from the beginning the Church
refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of
has been faithful to the Lord's command. The first Christians of
heaven - through a purification or immediately - or immediate
Jerusalem "devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles
and everlasting damnation" (CCC, 1022).
and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and the
prayers" (2:42). Our Christian life and perfection are anchored  The Letter to the Hebrews (9:27) starkly points out that human
on these four pillars of the Catholic Faith. destiny is to die and God's judgment is most certain. Our
future depends on how we live at present: it is either we are
THE 2 MODES OF TRANSMISSION gradually advancing to the state of eternal glory or to the state
OF DIVINE REVELATION of eternal misery.
1. Sacred Tradition
THE 7 GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
2. Sacred Scripture
1. Wisdom
• "In keeping with the Lord's command, the Gospel was handed 2. Understanding
on in two ways: orally by the apostles who handed on, by the 3. Counsel
spoken word of their preaching, by the example they gave, by 4. Fortitude
the institutions they established, what they themselves had 5. Knowledge
received - whether from the lips of Christ, from his way of life 6. Piety
7. Fear of the Lord
and his works, or whether they had learned it at the prompting
of the Holy Spirit; in writing by those apostles and other men  The moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of the
associated with the apostles who, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. These are permanent dispositions
same Holy Spirit, committed the message of salvation to
writing" (CCC, 76). 20 The Faith Enumerated