• PROLOGUE

I. The life of man - to know and love God

II. Handing on the Faith: Catechesis

III. The Aim and Intended Readership of the Catechism

IV. Structure of this Catechism

V. Practical Directions for Using this Catechism

VI. Necessary Adaptations

​

• PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH

  • SECTION ONE "I BELIEVE" - "WE BELIEVE"

    • CHAPTER ONE MAN'S CAPACITY FOR GOD

      • I. The Desire for God

      • II. Ways of Coming to Know God

      • III. The Knowledge of God According to the Church

      • IV. How Can We Speak about God?

      • IN BRIEF
         

    • CHAPTER TWO GOD COMES TO MEET MAN

      • Article 1 THE REVELATION OF GOD

        • I. God Reveals His "Plan of Loving Goodness"

        • II. The Stages of Revelation

        • III. Christ Jesus -- "Mediator and Fullness of All Revelation"

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 2 THE TRANSMISSION OF DIVINE REVELATION

        • I. The Apostolic Tradition

        • II. The Relationship Between Tradition and Sacred Scripture

        • III. The Interpretation of the Heritage of Faith

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 3 SACRED SCRIPTURE

        • I. Christ - The Unique Word of Sacred Scripture

        • II. Inspiration and Truth of Sacred Scripture

        • III. The Holy Spirit, Interpreter of Scripture

        • IV. The Canon of Scripture

        • V. Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church

        • IN BRIEF
           

    • CHAPTER THREE MAN'S RESPONSE TO GOD

      • Article 1 I BELIEVE

        • I. The Obedience of Faith

        • II. "I Know Whom I Have Believed"

        • III. The Characteristics of Faith
           

      • Article 2 WE BELIEVE

        • I. "Lord, Look Upon the Faith of Your Church"

        • II. The Language of Faith

        • III. Only One Faith

        • IN BRIEF

        • The Credo
           

  • SECTION TWO I. THE CREEDS

    • CHAPTER ONE I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER

      • Article 1 "I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH"

        • Paragraph 1. I BELIEVE IN GOD

        • Paragraph 2. THE FATHER

        • Paragraph 3. THE ALMIGHTY

        • Paragraph 4. THE CREATOR

        • Paragraph 5. HEAVEN AND EARTH

        • Paragraph 6. MAN

        • Paragraph 7. THE FALL
           

    • CHAPTER TWO I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY SON OF GOD

      • ARTICLE 2 "AND IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD"

        • I. Jesus

        • II. Christ

        • III. The Only Son of God

        • IV. Lord

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 3 "HE WAS CONCEIVED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WAS BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY"

        • Paragraph 1. THE SON OF GOD BECAME MAN

        • Paragraph 2. "CONCEIVED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY"

        • Paragraph 3. THE MYSTERIES OF CHRIST'S LIFE
           

      • Article 4 "JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED AND WAS BURIED"

        • Paragraph 1. JESUS AND ISRAEL

        • Paragraph 2. JESUS DIED CRUCIFIED

        • Paragraph 3. JESUS CHRIST WAS BURIED
           

      • Article 5 "HE DESCENDED INTO HELL. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN"

        • Paragraph 1. CHRIST DESCENDED INTO HELL

        • Paragraph 2. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD
           

      • Article 6 "HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER"

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 7 "FROM THENCE HE WILL COME AGAIN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD"

        • I. He Will Come Again in Glory

        • II. To Judge the Living and the Dead

        • IN BRIEF
           

    • CHAPTER THREE I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

      • ARTICLE 8 "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT"

        • I. The Joint Mission of the Son and the Spirit

        • II. The Name, Titles, and Symbols of the Holy Spirit

        • III. God's Spirit and Word in the Time of the Promises

        • IV. The Spirit of Christ in the Fullness of Time

        • V. The Spirit and the Church In the Last Days

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 9 "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH"

        • Paragraph 1. THE CHURCH IN GOD'S PLAN

        • Paragraph 2. THE CHURCH - PEOPLE OF GOD, BODY OF CHRIST, TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

        • Paragraph 3. THE CHURCH IS ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC

        • Paragraph 4. CHRIST'S FAITHFUL - HIERARCHY, LAITY, CONSECRATED LIFE

        • Paragraph 5. THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS

        • Paragraph 6. MARY - MOTHER OF CHRIST, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH
           

      • Article 10 "I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS"

        • I. One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins

        • II. The Power of the Keys
           

      • Article 11 "I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY"

        • I. Christ's Resurrection and Ours

        • II. Dying in Christ Jesus

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 12 "I BELIEVE IN LIFE EVERLASTING"

        • I. The Particular Judgment

        • II. Heaven

        • III. The Final Purification, or Purgatory

        • IV. Hell

        • V. The Last Judgment

        • VI. Hope of the New Heaven and the New Earth

        • IN BRIEF

        • "Amen"
           

• PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY

  • SECTION ONE THE SACRAMENTAL ECONOMY

    • CHAPTER ONE THE PASCHAL MYSTERY IN THE AGE OF THE CHURCH

      • Article 1 THE LITURGY - WORK OF THE HOLY TRINITY

        • I. The Father-Source and Goal of the Liturgy

        • II. Christ's Work in the Liturgy

        • III. The Holy Spirit and the Church in the Liturgy

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 2 THE PASCHAL MYSTERY IN THE CHURCH'S SACRAMENTS

        • I. The Sacraments of Christ

        • II. The Sacraments of the Church

        • III. The Sacraments of Faith

        • IV. The Sacraments of Salvation

        • V. The Sacraments of Eternal Life

        • IN BRIEF
           

    • CHAPTER TWO THE SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATION OF THE PASCHAL MYSTERY

      • Article 1 CELEBRATING THE CHURCH'S LITURGY

        • I. Who Celebrates?

        • II. How is the Liturgy Celebrated?

        • III. When is the Liturgy Celebrated?

        • IV. Where is the Liturgy Celebrated?

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 2 LITURGICAL DIVERSITY AND THE UNITY OF THE MYSTERY

        • IN BRIEF
           

  • SECTION TWO THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH

    • CHAPTER ONE THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION

      • Article 1 THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

        • I. What is This Sacrament Called?

        • II. Baptism in the Economy of Salvation

        • III. How is the Sacrament of Baptism Celebrated?

        • IV. Who can Receive Baptism?

        • V. Who can Baptize?

        • VI. The Necessity of Baptism

        • VII. The Grace of Baptism

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 2 THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

        • I. Confirmation in the Economy of Salvation

        • II. The Signs and the Rite of Confirmation

        • III. The Effects of Confirmation

        • IV. Who can Receive This Sacrament?

        • V. The Minister of Confirmation

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 3 THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST

        • I. The Eucharist - Source and Summit of Ecclesial Life

        • II. What is This Sacrament Called?

        • III. The Eucharist in the Economy of Salvation

        • IV. The Liturgical Celebration of the Eucharist

        • V. The Sacramental Sacrifice Thanksgiving, Memorial, Presence

        • VI. The Paschal Banquet

        • VII. The Eucharist - "Pledge of the Glory To Come"

        • IN BRIEF
           

    • CHAPTER TWO THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING

      • Article 4 THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION

        • I. What is This Sacrament Called?

        • II. Why a Sacrament of Reconciliation after Baptism?

        • III. The Conversion of the Baptized

        • IV. Interior Penance

        • V. The Many Forms of Penance in Christian Life

        • VI. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

        • VII. The Acts of the Penitent

        • VIII. The Minister of This Sacrament

        • IX. The Effects of This Sacrament

        • X. Indulgences

        • XI. The Celebration of the Sacrament of Penance

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 5 THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK

        • I. Its Foundations in the Economy of Salvation

        • II. Who Receives and Who Administers This Sacrament?

        • III. How is This Sacrament Celebrated?

        • IV. The Effects of the Celebration of This Sacrament

        • V. Viaticum, the Last Sacrament of the Christian

        • IN BRIEF
           

    • CHAPTER THREE THE SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION

      • ARTICLE 6 THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS

        • I. Why Is This Sacrament Called "Orders"?

        • II. The Sacrament of Holy Orders in the Economy of Salvation

        • III. The Three Degrees of the Sacrament of Holy Orders

        • IV. The Celebration of This Sacrament

        • V. Who Can Confer This Sacrament?

        • VI. Who Can Receive This Sacrament?

        • VII. The Effects of the Sacrament of Holy Orders

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 7 THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY

        • I. Marriage in God's Plan

        • II. The Celebration of Marriage

        • III. Matrimonial Consent

        • IV. The Effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony

        • V. The Goods and Requirements of Conjugal Love

        • VI. The Domestic Church

        • IN BRIEF
           

    • CHAPTER FOUR OTHER LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS

      • Article 1 SACRAMENTALS

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 2 CHRISTIAN FUNERALS

        • I. The Christian's Last Passover

        • II. The Celebration of Funerals
           

• PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST

  • SECTION ONE MAN'S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT

    • CHAPTER ONE THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

      • Article 1 MAN: THE IMAGE OF GOD

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 2 OUR VOCATION TO BEATITUDE

        • I. The Beatitudes

        • II. The Desire for Happiness

        • III. Christian Beatitude

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 3 MAN'S FREEDOM

        • I. Freedom and Responsibility

        • II. Human Freedom in the Economy of Salvation

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 4 THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS

        • I. The Sources of Morality

        • II. Good Acts and Evil Acts

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 5 THE MORALITY OF THE PASSIONS

        • I. Passions

        • II. Passions and Moral Life

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 6 MORAL CONSCIENCE

        • I. The Judgment of Conscience

        • II. The Formation of Conscience

        • III. To Choose in Accord With Conscience

        • IV. Erroneous Judgment

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 7 THE VIRTUES

        • I. The Human Virtues

        • II. The Theological Virtues

        • III. The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 8 SIN

        • I. Mercy and Sin

        • II. The Definition of Sin

        • III. The Different Kinds of Sins

        • IV. The Gravity of Sin: Mortal and Venial Sin

        • V. The Proliferation of Sin

        • IN BRIEF
           

    • CHAPTER TWO THE HUMAN COMMUNION

      • Article 1 THE PERSON AND SOCIETY

        • I. The Communal Character of the Human Vocation

        • II. Conversion and Society

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 2 PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL LIFE

        • I. Authority

        • II. The Common Good

        • III. Responsibility and Participation

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 3 SOCIAL JUSTICE

        • I. Respect For the Human Person

        • II. Equality and Differences Among Men

        • III. Human Solidarity

        • IN BRIEF
           

    • CHAPTER THREE GOD'S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE

      • Article 1 THE MORAL LAW

        • I. The Natural Moral Law

        • II. The Old Law

        • III. The New Law or the Law of the Gospel

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 2 GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION

        • I. Justification

        • II. Grace

        • III. Merit

        • IV. Christian Holiness

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 3 THE CHURCH, MOTHER AND TEACHER

        • I. Moral Life and the Magisterium of the Church

        • II. The Precepts of the Church

        • III. Moral Life and Missionary Witness

        • IN BRIEF
           

  • SECTION TWO THE TEN COMMANDMENT​​​

    • IN BRIEF

    • CHAPTER ONE YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND

      • Article 1 THE FIRST COMMANDMENT

        • I. "You Shall Worship the Lord Your God and Him Only Shall You Serve"

        • II. "Him Only Shall You Serve"

        • III. "You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me"

        • IV. "You Shall Not Make For Yourself a Graven Image . . ."

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 2 THE SECOND COMMANDMENT

        • I. The Name of the Lord is Holy

        • II. Taking the Name of the Lord in Vain

        • III. The Christian Name

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 3 THE THIRD COMMANDMENT

        • I. The Sabbath Day

        • II. The Lord's Day

        • IN BRIEF
           

    • CHAPTER TWO YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF

      • ARTICLE 4 THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

        • I. The Family in God's Plan

        • II. The Family and Society

        • III. The Duties of Family Members

        • IV. The Family and the Kingdom

        • V. The Authorities In Civil Society

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 5 THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT

        • I. Respect for Human Life

        • II. Respect for the Dignity of Persons

        • III. Safeguarding Peace

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 6 THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT

        • I. "Male and Female He Created Them . . ."

        • II. The Vocation to Chastity

        • III. The Love of Husband and Wife

        • IV. Offenses Against the Dignity of Marriage

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 7 THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT

        • I. The Universal Destination and the Private Ownership of Goods

        • II. Respect for Persons and Their Goods

        • III. The Social Doctrine of the Church

        • IV. Economic Activity and Social Justice

        • V. Justice and Solidarity Among Nations

        • VI. Love For the Poor

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 8 THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT

        • I. Living in the Truth

        • II. To Bear Witness to the Truth

        • III. Offenses Against Truth

        • IV. Respect for the Truth

        • V. The Use of the Social Communications Media

        • VI. Truth, Beauty, and Sacred Art

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 9 THE NINTH COMMANDMENT

        • I. Purification of the Heart

        • II. The Battle for Purity

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 10 THE TENTH COMMANDMENT

        • I. The Disorder of Covetous Desires

        • II. The Desires of the Spirit

        • III. Poverty of Heart

        • IV. "I Want to See God"

        • IN BRIEF
           

• PART FOUR: CHRISTIAN PRAYER

  • SECTION ONE PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

    • CHAPTER ONE THE REVELATION OF PRAYER - THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO PRAYER

      • Article 1 IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 2 IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 3 IN THE AGE OF THE CHURCH

        • I. Blessing and Adoration

        • II. Prayer of Petition

        • III. Prayer of Intercession

        • IV. Prayer of Thanksgiving

        • V. Prayer of Praise

        • IN BRIEF
           

    • CHAPTER TWO THE TRADITION OF PRAYER

      • Article 1 AT THE WELLSPRINGS OF PRAYER

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 2 THE WAY OF PRAYER

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 3 GUIDES FOR PRAYER

        • IN BRIEF
           

    • CHAPTER THREE THE LIFE OF PRAYER

      • Article 1 EXPRESSIONS OF PRAYER

        • I. Vocal prayer

        • II. Meditation

        • III. Contemplative Prayer

        • IN BRIEF
           

      • Article 2 THE BATTLE OF PRAYER

        • I. Objections to Prayer

        • II. Humble Vigilance of Heart

        • III. Filial Trust

        • IV. Persevering in Love
           

      • Article 3 THE PRAYER OF THE HOUR OF JESUS

        • IN BRIEF
           

  • SECTION TWO THE LORD'S PRAYER​

    • Article 1 "THE SUMMARY OF THE WHOLE GOSPEL"

      • I. At the Center of the Scriptures

      • II. The Lord's Prayer

      • III. The Prayer of the Church

      • IN BRIEF
         

    • Article 2 "OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN"

      • I. "We Dare To Say"

      • II. Abba - "Father!"

      • III. "Our" Father

      • IV. "Who Art in Heaven"

      • IN BRIEF
         

      • Article 3 THE SEVEN PETITIONS

        • I. "Hallowed be Thy Name"

        • II. "Thy Kingdom Come"

        • III. "Thy Will Be Done on Earth as It is in Heaven"

        • IV. "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread"

        • V. "And Forgive Us Our Trespasses, as We Forgive Those Who Trespass AGAINST US"

        • VI. "And Lead Us not into Temptation"
           

      • Article 4 THE FINAL DOXOLOGY

        • IN BRIEF