Frequently Asked Questions

What do Catholics Believe

During the celebration of a Catholic Mass, the participants in the congregation at one point profess their faith when reciting the Nicene Creed.  What is stated in the Nicene Creed is what Catholics believe.

We believe in one God, the Father, the 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.

(Source: Leaflet Missal, South Holland, IL, 2000)

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Sacraments of the Catholic Church?
There are seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. The following is a brief explanation of each of the seven.

Baptism: The first of the seven sacraments, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification. Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist constitute the Sacraments of initiation by which a believer receives the remission of original and personal sin, begins a new life in Christ and the Holy Spirit, and is incorporated into the Church, the body of Christ. The rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate in water, or pouring water on the head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.

Confirmation: One of the ensemble of the Sacraments of Initiation into the Church, together with Baptism and Eucharist. Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism by a special outpouring of the gifts of Holy Spirit, which seal or confirm the baptized in union with Christ and equip them for active participation in the worship and apostolic life of the Church.

Eucharist: The sacrificial memorial of Christ and His Body. The liturgical celebration of Eucharist is the Source and summit of the Christian life, and the great act of thanksgiving and praise to the Father. At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood. The structure of the celebration unfolds in two parts which have been preserved down through the centuries: - the gathering, the liturgy of the Word, with readings, homily and general intercessions; - the liturgy of the Eucharist, with the presentation of the bread and wine, the consecratory thanksgiving and communion.

Penance or Reconciliation: The liturgical celebration of God's forgiveness of the sins of the penitent, who is thus reconciled with God and with the Church. The acts of the penitent B contrition, the confession of sins, and satisfaction or reparation B together with the prayer of absolution by the priest, constitute the essential elements of the Sacrament of Penance.

Anointing of the Sick: Is administered by a priest to baptized persons who are seriously ill or in danger of death from sickness or old age. The ritual includes laying hands on them, praying for them in the faith of the Church and anointing them on the forehead and hands with blessed oil. The proper effects of the sacrament include a special grace of healing, comfort and forgiveness of sins.

Holy Orders: The Sacrament of Apostolic Ministry by which the mission entrusted by Christ to his Apostles continues to be exercised in the Church through the laying on the hands. This sacrament has three distinct degrees or Orders: deacon, priest, and bishop. All three confer a permanent, sacramental character.

Matrimony: A covenant or partnership of life between a man and woman, which is ordered to the well-being of the spouses and to the procreation and upbringing of children. When validly contracted between two baptized people, marriage is a sacrament.

(Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1997)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Catholic Church?
The Catholic Church is the Church established by Christ on the foundation of the Apostles, possessing the fullness of the means of salvation which He has willed: correct and complete confession of faith, full sacramental life, and ordained ministry in apostolic succession. The Church is catholic or universal both because she possesses the fullness of Christ's presence and the means of salvation, and because she has been sent out by Christ on a mission to the whole of the human race.

(Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1997)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I become Catholic?
Newly born children become Catholic by simply receiving the Sacrament of Baptism. Adults commonly receive instruction in the Catholic faith which prepares the individual for receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. This adult instruction is called RCIA. RCIA is an abbreviation for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.


Frequently Asked Questions

I'm a divorced Catholic. Can I still receive the sacraments of the Catholic Church?
Yes, divorced Catholics, who have not remarried, can still receive the Sacraments of Eucharist, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick. A CATHOLIC WHO HAS REMARRIED OUTSIDE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS TO PURSUE AN ANNULMENT BEFORE RETURNING TO THE SACRAMENTS.

For a divorced Catholic to again receive the Sacrament of Matrimony, it must be determined by a diocesan Tribunal [a Catholic church court] that the first marriage was an invalid marriage.


Frequently Asked Questions

How do I return to the Catholic Church?
An individual who is a baptized member of the Church, but for whatever reason has not been a practicing member can come back to the Church and receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. Such a person may want to contact a nearby Catholic Church to discuss coming back to their faith. Making an initial phone call to a Catholic parish secretary is a great first step. The parish secretary can identify for the individual, members of the parish staff to welcome you back.