Here is a brief summary of what Catholics believe. For further information, you may also be interested in the resources provided at the bottom of this page. If you have questions about any of these topics, we’d love to chat more with you! Contact Tiffany or Fr. White to set up a time to get together.
TRINITY
There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three persons are coequal and coeternal.
1 John 5:7; Gen 1:26; Matt 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; Heb 3:7-11; CCC 232-267
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. He is fully human and fully divine, 100% God and 100% man. He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and inaugurated the kingdom of God on earth. He suffered and died on a cross for our sins, conquered death by rising from the dead on the third day and ascended into heaven body and soul. He will come again on the last day in power and glory. He is the way, the truth, and the life; the only bridge between God and man.
John 1:1, 1:14, 20:28; 1 Tim 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Phil 2:5-6; 1 Tim 2:5; CCC 464-483
GRACE AND SALVATION
We are saved by the merits of Jesus Christ. The gift of salvation is received at baptism by water and the Holy Spirit. Once baptized, we live a life in Christ which is an ongoing process of transformation. This lifelong process of turning away from sin and toward God is often called sanctification or justification. Sanctification is achieved by faith, works, and grace from the sacraments. All three are necessary to prepare to enter heaven.
John 3:5, 3:16, 6:53; Rom 10:10; 2 Cor 5:10, 5:21; Acts 2:38; Gal 4:7; Eph 1:13; 2 Pet 1:4; 1 Thess 4:3; Eph 4:16; 1 Cor 10:20; CCC 1987-2029
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Jesus Christ established the Catholic Church as the Kingdom of God on earth. He gave his authority to govern the Church to his apostles, who have passed this office down through the centuries to other men called bishops. The Catholic Church is united in Jesus as the Body of Christ on earth, set apart and guided by the Holy Spirit, universal in application, and governed by the authority of the apostles. It is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.
Matt 3:2, 16:18-19; Eph 4:5; 1 Cor 12:12; John 20:22; Gal 3:28; 2 Tim 1:6; CCC 811-870
DIVINE REVELATION
God has fully revealed himself and his plan for us through his Word, Jesus Christ. There will be no other word than this one. This Word has been transmitted by the apostles through all generations both orally and in writing. The authentic interpretation of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition has been entrusted to the Magisterium, which is composed of all bishops in communion with the pope.
John 1:1, 1:14; Heb 1:1-2; Luke 10:16; 2 Thess 2:15; 2 Pet 1:20; Eph 2:20; CCC 74-100
MARY
The Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin and remained sinless for the rest of her life. She conceived the Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit and gave birth to Jesus Christ. She was a virgin before conceiving Jesus and remained a virgin for the rest of her life. As the mother of Jesus, she is truly the mother of God and the mother of all Christians baptized into Christ. At the end of her earthly life, her body and soul were assumed into heaven, where she continues to intercede on our behalf. These four dogmas are known as the Immaculate Conception, Perpetual Virginity, Divine Motherhood, and the Assumption.
Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:28, 1:43, 1:48; John 19:27; Gal 4:4; Acts 1:14; Rev 12:1, 12:17; CCC 487-511
COMMUNION OF SAINTS
All Christians are part of the Body of Christ and set apart for God’s kingdom. The saints in heaven have already fought the good fight on earth and behold the glory of God for the rest of eternity. They continue to pray for us on earth so that we may one day be with them in heaven.
Eph 1:1; Col 1:2; Rev 7:9-17; CCC 946-962
SACRAMENTS
Sacraments are outward signs instituted by Christ to give grace. We are saved at Baptism, we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit at Confirmation, and we are nourished by the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist. Our sins are forgiven in Confession and our souls are healed and strengthen in the Anointing of the Sick. Marriage is between man and woman until death and Holy Orders is bestowed upon the priest so that he can truly act in the person of Christ.
John 3:5, 6:51-58, 20:21-23; Acts 2:1-4, 8:14-17; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-26; James 5:14; Gen 2:18-24; Matt 19:4-6, 28:19; 2 Tim 1:6; CCC 1113-1666
THE LAST THINGS
Death is the temporary separation of man’s body and soul. Each person will face his particular judgment at the moment of his death and immediately go to one of three places. Heaven is eternal, perfect happiness with God and is offered to those who have loved God perfectly in this life. Purgatory is a temporary state of purification which serves as an entryway into heaven for those who have loved God imperfectly in this life. Hell is an eternal state of torment and despair which awaits those who have freely rejected God in this life. At the end of time, Christ will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, at which time we will experience the resurrection of the body so that our bodies would be reunited with our souls forever.
Acts 1:11; Heb 9:27; Matt 24:30; 25:31-34, 41; 1 Cor 3:14-15, 15:13; 2 Cor 5:1; 1 Pet 1:4; Phil 3:21; Mark 9:43-48; Rev 20:12-15; 1 Thess 4:15-17; CCC 988-1065