Catechism (1997)

Paragraphs 941-945

These paragraphs define the participation of the laity in Christ's priestly, prophetic, and kingly offices through Baptism and Confirmation, and distinguish the 'consecrated life' marked by vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Paragraph 2074

This text establishes the theological foundation for the Ten Commandments by grounding moral obedience in a mystical union with Christ, utilizing the Johannine metaphor of the vine and branches.

Part One, Section One, Chapter One (Paragraphs 27-49)

This text asserts that humanity is inherently religious, created by and for God, and capable of knowing God's existence with certainty through natural reason, though divine revelation is necessary for intimacy and clarity due to sin.

Part One, Section One, Chapter Two (Paragraphs 26-141)

This text outlines the Catholic doctrine of Divine Revelation, asserting that God reveals Himself through a single Deposit of Faith consisting of both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, which is authentically interpreted solely by the Magisterium.

Part One, Section One, Chapter Two, Article 1 (Paragraphs 51-53)

God, in His goodness, reveals Himself gradually through deeds and words culminating in Christ, inviting humanity to share in the divine nature.

Part One, Section One, Chapter Two, Article 2, Paragraph 74

This text asserts God's universal will for human salvation through the specific knowledge of Jesus Christ, necessitating the global proclamation of the Gospel.

Part One, Section One, Chapter Two, Article 3 (Paragraphs 101-104)

This text defines Sacred Scripture as the speech of God in human format, analogous to the Incarnation, and asserts that the Church venerates Scripture with the same reverence as the Eucharistic Body of Christ.

Part One, Section One, Chapter Three (Paragraphs 142-184)

This text defines faith as a supernatural gift of grace and a free human act of submitting intellect and will to God, explicitly mediated through the authority and nurturing of the Church.

Part One, Section One, Chapter Three, Article 1 (Paragraphs 144-149)

This text defines faith as the 'obedience of faith'—a free submission to God's guaranteed truth—using Abraham as the scriptural model and the Virgin Mary as the 'most perfect embodiment' of this virtue.

Part One, Section One, Chapter Three, Article 2 (Paragraphs 166-167)

This text defines faith as a personal response to God that is simultaneously dependent upon and mediated by the community of believers, specifically the Church acting as 'Mother' and teacher.

Part One, Section Two, Chapter One (Paragraphs 198-421)

This section expounds the first article of the Creed, detailing the doctrine of the Trinity, the creation of the world ex nihilo, the existence of angels, the nature of man as Imago Dei, and the Fall (Original Sin).

Part One, Section Two, Chapter One, Article 1 (Paragraphs 199-231)

This text expounds on the first article of the Creed, 'I believe in God,' establishing the doctrine of strict Monotheism, the revelation of the Divine Name (YHWH) as both 'He Who Is' (Being itself) and the God of faithfulness, and the attributes of God as Truth and Love.

Part One, Section Two, Chapter Two (Paragraphs 422-682)

A comprehensive Christological exposition covering the Incarnation, the role of the Virgin Mary, the mysteries of Jesus' life, his Passion, Resurrection, and the establishment of the Church through Peter.

Part One Section Two Chapter Two Article 3 (Paragraphs 456-483)

This section expounds on the doctrine of the Incarnation, detailing the four reasons the Word became flesh, affirming the Hypostatic Union (true God and true man) against historical heresies, and establishing the theological basis for the veneration of holy images.

Part One, Section Two, Chapter Two, Article 4, Paragraphs 571-573

This section establishes the Paschal mystery (Christ's Cross and Resurrection) as the center of the Gospel, affirming the historical reality of Jesus' rejection and the "once for all" nature of His redemptive death.

Part One, Section Two, Chapter Two, Article 5, Paragraph 631

This paragraph asserts the theological unity of Christ's descent into the realm of the dead and His Resurrection, framing them as the essential Paschal mystery where life emerges from the depths of death.

Part One, Section Two, Chapter Two, Article 6 (Paragraphs 659-664)

This text expounds on the Ascension of Jesus Christ as the definitive entry of His humanity into divine glory, His permanent intercession as High Priest, and the inauguration of His eternal Kingdom.

Part One, Section Two, Chapter Two, Article 7 (Paragraphs 668-677)

This text outlines the Catholic eschatological framework, asserting Christ's current Lordship, the Church's role as the seed of the Kingdom, the necessity of a final trial (Antichrist), and the ultimate triumph of God beyond history rather than through secular progress.

Part One Section Two Chapter Three

This text expounds on the Holy Spirit's role in animating the Church, establishing its hierarchical structure under the Pope, and administering salvation through sacraments, Mary, and the communion of saints, culminating in the resurrection and eternal life.

Part One, Section Two, Chapter Three, Article 9, Paragraphs 748-750

This text establishes the Church's identity as dependent entirely on Christ (the Sun) and the Holy Spirit, defining the Church as the moon that reflects Christ's light rather than generating its own.

Part One Section Two Chapter Three Article 10, Paragraph 976

This text asserts that Christ conferred His own divine power to forgive sins upon the Apostles, inextricably linking faith in forgiveness to faith in the Church.

Part One, Section Two, Chapter Three, Article 11 (Paragraphs 988-991)

This section asserts the physical resurrection of the body as the culmination of the Christian Creed, grounded in the resurrection of Christ and the agency of the Trinity.

Part One, Section Two, Chapter Three, Article 12, Paragraph 1020

This text outlines the Catholic sacramental approach to death, emphasizing the Church's role in administering final pardon, anointing, and the Eucharist (Viaticum) to prepare the soul for eternal life.

Part Two, Section One, Chapter One (Paragraphs 4-10, 1077-1134)

This text establishes the Liturgy and Sacraments as the primary means by which the Holy Trinity dispenses salvation, asserting that the sacraments are necessary for salvation and that Christ acts efficaciously through the ordained priesthood and the ritual itself.

Part Two, Section One, Chapter Two (Paragraphs 1135-1209)

This text expounds on the sacramental celebration of the Paschal mystery, defining liturgy as the work of the 'Whole Christ' (Head and Body) involving signs, symbols, and specific ministers.

Part Two, Section One, Chapter Three, Paragraph 1076

This text asserts that the Church was manifested at Pentecost and now exists in a specific era where Christ actively communicates His salvation through the Church.

Part Two Section Two Chapter One (Paragraphs 1212-1419)

This text outlines the theology and liturgical practice of the three 'Sacraments of Christian Initiation': Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, asserting them as the necessary means by which the faithful are born anew, strengthened, and nourished in the divine life.

Part Two, Section Two, Chapter Two: The Sacraments of Healing

This text outlines the theology and practice of the two 'Sacraments of Healing': Penance (Reconciliation) and the Anointing of the Sick, asserting that Christ instituted these rituals to restore grace lost by sin after Baptism and to sanctify suffering.

Part Two, Section Two, Chapter Three (Articles 1533-1666)

This section expounds on the two 'Sacraments at the Service of Communion': Holy Orders (the ministerial priesthood) and Matrimony, detailing their institution, theological significance, and requirements for the faithful.

Part Two, Section Two, Chapter Four (Articles 1677-1690)

This text defines 'Sacramentals' as Church-instituted signs that prepare believers for grace and outlines the theology of Christian Funerals, emphasizing the Church's role in purifying the deceased through the Eucharistic sacrifice.

Part Two Section Two Chapter Four Article 1 (Paragraphs 1667-1676)

This text defines 'sacramentals' as sacred signs instituted by the Church to prepare the faithful to receive grace and sanctify daily life, while also addressing exorcism and popular piety.

Part Two, Section Two, Chapter Four, Article 2, Paragraph 1680

This text frames the Christian life as a sacramental journey where the sacraments of initiation prepare the believer for death, defined here as the 'last Passover' and entry into the Kingdom.

Part Three, Section One, Chapter One (Paragraphs 1700-1876)

This section outlines Catholic moral theology, asserting that human dignity rests on the Imago Dei and is fulfilled through the pursuit of Beatitude (happiness in God) via the exercise of free will, the formation of conscience, and the cultivation of virtues, while warning that mortal sin destroys the state of grace necessary for salvation.

Part Three, Section One, Chapter One, Article 6, Paragraph 1776

This text defines moral conscience as a divine law inscribed on the human heart, acting as a sanctuary where the individual encounters the voice of God calling them to obedience.

Part Three, Section One, Chapter One, Article 7, Paragraph 1803

This text defines virtue as a habitual and firm disposition to do the good, citing Philippians 4:8 as the standard for moral thought.

Part Three, Section One, Chapter Two (Paragraphs 1877-1948)

This text outlines the Catholic doctrine of the 'Human Communion,' asserting that human society is grounded in the dignity of the human person, requiring authority, the common good, and social justice to reflect the image of God.

Part Three, Section One, Chapter Two, Article 1 (Paragraphs 1878-1885)

This text outlines the Catholic doctrine of the social nature of humanity, asserting that society is essential for human fulfillment and reflects the Trinitarian communion.

Part Three, Section One, Chapter Two, Article 2 (Paragraphs 1897-1904)

This text establishes the divine origin of civil authority, the necessity of government for the common good, and the moral limits of obedience when laws contradict the moral order.

Part Three, Section One, Chapter Two, Article 3, Paragraph 1928

This text defines social justice as the societal obligation to create conditions allowing individuals and groups to receive what is owed to them based on their nature and vocation.

Part Three, Section One, Chapter Three (Paragraphs 1949-2051)

This text delineates the Catholic understanding of salvation as a cooperative process involving Natural Law, the Old Law, and the New Law of the Gospel, wherein justification is an internal renewal effected by grace and sacraments, allowing believers to merit eternal life through works of charity under the authoritative guidance of the Church Magisterium.

Part Three, Section One, Chapter Three, Article 1 (Paragraphs 1950-1953)

This section defines the Moral Law as divine pedagogy and fatherly instruction designed to lead humanity to beatitude, asserting that this law is rooted in Eternal Law and expressed through natural, revealed, civil, and ecclesiastical forms, culminating in Christ.

Part Three, Section One, Chapter Three, Article 2 (Paragraphs 1987-1995)

This text defines justification not as a legal declaration of righteousness, but as an ontological process involving the remission of sins, inner sanctification, and renewal, conferred through Baptism and requiring human cooperation.

Part Three, Section One, Chapter Three, Article 3 (Paragraphs 2030-2031)

This text asserts that the Christian vocation is fulfilled exclusively within the institutional Church, which dispenses the Word and sacramental grace necessary for the moral life, while establishing the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian existence.

Part Three, Section One, Chapter Four, Paragraph 1699

A transitional summary paragraph asserting that the human vocation is fulfilled by life in the Holy Spirit, which consists of divine charity and human solidarity, and is offered as salvation.

Part Three, Section Two, Chapter One (Paragraphs 2083-2195)

This section expounds on the first three commandments of the Decalogue, defining the duties of loving God, respecting His name, and keeping the Lord's Day holy through mandatory liturgical participation.

Part Three, Section Two, Chapter Two (Paragraphs 2196-2557)

A comprehensive exposition of the Second Table of the Decalogue (Commandments 4-10), detailing Catholic moral theology regarding family, life, sexuality, property, truth, and covetousness.

Part Three Section Two Chapter Three (Paragraphs 2052-2082)

This section establishes the Ten Commandments as a revelation of God's will, binding upon all Christians, and asserts that keeping them is necessary for entering eternal life.

Part Three, Section Two, Chapter Four (Paragraphs 1691-1698)

This text outlines the moral life of Christians as a response to the dignity conferred by Baptism, asserting that sacraments communicate the grace necessary to perform works that merit eternal life.

Part Four, Section One, Chapter One (Paragraphs 2566-2649)

A theological exposition on the nature and history of prayer, tracing its development from Creation through the Old Testament patriarchs and prophets to its fulfillment in Jesus Christ and the Church.

Part Four, Section One, Chapter Two: The Tradition of Prayer

This text establishes the sources and guides for Catholic prayer, asserting that while prayer is a personal covenant with the Trinity, it is learned and mediated through the Church's Sacred Tradition, the Liturgy, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints.

Part Four, Section One, Chapter Three (Paragraphs 2697-2758)

This chapter defines prayer as a vital relationship with God, categorized into vocal, meditative, and contemplative expressions, and frames the life of prayer as a spiritual battle against the self, the tempter, and worldly distractions.

Part Four, Section One, Chapter Three, Article 1 (Paragraphs 2700-2704)

This text establishes vocal prayer as an essential element of Christian life, grounded in the Incarnation and the composite nature of humanity (body and spirit). It asserts that while words are necessary to express interior truth, the efficacy of prayer depends on the fervor of the soul and the presence of the heart.