CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
SECOND EDITION

Table of Contents

APOSTOLIC LETTER
LAETAMUR MAGNOPERE
IN WHICH THE LATIN TYPICAL EDITION OF THE
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
IS APPROVED AND PROMULGATED

APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION
FIDEI DEPOSITUM
ON THE PUBLICATION OF THE
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
PREPARED FOLLOWING THE SECOND VATICAN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

PROLOGUE

          I. The Life of Man - To Know and Love God
         II. Handing on the Faith: Catechesis
        III. The Aim and Intended Readership of This 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. 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 Chart

SECTION TWO: THE PROFESSION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

             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

          I. "I Believe in One God"
         II. God Reveals His Name
        III. God, "He Who Is," Is Truth and Love
         IV. The Implications of Faith in One God
             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 2. The Father

          I. "In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"
         II. The Revelation of God as Trinity
        III. The Holy Trinity in the Teaching of the Faith
         IV. The Divine Works and the Trinitarian Missions
             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 3. The Almighty

             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 4. The Creator

          I. Catechesis on Creation
         II. Creation - Work of the Holy Trinity
        III. "The World Was Created for the Glory of God"
         IV. The Mystery of Creation
          V. God Carries Out His Plan: Divine Providence
             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 5. Heaven and Earth

          I. The Angels
         II. The Visible World
             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 6. Man

          I. "In the Image of God"
         II. "Body and Soul but Truly One"
        III. "Male and Female He Created Them"
         IV. Man in Paradise
             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 7. The Fall

          I. Where Sin Abounded, Grace Abounded All the More
         II. The Fall of the Angels
        III. Original Sin
         IV. "You Did Not Abandon Him to the Power of Death"
             IN BRIEF

  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

          I. Why Did the Word Become Flesh?
         II. The Incarnation
        III. True God and True Man
         IV. How Is the Son of God Man?
             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 2. "Conceived by the Power of the Holy Spirit and Born of the Virgin Mary"

          I. Conceived by the Power of the Holy Spirit. . .
         II. . . .Born of the Virgin Mary
             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 3. "The Mysteries of Christ's Life"

          I. Christ's Whole Life Is Mystery
         II. The Mysteries of Jesus' Infancy and Hidden Life
        III. The Mysteries of Jesus' Public Life
             IN BRIEF

    ARTICLE 4: "JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED, AND WAS BURIED"

      Paragraph 1. Jesus and Israel

          I. Jesus and the Law
         II. Jesus and the Temple
        III. Jesus and Israel's Faith in the One God and Savior
             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 2. Jesus Died Crucified

          I. The Trial of Jesus
         II. Christ's Redemptive Death in God's Plan of Salvation
        III. Christ Offered Himself to his Father for Our Sins
             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 3. Jesus Christ Was Buried

             IN BRIEF

    ARTICLE 5: "HE DESCENDED INTO HELL ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN"

      Paragraph 1. Christ Descended into Hell

             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 2. On the Third Day He Rose from the Dead

          I. The Historical and Transcendent Event
         II. The Resurrection - A Work of the Holy Trinity
        III. The Meaning and Saving Significance of the Resurrection
             IN BRIEF

    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 Names, 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

          I. Names and Images of the Church
         II. The Church's Origin, Foundation, and Mission
        III. The Mystery of the Church
             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 2. The Church - People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy Spirit

          I. The Church - People of God
         II. The Church - Body of Christ
        III. The Church is the Temple of the Holy Spirit
             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 3. The Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic

          I. The Church Is One
         II. The Church Is Holy
        III. The Church Is Catholic
         IV. The Church Is Apostolic
             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 4. Christ's Faithful - Hierarchy, Laity, Consecrated Life

          I. The Hierarchical Constitution of the Church
         II. The Lay Faithful
        III. The Consecrated Life
             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 5. The Communion of Saints

          I. Communion in Spiritual Goods
         II. The Communion of the Church of Heaven and Earth
             IN BRIEF

      Paragraph 6. Mary - Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church

          I. Mary's Motherhood with Regard to the Church
         II. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin
        III. Mary - Eschatological Icon of the Church
             IN BRIEF

    ARTICLE 10: "I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS"

          I. One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins
         II. The Power of the Keys
             IN BRIEF

    ARTICLE 11: "I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY"

          I. Christ's Resurrection and Ours
         II. Dying in Jesus Christ
             IN BRIEF

    ARTICLE 12: "I BELIEVE IN LIFE EVERLASTING"

          I. The Particular Judgement
         II. Heaven
        III. The Final Purification, or Purgatory
         IV. Hell
          V. The Last Judgement
         VI. The 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

    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 the 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 the 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 Pascal 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. It's Foundation 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 Sacramant 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 Judgement of Conscience
         II. The Formation of Conscience
        III. To Choose in Accord with Conscience
         IV. Erroneous Judgement
             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 COMMUNITY

    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

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS CHART

SECTION TWO: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

             IN BRIEF

  CHAPTER ONE: "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOU 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 and the Kingdom
         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

             WHAT IS PRAYER?

  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

  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: "OUR FATHER!"

    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. "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. "The 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"
        VII. "But Deliver Us From Evil"

    ARTICLE 4: THE FINAL DOXOLOGY

             IN BRIEF

ABBREVIATIONS

 

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