The Catholic Faith |
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What and Who is a Catholic? Catholics are Christians, this means that they are followers of Jesus Christ. They believe Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, the Son of God, their friend, liberator, Lord and Saviour. Catholics believe that Jesus Christ set up the Church (Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 16, verse 18) to pass on the fullness of his teaching, his life, and to carry on his work. They are ordinary people who have many different jobs, faces and interests. A Family
Catholic means universal. There are over one billion people worldwide who are members of the Catholic Church which was founded by Jesus Christ in the first century AD. It is made up of a large family of people from every race, colour and social The head of the Catholic Community worldwide is the Pope, currently Pope Francis. Locally, the Church is led by bishops and priests. The Pope is the Head of State of The Holy See - the Vatican in Rome, Italy. His mission is to share the Good News that God loves us unconditionally and is merciful. It’s this reality – of God’s love and mercy – that is his primary message and is one that lies at the heart of the Catholic Faith. Click here to find more information on Pope Francis on the vatican website. Church ‘Church’ means the gathering of the people of God. The church building is the focal point for Catholic community gatherings, and is a place where friendships are made and lives shared. People gather there to pray, and to learn about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The ‘sacraments’ are a very important part of Church life. These are God-given spiritual channels through which life flows. The ‘Eucharist’ is a very special sacrament. When Catholics come together to celebrate ‘Mass’ they share a holy meal and believe that through it they are fed, under the appearance of bread and wine, the Body and Blood of Christ.
During the Mass a miracle takes place. When the priest says The seven sacraments are: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony and Holy Orders. Jesus’ Teaching Jesus taught that we should love our neighbour as ourselves (Mark’s Gospel, chapter 12, verse 31). Catholics try to put this into practice and find it to be a life-giving and fulfilling way to live. They are involved in a wide variety of charitable works such as running hostels for the homeless and caring for the elderly. From The Gospels, contained within The Bible, some of the core parts of Jesus’ teaching are:
In Summary A summary of the Catholic Faith can be found in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creed. The Apostles’ Creed contains brief statements which express the fundamental basis of Christian belief. According to tradition, it is considered to be a faithful summary of the apostles’ faith; the apostles were the first followers of Jesus Christ. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 194). Article from the Catholic Encyclopaedia
"This Creed is the spiritual seal, our heart's meditation and an ever-present guardian; it is, unquestionably, the treasure of our soul." (St. Ambrose, Expl. symb . I: PL 17, 1193) Catechism The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the Church's teaching document. It is arranged in four main parts:
When presenting the Compendium of the Catechism in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI described it as being for: "every human being, who, in a world of distractions desires to know the Way of Life, the Truth, entrusted by God to His Son's Church." Your Choice Jesus has many amazing things to offer you and those you love. His life and message is about wholeness, love and freedom. Jesus will not force you to get to know him and receive all the good things on offer. You are free to choose. It is up to you... First Steps If you are interested in finding out more about the Catholic Faith or if you are a Catholic and have lost touch with your local parish, you are very welcome to come along to St Peter's and speak to Fr John. The best time to visit may be to a Mass which are usually every day of the week. Mass times for the week ahead can be found under the 'Services' tab above. Alternatively, if you would like to contact Fr John, details can be found under the 'Contact Us' tab. Further general information is also available at the Catholic Enquiry Office at www.catholicfaith.org.uk. For free publications and general enquiries please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or tel: 0207 901 4863. All enquiries are confidential. Free materials are sent in a plain envelope and there are no callers or obligations. Catholic Already? If you are a Catholic, please see the wide range of resources which are designed to help you share your faith, at CASE Resources (Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation): www.caseresources.org.uk Alternatively, telephone them on: 0207 901 4863, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it You may wish to discuss any resources you require with Fr John or Claire in the parish office. Links The following is not exhaustive, but aims to give a general insight into Catholic life and beliefs.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Documents of Vatican II
Catholic Faith Website
The Gift of Scripture - Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales, and of Scotland [PDF - 1.68MB]
Cherishing Life - Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales [PDF - 514KB]
Saving Hope (Spe Salvi) - Pope Benedict XVI
God is Love (Deus Caritas Est) - Pope Benedict XVI
Splendour of the Truth (Veritatis Splendour) - Pope John Paul II
Human Life (Humanae Vitae) - Pope Paul VI
Proclaiming the Gospel (Evangelii Nuntiandi) - Pope Paul VI |