CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

[Jack Ryan]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (Latin: Catechismus Catholicae Ecclesiae; commonly called the Catechism or the CCC) is a catechism promulgated for the Catholic Church by Pope John Paul II in 1992. It sums up, in book form, the beliefs of the Catholic faithful.

The decision to publish a catechism was taken at the Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that was convened by Pope John Paul II on 25 January 1985 for the 20th anniversary of the close of the Second Vatican Council, and in 1986, put a commission composed of 12 bishops and cardinals in charge of the project. The commission was assisted by a committee consisting seven diocesan bishops, experts in theology and catechesis.

The text was approved by John Paul II on 25 June 1992, and promulgated by him on 11 October 1992, the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, with his apostolic constitution, Fidei depositum. Cardinal Georges Cottier, Theologian emeritus of the Pontifical Household and now Cardinal-Deacon of Santi Domenico e Sisto the University Church of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum was influential in drafting the encyclical.

It was published in the French language in 1992. Later it was then translated into many other languages. In the United States, the English translation was published by the U.S. bishops in 1994,[citation needed] with a note that it was "subject to revision according to the Latin typical edition (editio typica) when it is published."

On August 15, 1997—the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary— John Paul II promulgated the Latin typical edition, with his apostolic letter, Laetamur Magnopere.[citation needed] The Latin text, which became the official text of reference (editio typica),[8] amended the contents of the provisional French text at a few points.[9] One of the changes consisted in the inclusion of the position on death penalty that is defended in John Paul II's encyclical Evangelium Vitae of 1995.

As a result, the earlier translations from the French into other languages (including English) had to be amended and re-published as "second editions".

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• PROLOGUE
  • • I. The life of man - to know and love God
    • II. Handing on the Faith: Catechesis
    • III. The Aim and Intended Readership of the 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. The 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
  • SECTION TWO I. 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
        • Paragraph 2. THE FATHER
        • Paragraph 3. THE ALMIGHTY
        • Paragraph 4. THE CREATOR
        • Paragraph 5. HEAVEN AND EARTH
        • Paragraph 6. MAN
        • Paragraph 7. THE FALL
    • 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
        • Paragraph 2. "CONCEIVED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY"
        • Paragraph 3. THE MYSTERIES OF CHRIST'S LIFE
      • Article 4 "JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED AND WAS BURIED"
        • Paragraph 1. JESUS AND ISRAEL
        • Paragraph 2. JESUS DIED CRUCIFIED
        • Paragraph 3. JESUS CHRIST WAS BURIED
      • Article 5 "HE DESCENDED INTO HELL. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN"
        • Paragraph 1. CHRIST DESCENDED INTO HELL
        • Paragraph 2. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD
      • 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 AGAlN 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 Name, 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
        • Paragraph 2. THE CHURCH - PEOPLE OF GOD, BODY OF CHRIST, TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
        • Paragraph 3. THE CHURCH IS ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC
        • Paragraph 4. CHRIST'S FAITHFUL - HIERARCHY, LAITY, CONSECRATED LIFE
        • Paragraph 5. THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
        • Paragraph 6. MARY - MOTHER OF CHRIST, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH
      • Article 10 "I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS"
        • I. One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins
        • II. The Power of the Keys
      • Article 11 "I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY"
        • I. Christ's Resurrection and Ours
        • II. Dying in Christ Jesus
        • IN BRIEF
      • Article 12 "I BELIEVE IN LIFE EVERLASTING"
        • I. The Particular Judgment
        • II. Heaven
        • III. The Final Purification, or Purgatory
        • IV. Hell
        • V. The Last Judgment
        • VI. 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 OF THE PASCHAL MYSTERY
      • 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 This 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 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 Paschal 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. Its Foundations 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 Sacrament 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 Judgment of Conscience
        • II. The Formation of Conscience
        • III. To Choose in Accord With Conscience
        • IV. Erroneous Judgment
        • 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 COMMUNION
      • 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
  • SECTION TWO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
    • • • IN BRIEF
    • CHAPTER ONE YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR 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 Members
        • 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
    • 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
        • IN BRIEF
    • 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. Perservering in Love
      • Article 3 THE PRAYER OF THE HOUR OF JESUS
        • IN BRIEF
  • SECTION TWO THE LORD'S PRAYER
    • • 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. Abba - "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. "Thy 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"
      • Article 4 THE FINAL DOXOLOGY
        • IN BRIEF