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SOME CATHOLIC BASICS

1) SIGN OF THE CROSS — (In Latin)

    In the name of the Father, and of the Son. and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2) APOSTLES' CREED — (In Latin)

    I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

3) OUR FATHER — (In Latin)

    Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

4) HAIL MARY — (In Latin)

    Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray tor us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

5) GLORY BE TO THE FATHER — (In Latin)

    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

6) ACTS OF CONTRITION

    A)  0 my God, I am sorry for all my sins, because they displease You, who are all good and deserving of all my love. With your help I will sin no more.

    B)  0 my God. I am most sorry for ever having sinned, and I detest all my sins because I fear the loss of heaven and the pains of hell but I am sorry most of all because I have offended You, my God. Who are all good and deserving of all my love. With your help I am determined to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

    C)  O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all of my sins because of thy just punishment. But, most of all because I have offended you, my God, Who are all worthy and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.

7) MORNING OFFERING

    O my God I offer you through Jesus Christ, my every thought and word and action of this day for your greater glory and my salvation. Amen.

8) CONFESSION   (See Preparation for and Examination of Conscience)

    1. A penitent should always be given the option of not being seen by the priest.
    2. There is no circumstance in which a priest may associate you with what he hears, under the seal of Confession, without incurring excommunication.
    3. Someone who accidentally overhears part or all of a confession commits a mortal sin of sacrilege if repeated or acted upon by word or action.
    4. A priest accomplice may not hear your confession except in danger of death.
    5. An annulment cannot be granted by a parish priest, in or outside of confession, except in danger of death; and then only under the condition that you do not cohabit and will seek a legal annulment should recovery occur.

    PENITENT: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
    PRIEST: . . . .
    PENITENT: Amen.
    PRIEST: . . . .
    PENITENT: I confess to Almighty God and to you father that I have sinned.
    It has been _______ weeks (days, months, years) since my last confession.

    Confess sins. (By kind and number [approximate if necessary].
    Never mention names.
    Give only those details which will change the type or degree of the sin being confessed.)

    Close with the following or a similar statement:
    I am sorry for these and all of the sins of my past life and ask for penance and absolution.

    PRIEST: Gives penance.
    PENITENT: Act of contrition.
    PRIEST: ABSOLUTION
    PENITENT: Amen.
    PRIEST: . . . .
    PENITENT: His mercy endures forever.
    PRIEST: . . . .

9) TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS

  1. You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind and with your whole strength.
  2. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

10) THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

  1. I am the Lord your God: You shall not have strange gods before me.
  2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
  3. Remember to keep holy the Lord's day.
  4. Honor your father and your mother.
  5. You shall not kill.
  6. You shall not commit adultery.
  7. You shall not steal.
  8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
  9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
  10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

11) LAWS OF THE CHURCH

  1. To assist at Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.
  2. To fast and to abstain on the days appointed.
  3. To confess our sins at least once a year.
  4. To receive Holy Communion during Easter time.
  5. To contribute to the support of the Church.
  6. To observe the laws of the Church concerning marriage.

12) HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION

    Christmas Day (Dec. 25)
    Feast of Mary the Mother of God (Jan. 1) formerly - Circumcision of Jesus
    Ascension Thursday (40 days after Easter)
    The Assumption of Mary into Heaven (Aug. 15)
    All Saints' Day (Nov. 1)
    The Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8)

13) SEVEN SACRAMENTS

  1. Baptism
  2. Penance (also called - Sacrament of Reconciliation)
  3. Holy Eucharist
  4. Matrimony
  5. Confirmation
  6. Holy Orders
  7. Anointing of the Sick (formerly called - Extreme Unction)

14) THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES

  1. Faith
  2. Hope
  3. Charity

15) CARDINAL (MORAL) VIRTUES

    Prudence – Justice – Fortitude – Temperance.

16) VICES

    Pride – covetousness – lust – anger – gluttony – envy – sloth.

17) BEATITUDES

  1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  2. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.
  3. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
  4. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.
  5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
  6. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.
  7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
  8. Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

18) GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

    Wisdom – Understanding – Counsel – Fortitude – Knowledge – Piety – Fear of the Lord.

19) SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY

  1. To admonish the sinner.
  2. To instruct the ignorant.
  3. To counsel the doubtful.
  4. To comfort the sorrowful.
  5. To bear wrongs patiently.
  6. To forgive all injuries.
  7. To pray for the living and the dead.

20) CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY

  1. To feed the hungry.
  2. To give drink to the thirsty.
  3. To clothe the naked.
  4. To visit the imprisoned.
  5. To shelter the homeless.
  6. To visit the sick.
  7. To bury the dead.

21) ST. PAUL ON LOVE

           If I have the eloquence of men or of angels. but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. If I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and knowing everything, and if I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but am without love, then I am nothing at all. If I give away all I possess, piece by piece. . . . but am without love, it will do me no good whatever.

           Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offense, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins but delights in the truth: it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. (1 Cor. 13: 1-7)

22) MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

    JOYFUL — (Mondays, Thursdays, and on Sundays from the 1st Sunday of Advent up to Lent.) Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Presentation, Finding of Christ in the Temple.

    SORROWFUL — (Tuesdays, Fridays, and on Sundays during Lent.) Agony in the Garden, Scourging, Crowning with Thorns, Carrying of the Cross, Crucifixion.

    GLORIOUS — (Wednesdays, Saturdays, and on Easter Sunday until the 1st Sunday of Advent.) Resurrection, Ascension, Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, The Assumption of Mary into Heaven, Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven.

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