“Trust the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths." – Proverbs 3:5-6
What does it mean to be a Roman Catholic? While different people may offer varied answers, there are three truths that are at the heart of every Catholic - a belief in God, our Father, Jesus Christ, His Son and the Holy Spirit. This undeniable truth and belief in The Trinity is one of the Ten Foundational Beliefs of Catholicism.
- Catholics believe in a God of grace, meaning that we believe God is always with us, even within us, throughout our lives.
- Catholics believe in a God who exists in three divine persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Trinity.
- Catholics see the seven sacraments as special gifts from God, sources of grace.
- Catholics believe that Scripture (the Holy Bible) is the inspired word of God.
- Catholics believe in the long and rich tradition of the Catholic Church led by the Pope who is seen as the successor to the apostle Peter.
- Catholics believe in Saints, people who serve as a model of faith for us to follow.
- One of the primary ways Catholics practice their belief is through public and private prayer, including the Mass, sacraments, Eucharistic adoration, and more.
- Catholics are guided by moral truths taken from Scripture and tradition, namely the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes.
- Catholics actively follow Christ’s teaching by acting on the Catholic Social Teaching which encourages us to ensure the basic rights and dignity of all people in our world.
- Catholics believe together we form a Community of Believers, the Body of Christ, and bring our faith to life by the way we act, pray and worship.
Helpful Links
Find a Mass anywhere in the world: www.masstimes.org
Daily Readings & Psalms: http://www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml
The Vatican Website: www.vatican.va
Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions: www.fdlc.org
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops: www.usccb.org
National Association of Pastoral Musicians: www.npm.org
