The Catechism of the Catholic Church

This article is for the full catechism. For younger readers, consider YOUCAT – Youth Catechism instead. This is the same material, but in a format which is more accessible to youth. Recommended for middle school students and high school students. It is often used for Confirmation preparation..

What Is the Catechism of the Catholic Church?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a complete summary of all that the Catholic Church teaches and believes.

The Catechism references the Bible, the parts of the Mass, the Sacraments of the Church, the Apostolic Tradition, and the insights of the saints to explain the teachings of the Catholic Church. The references provide a way to study the beliefs which Catholics hold and come to a deeper understanding.

This document will help you find answers about Catholic teachings and will help you understand and explain the faith to others.

Online Catechism of the Catholic Church

Sections

This is an extensive document. The main sections are outlined below.

Prologue

• The Life of Man – To Know and Love God
• Handing on the Faith: Catechesis
• The Aim and Intended Readership of the Document
• Structure of the Document
• Practical Directions for Using the Document
• Necessary Adaptations

The Profession of Faith

• I Believe – We Believe
  • Man’s Capacity for God
  • God Comes to Meet Man
  • Man’s Response to God
• The Profession of the Christian Faith
  • I Believe in God the Father
  • I Believe in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord
  • I Believe in the Holy Spirit

The Celebration of the Christian Mystery

• The Sacramental Economy
  • The Paschal Mystery in the Age of the Church
  • The Sacramental Celebration of the Paschal Mystery
• The Seven Sacraments of the Church
  • The Sacraments of Christian Initiation
  • The Sacraments of Healing
  • The Sacraments at the Service of Communion
  • Other Liturgical Celebrations

Life in Christ

• Man’s Vocation Life in the Spirit
  • The Dignity of the Human Person
  • The Human Community
  • God’s Salvation: Law and Grace
• The Ten Commandments
  • You Shall Love the Lord Your God with All Your Heart, and with All Your Soul, and with All Your Mind
  • You Shall Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

Christian Prayer

• Prayer in the Christian Life
  • The Revelation of Prayer
  • The Tradition of Prayer
  • The Life of Prayer
• The Lord’s Prayer “Our Father!”
  • The Summary of the Whole Gospel
  • Our Father Who Art in Heaven
  • The Seven Petitions
  • The Final Doxology

The Our Father

A challenge when we say the Our Father is to not say it automatically, without thinking. Instead when we pray it, try to see which phrase stands out the most. It will vary from day to day. Maybe that’s what God wants us to focus on in that moment.

Ten Commandments Activity

This simple Ten Commandments activity will help children who already have some knowledge of the Ten Commandments learn how to order them correctly.