The Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Catechism and the Bible 

"The Catechsim of the Catholic Church" is essential for developing a clear understaning of the Teachings of our faith. It is linked to The Holy Bible and never stands apart from it.  They are in dialogue with each other. As we study the Catechism, we will see many links to the Sacred Scripture and deepen our understanding of them. 

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The Catechism of the Catholic Church (English)

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church (English)  



Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica (Español) 

Compendio de la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia Católica
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Catholic Social Doctrine

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Shorter Version: Catholic Catechism for Adults (published by USCCB)

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Below is an outline of the full-sized complete "Catechism of the Catholic Church" (CCC) which is divided into Four Parts. You might say it stands on four pillars of our faith: 

  1. Creeds/Profession of Faith,
  2. Celebrations/Sacraments,
  3. Commandments/Moral Life,
  4. Prayer

PROLOGUE 

I. The life of man - to know and love God  [nn.1-3]
II. Handing on the Faith: Catechesis
III. The Aim and Intended Readership of the Catechism
IV. Structure of this Catechism  [nn.13-17]
V. Practical Directions for Using this Catechism
VI. Necessary Adaptations
 

PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH   [n.26]

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   [n.50]

Article 1 THE REVELATION OF GOD

I. God Reveals His "Plan of Loving Goodness" [nn.51-53]
II. The Stages of Revelation
III. Christ Jesus -- "Mediator and Fullness of All Revelation"
IN BRIEF
 

Article 2 THE TRANSMISSION OF DIVINE REVELATION  [n.74]

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  [nn.101-104]
II. Inspiration and Truth of Sacred Scripture
III. The Holy Spirit, Interpreter of Scripture
IV. The Canon of Scripture  [nn.120-130]
V. Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church
IN BRIEF
 

CHAPTER THREE MAN'S RESPONSE TO GOD  [n.142]

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  [nn.166-167]

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    [n.185]

CHAPTER ONE I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER  [n.198]

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   [n.422]
 

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"  [nn.484-511]

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"  [nn.571-573]

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"  [n.631]

Paragraph 1. CHRIST DESCENDED INTO HELL  [nn.632-637]
Paragraph 2. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD  [nn.638-658]
 

Article 6 "HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER" [nn.659-664]
IN BRIEF
 

Article 7 "FROM THENCE HE WILL COME AGAlN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD"

I. He Will Come Again in Glory  [nn.668-677]
II. To Judge the Living and the Dead  [nn.678-679]
IN BRIEF
 

CHAPTER THREE I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT   [n.683]
 

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" [nn.748-750]

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"  [n.976]

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"   [n.1020]

I. The Particular Judgment  [nn.1021-1022]
II. Heaven   [nn.1023-1029]
III. The Final Purification, or Purgatory  [nn.1030-1032]
IV. Hell   [nn.1033-1037]
V. The Last Judgment  [nn.1038-1041]
VI. Hope of the New Heaven and the New Earth  [nn.1042-1050]
IN BRIEF

"Amen"   [nn.1061-1065]
 

PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY [n.1066]
 

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 [n.1135]
 

Article 1 CELEBRATING THE CHURCH'S LITURGY

I. Who Celebrates?  [nn.1136-1144]
II. How is the Liturgy Celebrated?  [nn.1145-1162]
III. When is the Liturgy Celebrated?
IV. Where is the Liturgy Celebrated?
IN BRIEF
 

Article 2 LITURGICAL DIVERSITY AND THE UNITY OF THE MYSTERY  [nn.1200-1206]
IN BRIEF
 

SECTION TWO: THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH   [n.1210-1211]
 

CHAPTER ONE THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION  [n.1212]
 

Article 1 THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM  [n.1213]

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  [n.1258]

I. Confirmation in the Economy of Salvation
II. The Signs and the Rite of Confirmation  [nn.1293-1301]
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  [n.1322]

  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   [n.1420]

Article 4 THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION  [n.1422]

  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  [n.1499]

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  [n.1533]
 

ARTICLE 6 THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS   [n.1536]

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   [n.1601]  

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    [nn.1667-1676]
IN BRIEF
 

Article 2 CHRISTIAN FUNERALS   [n.1680]

I. The Christian's Last Passover   [nn.1681-1683]
II. The Celebration of Funerals   [nn.1684-1690]
 

PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST  [n.1691]

SECTION ONE MAN'S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT [n.1699]

CHAPTER ONE THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON   [n.1700]

Article 1 MAN: THE IMAGE OF GOD  [nn.1701-1709]
IN BRIEF
 

Article 2 OUR VOCATION TO BEATITUDE  [nn.1716-1717]

I. The Beatitudes
II. The Desire for Happiness
III. Christian Beatitude
IN BRIEF
 

Article 3 MAN'S FREEDOM  [n.1730]

I. Freedom and Responsibility  [nn.1731-1738]
II. Human Freedom in the Economy of Salvation
IN BRIEF
 

Article 4 THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS

I. The Sources of Morality  [nn.1750-1754]
II. Good Acts and Evil Acts
IN BRIEF
 

Article 5 THE MORALITY OF THE PASSIONS

I. Passions  [nn.1763-1766]
II. Passions and Moral Life
IN BRIEF
 

Article 6 MORAL CONSCIENCE  [n.1776]

I. The Judgment of Conscience  [nn.1777-1782]
II. The Formation of Conscience  [nn.1783-1785]
III. To Choose in Accord With Conscience  [nn.1786-1789]
IV. Erroneous Judgment  [nn.1790-1794]
IN BRIEF
 

Article 7 THE VIRTUES  [n.1803]

I. The Human Virtues
II. The Theological Virtues
III. The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit
IN BRIEF
 

Article 8 SIN  [nn.1846-1848]

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   [n.1877]
 

Article 1 THE PERSON AND SOCIETY

I. The Communal Character of the Human Vocation  [nn.1878-1885]
II. Conversion and Society  [nn.1886-1889]
IN BRIEF
 

Article 2 PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL LIFE  [nn.1897-1904]

I. Authority
II. The Common Good
III. Responsibility and Participation
IN BRIEF
 

Article 3 SOCIAL JUSTICE  [n.1928]

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   [n.1949]
 

Article 1 THE MORAL LAW  [nn.1950-1953]

I. The Natural Moral Law  [nn.1954-1960]
II. The Old Law
III. The New Law or the Law of the Gospel
IN BRIEF
 

Article 2 GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION  [nn.1987-1995]

I. Justification
II. Grace  [nn.1996-2005]
III. Merit  [nn.2006-2011]
IV. Christian Holiness
IN BRIEF
 

Article 3 THE CHURCH, MOTHER AND TEACHER

I. Moral Life and the Magisterium of the Church  [nn.2032-2040]
II. The Precepts of the Church   [nn.2041-2043]
III. Moral Life and Missionary Witness
IN BRIEF
 

SECTION TWO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS   [nn.2052-]
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"  [nn.2084-2094]
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   [nn.2168-2173]
II. The Lord's Day  [nn.2174-2188]
IN BRIEF
 

CHAPTER TWO YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF  [n.2196]
 

ARTICLE 4 THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT  [nn.2197-2200]

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  [n.2258]

I. Respect for Human Life   [nn.2259-2283]
II. Respect for the Dignity of Persons  [nn.2284-2301]
III. Safeguarding Peace
IN BRIEF
 

Article 6 THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT  [--]

I. "Male and Female He Created Them . . ."  [nn.2331-2336]
II. The Vocation to Chastity   [nn.2337-2359]
III. The Love of Husband and Wife
IV. Offenses Against the Dignity of Marriage  [nn.2380-2391]
IN BRIEF
 

Article 7 THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT  [n.2401]

I. The Universal Destination and the Private Ownership of Goods  [n.2402-2406]
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   [nn.2443-2449]
IN BRIEF
 

Article 8 THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT  [n.2464]

I. Living in the Truth
II. To Bear Witness to the Truth
III. Offenses Against Truth  [nn.2475-2487]
IV. Respect for the Truth
V. The Use of the Social Communications Media
VI. Truth, Beauty, and Sacred Art  [nn.2500-2503]
IN BRIEF
 

Article 9 THE NINTH COMMANDMENT  [nn.2514-2516]

I. Purification of the Heart
II. The Battle for Purity  [nn.2520-2527]
IN BRIEF
 

Article 10 THE TENTH COMMANDMENT  [n.2534]

I. The Disorder of Covetous Desires  [nn.2535-2540]
II. The Desires of the Spirit
III. Poverty of Heart
IV. "I Want to See God"
IN BRIEF  [nn.2551-2557]
 

PART FOUR: CHRISTIAN PRAYER [n.2558]
 

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  [nn.2626-2628]
II. Prayer of Petition  [nn.2629-2633]
III. Prayer of Intercession  [nn.2634-2636]
IV. Prayer of Thanksgiving  [nn.2637-2638]
V. Prayer of Praise  [nn.2639-2643]
IN BRIEF
 

CHAPTER TWO THE TRADITION OF PRAYER
 

Article 1 AT THE WELLSPRINGS OF PRAYER
IN BRIEF
 

Article 2 THE WAY OF PRAYER  [nn.2663-2679]
IN BRIEF
 

Article 3 GUIDES FOR PRAYER
IN BRIEF
 

CHAPTER THREE THE LIFE OF PRAYER
 

Article 1 EXPRESSIONS OF PRAYER  [nn.2700-2704]

I. Vocal prayer
II. Meditation  [nn.2705-2708]
III. Contemplative Prayer
IN BRIEF
 

Article 2 THE BATTLE OF PRAYER   [n.2725]

I. Objections to Prayer  [nn.2726-2728]
II. Humble Vigilance of Heart
III. Filial Trust
IV. Perservering in Love
 

Article 3 THE PRAYER OF THE HOUR OF JESUS  [nn.2746-2751]
IN BRIEF
 

SECTION TWO THE LORD'S PRAYER   [n.2759-2760 ]
 

Article 1 "THE SUMMARY OF THE WHOLE GOSPEL" [n.2761]

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 [n.2855]
IN BRIEF     [nn.2857-2865]

APPENDICES

INDEX OF CITATIONS
PARTICULAR COUNCILS AND SYNODS
PONTIFICAL DOCUMENTS
ECCLESIASTICAL DOCUMENTS
CANON LAW
LITURGY
ECCLESIASTICAL WRITERS
INDEX
ABBREVIATIONS
GLOSSARY

>>>The End of the Catechism<<<<

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