Catechism of the Catholic Church

SECOND EDITION

Revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II

Includes revision of paragraph no. 2267 promulgated by Pope Francis

LIBRERIA EDITRICE VATICANA

CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH SECOND EDITION

CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH SECOND EDITION

Revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II

Includes revision of paragraph no. 2267 promulgated by Pope Francis

LIBRERIA EDITRICE VATICANA

Imprimi Potest + Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger Interdicasterial Commission for the Catechism of the Catholic Church Libreria Editrice Vaticana omnia sibi vindicat iura. Sine eiusdem licentia scripto data nemini liceat hunc Cat echismum denuo imprimere aut in aliam linguam vertere . The Holy See reserves all rights to itself. No one is allowed to reprint this Catechism or to translate it in another language without the permission of the Holy See. Latin text copyright © 1994, 1997, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Città del Vaticano. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America copyright © 1994, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops—Libreria Editrice Vaticana. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica copyright © 1997, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops—Libreria Editrice Vaticana. The English translation of the Alleluia Verse from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL); excerpt from the English translation of Rite of Baptism for Children © 1969, ICEL; excerpt from the English translation of Rite of Marriage © 1969, ICEL; the English translation of the General Instruction, Antiphons, Non-Biblical Readings from The Liturgy of the Hours © 1973, 1974, 1975, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of Rite of Penance © 1974, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of The Ordination of Deacons, Priests, and Bishops © 1975, ICEL; excerpt from the English translation of Rite of Consecration to a Life of Virginity © 1975, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of Rite of Confirmation © 1975, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of Order of Christian Funerals © 1985, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults © 1985, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. English translation of Laetamur Magnopere from L’Osservatore Romano. Glossary and Index Analyticus copyright © 2000, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations contained herein are adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971, and the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Excerpts from the Code of Canon Law, Latin/English Edition , are used with permission, copyright © 1983, Canon Law Society of America, Washington, DC. Citations of official church documents from Neuner, Josef, SJ, and Dupuis, Jacques, SJ, eds., The Chris tian Faith: Doctrinal Documents of the Catholic Church , 5th ed. (New York: Alba House, 1992). Used with permission. Excerpts from Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents, New Revised Edition edited by Austin Flannery, OP, copyright © 1992, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN, are used by permission of the publisher, all rights reserved. No part of these excerpts may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without express permission of Liturgical Press. The design of the logo is adapted from a Christian tombstone in the catacombs of Domitilla in Rome, which dates from the end of the third century A.D. This pastoral image, of pagan origin, was used by Christians to symbolize the rest and the happiness that the soul of the departed finds in eternal life. This image also suggests certain char acteristic aspects of this Catechism: Christ, the Good Shepherd who leads and protects his faithful (the lamb) by his authority (the staff), draws them by the melodious symphony of the truth (the panpipes), and makes them lie down in the shade of the tree of life, his redeeming Cross which opens paradise. In 2016, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition , was updated to reflect the 2011 English translation of Eucharistic Prayers, Creeds, and other texts in the Roman Missal, Third Edition . United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 3211 Fourth Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017–1194

CONTENTS

APOSTOLIC LETTER LAETAMUR MAGNOPERE IN WHICH THE LATIN TYPICAL EDITION OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS APPROVED AND PROMULGATED...................................XIII APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION FIDEI DEPOSITUM ON THE PUBLICATION OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH .. . . . . 1 PROLOGUE.......................................... 7 I. The Life of Man—To Know and Love God . . . . . . . . . . . ........... 7 II. Handing on the Faith: Catechesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 8 III. The Aim and Intended Readership of This Catechism. . . . . . ....... 9 IV. Structure of This Catechism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 9 V. Practical Directions for Using This Catechism . . . . . . . . . ......... 11 VI. Necessary Adaptations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 11 PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH. . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SECTION ONE: I BELIEVE—WE BELIEVE . . . . . . . . . ........13 CHAPTER ONE: MAN’S CAPACITY FOR GOD. . . . . . . . ......... 13 I. The Desire for God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 13 II. Ways of Coming to Know God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 14 III. The Knowledge of God According to the Church. . . . . . . . ........ 16 IV. How Can We Speak about God?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 17 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 18 CHAPTER TWO: GOD COMES TO MEET MAN. . . . . . . . ......... 19 Article 1: THE REVELATION OF GOD. . . . . . . . . . . ............ 19 I. God Reveals His “Plan of Loving Goodness”. . . . . . . . . .......... 19 II. The Stages of Revelation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 20 III. Christ Jesus—“Mediator and Fullness of All Revelation”. . . . ..... 22 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 23 Article 2: THE TRANSMISSION OF DIVINE REVELATION. . .. 24 I. The Apostolic Tradition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 24 II. The Relationship Between Tradition and Sacred Scripture. . . . .... 26 III. The Interpretation of the Heritage of Faith . . . . . . . . . . ........... 27 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 29 Article 3: SACRED SCRIPTURE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 30 I. Christ—The Unique Word of Sacred Scripture. . . . . . . . . ......... 30 II. Inspiration and Truth of Sacred Scripture . . . . . . . . . . . ........... 31 III. The Holy Spirit, Interpreter of Scripture . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 32 IV. The Canon of Scripture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 34 V. Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church. . . . . . . . . . . ........... 37 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 37 CHAPTER THREE: MAN’S RESPONSE TO GOD. . . . . . . . ........ 39 Article 1: I BELIEVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 39 I. The Obedience of Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 39 II. “I Know Whom I Have Believed”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 40 III. The Characteristics of Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 41 Article 2: WE BELIEVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 45

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I. “Lord, Look upon the Faith of Your Church” . . . . . . . . . .......... 46 II. The Language of Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 46 III. Only One Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....................... 47 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 48 SECTION TWO: THE PROFESSION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 51 The Creeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................ 51 CHAPTER ONE: I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER. . . . . . . ....... 54 Article 1: I BELIEVE IN GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH . . . . . . ...... 54 Paragraph 1. I Believe in God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 54 I. “I Believe in One God” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 54 II. God Reveals His Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 55 III. God, “He Who Is,” Is Truth and Love. . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 58 IV. The Implications of Faith in One God. . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 60 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 61 Paragraph 2. The Father. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 62 I. “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 62 II. The Revelation of God as Trinity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 63 III. The Holy Trinity in the Teaching of the Faith . . . . . . . . . .......... 66 IV. The Divine Works and the Trinitarian Missions. . . . . . . . ......... 68 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 69 Paragraph 3. The Almighty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 71 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 72 Paragraph 4. The Creator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 73 I. Catechesis on Creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 73 II. Creation—Work of the Holy Trinity. . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 76 III. “The World Was Created for the Glory of God”. . . . . . . . ......... 76 IV. The Mystery of Creation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 77 V. God Carries out His Plan: Divine Providence. . . . . . . . . .......... 80 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 83 Paragraph 5. Heaven and Earth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 85 I. The Angels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 85 II. The Visible World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... 87 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 90 Paragraph 6. Man. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... 91 I. “In the Image of God”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 91 II. “Body and Soul but Truly One”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 92 III. “Male and Female He Created Them”. . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 94 IV. Man in Paradise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... 95 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 96 Paragraph 7. The Fall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 97 I. Where Sin Abounded, Grace Abounded All the More. . . . . . ...... 97 II. The Fall of the Angels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 98 III. Original Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................ 100 IV. “You Did Not Abandon Him to the Domain of Death”. . . . . ..... 104 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 104 CHAPTER TWO: I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................ 106 Article 2: AND IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................ 108 I. Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................... 108

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II. Christ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......................... 109 III. The Only Son of God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 111 IV. Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................... 112 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 114 Article 3: WHO WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY. . . . . . . . . . . ............ 115 Paragraph 1. The Son of God Became Man. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115 I. Why Did the Word Become Flesh? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 115 II. The Incarnation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 III. True God and True Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 117 IV. How Is the Son of God Man?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 119 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 121 Paragraph 2. Who Was Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 122 I. Who Was Conceived by the Holy Spirit, . . . . . . . . . . . ........... 122 II. Born of the Virgin Mary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 122 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 128 Paragraph 3. The Mysteries of Christ’s Life. . . . . . . . . . . .......... 129 I. Christ’s Whole Life Is Mystery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 129 II. The Mysteries of Jesus’ Infancy and Hidden Life. . . . . . . ........ 131 III. The Mysteries of Jesus’ Public Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 136 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 145 Article 4: JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED AND WAS BURIED. . . . . . . . . 146 Paragraph 1. Jesus and Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 147 I. Jesus and the Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 148 II. Jesus and the Temple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 149 III. Jesus and Israel’s Faith in the One God and Savior . . . . . . ....... 151 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 152 Paragraph 2. Jesus Died Crucified. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 153 I. The Trial of Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 153 II. Christ’s Redemptive Death in God’s Plan of Salvation. . . . . ..... 155 III. Christ Offered Himself to His Father for Our Sins. . . . . . . ....... 157 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 161 Paragraph 3. Jesus Christ Was Buried. . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 162 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 163 Article 5: HE DESCENDED INTO HELL; ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD . . . . . . . . . .......... 164 Paragraph 1. Christ Descended into Hell. . . . . . . . . . . . ........... 164 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 165 Paragraph 2. On the Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead. . . . .166 I. The Historical and Transcendent Event. . . . . . . . . . . ............ 166 II. The Resurrection—A Work of the Holy Trinity. . . . . . . . ......... 169 III. The Meaning and Saving Significance of the Resurrection. . . .... 170 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 171 Article 6: HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY. . .. 172 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 173 Article 7: FROM THERE HE WILL COME AGAIN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 I. He Will Come Again in Glory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 174 II. To Judge the Living and the Dead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 177 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 178

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CHAPTER THREE: I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT . . . . . ...... 179 Article 8: I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. . . . . . . . . ......... 180 I. The Joint Mission of the Son and the Spirit. . . . . . . . . . .......... 181 II. The Name, Titles, and Symbols of the Holy Spirit . . . . . . . ....... 182 III. God’s Spirit and Word in the Time of the Promises. . . . . . ....... 186 IV. The Spirit of Christ in the Fullness of Time. . . . . . . . . . .......... 190 V. The Spirit and the Church in the Last Days. . . . . . . . . . .......... 193 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 196 Article 9: I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH. . .. 197 Paragraph 1. The Church in God’s Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 197 I. Names and Images of the Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 197 II. The Church’s Origin, Foundation, and Mission. . . . . . . . ........ 199 III. The Mystery of the Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 203 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 205 Paragraph 2. The Church—People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 206 I. The Church—People of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 206 II. The Church—Body of Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 208 III. The Church Is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. . . . . . . . . .......... 211 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 213 Paragraph 3. The Church Is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. . .. 214 I. The Church Is One. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 214 II. The Church Is Holy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 218 III. The Church Is Catholic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 220 IV. The Church Is Apostolic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 227 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 230 Paragraph 4. Christ’s Faithful—Hierarchy, Laity, Consecrated Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... 231 I. The Hierarchical Constitution of the Church. . . . . . . . . .......... 231 II. The Lay Faithful. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... 237 III. The Consecrated Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 241 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 245 Paragraph 5. The Communion of Saints. . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 247 I. Communion in Spiritual Goods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 247 II. The Communion of the Church of Heaven and Earth. . . . . ...... 249 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 250 Paragraph 6. Mary—Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church . . . .. 251 I. Mary’s Motherhood with Regard to the Church. . . . . . . . ........ 251 II. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 253 III. Mary—Eschatological Icon of the Church. . . . . . . . . . ........... 253 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 254 Article 10: I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. . . .... 254 I. One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins . . . . . . . . . . . ........... 255 II. The Power of the Keys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 256 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 257 Article 11: I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... 258 I. Christ’s Resurrection and Ours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 259 II. Dying in Christ Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 262 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 265 Article 12: I BELIEVE IN LIFE EVERLASTING . . . . . . . ....... 266 I. The Particular Judgment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 266 II. Heaven. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......................... 267 III. The Final Purification, or Purgatory. . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 268

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IV. Hell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................... 269 V. The Last Judgment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 271 VI. The Hope of the New Heaven and the New Earth. . . . . . . ....... 272 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 274 “Amen”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 276 PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIANMYSTERY.............................. 277 SECTION ONE: THE SACRAMENTAL ECONOMY. . . . . . . . .280 CHAPTER ONE: THE PASCHAL MYSTERY IN THE AGE OF THE CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 280 Article 1: THE LITURGY—WORK OF THE HOLY TRINITY. .. 280 I. The Father—Source and Goal of the Liturgy. . . . . . . . . .......... 280 II. Christ’s Work in the Liturgy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 282 III. The Holy Spirit and the Church in the Liturgy. . . . . . . . ......... 283 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 288 Article 2: THE PASCHAL MYSTERY IN THE CHURCH’S SACRAMENTS I. The Sacraments of Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 289 II. The Sacraments of the Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 289 III. The Sacraments of Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 289 IV. The Sacraments of Salvation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 291 V. The Sacraments of Eternal Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 293 CHAPTER TWO: THE SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATION OF THE PASCHAL MYSTERY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 294 Article 1: CELEBRATING THE CHURCH’S LITURGY . . . . .... 294 I. Who Celebrates?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... 294 II. How Is the Liturgy Celebrated?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 296 III. When Is the Liturgy Celebrated?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 301 IV. Where Is the Liturgy Celebrated? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 305 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 307 Article 2: LITURGICAL DIVERSITY AND THE UNITY OF THE MYSTERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 309 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 210 SECTION TWO: THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 311 CHAPTER ONE: THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................ 311 Article 1: THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM. . . . . . . . . ......... 312 I. What Is this Sacrament Called?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 312 II. Baptism in the Economy of Salvation. . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 313 III. How Is the Sacrament of Baptism Celebrated?. . . . . . . . ......... 315 IV. Who Can Receive Baptism? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 318 V. Who Can Baptize? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 320 VI. The Necessity of Baptism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 320 VII. The Grace of Baptism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 321 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 324 Article 2: THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION I. Confirmation in the Economy of Salvation . . . . . . . . . . .......... 325 II. The Signs and the Rite of Confirmation. . . . . . . . . . . ............ 326 III. The Effects of Confirmation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 327

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IV. Who Can Receive This Sacrament?. . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 330 V. The Minister of Confirmation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 332 Article 3: THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST. . . . . ..... 334 I. The Eucharist—Source and Summit of Ecclesial Life. . . . . . ...... 334 II. What Is This Sacrament Called? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 335 III. The Eucharist in the Economy of Salvation. . . . . . . . . . .......... 336 IV. The Liturgical Celebration of the Eucharist. . . . . . . . . . .......... 339 V. The Sacramental Sacrifice: Thanksgiving, Memorial, Presence. . .. 342 VI. The Paschal Banquet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 349 VII. The Eucharist—“Pledge of the Glory to Come”. . . . . . . . ........ 354 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 355 CHAPTER TWO: THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING. . . . . ...... 357 Article 4: THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 357 I. What Is This Sacrament Called? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 357 II. Why a Sacrament of Reconciliation after Baptism? . . . . . . ....... 358 III. The Conversion of the Baptized. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 359 IV. Interior Penance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... 359 V. The Many Forms of Penance in Christian Life . . . . . . . . ......... 360 VI. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation . . . . . . . . ......... 361 VII. The Acts of the Penitent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 364 VIII. The Minister of This Sacrament. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 367 IX. The Effects of This Sacrament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 369 X. Indulgences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................ 370 XI. The Celebration of the Sacrament of Penance. . . . . . . . . ......... 372 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 373 Article 5: THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK. . . . . . . . . ......... 375 I. Its Foundations in the Economy of Salvation . . . . . . . . . ......... 375 II. Who Receives and Who Administers This Sacrament?. . . . . ..... 379 III. How Is This Sacrament Celebrated?. . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 379 IV. The Effects of the Celebration of This Sacrament. . . . . . . ........ 380 V. Viaticum, the Last Sacrament of the Christian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 382 CHAPTER THREE: THE SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 383 Article 6: THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS. . . . . . ...... 383 I. Why Is This Sacrament Called “Orders”? . . . . . . . . . . ........... 384 II. The Sacrament of Holy Orders in the Economy of Salvation. . ... 384 III. The Three Degrees of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. . . . . . ...... 388 IV. The Celebration of This Sacrament. . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 393 V. Who Can Confer This Sacrament?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 394 VI. Who Can Receive This Sacrament?. . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 394 VII. The Effects of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. . . . . . . . . .......... 395 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 398 Article 7: THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY . . . . . . ....... 400 I. Marriage in God’s Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 400 II. The Celebration of Marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 405 III. Matrimonial Consent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 406 IV. The Effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony. . . . . . . . . . .......... 409 V. The Goods and Requirements of Conjugal Love. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410 VI. The Domestic Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 413 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 414

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CHAPTER FOUR: OTHER LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS. . . .... 415 Article 1: SACRAMENTALS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 415 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 418 Article 2: CHRISTIAN FUNERALS. . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 418 I. The Christian’s Last Passover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 418 II. The Celebration of Funerals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 419 PARTTHREE:LIFEINCHRIST.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 421 SECTION ONE: MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT. . . 424 CHAPTER ONE: THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON. . ... 424 Article 1: MAN: THE IMAGE OF GOD. . . . . . . . . . . ........... 424 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 426 Article 2: OUR VOCATION TO BEATITUDE. . . . . . . . ......... 426 I. The Beatitudes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... 426 II. The Desire for Happiness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 427 III. Christian Beatitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 428 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 429 Article 3: MAN’S FREEDOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 430 I. Freedom and Responsibility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 430 II. Human Freedom in the Economy of Salvation. . . . . . . . ......... 431 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 433 Article 4: THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS . . . . . . . ....... 433 I. The Sources of Morality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 433 II. Good Acts and Evil Acts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 435 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 435 Article 5: THE MORALITY OF THE PASSIONS. . . . . . . ....... 436 I. Passions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 436 II. Passions and Moral Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 436 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 437 Article 6: MORAL CONSCIENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 438 I. The Judgment of Conscience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 438 II. The Formation of Conscience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 440 III. To Choose in Accord with Conscience . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 440 IV. Erroneous Judgment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 441 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 442 Article 7: THE VIRTUES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 443 I. The Human Virtues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 443 II. The Theological Virtues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 446 III. The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 450 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 451 Article 8: SIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... 452 I. Mercy and Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....................... 452 II. The Definition of Sin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 453 III. The Different Kinds of Sins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 454 IV. The Gravity of Sin: Mortal and Venial Sin. . . . . . . . . . ........... 454 V. The Proliferation of Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 457 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 458 CHAPTER TWO: THE HUMAN COMMUNITY. . . . . . . . ........ 459 Article 1: THE PERSON AND SOCIETY. . . . . . . . . . ........... 459 I. The Communal Character of the Human Vocation . . . . . . ....... 459 II. Conversion and Society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 461 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 462 Article 2: PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL LIFE. . . . . . . . ......... 463

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I. Authority. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 463 II. The Common Good. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 464 III. Responsibility and Participation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 466 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 467 Article 3: SOCIAL JUSTICE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 468 I. Respect for the Human Person. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 468 II. Equality and Differences Among Men. . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 469 III. Human Solidarity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 471 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 472 CHAPTER THREE: GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE. . . . 473 Article 1: THE MORAL LAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 473 I. The Natural Moral Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 474 II. The Old Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....................... 476 III. The New Law or the Law of the Gospel. . . . . . . . . . . ............ 477 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 480 Article 2: GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION. . . . . . . . . . .......... 481 I. Justification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................ 481 II. Grace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......................... 483 III. Merit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................... 486 IV. Christian Holiness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 488 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 489 Article 3: THE CHURCH, MOTHER AND TEACHER. . . . ..... 490 I. Moral Life and the Magisterium of the Church. . . . . . . . ......... 491 II. The Precepts of the Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 493 III. Moral Life and Missionary Witness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 494 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 495 SECTION TWO: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. . . . . . ......498 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 504 ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND”. . . . . . ....... 505 Article 1: THE FIRST COMMANDMENT. . . . . . . . . . .......... 505 I. “You Shall Worship the Lord Your God and Him Only Shall You Serve”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... 505 II. “Him Only Shall You Serve” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 508 III. “You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me” . . . . . . . . . ......... 512 IV. “You Shall Not Make for Yourself a Graven Image...”. . . . . ...... 516 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 517 Article 2: THE SECOND COMMANDMENT . . . . . . . . ........ 518 I. The Name of the Lord Is Holy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 518 II. Taking the Name of the Lord in Vain . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 520 III. The Christian Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 521 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 522 Article 3: THE THIRD COMMANDMENT . . . . . . . . . ......... 523 I. The Sabbath Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 523 II. The Lord’s Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 524 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 529 CHAPTER TWO: “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... 530 Article 4: THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT. . . . . . . . ......... 530 I. The Family in God’s Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 531 II. The Family and Society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 533 CHAPTER ONE: “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH

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III. The Duties of Family Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 534 IV. The Family and the Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 539 V. The Authorities in Civil Society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 539 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 543 Article 5: THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT. . . . . . . . . .......... 544 I. Respect for Human Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 544 II. Respect for the Dignity of Persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 551 III. Safeguarding Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 554 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 558 Article 6: THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT. . . . . . . . . .......... 560 I. “Male and Female He Created Them...”. . . . . . . . . . . ............ 560 II. The Vocation to Chastity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 561 III. The Love of Husband and Wife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 567 IV. Offenses Against the Dignity of Marriage. . . . . . . . . . ........... 572 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 575 Article 7: THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT . . . . . . . ........ 577 I. The Universal Destination and the Private Ownership of Goods. .. 577 II. Respect for Persons and Their Goods. . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 578 III. The Social Doctrine of the Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 581 IV. Economic Activity and Social Justice . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 583 V. Justice and Solidarity Among Nations. . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 585 VI. Love for the Poor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 587 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 589 Article 8: THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT. . . . . . . . ......... 591 I. Living in the Truth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 591 II. To Bear Witness to the Truth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 592 III. Offenses Against Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 594 IV. Respect for the Truth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 596 V. The Use of the Social Communications Media. . . . . . . . ......... 597 VI. Truth, Beauty, and Sacred Art. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 599 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 600 Article 9: THE NINTH COMMANDMENT. . . . . . . . . ......... 601 I. Purification of the Heart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 602 II. The Battle for Purity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 603 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 605 Article 10: THE TENTH COMMANDMENT. . . . . . . . ......... 606 I. The Disorder of Covetous Desires. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 606 II. The Desires of the Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 608 III. Poverty of Heart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... 609 IV. “I Want to See God”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 610 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 611 PART FOUR: CHRISTIAN PRAYER.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 613 SECTION ONE: PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. . . . ....613 CHAPTER ONE: THE REVELATION OF PRAYER. . . . . . . ....... 616 THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO PRAYER. . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 616 Article 1: IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 616 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 623 Article 2: IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME . . . . . . . . . . ........... 624 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 630 Article 3: IN THE AGE OF THE CHURCH. . . . . . . . . .......... 631 I. Blessing and Adoration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 632 II. Prayer of Petition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 632

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III. Prayer of Intercession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 633 IV. Prayer of Thanksgiving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 634 V. Prayer of Praise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 635 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 636 CHAPTER TWO: THE TRADITION OF PRAYER . . . . . . . ........ 637 Article 1: AT THE WELLSPRINGS OF PRAYER . . . . . . . ....... 637 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 639 Article 2: THE WAY OF PRAYER. . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 640 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 644 Article 3: GUIDES FOR PRAYER. . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. 645 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 647 CHAPTER THREE: THE LIFE OF PRAYER. . . . . . . . . . ........... 648 Article 1: EXPRESSIONS OF PRAYER. . . . . . . . . . . ............ 648 I. Vocal Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....................... 648 II. Meditation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................ 649 III. Contemplative Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 650 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 652 Article 2: THE BATTLE OF PRAYER. . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 653 I. Objections to Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 653 II. Humble Vigilance of Heart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 654 III. Filial Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................ 655 IV. Persevering in Love. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 657 Article 3: THE PRAYER OF THE HOUR OF JESUS. . . . . . ...... 659 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 660 SECTION TWO: THE LORD’S PRAYER “OUR FATHER!” . . . 661 Article 1: “THE SUMMARY OF THE WHOLE GOSPEL”. . . ... 662 I. At the Center of the Scriptures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 662 II. “The Lord’s Prayer”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 663 III. The Prayer of the Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 663 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 665 Article 2: “OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN”. . . . . ...... 665 I. “We Dare to Say”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... 665 II. “Father!” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 666 III. “Our” Father. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....................... 668 IV. “Who Art in Heaven” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 670 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 671 Article 3: THE SEVEN PETITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 672 I. “Hallowed Be Thy Name” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 673 II. “Thy Kingdom Come” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 675 III. “Thy Will Be Done on Earth as It Is in Heaven”. . . . . . . . ........ 677 IV. “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread”. . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 679 V. “And Forgive Us Our Trespasses, as We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 681 VI. “And Lead Us Not into Temptation” . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 684 VII. “But Deliver Us from Evil”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 685 Article 4: THE FINAL DOXOLOGY. . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 687 IN BRIEF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................... 687 Index of Citations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 689 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................ 753 Abbreviations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 861 Glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....................... 864

APOSTOLIC LETTER LAETAMUR MAGNOPERE IN WHICH THE LATIN TYPICAL EDITION OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS APPROVED AND PROMULGATED

JOHN PAUL, BISHOP SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD FOR EVERLASTING MEMORY

To my Venerable Brother Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons and to other members of the People of God. It Is a Cause for Great Joy That the Latin Typical Edition of the CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Is Being Published. It is approved and promulgated by me in this Apostolic Letter and thus becomes the definitive text of the afore mentioned Catechism. This is occurring about five years after the

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Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum of October 11, 1992, which, on the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, accompanied the publication of the first, French-language text of the Catechism. We have all been able to note with pleasure the broad positive reception and wide dissemination of the Catechism in these years, especially in the particular Churches, which have had it translated into their respective languages, thus making it as acces sible as possible to the various linguistic communities of the world. This fact confirms how fitting was the request submitted to me in 1985 by the Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that a catechism or compendium of all Catholic doctrine regarding faith and morals be composed. Drawn up by the special Commission of Cardinals and Bishops established in 1986, the Catechism was approved and promulgated by me in the aforementioned Apostolic Constitution, which today retains all its validity and timeliness, and finds its definitive achievement in this Latin typical edition. This edition was prepared by an Interdicasterial Commis sion which I appointed for this purpose in 1993. Presided over by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, this Commission worked diligently to fulfill the mandate it received. It devoted particular attention to a study of the many suggested changes to the contents of the text, which in these years had come from around the world and from various parts of the ecclesial community. In this regard one can certainly understand that such a remarkable number of suggested improvements shows the ex traordinary interest that the Catechism has raised throughout the world, even among non–Christians, and confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine, enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates, lives, and prays in her daily life. At the same time it draws attention to the eager desire of all to make their contribution so that the Christian faith, whose essential and necessary elements are sum marized in the Catechism, can be presented to the people of our day in the most suitable way possible. Furthermore, this collaboration of the various members of the Church will once again achieve what I wrote in the Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum: “The har mony of so many voices truly expresses what could be called the ‘symphony’ of the faith” (no. 2). For these reasons too, the Commission seriously consid ered the suggestions offered, carefully examined them at various levels and submitted its conclusions for my approval. These conclusions, insofar as they allow for a better expression of the

Apostolic Letter Laetamur Magnopere

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Catechism ’s contents regarding the deposit of the Catholic faith, or enable certain truths of this faith to be formulated in a way more suited to the requirements of contemporary catechetical instruc tion, have been approved by me and thus have been incorporated into this Latin typical edition. Therefore it faithfully repeats the doctrinal content which I officially presented to the Church and to the world in December 1992. With today’s promulgation of the Latin typical edition, therefore, the task of composing the Catechism, begun in 1986, is brought to a close and the desire of the aforementioned Extraordi nary Synod of Bishops is happily fulfilled. The Church now has at her disposal this new, authoritative exposition of the one and perennial apostolic faith, and it will serve as a “valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion” and as a “sure norm for teaching the faith,” as well as a “sure and authentic reference text” for preparing local catechisms (cf. Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum, no. 4). Catechesis will find in this genuine, systematic presenta tion of the faith and of Catholic doctrine a totally reliable way to present, with renewed fervor, each and every part of the Christian message to the people of our time. This text will provide every catechist with sound help for communicating the one, perennial deposit of faith within the local Church, while seeking, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to link the wondrous unity of the Christian mystery with the varied needs and conditions of those to whom this message is addressed. All catechetical activity will be able to experience a new, widespread impetus among the People of God, if it can properly use and appreciate this post-conciliar Catechism. All this seems even more important today with the ap proach of the third millennium. For an extraordinary commitment to evangelization is urgently needed so that everyone can know and receive the Gospel message and thus grow “to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” ( Eph 4:13). I therefore strongly urge my Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate, for whom the Catechism is primarily intended, to take the excellent opportunity afforded by the promulgation of this Latin edition to intensify their efforts to disseminate the text more widely and to ensure that it is well received as an outstanding gift for the communities entrusted to them, which will thus be able to rediscover the inexhaustible riches of the faith. Through the harmonious and complementary efforts of all the ranks of the People of God, may this Catechism be known and shared by everyone, so that the unity in faith whose supreme model