"Wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church." - Saint Ignatius of Antioch (d. 108 AD)
What is the Catholic Church?
One
The Church is one because she has as her source and exemplar the unity of the Trinity of Persons in one God. As her Founder and Head, Jesus Christ re-established the unity of all people in one body.
As her soul, the Holy Spirit unites all the faithful in communion with Christ. The Church has but one faith, one sacramental life, one apostolic succession, one common hope, and one and the same charity.
Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 161
Holy
The Church is holy insofar as the Most Holy God is her author. Christ has given himself for her to sanctify her and make her a source of sanctification. The Holy Spirit gives her life with charity.
In the Church one finds the fullness of the means of salvation. Holiness is the vocation of each of her members and the purpose of all her activities.
Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 165
Catholic
The Church is catholic, that is universal, insofar as Christ is present in her: “Where there is Christ Jesus, there is the Catholic Church” (Saint Ignatius of Antioch). The Church proclaims the fullness and the totality of the faith; she bears and administers the fullness of the means of salvation; she is sent out by Christ on a mission to the whole of the human race.
Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 166
Apostolic
The Church is apostolic in her origin because she has been built on “the foundation of the Apostles” (Ephesians 2:20). She is apostolic in her teaching which is the same as that of the Apostles. She is apostolic by reason of her structure insofar as she is taught, sanctified, and guided until Christ returns by the Apostles through their successors who are the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter.
Compendium of the Catechism
of the Catholic Church, 174
"I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this Rock, I will build my Church."
Jesus to Simon Peter, Matthew 16:18
New Paragraph
What does a Catholic believe?
We believe in the Faith revealed to the Church by Jesus Christ through the one revelation of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.
The collection of the teachings of the Catholic Church can be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is a summary of all the teachings that Catholics hold.
What are the Sacraments?
The Catholic Church teaches that Christ gave seven sacraments to the apostles, and that these sacraments have been preserved up until our own day.
The seven sacraments are:
Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick.
Want to learn more?
Please visit our parish homepage
or please come visit Saint Joseph Catholic Church to learn more
