THE CATHOLIC FAITH: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. WHO FOUNDED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH? JESUS founded the catholic church. Jesus created a community of disciples to carry on his work.

2. DO CATHOLICS WORSHIP MARY? Of course not they adore her as they do the saints. Worship and adoration are 2 different things.

3. WHAT IS PURGATORY? A process of purification for souls who died in a state of grace to be cleansed and prepared for heaven.

4. WHY DO CATHOLICS ASK A PRIEST FOR FORGIVENESS? JESUS told the apostles which were in essence the first priest of his church" Peace be with you. As the FATHER has sent me, even so I send you. Then he breathed on them and said " Receive the HOLY SPIRIT. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any they are retained.(JOHN 20:21-23)

5. BY WHAT AUTHORITY DOES THE POPE RULE OVER THE CATHOLIC CHURCH? JESUS gave special authority to Peter among the apostles (JOHN 21-15-17) and when he changed his name from Simon to Peter which means literally rock. In Mathew 16:18 he said Peter was the rock on which he was going to build his church. Peter was the first Vicar of Christ, the first Pope. In Mathew 16:19 Peter was giving the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

6. Why does the Catholic bible have 7 extra books not located in the King James version of the bible? First off both bibles are the same from Genesis through Revelation except the catholic version has 7 more old testament books. This divinely inspired books were there from the beginning. Some Protestants such as King James of England decided certain books were ot of importance in his version.

7. WHERE DID THE WORD CATHOLIC COME FROM? JESUS called the name of his christian society " MY CHURCH" and "THE CHURCH" in MATHEW 16, 18. CATHOLIC comes from the Greek word KATHOLICOS which means universal. It is used to describe the universality of the church founded by Jesus Christ.

8. WHY DO CATHOLICS BAPTISE BABIES? In John 3:5 Jesus says " Truly, truly I say to you,unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of GOD." In ACTS 16:15 , ACTS 16:33 AND ACTS 18:8 The Apostles baptised whole house holds including infants.

9. WHY DO CATHOLICS BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT ARE NOT IN THE BIBLE? 9O percent of what catholics believe is found in one form or another in bible scripture. The rest comes from sacred tradition. Scripture and tradition contribute to our beliefs.

10. WHY DO CATHOLICS TAKE THE EUCHARIST? In Mathew 26; 26- 28 Jesus took bread and blessed it and broke it, Then he gave it to his disciples and said" Take, eat, this is my body.and he took a cup and when he gave thanks he gave it to them saying " Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

11. CAN A CATHOLIC MARRY A NON- CATHOLIC? YES

12. WHAT IS MASS?  Mass is a time of worship and to receive GOD through Holy Communion. It is the active participation of all who come together in a place of worship.

1. Catholics believe in the Trinity which is THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT as one.

2. Catholics believe in scripture and holy tradition.

3. Catholic means universal. The catholic church is the universal community of believers that received the word of Jesus from the apostles.The church was founded on the day of Pentecost which is described in ACTS 2 in the Holy Bible.

4. Catholics believe in praying for the dead. You can find biblical examples of this in Tobias4, 18, Sirach 7:37 and in Machabees 12, 40-46.

5. Catholics are pro life. Abortion is never an option. Thy shall not kill. It is as simple as that, every life is a precious gift from GOD and under no circumstances do we reserve the right to end a human life.

6. Catholics do not believe in the Death Penalty. The same principle applies to the death penalty as with abortion. Life is a gift from GOD and we can not take it.

7. Catholics believe in Good works. The bible clearly states that Faith without good works is dead.

8. Catholics do not believe in premarital sex. Sexual intercourse was designed by God to unify us in marriage and to create life.

9. Catholics practice lent during Easter time. Usually doing without meat on fridays leading up to Easter.

10. Catholics believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, knowledge, courage, counsel, piety or love and fear of the Lord.

1. OUR FATHER- Our Father , who art in heaven, hallowed be THY name; THY kingdom come; THY will be done on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation , but deliver from evil. AMEN

2. HAIL MARY- HAIL MARY, full of grace; the Lord is with thee; blessed art though among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary Mother Of GOD, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. AMEN

3. GLORY BE- Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. AMEN

4. THE FATIMA PRAYER- O my Jesus, forgive us our sins save us from the fires of hell.Lead all souls to heaven especially those in need of Thy mercy.

5. GRACE BEFORE MEALS- Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts which we are about to receive through Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. AMEN

6. THE APOSTLES CREED- I believe in GOD, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified; died and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, sitteth at the right hand of GOD, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. AMEN

7. SAINT MICHAEL PRAYER- Saint Michael , the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

8. ACT OF CONTRITION- O my God, I am heartily sorry i offended You and i detest all my sins, because i dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life.

9. HAIL HOLY QUEEN- Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears, Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.

10.THE ANIMA CHRISTI ROSARY PRAYER- Soul of Christ, make me Holy. Body of Christ , be my salvation. Blood of Christ, let me drink your wine. Water from the side of Christ, wash me clean. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. Kind Jesus hear my prayer. Hide me within your wounds. And keep me close to you. Defend me from the evil enemy. And call me at the hour of my death. To the fellowship of your saints.That i might sing your praise with them for all eternity. Amen.

The catholic church recognizes seven sacraments that were instituted by Jesus Christ. These sacraments are outward signs of an inward grace acting in our souls.

 THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS ARE :

1. Baptism

2. Confirmation

3. Holy Comminion

4. Confession

5. Marriage

6. Holy Orders

7. Anointing of the sick

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the official texts of the teachings of the Catholic Church. It has been defined as a summary of principles , often in question and answer format. Religious instruction has been documented since the beginning of Christianity. The Catechism is a compilation of lots of smaller religious documents merged into a set of church teachings and Doctrine.

       4 PRINCIPLE PARTS OF THE CATECHISM

1. THE PROFESSION OF FAITH(THE APOSTLES CREED)

2. THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY(THE SACRED LITURGY)

3. LIFE IN CHRIST(THE TEN COMMANDMENTS)

4. CHRISTIAN PRAYER( THE LORDS PRAYER)

1. MICHAEL- In the book of Genisus it tells of him throwing Satan from Heaven during the War in Heaven. Saint Michael also is spoke of fighting the Serpent in the New Testament in Revelation

2. GABRIEL- He serves as a messenger to humans from GOD. In the Book of Daniel he explains Daniels visions. In The Gospel of Luke Gabriel foretells the birth of Jesus and John The Baptist.

3. RAPHAEL- He is mentioned in The Book of Tobit as One of the 7 Arch Angels who stand before The Lord.

Rosary means garland of roses or rose garden and it is a Catholic devotion or tool used Praying to Jesus. The prayers consist of repeating the Lords Prayer and 10 Prayings of the Hail Mary and a single Praying of Glory Be To Thy Father. Each sequence is a decade. The mysteries of the Rosary( recalls the 33 years of Jesus life on earth.) are grouped into 3 sets. 1. The Joyful Mysteries. 2. The Sorrowful Mysteries. 3. The Glorious Mysteries.

   PRAYER FOR THE DECEASED( PRAY WITH OR WITHOUT A ROSARY)

By Thy resurrection from the dead, O Christ, death no longer hath dominion over those who die in Holiness. So, we beseech Thee, give rest to Thy servants in Thy sanctuary and in Abrahams bosom. Grant it to those, who from Adam until now have adored Thee with purity, to our fathers and brothers to our kinsmen and friends, to all men who have lived by Faith and passed on their road to Thee, by a thousand ways, and in all conditions, and make them worthy of the Heavenly Kingdom.

1. ST. VALENTINE- He was a Holy Priest of Rome who assisted the martyrs during there persecution.

2. ST. PATRICK- He was an Apostle of Ireland. First a priest and later on he became a Bishop to the Catholic Church.

3.ST. MICHAEL, THE ARCH ANGEL- His name means Who is like God. He lead the Angels in the war in Heaven and tossed Lucifer out of Heaven.

4. ST. JOSEPH- He was Marys husband and the foster father of Jesus. The Angel Gabriel came to him in a dream.

5. ST. JUDE- He was one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus. He preached the Gospel in Samaria, Syria, Judea and other middle east countries.

1. MARY- The Holy Mother of Jesus. She was called most Blessed by the Angel Gabriel, she was chosen by God to bear his one and only son.

2. ELIZABETH- She was the mother of John the Baptist. In the Gospel of Luke she was righteous and obeyed all the commandments.

3. SHROUD OF TURIN- A cloth bearing the face of Jesus, which is supposedly his clothing. Italian scientists are now saying it is authentic. Check out the link on it.