Our Faith
Our Catholic faith comprises what we believe and how we live that belief. For 2,000 years, this Catholic faith has been handed down from one generation to next, starting with Jesus Christ passing the faith to the Twelve Apostles. In our own lives, we may receive that faith from our parents, from friends, or even a stranger we meet.
Living as a Catholic includes many wonderful beliefs, practices, and devotions; too many to catalog here. But we hope to provide you with a brief overview of what we believe and how we live that belief.
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with more than 1.27 billion members worldwide.[2] As one of the oldest religious institutions in the world, it has played a prominent role in the history of Western civilisation.[3] Headed by the Bishop of Rome, known as the pope,[4] its doctrines are summarised in the Nicene Creed. The Catholic Church is notable within Western Christianity for its sacred tradition and seven sacraments.
The Catholic Church teaches that it is the one true church founded by Jesus Christ,[5][note 1][8] that its bishops are the successors of Christ's apostles, and that the pope is the successor to Saint Peter.[9] The Catholic Church maintains that the doctrine on faith and morals that it declares as definitive is infallible.[10][note 2] The Latin Church, the Eastern Catholic Churches, as well as institutes such as mendicant orders and enclosed monastic orders, reflect a variety of theological and spiritual emphases in the Church.[11][12]
Of the seven sacraments,[13] the principal one is the Eucharist, celebrated liturgically in the Mass. The church teaches that through consecration by a priest the sacrificial bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ.[14] The Catholic Church practises closed communion, with only baptised members in a state of grace ordinarily permitted to receive the Eucharist.[15]
Mary is venerated in the Catholic Church as Queen of Heaven and honoured in numerous Marian devotions.[16] The Catholic Church has defined four Marian dogmas: the Immaculate Conception, the dogma that Mary was conceived without original sin; her status as the Mother of God;[17] her perpetual virginity; and her bodily assumption into Heaven at the end of her earthly life.[18] (Wikipedia)
We hope this resource will be valuable to both interested non-Catholics as well as to those already Catholic who might be looking to deepen the practice of their faith.
If you want to know more about discovering our Catholic faith as a newcomer to the Church or re-discovering the Catholic faith you received at baptism, you may want to start by exploring our Newcomers section.
Living as a Catholic includes many wonderful beliefs, practices, and devotions; too many to catalog here. But we hope to provide you with a brief overview of what we believe and how we live that belief.
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with more than 1.27 billion members worldwide.[2] As one of the oldest religious institutions in the world, it has played a prominent role in the history of Western civilisation.[3] Headed by the Bishop of Rome, known as the pope,[4] its doctrines are summarised in the Nicene Creed. The Catholic Church is notable within Western Christianity for its sacred tradition and seven sacraments.
The Catholic Church teaches that it is the one true church founded by Jesus Christ,[5][note 1][8] that its bishops are the successors of Christ's apostles, and that the pope is the successor to Saint Peter.[9] The Catholic Church maintains that the doctrine on faith and morals that it declares as definitive is infallible.[10][note 2] The Latin Church, the Eastern Catholic Churches, as well as institutes such as mendicant orders and enclosed monastic orders, reflect a variety of theological and spiritual emphases in the Church.[11][12]
Of the seven sacraments,[13] the principal one is the Eucharist, celebrated liturgically in the Mass. The church teaches that through consecration by a priest the sacrificial bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ.[14] The Catholic Church practises closed communion, with only baptised members in a state of grace ordinarily permitted to receive the Eucharist.[15]
Mary is venerated in the Catholic Church as Queen of Heaven and honoured in numerous Marian devotions.[16] The Catholic Church has defined four Marian dogmas: the Immaculate Conception, the dogma that Mary was conceived without original sin; her status as the Mother of God;[17] her perpetual virginity; and her bodily assumption into Heaven at the end of her earthly life.[18] (Wikipedia)
We hope this resource will be valuable to both interested non-Catholics as well as to those already Catholic who might be looking to deepen the practice of their faith.
If you want to know more about discovering our Catholic faith as a newcomer to the Church or re-discovering the Catholic faith you received at baptism, you may want to start by exploring our Newcomers section.