Catholic Basics

Virtues


Virtue, as defined by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "is an habitual and firm disposition to do the good." (CCC 1803) It goes on to explain that having this steady disposition helps one both to perform acts of goodness and to give the best of themselves.


There are different categories of the virtues. The 3 Theological Virtues are given to us by God to enable us to direct our actions toward.....

The 3 Theological Virtues


  1. Faith
  2. Hope
  3. Love (Charity)


The 4 Cardinal Virtues

 

  1. Prudence
  2. Justice
  3. Fortitude
  4. Temperance

 

The 2 Greatest Commandments

When asked which was the greatest of the commandments, Jesus responded with two. (1) "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart,  with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: (2) You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."  (Matthew 22:37-40). In this teaching of Jesus, these commandments complement each other and cannot be seen as existing apart from the other.

The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments are more than simply rules and laws. They are a foundation of moral teaching which shape our obligations as Christians, and guide us to live freely in relationship with God. The Ten Commandments were given to Moses by God on Mt. Sinai after being rescued by God from slavery in Egypt. These Commandments are the expression and sign of the Covenant between God and God’s people and are just as powerful and binding as they were when they were written.

 

  1. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before me
  2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
  3. Remember to keep holy the Lord's day
  4. Honor your father and your mother
  5. You shall not kill
  6. You shall not commit adultery
  7. You shall not steal
  8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
  9. You shall not desire your neighbor's wife
  10. You shall not desire your neighbor's goods

The 8 Beatitudes

These are teachings of Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount in which he describes the attitudes and actions that should characterize his disciples and followers. They can be seen as blueprints for living an authentic Christian life.

 

  1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
  2. Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land
  3. Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted
  4. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill
  5. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy
  6. Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God
  7. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God
  8. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

The 7 Corporal Works of Mercy


  1. To feed the hungry
  2. To give drink to the thirsty
  3. To clothe the naked
  4. To shelter the homeless
  5. To care for the sick
  6. To visit the imprisoned
  7. To bury the dead


The 7 Spiritual Works of Mercy


  1. To share knowledge
  2. To give advice to those who need it
  3. To comfort the suffering
  4. To be patient with others
  5. To forgive those who hurt you
  6. To give correction to those who need it
  7. To pray for the living and the dead


The 7 Gifts of The Holy Spirit

 

  1. Wisdom
  2. Understanding
  3. Counsel/Right Judgment
  4. Fortitude/Courage
  5. Knowledge
  6. Piety/Reverence
  7. Fear of the Lord/Awe and Wonder


Fruits of the Holy Spirit

 The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) says, "The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory." (CCC 1832) In the same place, it also says that there traditionally the Church lists twelve fruits of the Spirit. They are:


  1. Charity
  2. Joy
  3. Peace
  4. Patience
  5. Kindness
  6. Goodness
  7. Generosity
  8. Gentleness
  9. Faithfulness
  10. Modesty
  11. Self-Control
  12. Chastity

Four Marks of the Catholic Church

The Four Marks of the Church "indicate essential features of the Church and her mission," as Christ formed the Church on earth (CCC 812). We profess our belief of these truths in the Creed at Mass, that the Church is:


  1. One
  2. Holy
  3. Catholic
  4. Apostolic

Precepts of the Church

The Precepts of the Church are laws that the authorities in the Church have given to give the faithful guidance as to "the very necessary minimum" for how to live as a Christian (CCC 2041). In other words, one who professes to be Catholic ought to do at least these things to foster their own growth in holiness, and the growth of the Church in which they worship. These Precepts are:


  1. Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation (HDO), and to refrain from unnecessary work on those days.
  2. Go to the Sacrament of Confession at least once a year.
  3. Receive Holy Communion at a minimum during the Easter Season.
  4. Fast and abstain on days and times appointed by the Church.
  5. Contribute to support the material needs of the Church as one is able.

The 14 Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross is a devotion that helps us to meditate on the passion, death, resurrection, and ascension, or the paschal mystery, of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Typically, the Church practices this devotion on the Fridays of Lent to help the faithful to prepare for celebrate the paschal mystery just before Easter, but it is also good meditate on Christ's sufferings throughout the year to help us remember the love He has for us. The 14 Stations of the Cross are:


  1. Jesus is Condemned to Die
  2. Jesus is Made to Bear His Cross
  3. Jesus Falls the First Time
  4. Jesus Meets His Mother
  5. Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
  6. Veronica Wipes Jesus' Face
  7. Jesus Falls the Second Time
  8. Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
  9. Jesus Falls the Third Time
  10. Jesus is Stripped
  11. Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
  12. Jesus Dies on the Cross
  13. Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
  14. Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

The 7 Last Words of Christ

Similar to the 14 Stations of the Cross, the 7 Last Words of Christ are a devotions that helps keep our minds on Christ and the suffering He endured on the Cross for our sake. The 7 Last Words of Christ are:

 

  1. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)
  2. Amen I say to thee: This day thou shalt be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)
  3. Woman, behold thy son. . . .Behold thy mother. (John 19:26-27)
  4. Eli, Eli, lamma sabachtani? (My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?) (Matthew 27:46)
  5. I thirst. (John 19:28)
  6. It is finished. (John 19:30)
  7. Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit. (Luke 23:46)