Chapter 1 Beliefs, Practices, and Attitudes Being Catholic Chapter 1 Beliefs, Practices, and Attitudes

Beliefs (things we believe) Created for union with God Original sin – lost holiness – separated from God God sent Jesus as savior Jesus – both fully God and fully man Thru Jesus’ Resurrection – offered salvation Holy Spirit is one with the Father and Son Catholic Church – one, holy, catholic, apostolic God’s revealed truth – Scriptures and Tradition Eternal life after death

Practices (things we do) Seven sacraments form basis of Catholic worship Keep the Sabbath holy Follow the liturgical year Faithful to the Ten Commandments & Beatitudes Defend the dignity of the human person Live out our Catholic social teachings Honor Blessed Mother and communion of saints Celebrate the sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation

Attitudes (how we feel) God is present to, in, and through Creation Creation is sacred Human person is essentially good Appreciate both faith and reason, religion and science Emphasize community life, communal worship Respect the diversity of cultures in the world Committed to proclaiming Jesus’ message

Sidebars Over 1 billion Catholics in the world More Catholics than any other Christian denomination More Catholics than Jews, Hindus, Buddists – only Muslims have more members Catholicism has universal appeal Ecumenical Council – a gathering of all Catholic bishops, convened by the Pope and under his guidance and authority (last- Vatican II)

Mary, the First Disciple Mary – the mother of Jesus Christ We honor her as the Mother of God, but do not worship her or pray to her as God – we ask her to bring our needs to Jesus Born without Original Sin (only her and Jesus) At death we believe she was taken directly to heaven She was Jesus’ first follower – first disciple