Roman Catholic doctrine, as with any other organization, political party or religion, are its beliefs, tenets, principles, or teachings. “Christian” means follower of Jesus Christ.

1. SUMMARY OF THE CATHOLIC DOCTRINE
Roman Catholic doctrine, as with any other organization, political party or religion, are its beliefs, tenets, principles,
or teachings. “Christian” means follower of Jesus Christ. According to Ephesians 2:20-22: “…Built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone: In whom all the building,
being framed together, groweth up into an holy temple in the Lord. In whom you also are built together into an
habitation of God in the Spirit.” And Hebrews 13:8-9 says, “Jesus Christ, yesterday, and today; and the same for
ever. Be not led away with various and strange doctrines.” Hence, His doctrines will never change even to heresy
(i.e. a species of infidelity in men who, having professed the faith of Christ, corrupt its dogmas – St. Thomas).
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD
1. I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have strange
gods before Me.
2. Thou Shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in
vain.
3. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honor thy father and thy mother.
5. Thou shall not kill.
6. Thou shall not commit adultery
7. Thou shall not steal.
8. Thou shall not bear false witness against thy
neighbor.
9. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
10.Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s house.
THE SIX PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH
• To hear Mass on Sunday and holy days of obligation *
• To fast and abstain on the days commanded
• To confess our sins at least once a year
• To receive the Blessed Eucharist at Easter or within
the time appointed
• To contribute to the support of our Pastors
• Not to solemnize marriages at the forbidden times;
nor to marry persons within the forbidden degrees of
kindred, or otherwise prohibited by the church. nor
secretly.
THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS
• Baptism
• Holy Eucharist
• Confirmation
• Penance
• Extreme Unction (Last Rites – Viaticum)
• Holy Orders
• Matrimony
THE THREE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES
• Faith
• Hope
• Charity
THE FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES
• Prudence
• Justice
• Fortitude
• Temperance
* IN CANADA: The Octave Day of the Nativity, Jan. 1 –
The Epiphany, Jan. 6 – The Ascention (see Table of
Feasts) – All Saints, Nov. 1 – The Immaculate
Conception, Dec. 8 – Christmas Day, Dec. 25.
THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
• Wisdom
• Understanding
• Counsel
• Fortitude
• Knowledge
• Piety
• Fear of the Lord
THE TWELVE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
• Charity
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-control
• Chasity
• Modesty
• Purity of Heart
THE SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY
• To give counsel to the doubtful
• To instruct the ignorant
• To admonish sinners
• To comfort the afflicted
• To forgive offenses
• To bear patiently the troublesome
• To pray for the living and the dead
THE EIGHT BEATITUDES
• Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven
• Blessed are the meek; for they shall possess the land
• Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be
comforted
• Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice;
for they shall be filled
• Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy
• Blessed are the clean of heart; for they shall see God
• Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called
the children of God
• Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’s
sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
THE GOLDEN RULE
“All things therefore whatsoever you would that men
should do to you, do you also to them. For this is the law
and the prophets.” (Mt. 7:12)

2. THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY
• To feed the hungry
• To give drink to the thirsty
• To clothe the naked
• To shelter the needy
• To visit the sick
• To visit the imprisoned
• To bury the dead
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
• Pride
• Covetousness
• Lust
• Anger
• Gluttony
• Envy
• Sloth
CONTRARY VIRTUES
• Humility
• Liberality
• Chastity
• Meekness
• Temperance
• Brotherly Love
• Diligence
SINS AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT
• Presumption upon God’s Mercy
• Despair
• Impugning the known truth
• Envy of another’s spiritual good
• Obstinacy in sin
• Final impenitence
SINS CRYING TO HEAVEN FOR VENGEANCE
• Willful murder
• The sin of Sodom
• Oppression of the poor
• Defrauding laborers of their wages
NINE WAYS OF BEING ACCESSORY TO
ANOTHER’S SIN
• By counsel
• By command
• By consent
• By provocation
• By praise or flattery
• By concealment
• By partaking
• By silence
• By defense of the ill done
THREE EMINENTLY GOOD WORKS
• Alms-deeds
• Works of Mercy
• Prayer and Fasting
THREE EVANGELICAL COUNSELS
• Voluntary Poverty
• Chastity
• Obedience
SUBJECTS FOR DAILY MEDITATION
Remember, Christian soul, that thou hast this day, and
every day of this life:
• God to glorify
• Jesus to imitate
• The Angels and Saints to invoke
• A soul to save
• A body to mortify
• Sins to expiate
• Virtues to acquire
• Hell to avoid
• Heaven to gain
• Eternity to prepare for
• Time to profit by
• Neighbors to edify
• The world to despise
• Devils to combat
• Passions to subdue
• Death perhaps to suffer
• And Judgment to undergo
AMONG THE TRUTHS WHICH FAITH TEACHES
US
• The existence of one God
• The Mystery of the Redemption of mankind by the
Incarnation and death of Jesus Christ
• The future state of reward and punishment
THINGS EVERY CATHOLIC IS ALSO BOUND TO
KNOW
1. The three most ordinary Catholic Prayers…
• The Lord’s Prayer
• The Angelic Salutation (i.e. The Hail Mary)
• The Apostles’ Creed
2. The commandments of God
3. The precepts of the church
4. The Doctrine of the Sacraments (notably…)
• Baptism
• Penance
• Holy Eucharist
5. The duties and obligations of one’s state of life
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
A catholic will affirm that Mary was a virgin and that Jesus was
conceived miraculously through the power of the Holy Spirit,
and not through sexual relations with her husband Joseph.
Dogma teaches that Mary remained a virgin “before, during and
after” the birth of Jesus, and that He remained her only child.
The Church also teaches that at her own conception, Mary
herself, by virtue of being the ‘mother of God’ was conceived
without original sin – this is referred to as the ‘Immaculate
conception.’ Catholics also believe in Mary’s ‘bodily
assumption’ – that she was taken directly to heaven at the end
of her life and enthroned as Queen of Heaven by Jesus himself.