Catholic Christians believe the Creator of all that exists is a God of Love, Wisdom and Truth. All goodness and love is from God. From creation we can learn much about God who is beyond all our words, images or imagining.
God is One and God is a Trinity of persons, loving one another: Father – Creator, Son – Jesus and Holy Spirit. This is a mystery.
In Jesus Christ, God is revealed in a human person. Born about 2000 years ago, to a simple family in Nazareth in Palestine, he grew up like others of his time and culture. He was like us, but did not sin. God’s love flowed through him, without limit, in a way that would change the world.
The eternal Spirit of God filled Jesus of Nazareth. This same Spirit who was upon Jesus, is given to all who accept this Gift (Jn 16-17; Acts 2:1-4).
Christians believe human beings are created in the image of God, with dignity, goodness and worth. We image God in qualities such as goodness, compassion, love, wisdom, justice, creativity and more.
It is not possible to ‘prove’ or explain God’s existence. It is a matter of faith. Faith is God’s gift. To have faith is to believe in a person.
A Creed, is a ‘Profession of faith’, a statement of commitment and of what is believed. Our word, ‘Creed’ comes from the Latin, “Credo” meaning “I believe”.
Catholic Christians have a sacramental view of life and creation. In Jesus, ‘the Word was made flesh’ (Jn 1:13-14); a divine person was born into the created world (the Incarnation). Therefore creation is able to point towards God and helps us encounter God.
Jesus formed a community of disciples to continue God’s mission in and for the world. Twelve of his disciples were given the name ‘Apostles’.
Life involves suffering as well as happiness and joy. Human suffering is not willed by God.
Jesus announced his mission;
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because God has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour”… (Luke 4:18-19)
Principles of Catholic Social Teaching are Gospel based principles, which should underpin our social interactions, the structure and life of our institutions and communities, and our approaches to ministry, service, promotion of justice.
Because of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, life is not ended but changed by death. The true destiny of every person is to be eternally in union with God who loved each one into existence.
In every celebration of Eucharist, on feastdays for particular saints, and on the feast of ‘All Saints’, Catholic Christians remember we are not alone on this earthly journey.
Every human person is a being of immeasurable dignity because each is created in the image and likeness of God, with a spiritual and immortal soul (or spirit), intelligence and free will.
Wise people in all traditions recognise truths about what is good, through reflection and reasoning based on human experience and observations of the world.
The ‘Ten Commandments’ of the Hebrew (Old Testament) Scriptures express many truths of ‘Natural Law’ that may be worked out using reason. (Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:1-21).
Catholic moral teaching encompasses Jesus’ law of love and a ‘consistent ethic of life.’ Natural Law, confirmed in our own experience, reveals that human life is precious.
Grace (charis) is a term which speaks of our participation in God’s life. It is God’s free gift and favour, helping us to live as the people God has created us to be.
Think of someone you admire as a person of integrity and goodness. You may recognise their virtues:
A virtue is a power or habit that enables us to live a good life: a firm disposition to do good. Virtues are strengthened by repeated actions, guided in the light of faith and reason.