Our Faith
Jesus Christ Our King
Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” ~Matthew 25:31–34
Christ will reign as King of our lives by the power of grace that He infused into human nature. He must first govern each and every soul. Jesus is not only the Savior of mankind, He is also the model of Christian living. He Himself said, “I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me” (John 6:38). Just as the Son of God did His Father’s will while on the earth, so must we.
We cannot do our own will, but the will of the Father in Heaven. God’s governance of our lives requires complete obedience to His commands because His commands are perfect, true, and lead us to the fulfillment of human life. Only in Christ do we find peace, unity, harmony, and true purpose.
The core beliefs of the Catholic faith
The core beliefs of the Catholic faith are found in the Nicene Creed. Nicene Christianity regards Jesus as divine and “begotten of the Father” Various conflicting theological views existed before the fourth century and these spurred the ecumenical councils which eventually developed the Nicene Creed in the year 391 AD.
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Holy Trinty
Catholics worship the One and Only God, who is the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.) He is ONE God, in three divine Persons, and his name is YHWH or Yahweh. The second Person of this Trinity (the Son) came to earth and took on humanity. His name is Yeshua (meaning: “Yahweh Saves”). In English, we pronounce his name as “Jesus.” He is called the “Christ,” which means “Messiah” or “Anointed One.”
The Trinity is the term employed to signify the central doctrine of the Christian religion — the truth that in the unity of the Godhead there are Three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, these Three Persons being truly distinct one from another.
Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary is the greatest among the saints. At the Annunciation, Mary said “yes” to God and became the Mother of Jesus, the eternal Son of God incarnate. We believe in Mary’s Immaculate Conception (that she was without sin from the moment of her conception and she remained “full of grace” by the saving work of the son she was to bear) and that, because of her sinless state, she was assumed bodily into heaven.
Do Catholics worship Mary?
No.
Why do Catholics pray to Mary?
Catholics do not pray to Mary as if she were God. Prayer to Mary is memory of the great mysteries of our faith (Incarnation, Redemption through Christ in the rosary), praise to God for the wonderful things he has done in and through one of his creatures (Hail Mary) and intercession (second half of the Hail Mary).
The Many Names of our Blessed Virgin Mary
Many beautiful titles have been given to the Mother of God over the centuries, and these titles have been given to her to honor her and for the help she has given to us. These would include titles such as
Mother of Good Counsel and Comforter of the Afflicted.
She is also addressed as the Immaculate Conception and
the Mother of God because the Church has recognized these truths.
The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary gives us many other titles, such as Mother most pure, and Mother most chaste, among many others.
Mary has been given titles based on the locations of her numerous apparitions, such as Our Lady of the Pillar in Spain, and Our Lady of Lourdes in France. More titles of Mary are found in the Marian Calendar.
https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/titles-of-mary.html
No other human person offers as vital and direct a link in the coming of Christ. The Magnificat, or Canticle of Mary, is the longest set of words uttered by a woman in the New Testament.
The Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on His humble servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed, the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name.
He has mercy on those who fear Him in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, He has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of His servant Israel for He has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise He made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.
Amen, Alleluia. (Luke 1:46-55)
Understanding Mass
The Mass, or celebration of the Eucharist, is the principal liturgical action in the Roman Catholic Church. It is the central action and aspect of our lives of faith and the primary way Catholics worship God as a community.
The word “Mass” comes from the Latin word, missa, meaning “mission” or “sending” because the liturgy is to send forth the faithful to bring forth the Good News of Jesus and to be His sacramental presence in the world. It can also be referred to as “Liturgy” which means “work of the people.” It is also a time to give God thanks and praise, as the word “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving.”
The Mass was established by the Lord Jesus at the Last Supper on the night before He died for us. In this celebration, we participate in the mystery of salvation by remembering the sacrificial death and resurrection of the Lord.
There are two major parts of the Mass: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The Liturgy of the Word
The first major component of the Mass during which selections from the Scriptures are proclaimed. A teaching, known as the “homily,” is given using the Scriptures of the day to explain the Christian life to the faithful. On Sundays and major feasts of the Church, the faithful profess their faith using the formula known as the “Nicene Creed.” The Liturgy of the Word concludes with the Prayer of the Faithful during which the people pray for the needs of the community and the world.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
Forms the second major part of the Mass. It begins with preparing the altar and culminates with the Eucharistic Prayer. During this prayer, the priest invokes the action of the Holy Spirit (epiclesis) to change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. The faithful are then invited to receive Holy Communion.
Participation in the gift of the Eucharist feeds, transforms, and heals us in our spiritual journey. We are empowered to go forth and continue the saving ministry of Jesus in our daily lives. We are centered on God and on the mystery of God’s love for us through the redemptive sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
In the Mass, we gather together as a community of believers, many parts of the one body of Christ. We remember all that Christ has done and sacrificed for us and that Jesus truly remains with us. We celebrate Christ’s active presence among us when Christ becomes truly present in the Eucharist. We participate in the sacrifice of Jesus and are nourished and healed through the presence of Christ in His body and blood.
Therefore, the mass calls for true participation of all worshippers together. It is not the priest “performing” for the people, but it is the community of faith, priest and people alike, worshipping, praising, and celebrating together as One Body and Blood of Christ.
Sunday Missal
Our missal is a liturgical book containing the Order of Mass, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist, Sunday readings of sacred Scripture, hymns, Popes monthly Intentions, our prayers including how to pray the rosary, the Way of the Cross,
Our liturgical year starts with lent (late November or early December). The missal begins with the start of lent and is available for purchase in November.
The missal is to help you engage in the celebration of the Eucharist and worship more fully. It is not intended to be read during Mass. There are exceptions such as you are having difficulty hearing the Word and you must follow along with the written word for understanding.
Bishop of Rome, the Pope
The Catholic Church is united under the leadership of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. Historical breaks and schisms have left us fractured, with the Eastern Orthodox churches no longer in full unity with Roman Catholicism. Beginning with John XXIII and continuing through the papacy of John Paul II and our current pope, the movement to come together in full Christian unity has been underway.
Christian Unity
Unity is essential for the followers of Jesus. John’s gospel reminds us, “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” John 17:22-23
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