The Catholic Faith

1. A Summary of Catholic Doctrine
2. The Most Necessary Prayers
3. Feasts and Fasts Throughout the Year
   1. Holy Days of Obligation
   2. Law of Fasting and Abstinence
   3. Fasting and Abstinence Days
4. Catechism
   1. Baltimore Catechism No. 2 PDF
   2. Baltimore Catechism Class Recordings
   3. Adult Catechism Classes by Fr. Carlos Zepeda
   4. Doctrine Classes by Fr. Benedict Hughes

A Summary of Catholic Doctrine

The Ten Commandments of God

1. I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have strange Gods before me.
2. Thou shalt 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 shalt not kill.
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
7. Thou shalt not steal.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, nor his servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is his.

The Six Precepts of the Church

1. To hear Mass on Sundays and holydays of obligation.
2. To fast and abstain on the days commanded.
3. To confess our sins at least once a year.
4. To receive the Blessed Eucharist at Easter or within the time appointed.
5. To contribute to the support of our Pastors.
6. Not to solemnize marriage 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

1. Baptism
2. Confirmation
3. Holy Eucharist
4. Penance
5. Extreme Unction
6. Holy Orders
7. Matrimony

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The Most Necessary Prayers

The Sign of the Cross

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

The Our Father

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Act of Faith

O my God, I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three divine Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. I believe that Thy divine Son became man, and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, Who canst neither deceive nor be deceived.

Act of Hope

O my God, relying on Thy almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain the pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

Act of Charity

O my God, I love Thee above all things with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

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Feasts and Fasts Throughout the Year

Holy Days of Obligation

On which we are bound to hear Mass and abstain from unnecessary servile work.

Holy Days of Obligation in the United States of America:

1. All Sundays of the Year.
2. The Octave Day of the Nativity, January 1st.
3. Ascension Thursday.
4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15th.
5. The Feast of All Saints, November 1st.
6. The Immaculate Conception, December 8th.
7. Christmas Day, December 25th.

Law of Fasting and Abstinence

• The law of abstinence forbids the eating of flesh meat and of broth made of meat, but does not exclude the use of eggs, milk and the products of milk (namely cheese and butter), and any seasonings of food, even those made from the fat of animals. (Canon 1250.)
• The law of abstinence binds all who have completed their 7th year of age.
• The law of fasting ordains that only one full meal a day be taken, but does not forbid a small amount of food in the morning and in the evening. As regards the kind of food, and the amount, that may be taken, the approved customs of one’s locality are to be observed. One may partake of both fish and flesh meat at the same meal. The full meal may be taken in the evening and the collation at noon. (Canon 1251.)
• The law of fasting binds all who have completed their 21st year until their 59th year. (Canon 1254.)

Fasting and Abstinence Days

Abstinence is prescribed on all Fridays of the year.

Fasting and total abstinence are prescribed on the following days:

• Ash Wednesday
• Fridays in lent
• Ember Fridays
• The Vigil of Easter
• The Vigil of the Immaculate Conception
• The Vigil of the Nativity

Fasting only (partial abstinence – meat allowed once at the principle meal) is prescribed on the following days:

• Ember Wednesdays & Saturdays
• All other weekdays in Lent
• The Vigil of Pentecost

On Sundays there is no fast or abstinence, lent included.

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