The Catechism is divided into four parts:

Part One.  The Creed: The Faith Professed

Part Two.  The Sacraments: The Faith Celebrated

Part Three.  Christian Morality: The Faith Lived

Part Four.  Prayer: The Faith Prayed

Lessons equip readers to respond to questions on Catholicism

Built-in questions for personal/group use

Concluding meditations

RCIA Catechists and Catechumens

Adult Education Groups

Faith Formation Catechists

Personal Study

  Lesson One. Divine Revelation and Our Faith Response. What do we mean by Divine Revelation? How has our invisible God revealed himself to us? How are we to respond to his revelation? What is faith? Is Catholic faith different from Protestant faith? This Lesson gives a brief summary of ten aspects of Catholic faith.

 Lesson Two. Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Church. Confronting the Sola Scriptura Issue. How are the contents of Divine Revelation faithfully transmitted from one generation to another? Our Protestant brothers and sisters would answer: "through the Bible." The great clarion cry of the Protestant Reformation was "sola scriptura," or "scripture alone." In contrast, the Catholic Church looks to Scripture, Tradition, and the Church as the way to faithfully transmit the teachings of Christ. This is a very important lesson for all who wish to learn how Scripture, Tradition, and the Church are linked. These are essential for understanding why Catholics have certain beliefs not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, e.g., purgatory, certain beliefs about Mary and the saints, etc.

 Lesson Three. The Mystery of God. Who is God? How did belief in the doctrine of the Trinity develop and how has the Church sought to express this inexpressible truth? What are the five "proofs" of God's existence according to the great medieval theologian, St. Thomas Aquinas? What are other beliefs about God?

 Lesson Four. Creation of All that is Visible and Invisible. Where did we come from and where are we going? Can Catholics believe in evolution? Where did angels and demons come from? What is special about the creation of human persons? Why does a loving God allow evil and suffering? What is original sin? Why does the Church believe in it when it is not mentioned in the Bible? What do we mean when we say we are born with original sin?

 Lesson Five. Jesus (Part One): Son of God and Son of Mary, Fully Human and Fully Divine. Why did God decide to join the human race? Why were Jesus' early years lived in obscurity? What was the central theme of Jesus' mission on earth? Did Jesus have brothers and sisters? What are miracles and exorcisms? How did the Church come to believe that Jesus is both human and divine?

 Lesson Six. Jesus (Part Two): Salvation in Christ, His Death, Resurrection and Ascension. Was it God's will that Jesus die a cruel death for us? If so, what does that say about God? Why do we proclaim in the Apostles' Creed that "[Jesus] descended into hell"? What is the meaning of the cross for our lives? What is the significance of the Resurrection and Ascension? What does it mean to be "saved?"

 Lesson Seven. The Holy Spirit, Our Divine Guide and Strength. Who is the Holy Spirit? Was there a Holy Spirit in the Old Testament? What was the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus and the early Church? What are the "gifts" and "fruits" of the Holy Spirit? How can we develop a relationship with the Holy Spirit? What are the four scripture images of the Holy Spirit?

 Lesson Eight. The Church (Part One): The Sacrament of God's Love and Salvation. What is the basis for the teaching that the Church was planned by God, founded by Jesus and sanctified by the Holy Spirit? What are five scripture images of the Church? What make up the Church's membership, ministries and hierarchical structure? What is papal infallibility?

 Lesson Nine. The Church (Part Two): The Four Marks of the Church. What are the four marks or signs of the Church? How do these marks help to distinguish her from heretical or false churches? What are some of the ways we can respond to the call for Church reunification? Is salvation exclusive to Catholic Christians only? What about non-Catholics? Non-Christians? Non-believers?

 Lesson Ten. Mary the Mother of Jesus and the Mother of the Church. Why is Mary often called "the Mother of the Church"? Why does the Catholic Church pay so much attention to Mary? What are the four Marian doctrines proclaimed by the Church although they are not explicitly mentioned in Scripture? Do Catholics worship Mary? What are some of the devotions to Mary?

 Lesson Eleven. What Will Happen to Us After Death? The Last Things. Does the Church believe in reincarnation? What is meant by "particular judgment"? Who will attain heaven and what will it be like? Why does the Catholic Church believe in purgatory? What are the pain and joy of purgatory? Why does an all-loving God send people to hell? What is meant by the Second Coming of Jesus? What is the communion of saints?

 Lesson Twelve. Introduction to the Liturgy and the Sacraments. What is the liturgy? Who celebrates the liturgy, and how, when, and where is it celebrated? What are sacraments? Why seven sacraments and not five or ten?

 Lesson Thirteen. Baptism and Confirmation. Is Baptism necessary for salvation? What are the effects of Baptism on those who receive the sacrament? What are by baptism of blood, baptism of desire and baptism of implicit desire? Why does the Church baptize infants when they cannot repent of sin and profess faith in Jesus? What are the origin and essential rite of the sacrament of Confirmation? Who may receive Confirmation and what are its effects on the confirmand?

 Lesson Fourteen. The Eucharist. When was the Eucharist instituted? Why does the Church believe that the Mass is a sacrifice? Wasn't the sacrifice of Christ on the cross sufficient? What does "transubstantiation" mean? Why doesn't the Catholic Church invite non-Catholic Christians to Holy Communion? Five behaviors that can help us to be active participants in the Mass.

 Lesson Fifteen. Reconciliation. Why does the Church have the practice of private confession when this was not the practice in the early church? What are the three acts of the penitent in this sacrament? What are the spiritual effects of this sacrament? What is the "seal of confession"? Responses to seven questions frequently asked about this sacrament.

 Lesson Sixteen. Anointing of the Sick. What was Jesus' attitude towards sickness? What is meant by "redemptive suffering"? How did Vatican Council II reform this sacrament from a "sacrament for the dying" to a "sacrament of healing for the sick"?

 Lesson Seventeen. Holy Orders. What is the difference between the priesthood of the laity and the priesthood of the ordained? How did the orders of deacon, priest, and bishop develop? Why doesn't the Catholic Church ordain women? Why mandatory celibacy? Why not ordain married men?

 Lesson Eighteen. Marriage. What did Jesus teach about marriage? What is meant by the term "domestic church"? What is an annulment? What is the Church's attitude towards Catholics who marry outside the Church?

 Lesson Nineteen. Foundations of Catholic Morality (Part 1). How do we use our freedom responsibly? What are the three elements of a moral act? What is conscience and how is it formed? Should one always follow one's conscience? What is the difference between mortal and venial sins? What are the seven capital sins?

 Lesson Twenty. Foundations of Catholic Morality (Part 2). What is a virtue? What are the cardinal and theological virtues? How do we promote the common good as Christians (at home, the workplace, among friends, locally and globally)? What is the role of law in Catholic morality? What is "grace" and how does it work in us?

II. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

 Lesson Twenty-One. First and Second Commandments. What does the first commandment call us to (faith, hope and love of God)? What does the second commandment call us to (reverence for God's name)? What do both of these commandments forbid (idolatry, superstition, all forms of disrespect for God's name, etc.)?

 Lesson Twenty-Two. Third and Fourth Commandments. What do these two commandments call us to do (rest, communal worship of God, family relationships, etc.) and what do they forbid?

 Lesson Twenty-Three. Fifth Commandment. Why does the Church condemn as morally wrong abortion, euthanasia, suicide, death penalty, stem cell research? What is the just war theory?

 Lesson Twenty-Four. Sixth and Ninth Commandments. How do our positive and negative experiences affect our sexual formation? What is chastity? What are helpful ways to living a chaste life? What are the obstacles? What are some sins against chastity? What does the Church teach regarding family planning? What is the Church's stand on contraception? On artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization?

 Lesson Twenty-Five. Seventh and Tenth Commandments. What are the seven principles of Catholic social teaching? What are some ways we, as responsible stewards of God's creation, can do to protect the planet and its resources? Why did Jesus warn against the danger of material riches? How do we deal with greed and envy?

 Lesson Twenty-Six. The Eight Commandment. How are we called to be witnesses to the Gospel? What are three obstacles that we face as we seek to live the truth of the Gospel? Is lying a mortal sin? Is it okay sometimes to withhold the truth?

 Lesson Twenty-Seven. Prayer (Part 1). What is prayer? What are the five traditional forms of prayer? What should we pray for? Dealing with unanswered prayer, distractions, prayer in painful times, and spiritual dryness.

 Lesson Twenty-Eight. Prayer (Part 2). What do we mean by vocal, meditative and contemplative prayer? What are the seven petitions in the Lord's Prayer?

Reading of the Lesson. Members of the group take turns reading sections of the Lesson. Each article has built into it several Pause moments with a question for the group to consider. If the facilitator finds that the same few people respond to all of the questions, the participants are asked to pair up with the person next to them and share their thoughts on the question. Afterwards, the facilitator could ask if anyone has any other comments or questions on what has just been discussed. It gives everyone an opportunity to participate and also allows for group comments and questions.

Since many facilitators will not be professionally trained in theology, they can contact their priest or parish Director of Religious Education regarding theological or pastoral questions that they are unable to address.

Closing prayer

A special word of thanks to Fr. Alfred McBride, O Praem, world-renowned catechist and author of several books on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, who was my mentor and guide through the process of writing these articles. Fr. Al read each article and offered many suggestions along the way on how the articles could be improved. He was also most helpful in making sure that each article reflected the authentic teaching of the Church. I am personally responsible for any and all other shortcomings in the writing of these articles.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

Catholic Christianity -- Peter Kreeft

Fr. McBride's College Catechism -- Alfred McBride, O. Praem.

Essentials of the Faith -- Alfred McBride, O. Praem.

This is our Faith -- Michael Francis Pennock

Our Catholic Faith -- Michael Francis Pennock

The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth. -- Brian Singer-Towns

The Essential Catholic Catechism -- Alan Schreck