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"Ask and it will be given to you..." Matthew 7:7
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Catholics believe?
During the celebration of a Catholic Mass, the
participants in the congregation at one point profess their faith when reciting
the Nicene Creed. What is stated in the Nicene Creed is what Catholics believe.
"We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
"We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son
of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true
God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him
all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
"For our sake he was crucified under Pontius
Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in
fulfillment of 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.
"We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver
of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son
he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in
one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the
forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of
the world to come.
"Amen."
What are the Sacraments of the
Catholic Church?
There are seven sacraments of the Catholic Church.
The following is a brief explanation of each of the seven.
Baptism:
The first of the seven sacraments, and the door which gives access to the other
sacraments. Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins
because it unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our
justification. Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist constitute the sacraments of
initiation by which a believer receives the remission of original and personal
sin, begins a new life in Christ and the Holy Spirit, and is incorporated into
the Church, the body of Christ. The rite of Baptism consists in immersing the
candidate in water, or pouring water on the head, while pronouncing the
invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.
Confirmation:
One of the ensemble of the Sacraments of Initiation into the Church, together
with Baptism and Eucharist. Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism by a
special outpouring of the gifts of Holy Spirit, which seal or confirm the
baptized in union with Christ and equip them for active participation in the
worship and apostolic life of the Church.
Eucharist:
The sacrificial memorial of Christ and His Body. The liturgical celebration of
Eucharist is the Asource and summit of the Christian life, and the great act of
thanksgiving and praise to the Father. At the heart of the Eucharistic
celebration are the bread and wine that, buy the words of Christ and the
invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood. The structure of
the celebration unfolds in two parts which have been preserved down through the
centuries: - the gathering, the liturgy of the Word, with readings, homily and
general intercessions; - the liturgy of the Eucharist, with the presentation of
the bread and wine, the consecratory thanksgiving and communion.
Reconciliation:
The liturgical celebration of God's forgiveness of the sins of the penitent, who
is thus reconciled with God and with the Church. The acts of the penitent,
contrition, the confession of sins, and satisfaction or reparation together with
the prayer of absolution by the priest, constitute the essential elements of the
Sacrament of Penance.
Anointing of the Sick:
Is administered by a priest to baptized persons who are seriously ill or in
danger of death from sickness or old age. The ritual includes laying hands on
them, praying for them in the faith of the Church and anointing them on the
forehead and hands with blessed oil. The proper effects of the sacrament include
a special grace of healing, comfort and forgiveness of sins.
Holy Orders:
The Sacrament of Apostolic Ministry by which the mission entrusted by Christ to
his Apostles continues to be exercised in the Church through the laying on the
hands. This sacrament has three distinct degrees or orders: deacon, priest, and
bishop. All three confer a permanent, sacramental character.
Matrimony:
A covenant or partnership of life between a man and woman, which is ordered to
the well-being of the spouses and to the procreation and upbringing of children.
When validly contracted between two baptized people, marriage is a sacrament.
(Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1997)
What is the Catholic Church?
The Catholic Church is the Church established by
Christ on the foundation of the Apostles, possessing the fullness of the means
of salvation which He has willed: correct and complete confession of faith, full
sacramental life, and ordained ministry in apostolic succession. The Church is
catholic or universal both because she possesses the fullness of Christ's
presence and the means of salvation, and because she has been sent out by Christ
on a mission to the whole of the human race.
(Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1997)
How do I become Catholic?
Newly born children become Catholic by simply
receiving the Sacrament of Baptism. Adults commonly receive instruction in the
Catholic faith which prepares the individual for receiving the Sacraments of
Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. This adult instruction is called the Rite
of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
How do I return to the Catholic
Church?
An individual who is a baptized member of the
Church, but for whatever reason has not been a practicing member can come back
to the Church and receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. Such a
person may want to contact a nearby Catholic Church to discuss coming back to
their faith. Making an initial phone call to a Catholic parish secretary is a
great first step. The parish secretary can identify for the individual, members
of the parish staff to welcome you back.
Who at the Diocese do I contact
for help with genealogical research?
In most cases, you should contact the parish at
which you or your family member were baptized to trace sacramental records. In
some cases, your or your family's records may be archived at the diocesan
Catholic Record Society. The Catholic Record Society researches and responds to
all requests submitted in writing with a signature. You should include all
possible information in your request and mail it to: Catholic Record Society,
197 East Gay St., Columbus, OH 43215-3229. At this time, the Record Society
requests that inquiries not be submitted via e-mail.
I would like to write to the
Pope. Is this possible?
Yes. Any letter to the Holy Father should be
addressed as follows:
His Holiness
Pope Benedict XVI
Vatican City State
00120
Italy
Europe
The salutation should read: Your Holiness,
Be sure to put the correct amount of postage on the
envelope. The exact amount can be determined by checking at any U.S. Post
Office.
I am looking for my sacramental
records (baptism, confirmation, and so forth). Where can I find them?
Your sacramental records are usually stored in the
parish of your baptism. Simply contact that church and ask them for their
guidelines for requesting such records. These guidelines can vary from parish to
parish, so it is important to find out how they wish to have the request made.
If the parish you are seeking is in the Diocese of Columbus, simply go back to
our home page and click on our parish listing section, which will provide you a
mailing address and phone number and an e-mail address (if available).
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