What do Catholics believe? A short summary of the faith

Catholics believe the faith summarized in the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. At its center is the Triune God, who created us, redeemed us through Jesus Christ, and calls us to eternal communion with Him.

God and creation. There is one God in three divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Persons are distinct, yet each is fully and eternally God (CCC 253-255). God freely created everything that exists, and He created the human person in His image, with intellect, freedom, and an immortal soul (Gen 1:27; CCC 355-366). Humanity fell through sin, but God did not abandon us.

Jesus Christ and salvation. The eternal Son of God became man in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Jesus is one divine Person with a fully divine nature and a fully human nature (Jn 1:14; CCC 464-469). He taught, healed, established His Church, died for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven. Salvation is a gift of grace received through faith, Baptism, and a life of loving obedience to God (Eph 2:8-10; CCC 1987-1995). Christ will return in glory to judge the living and the dead.

The Church and the sacraments. Jesus founded one Church upon the apostles, giving Peter a unique pastoral office (Mt 16:18-19). The Catholic Church is governed by the successors of the apostles, the bishops, in communion with the successor of Peter, the pope (CCC 880-882). Christ continues His saving work through seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony (CCC 1113). In the Eucharist, Jesus is truly present, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity (Jn 6:51; CCC 1374).

Christian life and eternal hope. Catholics are called to love God above everything and their neighbors as themselves. This includes keeping the commandments, caring for the poor, forgiving enemies, defending human life, praying, and carrying the cross with Christ. Catholics honor Mary and the saints as members of Christ’s family, while worship belongs to God alone (CCC 971). They believe in the resurrection of the body, final judgment, heaven, hell, and purification after death for those who die in God’s friendship but still need cleansing (CCC 988-1032).

A simple next step is to read the Apostles’ Creed slowly, attend Sunday Mass, and ask God for the grace to believe and live what He has revealed.