Basic Catholic Q and A's

The numbers in parenthese that follow the questions refer to related paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

1. Who are the Eastern Rite Catholics?
2. Who are the Eastern Orthodox Christians?
3. What is ecumenism?
4. What is the Church's mission?
5. Who is a missionary?
6. What is evangelization?
7. Why did Jesus call us the "light of the world"?
8. How can we help the missions?
9. What is religious life?
10. What is the origin of religious life?
11. What is the purpose of the religious vows?
12. Is religious life a sacrament?
13. What does religious chastity mean?
14. What does religious poverty mean?
15. What does religious obedience mean?
16. Who is a consecrated virgin?
17. Who is a hermit?
18. What are secular institutes?
19. What are societies of apostolic life?
20. What is the communion of saints?
21. What is a saint?
22. What is a patron saint?
23. What is a martyr?
24. What is excommunication?
25. What is schism?
26. Why is Mary called the Mother of the Church?
27. What can we learn from the history of the Church?

1. Who are the Eastern Rite Catholics?
The Eastern Rite Catholics are fully Catholic-united to the Pope in the unity of faith. They differ slightly from Western (Latin Rite) Catholics in the way they celebrate Mass and the sacraments, as well as in various Church laws and customs. These rites are honored because of their ancient origins. (1203)

2. Who are the Eastern Orthodox Christians?
The Eastern Orthodox are members of ancient Churches established in the East. Due to various difficulties, the Eastern Orthodox and Latin Churches split during the Middle Ages. The Orthodox have the Mass and the seven sacraments but do not accept the authority of the Pope. (838)

3. What is ecumenism?
Ecumenism is the effort of Christians to become one united Church. It is also called the ecumenical movement. (820-822)But I am praying not only for them but also for those who believe in me through their word, so that all may be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I in you (Jn 17:20-21).

4. What is the Church's mission?
The Church's mission is to preach the Gospel to all people throughout the world. The term "missions" is often used to designate those places where people have not yet heard the Gospel. But a major challenge for the Church today is to re-evangelize in countries which were formerly Christian. (850)Such a life is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, whose wish is that all may be saved and come to knowledge of the truth (1 Tm 2:3-4).

5. Who is a missionary?
A missionary is a person dedicated to spreading God's word (evangelizing), especially in those areas of the world which are not predominantly Christian. (849)Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19).

6. What is evangelization?
Evangelization is spreading the Gospel-the Good News about what Jesus has done for us, what he expects of us, and what he promises us:

Jesus says to us: I am the light of the world (Jn 8:12).
You are the light of the world (Mt 5:14).
Go into the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation (Mk 16:15).

7. Why did Jesus call us the "light of the world"?
Jesus called us the "light of the world" because he wants us to lead good lives and help others come to know him. (2044-2046)Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pt 3:18).

8. How can we help the missions?
We can help the missions by prayer, contributions and sacrifices, or by volunteering to help with a missionary project.

9. What is religious life?
Religious life is a special way of following Jesus. Religious are persons who make the vows of chastity, obedience and poverty in a religious community. (925-927)

10. What is the origin of religious life?
Religious life is rooted in Sacred Scripture, especially in the words and examples of Jesus, the Divine Master.

Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has left his house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the coming age, life eternal (Lk 18:28-30).

11. What is the purpose of the religious vows?
Religious vows are meant to free the mind and heart of the religious so that he or she can love God entirely and serve his people with wholehearted devotion. This life is like a foretaste of the way we will live in heaven. (916)

12. Is religious life a sacrament?
Religious life is not a sacrament. Religious publicly profess the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in imitation of Jesus. They also promise to serve the Church through the particular apostolic work of their congregation. Although they do not receive a specific sacrament for this, religious are to be signs and servants of the kingdom for the rest of the faithful. (916)

13. What does religious chastity mean?
Religious chastity is the vow by which religious freely dedicate their whole lives to God, foregoing marriage and family life. The unmarried man concerns himself with the Lord's affairs, with how to please the Lord (1 Cor 7:32).

14. What does religious poverty mean?
Religious poverty is the vow by which religious give up the ownership of material goods and share things in common, so that they will find their "treasure" in heaven. If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven, and come follow me (Mt 19:21).

15. What does religious obedience mean?
Religious obedience is the vow by which religious pledge to obey the rule of their religious congregation and their superiors who represent God for them. They do this in imitation of Jesus' obedience to his Father's will. My food is to do the will of the one who sent me, and to bring his work to completion (Jn 4:34).

16. Who is a consecrated virgin?
A consecrated virgin is a Christian woman who binds herself in consecrated virginity through the diocesan bishop. Consecrated virgins dedicate their lives to God but do not live in a religious community. (922-924)

17. Who is a hermit?
A hermit is a person devoted totally to God in solitude, silence, prayer and penance. The life of a hermit is one of surrender to the mystery of God, personal intimacy with Christ and "silent preaching." (920-921)

18. What are secular institutes?
Secular institutes are institutes of consecrated life whose members do not live in community. They commit themselves to live the evangelical counsels and to perform works of evangelization and charity, acting as true "leaven" within society. (928-929)

19. What are societies of apostolic life?
Societies of apostolic life are congregations in which religious vows may or may not be taken, but the members live as brothers or sisters, observing a rule of life, living a common life, and performing a common apostolate. (930)

20. What is the communion of saints?
The communion of saints is the communication of spiritual help among the members of Christ's body (the Church) in heaven, on earth and in purgatory. (946)

Whether we live or whether we die we belong to the Lord. This is why Christ died and came to life-so he would be Lord of both the dead and the living (Rom 14:8-9).

21. What is a saint?
A saint is a person who lives a holy and virtuous life. The name is generally applied to a "canonized" saint, that is, to a person whose holiness the Church has solemnly recognized. (825, 828)

Offer your bodies as a holy and living sacrifice which will be pleasing to God-this is your spiritual worship (Rom 12:1).

22. What is a patron saint?
A patron saint is a special person to imitate and pray to for help, a heavenly protector, usually one's name saint. (2156)

I pray you, let me inherit a double share of your spirit (2 Kgs 2:9).

23. What is a martyr?
A martyr is a person who allows himself or herself to be put to death rather than to deny the Christian faith. (2473-2474)

As he was being stoned Stephen cried out and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" (Acts 7:59).

24. What is excommunication?
Excommunication is a penalty specified in canon law for certain grave offenses. It means that the person is separated from communion with the Church and cannot receive the sacraments. (1463)

25. What is schism?
Schism is a breaking away from the authority of the Pope and the unity (oneness) of the Church. (2089)

Let there be no divisions among you. Can Christ be divided? (1 Cor 1:10, 13).

26. Why is Mary called the Mother of the Church?
Mary played a special role in God's plan of salvation because she was called to be the Mother of God. Closely united to Jesus, Mary is "the Church's model of faith and charity" and she is our spiritual mother. (963-970)

27. What can we learn from the history of the Church?
The history of the Church shows that Jesus is with his Church, as he promised, despite all persecution, and he has raised up saints in every period for God's people to imitate. Although its members have sinned and often made grave errors, the Church has preached the Gospel and tried to bring people to salvation.

Previous part of Belief in the Catholic Church

Contents page