Religion

Introduction and Statistics
According to the 2006 Annuario Pontificio, the official yearbook of the Vatican, the membership of the Catholic Church was approximately 1,098,000,000 in 2004. There were 405,891 priests, 32,324 permanent deacons, and 113,044 seminarians when the data was compiled.

Overview
The Roman Pontiff, as the successor of Saint Peter the Apostle, is the supreme pastor over the Catholic Church. Bishops, as the successors of the Apostles, share in the authority of the Roman Pontiff when they are united to him. Priests and deacons are appointed to assist each bishop in the administering of the care of the faithful. Certain Rites of the Catholic Church may be organized in a different manner.

The Pontiff
The succession of pontiffs has continued from St. Peter to Benedict XVI who is considered the 265th pontiff. (Footnote: some calculations by other scholars differ, as one pontiff died before his coronation and another held the office at three separate times.) To protect the purity of the Truth handed onward from the Apostles, the Pontiff is infallible in matters of Faith and Morals in virtue of his office. (Footnote: Pope Vigilius may be an example of this power at work.) The Pontiff is popularly referred to as the Pope (who should not be confused with the Coptic Pope or the Eastern Orthodox Pope of Alexandria.). The pontiff is also known by several other titles (but no longer Patriarch of the West).

The pontiff often writes documents for the instruction and management of the Church. Some of these documents are: Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Exhortations, Apostolic Letters (some of which are given Motu Proprio), and Encyclicals.

The Cardinals
The Cardinals are chosen by the pontiff to be the electors of the succeeding pontiff upon the death or resignation of the pontiff. The choosing of cardinals is sometimes called the giving of red hats--referring to the official garb of cardinals. The cardinals are assigned to one of three categories: the episcopal order, the presbyteral order, and the diaconal order. The pontiff may choose any ordained priest to be a cardinal; however, the person must be consecrated a bishop if this has not yet been done. The pontiff may also choose to designate a cardinal in pectore, in which it is publicly announced that an appointment has been made, but the name is not revealed and the person is not notified until a later date. This is frequently used in the case of appointments of clergy from countries where the Church is persecuted. Although cardinals are frequently appointed to metropolitan sees and Magisterial offices, the designation as a cardinal does not give any other significant hierarchial faculties other than the electoral function. All cardinals who are not diocesan bishops are required to reside in Rome. Upon the death or resignation of the pontiff, the cardinals assemble in a conclave to elect the next pope.

At the time of this book's publication, the Apostolic Constitution, Universi Dominici Gregis, written by Pope John Paul II, governed the process of electing a new Pontiff upon the vacancy of the Holy See. Any subsequent Pontiff may revoke, amend, or replace these rules at any time he chooses.

The Bishops
Bishops are usually the head of a see, a regional area called a diocese, which may vary greatly in size. In the case of certain papal delegates and officials, an appointment may be made to a "Titular See." Bishops in union with the Pontiff also share in the reception of the divine assistance of infallibility regarding faith and morals in virtue of their office.

Priests
Bishops ordain priests through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Two categories of priests exist: diocesan and religious. A man may not be ordained a priest unless he is at least twenty-six years old, and there has been an interval of at least six months between his ordination to the diaconate and his ordination to the priesthood.

Diocesan Priests
Diocesan priests are usually assigned to one or more parishes to administer the majority of the sacraments to the faithful. Occasionally, the bishop may determine to assign a priest to assist in another diocesan task such as the administration of tribunals, the spiritual direction of an organization, or the formation or education of seminarians. Diocesan priests are directly responsible to their bishop, and take vows of chastity and obedience.

Religious Priests
Religious priests usually live in a communal atmosphere, such as in a monastery. They may, however, be assigned to a parish or another diocesan task with the approval of the local bishop (also called the "ordinary"). Religious priests are primarily subject to the authority of a superior of the order. They may also be subject to the authority of the bishop in whose diocese they are residing and, in the case with some orders, to the bishop who has given the order permission to be founded in and andministrated from his diocese.

Deacons
Deacons were first appointed by the Apostles to assist in the care of the temporal needs of the faithful. Currently, they may also partake in other duties, especially in the Liturgy of the Mass, the administering of Baptism, and the instruction of the faithful. There are two categories of deacons: transitional and permanent.

Transitional Deacons
Transitional deacons are candidates for the priesthood who have been ordained deacons and administer in this capacity until they are ordained to the priesthood. A man may not be ordained as a transitional deacon unless he has attained the age of twenty-three. Ordination may not take place until after the fifth year of theological and philosophical studies has been completed.

Permanent Deacons
Permanent deacons may be either married or unmarried men who have devoted themselves to the work of the Church. An unmarried man must be at least twenty-five years old to be ordained. A permanent deacon must be at least thirty-five years old, must have the consent of his wife, and may not marry again if his wife dies.

Other Rites of the Catholic Church
Other Rites may be organized in a different manner. There are twenty-one Eastern Rites. One of these is the Maronite Rite.

Attributes of the Catholic Church
The four attributes of the Catholic Church are: it is One, Holy, Catholic (universal), and Apostolic.

The Trinity and the two natures of Jesus
There is one God in three Divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This doctrine is also called the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity. The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity (the Son) assumed a human nature by being born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was free from all stain of original sin.

The Life of Christ
1) The Annunciation 2) The Visitation 3) The Nativity  4)  The Presentation 5) The Finding in the Temple

He ascended into heaven on Ascension Thursday, forty days after the Resurrection.

Marian Doctrines
The doctrine of Mary being conceived without original sin is the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, a dogma of the Faith. Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven, also a dogma of the Faith. She has also been proclaimed as the "Mother of God'' by the Council of Ephesus(?).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains much of the Church's teaching. This is available on the Vatican's website.

The Creeds
Two Creeds are used on a frequent basis in the Catholic Church: the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. The Athanasian Creed is also used.

The Apostles' Creed / Credo
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 Spirit, 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 sits 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 Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Bible References for The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth (Gen. 1:1, Isa. 44:6; 45:5; Neh. 9:6; Jn. 1:1-3; Acts 14:15; Mt. 5:45; 1 Pt. 1:17; Mt. 6:7-13; Rom. 1:20). I believe in Jesus Christ (Lk. 2:11; Jn. 2028; Mt. 3:17; Phil. 2:11), His only Son (Jn. 1:18; 3:16; Prov. 30:4), our Lord (Jn. 20:28). He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit (Lk. 1:35; Mt. 1:20), born of the Virgin Mary (Lk. 1:17; 2:7; Isa. 7:14), He suffered under Pontius Pilate (Lk. 23:23-25; Jn. 19:16), was crucified (Mt. 27:33-61; Mk. 15:22-47; Lk. 23-56; Jn. 19:18-42), died (1 Cor. 15:3), and was buried (1 Cor. 15:3). He descended to the dead (1 Pt. 3:18-20). On the third day He rose again from the dead (1 Cor. 15:4; Mt. 28:1-20; Jn. 20:1; Lk. 24:1-53; Mk. 16:1-20). He ascended into heaven (Mk. 16:19; Lk. 24:41; Acts 1:11). He is seated at the right hand of the Father Almighty (Mk. 16:19; Heb. 1:3). He will come again to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim. 4:1; Jn. 5:22; Mt. 16:27; Acts 10:39; 1 Cor. 15:51). I believe in the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:15-20; Jn. 15:26; 16:7-8; 13-14; Acts 1:7-8; Acts 13:2), the Holy Catholic Church (Mt. 16:18-19; 19-20; Rom. 1:7-8; Acts 9:31; Gal. 3:26-29; Rev. 7:9; Eph. 5:26-27; Col. 1:24), the Communion of Saints (Heb. 10:25; Heb. 12:1; Rev. 19:14; Mt. 28:19-20; 2 Cor. 11:13; 1 Cor. 15:33), the forgiveness of sins (Isa. 1:18; Lk. 7:48; Jn. 20:22-23; 1 Jn. 1:9), the resurrection of the body (1 Thes. 4:16; Jn. 6:39; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; Rom. 8:23,30), and life everlasting. Amen. (Jn. 10:28; 17:2-3; 1 Jn. 5:20)

Suffering in God's Plan
For Roman Catholics, suffering is meant to bring them closer to God, to merit graces for others, and to give the opportunity to practice charity.

Sources of Truth
The Catholic Church uses two sources for its teaching: Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. Sacred Tradition could be described as the understanding of what Christ wanted for the Church as He communicated it to the Apostles being handed down through the centuries. Sacred Scripture is various writings of different authors at different times that the Catholic Church determined were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Sacred Scripture gives stability to the unchanging truths communicated through Sacred Tradition, and Sacred Tradition prevents a legalistic interpretation of Sacred Scripture.

The various writings of Sacred Scripture were compiled into one volume in the 4th Century AD. This volume of collective works is often called the Bible. A complete Catholic Bible contains the following books: Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus; Numbers; Deuteronomy; Joshua; Judges; Ruth; 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel; 1 Kings and 2 Kings; 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles; Ezra; Nehemiah; Tobit; Judith; Esther; 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees; Job; Psalms; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; The Song of Songs; The Wisdom of Solomon; Sirach (Ecclesiasticus); Isaiah; Jeremiah; Lamentations; Baruch; Ezekiel; Daniel; Hosea; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Jonah; Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zachariah; Malachi; Gospel of St. Matthew; Gospel of St. Mark; Gospel of St. Luke; Gospel of St. John; Acts of the Apostles; Romans; 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians; 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy; Titus; Philemon; Hebrews; James; 1 Peter and 2 Peter; 1 John, 2 John and 3 John; Jude; and Revelation (Apocalypse).

The Sacraments
The seven Sacraments are: Baptism, Penance/Reconciliation, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Extreme Unction/Anointing of the Sick.

Baptism
Baptism is given "in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Baptism is only given once and is permanent; even if a person later "leaves" the Catholic Church, he/she is still a member, and if the person repents and returns to the Church, no rebaptizing is necessary. If there is uncertainty of a person's baptism or lack thereof, "conditional baptism" is administered ("If you have not already been baptised, I baptise you in the Name...")

All properly baptized persons, even those not in complete communion with the Roman Pontiff, are members of the Church of Christ and may rightfully be called "Christians" and "brethren in Christ." [This can be found on www (then a period " . " ) vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a1.htm Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1271] Baptism permanently makes one a Christian, cannot be undone, and never needs to be given a second time. [This can be found on www (then a period " . " ) vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a1.htm Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1272] Although a person may enter into heresy or schism, or even completely reject Christianity and apostasize, the person will never be able to cease being a Christian. Although the Catholic Church may use penalties [This can be found on www (then a period " . " ) vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4Y.HTM Code of Canon Law, Canons 1336-1338] and censures [this can be found on www (then a period " . " )vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4X.HTM Code of Canon Law, Canons 1331-1335] to attempt to reform a person or minimize the harm a person can do, it does not have the power to revoke Baptism or expel a member from the Church.

"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His." -Romans 6:3-5

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." -1 Corinthians 12:12-13

Baptism is the first among three sacraments of Christian initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist). It is through the baptism of an individual person " . . .in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" that one enters the Christian community.

Baptism is a sacrament which nearly all Christian denominations share in common. It is a sacrament that does not need to be repeated. Once a person is baptized into Christ, it is forever.

Catholics believe baptism can happen at any point in a person's life. It can be the decision of parents to raise their children in a Christian community and so to baptize them as infants; or it can be the decision of a younger child, teenager or adult to be baptized.

By ancient Christian tradition, before baptism takes place, the individual to be baptized must participate in a Christian parish community, must be instructed in the Christian faith, and must be sponsored by at least one baptized Christian adult. For adults, instruction comes through the Rite of Christian Initiation Program (RCIA), for young children and infants, parents and sponsors (Godparents) attend preparation classes.

Baptism for those instructed through the RCIA Program is celebrated by the parish at the Easter Vigil (the night before Easter Sunday). Baptisms are also celebrated at other times throughout the year. A baptismal preparation meeting for parents of infants and small children is usually held prior to the Baptism.

Penance / Reconciliation


In the Sacrament of Penance, a penitent is absolved "in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." It is required that all mortal sins be confessed, and the confession of venial sins is encouraged. Catholic are required to make use of this sacrament at least once a year. There is no limit as to how many times this sacrament may be administered to a penitent.

Holy Eucharist
Bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ in the context of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Communion is usually received in the course of the Mass; however, it Communion may also be received in a Communion Service (and even outside of a Communion Service in some cases?) Catholics are required to receive Communion at least once in the course of the Easter period. Catholics must be in the state of grace to receive Communion. Currently, a person may receive communion twice a day, but the second time must be in the course of a complete Mass attended by the recipient.

"For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."



-1 Corinthians 11:23-26

"Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."

-Luke 22:19-20

"The Eucharist is the 'summit' of Christian initiation and all apostolic activity, because the Sacrament presupposes membership in the communion of the Church. At the same time, it is the 'source,' because the Sacrament is nourishment for the Church's life and mission."

- Vatican II, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 47

The Eucharist we celebrate is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus, our Lord, our God, and our King. The Eucharist is what we do and who we are as a Catholic parish community. Each Sunday we gather to celebrate the Eucharist and commemorate the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

We are challenged as Catholics to, as St. Augustine said, "become what we receive," in the Eucharist. The Eucharist, also referred to as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, is celebrated to sustain us, but it also invigorates us to go back into the world and strive to bring Christ's presence into our homes, work places, schools, grocery stores, doctors and dentist's offices, and all the places we go to accomplish our daily duty.

The Eucharist is to be reserved in each parish church. This ancient custom of the Church began so that people who were not able to join the Christian community for the celebration of the Eucharist could receive Jesus in their homes at a later time. Today, the Eucharist is reserved in the Tabernacle, so that Jesus can be taken to the sick and those near the hour of their death, being called "Viaticum" at that point.

Great devotion to Christ's presence in the Eucharist arose and the practice of praying in the presence of the reserved Eucharist grew and continues to this day. Many churches have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Perpetual Adoration to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Catholics commit themselves to celebrate the Eucharist on Sunday, the Lord's Day, as it was named after the Resurrection. Many people are inspired to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist on a daily basis. As a sacrament of initiation, the Eucharist brings people into fuller communion with the Christian family. First Eucharist, or First Holy Communion, as it is usually referred to, may be celebrated as early as the second grade (7-9 years old). Reception of Holy Communion can also be celebrated for the first time anytime after that age.

Confirmation
Confirmation is given once in a person's lifetime and is permanent. If a person later "leaves" the Catholic Church, and later repents and returns to the Church, no reconfirmation is necessary.

"But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, by putting his seal on us and giving us his Spirit in our hearts as a first installment." 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

"Be sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you." Rite of Confirmation

Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation. The development of Confirmation as a rite and sacrament in itself coincides with the growth of the Christian Church. Confirmation is the anointing on the forehead of a baptized person with Chrism. From the beginning of the Church, those who were baptized were always given this seal by the head of a local Christian community (today called a bishop). As the Church grew, bishops appointed co-workers (priests) to celebrate the Sacraments on a day to day basis for parish communities. Bishops made it their practice as head of a local Church to visit all the communities of Christians under their care. During those visits, the bishop would confirm any baptisms that had taken place by sealing the baptized person with Chrism.

Confirmation deepens a baptized person's communion with the Christian community. It also connects the individual to the Church on a broader level. Confirmation celebrates a deepening of the gifts of the Holy Spirit first given to a person at baptism and renewed and enriched in each celebration of the Eucharist.

Matrimony


The Sacrament of Matrimony, when properly administered without impediments and consummated, is permanent until the death of one of the two spouses. If a marriage is not properly administered or there are impediments, an annulment is granted, which is a determination that the marriage was never valid in the first place. If a marriage is not consummated, it is possible to get what is called an ecclesiastical divorce. Marriage is only valid between one man and one woman.

Holy Orders
Holy Orders is the ordination of candidates to the priesthood. This sacrament is only given once and is permanent; if a priest later "leaves" the Catholic Church, he/she is still a priest, and if the priest repents and returns to the Church, no reordination is necessary. Even if a priest is laicised, he still may give the Last Rites to a person in danger of death. In general, those who are ordained priests are required to be unmarried. An exception is made for certain Protestant ministers who convert to Catholicism.

Extreme Unction/Anointing of the Sick
This Sacrament is given in cases of sickness, imminent death, or old age. It is usually given only once per occasion, but in the case of an extended illness, it is often received more than once. When it is administered, it is often given with the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist; the reception of these sacraments is often collectively called the Last Rites.

"Are any among you sick? They should call for the presbyters of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven." -James 5:14-15

All who find themselves facing illness, surgery or other serious ailments are encouraged to celebrate the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. It can be celebrated more than one time. It can be celebrated in the hospital, a nursing home or in the individual's home. It is only celebrated by a priest or bishop.

Morals
The Catholic Church teaches that, after the sin of Adam, each person who comes into the world inherits Original sin (correct?). Original sin is washed away in baptism. (?) Christ atoned for the sins of all, however man's cooperation is required in order to accept Christ's free gift of grace. Faith--which necessarily includes good thoughts, words, and actions--constitutes acceptance of this sanctifying grace. When a person performs an evil thought, word, or action, he commits a sin. Sin is classified into two categories: venial and mortal. A person who commits a venial sin weakens his soul, but has not rejected Christ's offer of sanctifying grace. Mortal sin constitutes a rejection of Christ's offer of grace and thus causes the individual to loose sanctifying grace until it is regained after reconciling with God (normally achieved through the making of a good confession). If a person dies in the state of mortal sin, he has failed to accept Christ's offer of salvation, and therefore has chosen eternal damnation in Hell over eternal life in Heaven with God. If a person dies who is in the state of grace but is not perfectly pure, he undergoes purification in Purgatory before entering Heaven. A person may remove the impurity resulting from sin in several ways. One of these ways is to gain an indulgence.

Indulgences
An indulgence may be gained by the recitation of certain prayers or the performance of certain acts. Indulgences are categorized as plenary and partial. Plenary indulgences completely remove the punishment due to sin. Certain conditions must be met to gain a plenary indulgence. A partial indulgence removes some of the punishment due to sin. Indulgences are administered by the Apostolic Penitentiary. The Enchiridion is the current book of indulgences. The Fourth edition (first published in 1999) can be found on the Vatican's website in the Latin language. A book called the Raccolta once served this purpose. A summary of the moral requirements of Catholics is contained in the Gospel of Mark:
 * And there came one of the scribes that had heard them reasoning together, and seeing that he had answered them well, asked him which was the first commandment of all. And Jesus answered him: The first commandment of all is, Hear, O Israel: the Lord your God is one God. And you shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind and with your whole strength. This is the first commandment. And the second is like to it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.  [This can be found on www (then a period " . ") gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=21402&pageno=34 Mark 12:28-31].

Aspects of this calling are highlighted and defined in the Ten Commandments and in other commandments, laws, and principles.

The Ten Commandments
In quotations of the Ten Commandments, the Catholic Church uses the division in Deuteronomy rather than Exodus. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, topics similar to the commandment are explained.

The First Commandment
Idolatry, love of possessions and persons over God, superstition, witchcraft, atheism, apostasy, and agnosticism are forbidden. The faithful and clergy may only worship God and Him alone; they may honor those of His servants who have set an heroic example of fidelity to God.

The Second Commandment
Cursing, swearing, profanity, obscene speech, rash oaths, blasphemy, and improper use of God's name or the names of the saints are forbidden.

The Third Commandment
A day of rest is to be observed on Sunday.

The Fourth Commandment
Obedience and respect to lawful authority is required, except in the case where one would be required to commit a sin.

The Fifth Commandment
Murder, suicide, abortion, contraception, euthanasia, and intentional physical injury of oneself or another is prohibited. Unjust wars are also forbidden, and the few cases when a war is undertaken for a just cause are explained.

The Catholic Church teaches that life begins from conception and exists until natural death. Pope Paul VI wrote the encyclical Humanae Vitae on the matter.

The Sixth Commandment
Adultery, fornication, pre-marital sex, and homosexuality are forbidden.

The Seventh Commandment
Theft, vandalism, and damage to the property of another are prohibited. Employers are required to pay just wages.

The Eighth Commandment
False witness, perjury, detraction, calumny, slander, boasting, bragging, lies, and gossip are forbidden.

The Ninth Commandment
Lust, impure thoughts, and impure desires are forbidden; purity and modesty are required.

The Tenth Commandment
Envy is forbidden.

The Six Precepts of the Church

 * Catholics are required to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation
 * Catholics are required to confess their sins at least once a year in the Sacrament of Reconciliation
 * Reception of communion at least once during the Easter Season is required.
 * Holy Days of Obligation must be kept holy.
 * Observation of the fast and abstinence laws is required.
 * The faithful are obligated to provide for the temporal needs of the Church.

Seven Corporal Works of Mercy
The seven corporal works of mercy are: give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the imprisoned, visit the sick, and bury the dead.

Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy
The seven spiritual works of mercy are: ...Counsel the doubtful, admonish the ignorant,... forgive all injuries, and pray for the living and the dead.

Virtues
Certain good qualities that should be practiced by Catholics are often classified as virtues.

Theological Virtues
There are three Theological virtues: Faith, Hope, and Charity. These qualities apply directly to a person's relationship with God.

Cardinal Virtues
There are Four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude. These are qualities that are naturally necessary for any moral life.

The Stations of the Cross
The fourteen Stations of the Cross are: Sometimes the Resurrection is added as a fifteenth station.
 * Jesus is condemned by Pilate
 * Jesus accepts His Cross
 * Jesus falls the first time
 * Jesus meets His Mother
 * Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry His Cross
 * Veronica wipes Jesus's face
 * Jesus falls the second time
 * Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem
 * Jesus falls the third time
 * Jesus is stripped of His garments
 * Jesus is nailed to the Cross
 * Jesus dies on the Cross
 * Jesus is taken down from the Cross
 * Jesus is buried in the Tomb.

The Rosary
The rosary is a Marian prayer attributed to St. Dominic. It is begun with the Sign of the Cross and the Apostles' Creed. One Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be are prayed. Fives sets of decades (composed of one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory Be'') are prayed. The Rosary is concluded with the Hail, Holy Queen and the optional prayers for the Pontiff. In 1917, our Blessed Mother requested that the Fatima Prayer--"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls into Heaven, especially those in the most need of Your mercy."--be prayed after the "Glory Be" of each Mystery.

Currently there are twenty "mysteries" commonly used for meditation (there is also a more uncommon set of five called the Consolation Mysteries):
 * The Joyful Mysteries (prayed on Mondays and Saturdays)
 * The Annunciation
 * The Visitation
 * The Birth of Jesus (also called the Nativity)
 * The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
 * The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
 * The Luminous Mysteries (prayed on Thursdays)
 * The Baptism of Christ by Saint John the Baptist
 * The Miracle at Cana
 * The Proclamation of the Coming of the Kingdom of God
 * The Transfiguration
 * The Institution of the Eucharist
 * The Sorrowful Mysteries (prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays)
 * The Agony in the Garden
 * The Scourging at the Pillar
 * The Crowning of Thorns
 * The Carrying of the Cross
 * The Crucifixion
 * The Glorious Mysteries (prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays)
 * The Resurrection
 * The Ascension
 * The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles
 * The Assumption of Mary
 * The Coronation of Mary

Although the standard order is used by most Catholics, the selection of which set of mysteries to pray on which day is not obligatory.

The Scapular
The scapular is a sacramental attributed to St. Simon Stock.

The Miraculous Medal
The Miraculous Medal is attributed to St. Catherine Labouré. Around the edge of the medal is "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."

Other Sacramentals
Other sacramentals are:
 * Holy Water
 * Blessed Salt
 * Saint Benedict Medal
 * Crucifix
 * Other Medals
 * Other scapulars (such as the green scapular)

Liturgies
The Sacrifice of the Mass is divided into two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Priests and certain members of religious congregations are required to pray the Liturgy of the Hours.

The Liturgical Calendar
The Liturgical Year begins with the Season of Advent, followed by the Season of Christmas, followed by a period of Ordinary Time, followed by the Season of Lent, followed by the Easter Season, followed by another period of Ordinary Time which continues until the next Season of Advent. Select days of the year also commemorate specific Saints and the lives of Jesus and Mary.

'''See also: Liturgical Calendar

Vessels and Vestments of the Mass and other Ceremonies
The vestments used in the Mass are the amice (optional), alb, cicture, stole, and chasuble. The vessels used in the Mass are the primarily the paten and chalice. Other textile items also used are the purificator, chalice veil, corporal, and burse (optional). The cope and humeral veil are used in Eucharistic processions and Benediction. A deacon wears a dalmatic, rather than a chasuble. Acolytes either wear cassocks and surplices (or sometimes capes/humerales?), or they wear albs. Lectors, cantors, and choristers may occasionally wear vestments similar to those worn by acolytes. Important sanctuary furniture includes the tabernacle, altar(s), lectern, and ambo (optional). Other furniture in the church includes the baptismal font, sanctuary lamp, holy water fonts (optional), and pews.

The Order of the Mass
The Mass is begun with the Sign of the Cross and followed by the Penitential Rite. The Penitential Rite may have several different forms. It may be the Rite of Sprinkling, it may be the Confiteor (I Confess to Almighty God) followed by the Kyrie (Lord, have mercy), it may be the Kyrie combined with tropes (in this case, these tropes are usually statements about the different aspects of God), or it may be the simple Kyrie. For a few select days of the Liturgical Year (such as Ash Wednesday) a special rite proper to that day is substituted. The Gloria (Glory to God in the Highest) is recited Sunday Masses outside the Advent and Lenten Seasons,on solemnities, and on feasts. The Opening Prayer follows the Gloria (if the Gloria is omitted, it follows the Penitential Rite).

An excerpt from the Bible is read. If there are two readings, the first is from the Old Testament, the Acts of the Apostles, or the Apocalypse (Revelation), and the second reading is from one of the Epistles. If there is only one reading, it may be from any book of the Bible other than the four Gospels. The first reading is followed by a responsorial psalm (or a portion of it; the Responsorial Psalm may also be from a book of the Bible other than the Psalms), which is followed by the second reading (if there is one). On select days (such as Easter and Corpus Christi) there is a sequence. Then there is the Gospel Acclamation, followed by an excerpt from one of the four Gospels. A homily may follow this.

On solemnities and Sundays the Nicene Creed is prayed (for Masses with children, the Apostles' Creed may be substituted). The General Intercessions conclude the Liturgy of the Word.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the Offertory. This is followed by the Prayer over the Gifts, the Preface, and the Sanctus (Holy, Holy). The priest may select from one of nine Eucharistic Prayers. Eucharistic Prayer I (also called the Roman Canon) is particularly suited to days when this Eucharistic Prayer has a special form (Christmas and Christmas Octave, Holy Thursday, Epiphany, Easter Vigil and Easter Octave, the Ascension, and Pentecost. Eucharistic Prayer II is particularly suitable for weekday Masses. Eucharistic Prayer III is particularly suitable for Sunday and holydays. Eucharistic Prayer IV recounts the history of salvation in greater detail and has a preface specifically assigned to it, and is suitable for days that are not assigned a preface. There are also two reconcilatory Eucharistic Prayers, and three for Masses with children.

The Our Father is prayed, which, after several other prayers, may be followed by the optional Sign of Peace [see The Sacramentary, page 563]. The Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) is prayed or sung. The first two verses may be repeated as many times as necessary until the ministers of the Eucharist are prepared, but the concluding verse always ends with grant us peace. The priest prays two inaudible prayers [see The Sacramentary, page 563] and, after the "This is the Lamb" and a prayer based on the statement of a centurion, the Eucharist is consumed by the priest and, in most cases, the faithful present who are in the state of grace and have prepared themselves by the proscribed fast.

The Prayer after Communion, followed by the Final Blessing, concludes the Mass.

The Liturgy of the Hours
The Liturgy of the Hours is prayed several timed during the course of a day. The key parts of the Liturgy of the Hours are the Invitatory, Morning Prayer, Daytime Prayer, Evening Prayer, Night Prayer, and the Office of Readings.

Invitatory
The Invitatory begins the prayer of every day. It is composed of the verse "Lord, open my lips" with the response "And my mouth will proclaim your praise," followed by a psalm (usually Psalm 95, but it can be substituted with Psalm 100, 67, or 24). It is combined to the period of prayer which follows it, which may be either Morning Prayer or the Office of Readings.

Morning Prayer
Morning prayer is composed of the following: a hymn (unless Morning Prayer both follows and is combined with the Office of Readings, in which case the hymn proper to Morning Prayer is moved to the beginning of the Office of Readings),a psalm, an Old Testament canticle, a second psalm, a Biblical excerpt which serves as a reading, a responsory, the Canticle of Zechariah, a collection of intercessions, the Our Father, a concluding prayer, and the dismissal.

Daytime Prayer
Daytime prayer is composed of the following: a hymn, three psalms, a Biblical excerpt which serves as a reading, a responsory, a concluding prayer, and a final acclamation. Daytime Prayer can be a single period or three separate periods termed Midmorning, Midday, and Midafternoon. Diocesan priests pray one period of daytime prayer, and religious communities pray three. (?)

Evening Prayer
Evening prayer is composed of the following: a hymn, two psalms, a New Testament canticle, a Biblical excerpt which serves as a reading, a responsory, the Canticle of Mary, a collection of intercessions, the Our Father, a concluding prayer, and the dismissal.

Night Prayer
Night Prayer is composed of: an introduction, an examination of conscience, a penitential rite or prayer, a hymn or poem, one or two psalms, a Biblical excerpt which serves as a reading, a responsory, the Canticle of Simeon, a concluding prayer, and a Marian prayer.

The Office of Readings
The Office of Readings is frequently combined with another period of prayer. It is composed of a hymn (it uses its own prescribed hymn if not combined to another period other than the invitatory, but it uses the hymn of the other period at its beginning if it is followed by and combined with another period), three psalms, a verse with a response, a Biblical reading, a responsory, a reading from one of the Church writers, a second responsory, the Te Deum (only recited on Sundays, solemnities, and feasts; maybe not during Lent and Advent?), a concluding prayer, and a final acclamation.

(Create a table which will help clarify this)

History of the Catholic Church
Several approaches to describing the history of the Catholic Church after Christ's Ascension may be used. Three different methods are currently in use in this page. The first is to organize it by the succession of each Roman Pontiff. The second way is to organize it by what was taking place within the Church at large. The third is to organize it by date.

Biographies of the Roman Pontiffs/Categorization by Pontificate

 * Saint Peter
 * Linus
 * Anacletus
 * Clement I
 * Evaristus
 * Alexander I
 * Sixtus I
 * Telesphorus
 * Hyginus
 * Pius I
 * Anicletus
 * Soter
 * Soter became Pope about the year 167, and was pope for about eight years. It appears that he was particularly known for his generosity, but this book currently has no information regarding any alms or kindness he bestowed. He either died or was martyred about the year 175.


 * Eleuterus
 * Victor I
 * Zephyrinus
 * Callixtus I
 * Urban I
 * Pontian
 * Anterus
 * Fabian
 * Cornelius
 * Lucius I
 * Stephen I
 * Sixtus II
 * Dionysius
 * Felix I
 * Eutychian
 * Caius
 * Marcellinus
 * Marcellus I
 * Eusebius
 * Miltiades
 * Sylvester
 * Mark
 * Julius I
 * Liberius
 * Damasus I
 * Siricius
 * Anastasius I
 * Innocent I
 * Zosimus
 * Boniface I
 * Celestine I
 * Sixtus III
 * Saint Leo I the Great
 * Saint Hilarius
 * Simplicius
 * Felix III
 * Gelasius I
 * Anastasius II
 * Symmachus
 * He was the son of Fortunatus and a native of Sardinia. He was elected to the papacy on November 22, 498 at the Lateran Basilica. On the day of his consecration, a faction went to Santa Maria Maggiore and elected Archpresbyter Laurentius as an antipope.


 * Hormisdas
 * Saint John I
 * Saint Felix IV
 * Boniface II
 * John II
 * Saint Agapetus I (also "Agapitus")
 * Saint Silverius
 * Vigilius
 * Pelagius I
 * John III
 * Benedict I
 * Pelagius II
 * Saint Gregory I the Great
 * Saint Sabinian
 * Boniface III
 * Saint Boniface IV
 * Adeodatus I
 * Boniface V
 * Honorius I
 * Severinus
 * John IV
 * Theodore I
 * Saint Martin I
 * Saint Eugene I
 * Saint Vitalian
 * Adeodatus II
 * Donus
 * Donus became Pope on November 2, 676. While he was Pope he had the atrium in front of St. Peter's Basilica paved and St. Euphemia's on the Appian Way restored. He also had another church repaired which was either St. Paul's Outside the Walls or a church on the route to it. He died on April 11, 678 after a pontificate of one year, five months, and ten days.


 * Saint Agatho
 * He was born in the late 500's and became Pope in 678. During his papacy he restored St. Wilfred to his see. He also had an ecumenical council held in Constantinople in 680 to suppress the Monothelite heresy, but died before he was able to sign the decrees of the council. He died in Rome in 681 and was buried in St. Peter's Basilica on January 10, 681. It appears he was responsible for a significant number of miracles and was sometimes called "Thaumaturgus" (Wonderworker), but this book currently has no information regarding what miracles he performed or which miracles were attributed to him.


 * Saint Leo II
 * Saint Benedict II
 * John V
 * Conon
 * Saint Sergius I
 * John VI
 * John VII
 * Sisinnius
 * Constantine
 * Saint Gregory II
 * Gregory III
 * Saint Zachary
 * Stephen II
 * Saint Paul I
 * Stephen III
 * Adrian I
 * Leo III
 * Stephen IV
 * Saint Paschal I
 * Eugene II
 * Valentine
 * Gregory IV
 * Sergius II
 * Saint Leo IV
 * Benedict III
 * Saint Nicholas I the Great
 * Adrian II
 * John VIII
 * Marinus I
 * Saint Adrian III
 * Stephen V
 * Formosus
 * Boniface VI
 * Stephen VI
 * Romanus
 * Theodore II
 * John IX
 * Benedict IV
 * Leo V
 * Sergius III
 * Anastasius III
 * Lando
 * Lando was the son of Taino and a native of the Sabina. It appears he became pope in either July or August of 913. He apparently granted a privilege of some variety to a church in Sabina. He died in either February or March of 914. He had a pontificate of slightly more than six months.


 * John X
 * Leo VI
 * Stephen VII
 * John XI
 * Leo VII
 * Stephen VIII
 * Marinus II
 * Agapetus II
 * John XII
 * Benedict V
 * Leo VIII
 * John XIII
 * Benedict VI
 * Benedict VII
 * John XIV
 * John XV
 * Gregory V
 * Silvester II
 * John XVII
 * John XVIII
 * Sergius IV
 * Benedict VIII
 * John XIX
 * Benedict IX
 * Silvester III
 * (second term of Benedict IX)
 * Gregory VI
 * Clement II
 * (third term of Benedict IX)
 * Damasus II
 * Saint Leo IX
 * Victor II
 * Stephen IX
 * Nicholas II
 * Alexander II
 * Saint Gregory VII
 * Blessed Victor III
 * Blessed Urban II
 * He was born about 1042 with the name Otho of Lagery in Châtillon-sur-Marne in Champagne. He studied in Reims, and was promoted to the office of an archdeacon and canon while residing there. He went to Cluny about 1070 and joined the monastery there, and was later advanced to the position of prior. Saint Hugh sent him to Rome to assist Pope Gregory VII, and became Cardinal Bishop of Ostia in 1078. He was assigned to be the legate to Germany and France from 1082 to 1085. When he returned to Rome in 1085, Victor III had been elected to the papacy. After Pope Victor III died, Otho was elected to the papacy on March 12, 1088, and took the name Urban II. During the course of his papacy the possession of Rome frequently changed hands between him and the antipope Guibert of Ravenna. In November of 1095 he convened a council in Clermont, at which the First Crusade was proclaimed and Philip of France was excommunicated on account of adultery. Urban regained possession of the Castel Sant'Angelo in 1098, and convened a council in Bari to attempt a reconciliation with Eastern bishops by addressing the matter of the filioque clause. He died on July 29, 1099, was buried in the crypt of Saint Peter's Basilica, and was beatified on _______ by Pope Leo XIII.


 * Paschal II
 * Gelasius II
 * Callixtus II
 * Honorius II
 * Innocent II
 * Celestine II
 * Lucius II
 * Blessed Eugene III
 * Anastasius IV
 * Adrian IV
 * Alexander III
 * Lucius III
 * Urban III
 * Gregory VIII
 * Clement III
 * Celestine III
 * Innocent III
 * Honorius III
 * Gregory IX
 * Celestine IV
 * Innocent IV
 * Alexander IV
 * Urban IV
 * Clement IV
 * Blessed Gregory X
 * Blessed Innocent V
 * Adrian V
 * John XXI
 * Nicholas III
 * Martin IV
 * Honorius IV
 * Nicholas IV
 * Saint Celestine V
 * Boniface VIII
 * Blessed Benedict XI
 * Clement V
 * John XXII
 * Benedict XII
 * Clement VI
 * Innocent VI
 * Blessed Urban V
 * Gregory XI
 * Urban VI
 * Boniface IX
 * Innocent VII
 * Gregory XII
 * Martin V
 * Eugene IV
 * Nicholas V
 * Callixtus III
 * Pius II
 * Paul II
 * Sixtus IV
 * Innocent VIII
 * Alexander VI
 * Pius III
 * Julius II
 * Leo X
 * Adrian VI
 * Clement VII
 * Paul III
 * Julius III
 * Marcellus II
 * Paul IV
 * Pius IV
 * Saint Pius V
 * Gregory XIII
 * Sixtus V
 * Urban VII
 * Gregory XIV
 * Innocent IX
 * Clement VIII
 * Leo XI
 * Paul V
 * He was originally born as Camillo Borghese on September 17, 1550 in Rome. He became a cardinal in 1596. He died on January 28, 1621.


 * Gregory XV
 * Urban VIII
 * Innocent X
 * Alexander VII
 * Clement IX
 * Clement X
 * Blessed Innocent XI
 * Alexander VIII
 * Innocent XII
 * Clement XI
 * Innocent XIII
 * Benedict XIII
 * Clement XII
 * His original name was Lorenzo Corsini. He was born on April 7, 1652 in Florence. He became titular archbishop of Nicomedia in 1691 and a cardinal-deacon on May 17, 1706. He was elected to the papacy on July 12, 1730. During his pontificate he paved the streets of Rome and restored the Arch of Constantine. In 1738 he issued the first papal decree against the Freemasons. He died on February 6, 1740.


 * Benedict XIV
 * Clement XIII
 * Clement XIV
 * Pius VI
 * Pius VII
 * Leo XII
 * Pius VIII
 * Gregory XVI
 * Blessed Pius IX
 * Pius IX was born with the name Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti in Sinigaglia on May 13, 1792. He ws ordained on April 10, 1819. He was promoted to the position of Archbishop of Spoleto by Pope Leo XII on May 21, 1827. He was assigned to the Diocese of Imola by Pope Gregory XVI.


 * Leo XIII
 * Leo XIII was born with the name Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci on March 2, 1810 in Carpineto to Count Lodovico Pecci and Anna ProsperiBuzi. Gioacchino entered the Collegio Romano in 1824, and received his doctorate in 1832. He was promoted to the rank of domestic prelate in January of 1837 by Gregory XVI. He was ordained on December 31, 1837 by Cardinal Odeschalchi at the chapel of Saint Stanislaus on the Quirinal. Pope Gregory XVI assigned him to Benevento, where he worked diligently to annihilate the brigands and smugglers infesting the region. Pope Gregory XVI then assigned him to Perugia, where Gioacchino started a savings bank specifically to assist farmers and small businesses in obtaining low interest rates. In January of 1843 Gioacchino was promoted to the position of nuncio to Brussels, and was consecrated titular bishop of Damiata on February 19, 1843 by Cardinal Lambruschini. Pope Gregory XVI appointed Gioacchino to the See of Perugia when it became vacant, but permitted him to retain the title of Archbishop. He was created a cardinal on December 19, 1853 by Pope Pius IX. He was appointed to be the Camerlengo in August of 1877, and was elected to the papacy on February 20, 1878, taking the name Leo XIII. He wrote the encyclical Rerum Novarum, dated May 18, 1891. He died in Rome on July 20, 1903.


 * Saint Pius X
 * Benedict XV
 * Pius XI
 * Pius XII
 * John XXIII
 * Paul VI
 * John Paul I
 * John Paul II
 * Benedict XVI

Organization by Era
After the Ascension of the Lord, the Apostolic Age was begun, which ended with the death of the last Apostle, Saint John the Evangelist.

This was followed by the Age of Martyrs.
 * After the death of Nero, persecutions of Christians were intermittent, and varied in rigor. This period was ended with the Edict of Milan, which was promulgated by the Emperor Constantine in 313.

This was followed by the Dawn of the Early Heresies.
 * Soon after the Christians were no longer threatened with civil punishment on account of the Faith, heretical sects arose which frequently had a twofold aim: to both advance a particular doctrine and to also gain control of the Church through the aid of civil leaders sympathetic to their cause. Some of the principal heretical sects at this time were the Arians, the Nestorians, the Gnostics, and the Monophysites. An unusual reversal of the state of affairs occurred during the reign of Julian the Apostate, who attempted to restore paganism and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, of which both attempts failed.

This was roughly at the same time as the Conversion of Europe to Christianity.
 * While large portions of the Roman Empire were coming under the control of heretical sects, large portions of Europe were also converting from paganism to Christianity, particularly Ireland, France, and Germany. Eventually Europe became, in a sense, a Christian continent in which most of the inhabitants were either Catholic or belonged to a heretical or schismatic sect.

This was followed by the Middle Ages and the Crusades.
 * Hostility between nations, the possession of properties, and the quest for additional revenues and incomes frequently gave rise to clashes between the Church and rulers of nations and other principalities, particularly regarding the appointment of bishops. When the Muslims succeeded in their conquest of the Holy Land, Blessed Pope Urban II declared a crusade to regain the Holy Land in 1095, and subsequent crusades were declared when necessary. Toward the end of the Middle Ages the Bubonic Plague ravaged Europe, in which many pious clergy cared for the sick and also contracted the disease, while many of the less pious clergy fled and returned after the plague had subsided.

This was followed by the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Counter-Reformation.
 * Besides the bubonic plague, several factors also contributed heavily to the progression of the era: the "Avignon Captivity" and the "Great Schism," the conflicting interests of the Catholic Church and national governments (especially regarding revenues, property ownership, and the appointment of bishops), the conflicts between European nations (particularly the "Hundred Year's War" between France and England), the immoral lives of many of the clergy and many members of the upper classes, and the reintroduction of pagan culture. The French cardinal _________ was elected to the papacy on ___________ and took the name ______________, but Rome was the scene of much self-destruction by the local Italians. The French king __________ extended the invitation to Pope _________ to come to peaceful Avignon and take residence for a while, and the Popes did not want to leave Avignon and return to Rome for over one hundred years. When Pope _________ finally submitted to the entreaties and rebukes of Saint Catherine of Siena (?) and Saint Gertrude (?), it was only a few years before he was disgusted with the situation in Rome and wanted to return to Avignon, which was only prevented on account of his death. His successor, the Roman (?) cardinal _____________ was elected on _________ and took the name ___________, but the cardinals soon disliked him and elected the French cardinal __________ as an antipope, who took the name ________________. An attempt to solve this division of the Church was later made to persuade the successors to both simultaneously resign and permit the cardinals to elect a new pope, but this only resulted in three "popes." Eventually this situation was ended at a conclave (?) when the Roman pope and third "pope" (Pisan?) simultaneously resigned, the cardinals elected Cardinal ______________ to the papacy (who took the name _________), and the majority (or was it all?) of the European nations transferred their allegiance to the new pope.
 * Saint Peter's Basilica was in the process of construction, and Pope ______________ announced that an indulgence (plenary or partial?, also, did one have to follow the usual conditions to obtain it: pray for the pope, confession, communion, no attachment to sin?) could be gained when a person contributed (how much?) to its construction. The pope appointed the Dominicans to handle the collection of the funds, which was greatly resented by the Augustinians. One of the Augustinians, Martin Luther, voiced his distaste of the situation differently than most and began condemning the indulgences themselves, and his superior ____________ was delighted and encouraged Martin Luther to continue his denunciation of the indulgences. The Dominicans in turn invoked higher authority, and when Luther's superior found that the papal authorities were determined to censure Luther if he continued, he privately advised Luther to cease the accusations. Luther, however, enjoyed the publicity and respect he received, and decided to enter into complete rebellion instead. Flocks of commoners hastened to his side, and looted monasteries and churches to enrich themselves. A great number of princes declared their support of Luther, and hastily seized ecclesiastical properties for themselves.
 * King Henry VII of England's son Arthur had married Catherine of Aragon (daughter of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand), but Arthur died during his father's reign, so Arthur's brother Henry married Catherine (now his brother's widow). This Henry ascended to the throne as King Henry VIII of England. Some time after his ascension to the throne, he published a rebuttal of Luther's doctrines, and received the title "Defender of the Faith" from Pope ____________. At one point, Henry had a sinful relationship with Mary Boleyn, but did not publicize it. When he later wished to have a relationship with Mary Boleyn's sister Anne Boleyn, Anne Boleyn firmly said she would only do so if she was his queen. Henry VIII decided to try to get an annulment, and approached the matter by confiding to Cardinal Wolsey (the English Chancellor) that he was being tormented by scruples regarding the validity of his marriage to Catherine. Wolsey was delighted to hear this and proposed that the king marry the French princess ______________. Henry was not pleased and told Wolsey he wanted to marry Anne Boleyn. Wolsey wished to object to Henry's marriage to a mere local noblelady rather than a marriage that would strengthen the bond between England and its most powerful ally at the time, but seeing the heightening anger of Henry, Wolsey acquiesced to his monarch's wishes. A delegation was sent to Pope ________ which related that Henry was concerned about his marriage to Catherine and asked about getting a n annulment. The pope's responded that he trusted Henry's judgment on the issue and told him to follow the normal local procedures to investigate whether the marriage was valid and issue an annulment if necessary, but the pope also asked Henry to wait until Charles V (Catherine's nephew) was defeated by the Italian and papal forces significantly enough in order that Charles V would not take revenge on the pope because of the annulment. After Charles V was no longer a threat, the process in England was started to investigate the validity of the marriage to Catherine, but soon was stalled by the lack of impediments in the marriage to Catherine and the existence of an impediment in the proposed marriage to Anne Boleyn. Another delegation was sent to the pope to request special permission to remove the impediment to the proposed marriage to Anne Boleyn, which the pope granted (?). The English bishops, however, were faced with a problem: to the best of their knowledge the marriage to Catherine was perfectly valid, but they knew Henry wished to get the annulment so that he could marry Anne Boleyn. Rather than attempt to declare a false annulment for which the bishops would be morally responsible, an attempt was made to deceive the pope into declaring an annulment through the pope's ignorance of the situation. (correct?) The pope, however, was growing suspicious of the matter and seriously began to doubt the honesty of Henry's statements regarding Anne Boleyn's exemplary virtue and piety. After being bombarded with a distasteful number of requests for the annulment, Pope __________ determined that the marriage to Catherine was valid. Cranmer proposed to Henry VIII that he free himself from the moral jurisdiction by taking control of the Church of England, which Henry promptly did. After Henry's death and his son Edward's death, Queen Mary I of England attempted to restore Catholicism to England, but when she was ready to die, King Philip II of Spain (who was married to Queen Mary) did want the monarchy to pass to Mary of the Scots (who was married to the King of France), as it could be a powerful alliance against Spain. Mary selected Anne Boleyn's daughter Elisabeth to be her successor, and Elizabeth promised Mary to keep England Catholic. Upon Mary's death and Elisabeth's coronation, Elisabeth promptly disregarded her promise and, by the end of her life, had completely undone the work of Mary and firmly entrenched England in Anglicanism.
 * The Council of Trent was convened in ________ and addressed many of the problems wrought by heresy and the immoral conduct of the clergy.

This was followed by the Enlightenment.
 * Philosophers frequently clashed with the Catholic Church, and many times resorted to violence, particularly in the case of the French Revolution.

This was followed by the Industrial Revolution.
 * Inventors were constantly discovering and designing faster and more efficient ways of performing common tasks which were frequently laborious, and were inventing new products to promote a better and higher standard of living. This era, which was so full of promise for the betterment of the whole human race, was instead beset by the poverty of many. In the United States a movement among workers called the Knights of Labor was begun to unite laborers together to require business owners to pay higher wages. Regarding this, Pope Leo XIII wrote the encyclical Rerum Novarum which required the laborers to respect the property of their employers and to work well, while also requiring employers to pay decent wages that would support the laborers and their families.
 * Also in this era was the Reunification of Italy, which mostly took away the temporal power of the papacy and placed Italy and the Pope on bad terms with one another.

This was followed by the Modern Age:
 * In this era Pope Pius XI signed the Lateran Treaty with Italy, which allotted Vatican City to the popes with an annuity in recompense for the papal states. Pius XI then had the relative freedom to write encyclicals against the errors held by surrounding nations such as Germany, Russia, Spain, and even Italy itself. This sovereignty also assisted his successor Pope Pius XII in his protection of Jews from the Nazis during World War II.
 * In 1962 Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council, which was originally convened to freshen the doctrine of the Church. In the course of the Council, Pope John XXIII died and was succeeded by Pope Paul VI, who wrote the encyclical Humanae Vitae while the Council was still in progress. This encyclical was greatly disliked by many of the bishops, who often voiced their opposition to it publicly. When the Council was finished in 1965, the bishops returned to their dioceses and implemented whatever they wished to implement.
 * Beginning with Pope Paul VI, the popes began to visit countries on a regular basis. Pope John Paul II visited many countries during his pontificate, and even learned languages so that he would be able to speak to the people in their native tongue. Pope Benedict XVI followed a similar itinerary during the beginning years of his pontificate.

Chronological Organization of Facts

 * 1st Century AD
 * On Pentecost Sunday the Holy Spirit descended on the twelve Apostles in the Upper Room.
 * Saint Paul is converted to Christianity.
 * The Roman Emperor Nero begins his persecution of Christians after a fire devours much of the city of Rome.
 * Saints Peter and Paul are martyred in Rome.
 * Jerusalem is conquered by Roman forces
 * 79 June 23  Emperor Vespasian dies.


 * 2nd Century AD
 * 117 August 7  Emperor Trajan dies.


 * 3rd Century AD
 * 4th Century AD
 * 313 Diocletian dies.
 * 313 Constantine I legalizes Christianity by the Edict of Milan
 * 325 The first Council of Nicea was convened to make a determination on Arianism.


 * 337 May  Emperor Constantine the Great dies.
 * Emperor Julian the Apostate attempts to restore paganism and rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem.
 * 363 June 26  Emperor Julian the Apostate dies.
 * 387 Saint Augustine is baptized by Saint Ambrose.


 * 5th Century AD
 * Saint Jerome completes the Vulgate Bible.


 * 6th Century AD
 * 7th Century AD
 * 8th Century AD
 * 741 October 21  King Charles Martel of the Franks dies.
 * 768 September 24  King Pepin the Short of the Franks dies.
 * 800 Charlemagne crowned Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III


 * 9th Century AD
 * 10th Century AD
 * 973 May 7  Emperor Otto I the Great dies.


 * 11th Century AD
 * 1095 Blessed Pope Urban II preaches the First Crusade to regain the Holy Land.


 * 12th Century AD
 * 13th Century AD
 * 1216 June 16  Pope Innocent III dies.
 * St. Dominic founds the Dominican order.
 * 1226 October 3: St. Francis, founder of the Franciscan order, dies in Assisi.


 * 14th Century AD
 * 1309 Pope Clement V moves Roman Curia from Rome to Avignon.
 * 1378 Pope Gregory XI moves papacy back to Rome from Avignon.


 * 15th Century AD
 * Saint Joan of Arc mostly frees France from English rule.
 * Johannes Gutenberg begins production of the Bible with the printing press.
 * Columbus discovers America


 * 16th Century AD
 * 1547 January 28  King Henry VIII of England dies.
 * 1558 Charles V, former Holy Roman Emperor, dies.
 * 1558 November 17  Queen Mary Tudor of England dies.
 * The apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Saint Juan Diego
 * The Jesuit order is founded.
 * 1598 September 13  King Philip II of Spain dies.


 * 17th Century AD
 * 1626 November 18: St. Peter's Basilica dedicated by Urban VIII.


 * 18th Century AD
 * American War for Independence begins
 * French Revolution begins


 * 19th Century AD
 * The Louisiana Purchase is bought by the USA
 * The American Civil War is fought
 * Unification of Italy
 * Marian apparitions to Saint Bernadette at Lourdes, France
 * The Spanish-American War is fought


 * 20th Century AD
 * Pope St. Pius X dies during World War I, succeeded by Pope Benedict XV
 * 1917: Marian apparitions at Fatima
 * Lenin gains control of Russia
 * Creation of Poland
 * Pope Benedict XV dies, succeeded by Pope Pius XI
 * Pius XI signs treaty with Italy, recognizing the existence of the Vatican City State
 * Germany annexes Austria
 * Pope Pius XI dies, is succeeded by Pope Pius XII
 * World War II is declared
 * World War II is ended, large sections of Europe are dominated by Communist rule.
 * Pope Pius XII dies, is succeeded by Pope John XXIII
 * Pope John XXIII opens the Second Vatican Council
 * Pope John XXIII dies, is succeeded by Pope Paul VI
 * Pope Paul VI writes the encyclical Humanae Vitae
 * Pope Paul VI dies, is succeeded by Pope John Paul I
 * Pope John Paul I dies shortly after the beginning of his pontificate, is succeeded by Pope John Paul II
 * The Berlin Wall is razed.


 * 21st Century AD
 * Pope John Paul II dies, succeeded by Pope Benedict XVI

Biographies of the Saints
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Biographies of persons canonized by the Catholic Church are often used as reading materials to educate and inspire the faithful to greater acts of virtue. Some of the persons who are the subject of these biographies are:
 * Saint Joachim


 * Saint Anne


 * Saint Joseph


 * Saint John the Baptist


 * Saint Peter


 * Saint Mark


 * Saint Paul


 * Saint James the Greater


 * Saint Philip


 * Saint Matthias


 * Saint Thomas


 * Saint James the Lesser


 * Saint Bartholomew


 * Saint Matthew


 * Saint Simon the Zealot


 * Saint Jude


 * Saint Andrew


 * Saint John the Evangelist


 * Saint Stephen


 * Saint Barnabas


 * Saint Luke


 * Saint Titus


 * Saint Martha


 * Saint Mary Magdalene


 * Saint Timothy


 * Saint Ignatius of Antioch


 * Saint Lawrence


 * Saint Lucy


 * Saint Blase


 * Saint Sebastian


 * Saint Agnes of Rome


 * Saint George


 * Saint Cecilia


 * The Early Church Fathers, who wrote extensively to define Catholic doctrines
 * Saint Anthony of the Desert


 * Saint Helena


 * Saint Nicholas of Myra


 * Saint Cyril of Alexandria


 * Saint Cyril of Jerusalem


 * Saint Athanasius


 * Saint Ephrem of Syria


 * Saint Martin of Tours


 * Saint Ambrose


 * Saint Basil the Great


 * Saint Gregory Nazianzen


 * Saint John Chrysostom


 * Saint Monica


 * Saint Augustine of Hippo


 * Saint Jerome


 * Saint Benedict of Nursia


 * Saint Scholastica


 * Saint Bernard of Clairvaux


 * Saint Patrick


 * Saint Columban


 * Saint Bede


 * Saint Boniface


 * Saints Cyril and Methodius, (Cyril died February 14, 869; Methodius died April 6, 885; Memorial on February 14) {In Slovakia, their feasts are celebrated on July 5 and February 14.]
 * Cyril and Methodius, the Apostles of the Slavs, were born in Thessalonica, Greece. [Thessaloniki (in Greek: Θεσσαλονίκη, IPA: [θe̞salo̞ˈnikʲi]) or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece. It is currently the capital of Macedonia, the nation's largest region. It is the largest city in the Macedonian region and one of the largest cities in southeastern Europe.]

Methodius, whose baptismal name was probably Michael, was the older brother. It is thought he was born between 815 and 820. Cyril, whose baptismal name was Constantine, is thought to have been born in 827 or 828.
 * They belonged to a senatorial family--their father being a senior official of the imperial administration. Because of his father's position, Methodius reached the rank of Archon or Prefect. But about the year 840, he decided to renounce his secular honors and remain at one of the monasteries in Bithynia at the foot of what was then known as the Holy Mountain (which is now known as Mount Olympus).
 * Cyril [Constantine's religious name] received the sacrament of Holy Orders in Byzantium after refusing a political career. Due to the intellectual gifts and talents God bestowed on him, he was given the ecclesiastical apponintment of the Librarian of the Archive which was attached to the great church of Holy Wisdom in Constantinople.  At the same time, he also held the position of Secretary to the Patriarch in the same city.  However, this did not last long, as Cyril did not want to be in any position of authority, but wanted to devote himself to the contemplative life, so he could concenrate on his studies learning more about God.  Although he secretly went off to a monastery on the Black Sea coast, he was discovered about six months later and asked to teach philosophy at a school of higher learning in Constantinople.  He became known as "The Philosopher" and the title remains his today.  After this position, he was sent on a mission by the emperor and the Patriarch to the Saracens.
 * After this mission, he joined Methodius in a monastery on the Bosphorous, when the Khazars sent to Constantinople for a Christian teacher. Cyril was selected and was accompanied by his brother. They learned the Khazar language and converted many of the people.
 * At Kherson, they lodged at the Crimea and identified what was believed to be the church where Saint Clement, Pope of Rome and martyr, was buried. They returned to Rome and presented Saint Clement's  relics to Pope Hadrian II at the end of their missionary journey to the West.
 * Soon after the Khazar mission, there was a request from Prince Rastislav of Greater Moravia to the Emperor Michael III for a "Bishop and teacher" of the Gospel in their own language. German missionaries had already labored among them, but without success. The Moravians wished a teacher who could instruct them and conduct Divine service in the Slavonic tongue. On account of their acquaintance with the language, Cyril and Methodius were chosen for their work. In preparation for it, Cyril invented an alphabet and, with the help of Methodius, translated the Gospels and the necessary liturgical books into Slavonic. They went to Moravia in 863, and labored for four and a half years. Despite their success, they were regarded by the Germans with distrust, first because they had come from Constantinople where schism was rife, and again because they held the Church services in the Slavonic language. Methodius, at one point, was even cruelly imprisoned. On this account, the brothers were summoned to Rome by Nicholas I, who died, however, before their arrival. His successor, Pope Hadrian II, received them kindly. Convinced of their orthodoxy, he commended their missionary activity, sanctioned the Slavonic Liturgy, and ordained Cyril and Methodius bishops. He also recommmended that their followers be ordained priests.  Cyril, however, was not to return to Moravia. He died in Rome, Italy, ahortly after becoming a bishop on February 14, 869.
 * At the request of the Moravian princes, Rastislav and Svatopluk, and the Slav Prince Kocel of Pannonia, Adrian II formed an Archdiocese of Moravia and Pannonia, making it independent of the German Church. He also consecrated Methodius Archbishop of Moravia.
 * In 870 King Louis and the German bishops summoned Methodius to a synod at Ratisbon. Here he was deposed and condemned to prison. After three years he was liberated at the command of Pope John VIII and reinstated as Archbishop of Moravia. He zealously endeavoured to spread the Faith among the Bohemians, and also among the Poles in Northern Moravia. Soon, however, he was summoned to Rome again in consequence of the allegations of the German priest Wiching, who impugned his orthodoxy, and objected to the use of Slavonic in the liturgy. But Pope John VIII, after an inquiry, sanctioned the Slavonic Liturgy, decreeing, however, that in the Mass the Gospel should be read first in Latin and then in Slavonic. Wiching, in the meantime, had been nominated one of the suffragan bishops of Methodius. He continued to oppose his metropolitan, going so far as to produce spurious papal letters. The Pope, however, assured Methodius that these letters were false. Methodius obtained from Pope John VIII the publication of the Bull Industriae Tuae. This restored, in writing, prerogatives to celebrate the liturgy in Slavonic that had been granted by Pope Hadrian II.
 * Methodius went to Constantinople about this time, and with the assistance of several priests, he completed the translation of the Holy Scriptures, with the exception of the Books of Machabees. He also translated the "Nomocanon", i.e. the collection of Greek ecclesiastico-civil law [also known as ecclesiastical and Byzantine civil laws]. The enemies of Methodius did not cease to antagonize him. His health was worn out from the long struggle, and he died on April 6, 885, recommending as his successor Gorazd, a Moravian Slav who had been his disciple.


 * Saint Bruno


 * Saint Wenceslaus


 * Saint Margaret of Scotland


 * Saint Thomas Becket


 * Saint Dominic


 * Saint Francis of Assisi


 * Saint Hyacinth


 * Saint Clare of Assisi


 * Saint Albert the Great


 * Saint Elisabeth of Hungary


 * Saint Louis IX of France


 * Saint Bonaventure


 * Saint Thomas Aquinas


 * Saint Anthony of Padua


 * Saint Gertrude


 * Saint Bridget of Sweden


 * Saint Catherine of Siena


 * Saint Vincent Ferrer


 * Saint Joan of Arc


 * Saint Ignatius of Loyola


 * Saint Francis Xavier


 * Saint Teresa of Avila


 * Saint Peter Canisius


 * Saint Charles Borromeo


 * Saint Robert Bellarmine


 * Saint John of the Cross


 * Saint Aloysius Gonzaga


 * Saint Thomas More


 * Saint Juan Diego


 * Saint Martin de Porres


 * Saint Josaphat Kuntsevych


 * Saint Peter Claver


 * Saint Vincent de Paul


 * Saint Rose of Lima


 * Saint Isaac Jogues


 * Saint John de Brebeuf


 * Saint Louis de Montfort


 * Saint Philip Neri


 * Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque


 * Saint Paul Miki


 * Saint Francis de Sales


 * Saint Jane Frances de Chantal


 * Saint Alphonsus Liguori


 * Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton


 * Saint John Vianney


 * Saint Anthony Claret


 * Saint Catherine Labouré


 * Saint John Neumann


 * Saint John Bosco


 * Saint Dominic Savio


 * Saint Charles Lwanga


 * The Doctors of the Church
 * Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini


 * Saint Thérèse of Lisieux


 * Saint Bernadette Soubirous


 * Saint Maria Goretti


 * Saint Maximilian Kolbe

(list is close to chronological, but may be slightly mixed up)

Saints
The pope beatifies and canonizes certain individuals who have led a life of heroic example. Recent canonizations and beatifications are documented on the Vatican website.

Vatican City
Vatican City State is an independent nation where the pope resides. Saint Peter's Basilica and many of the papal offices are located in Vatican City State. Vatican City State is approximately 108 acres inside the city of Rome, Italy. Included in the nation are several non-adjacent basilicas and the pope's summer residence.

Ecumenical Councils
Currently there have been only twenty-one Ecumenical Councils. They were: First Council of Nicaea; First Council of Constantinople; Council of Ephesus; Council of Chalcedon; Second Council of Constantinople; Third Council of Constantinople; Second Council of Nicaea; Fourth Council of Constantinople; First Lateran Council; Second Lateran Council; Third Lateran Council; Fourth Lateran Council; First Council of Lyon; Second Council of Lyon; Council of Vienne; Council of Constance; Council of Basel, Ferrara, and Florence; Fifth Lateran Council; Council of Trent; First Vatican Council; Second Vatican Council.

An ecumenical council's decrees do not have an obligatory force unless they have been approved by both the council fathers and the pontiff, and the pontiff has ordered the decrees to be promulgated.

The Evangelical Counsels
The evangelical counsels are poverty, chastity, and obedience. Priests in a religious order take vows to observe all three; diocesan priests take vows of only chastitiy and obedience. Although not an evangelical counsel, the Jesuits also take a fourth vow of obedience to the Pope regarding assignments.

Religious orders
Some major religious orders are the Dominicans, Franciscans, Jesuits, Trappists, Benedictines, Augustinians, and Carmelites. There are many more religious orders of many sizes, some of which are derived from another order.

The Code of Canon Law
The Code of canon Law is a policy book used in the Church's administration. The current version is available on the Vatican's website.

The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The seven gifts of the Hoy Spirit are: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.

The Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit
The Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit are: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-control, Chastity.

The Four Last Things
The Four Last things are: Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell.

Marian Images

 * Saint Juan Diego's Tilma (image of Our Lady of Guadalupe)
 * The Black Madonna of Częstochowa