Quick question about The Catechism of the Catholic Church

[Justin_Mary]

… no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ

Is the core of the Catholic faith Jesus Christ?

As opposed to what? I seriously don’t understand this question. Sounds like a trick question.

Do you think we are saying the Church is at the core of our belief? Or are you asking if the Church is at the Core of our belief?

The truth is at the core of our belief. Just like it is the core of the Jewish tradition. God created all things. He is.

Our tradition preserves what God has revealed to us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. One in being with the Father.

 

[annad347]

As opposed to what? I seriously don’t understand this question. Sounds like a trick question.

Its not a trick question…

This is why I need to understand you’re meaning of the Church, to understand why you automatically assume individually or as a group, they are teaching something different?

then you posted…

The Catholic Church recognizes the Orthodox as Church because they believe the same thing at the core.

then I asked…

what exactly is the core of the Catholic Church?

only ask because the core of the different religions mentioned is the only part that’s universal among them… the only part that unites them… Jesus Christ

so its not a trick question, its one that I need for understanding… and please, please, you don’t have to keep your comments at a high level for me… I don’t mind an ‘Understanding for Dummies version’.

 

[EndTimes]

THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH

1. Christ is the Light of nations. Because this is so, this Sacred Synod gathered together in the Holy Spirit eagerly desires, by proclaiming the Gospel to every creature,(1) to bring the light of Christ to all men, a light brightly visible on the countenance of the Church. Since the Church is in Christ like a sacrament or as a sign and instrument both of a very closely knit union with God and of the unity of the whole human race, it desires now to unfold more fully to the faithful of the Church and to the whole world its own inner nature and universal mission. This it intends to do following faithfully the teaching of previous councils. The present-day conditions of the world add greater urgency to this work of the Church so that all men, joined more closely today by various social, technical and cultural ties, might also attain fuller unity in Christ.
2. The eternal Father, by a free and hidden plan of His own wisdom and goodness, created the whole world. His plan was to raise men to a participation of the divine life. Fallen in Adam, God the Father did not leave men to themselves, but ceaselessly offered helps to salvation, in view of Christ, the Redeemer “who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature”.(2) All the elect, before time began, the Father “foreknew and pre- destined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that he should be the firstborn among many brethren”.(3) He planned to assemble in the holy Church all those who would believe in Christ. Already from the beginning of the world the foreshadowing of the Church took place.
3. The Son, therefore, came, sent by the Father. It was in Him, before the foundation of the world, that the Father chose us and predestined us to become adopted sons, for in Him it pleased the Father to re-establish all things. All men are called to this union with Christ, who is the light of the world, from whom we go forth, through whom we live, and toward whom our whole life strains.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_...s/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html

 

[Justin_Mary]

and please, please, you don’t have to keep your comments at a high level for me… I don’t mind an ‘Understanding for Dummies version’.

My wish was to stay at a high level to stop from straying farther from the current conversation.

so its not a trick question, its one that I need for understanding…

Gotcha, I’m following now.

only ask because the core of the different religions mentioned is the only part that’s universal among them… the only part that unites them… Jesus Christ

Just to be sure we’re on the same page, Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant are not different religions. We’re all Christians.

All united in Christ. Sure.

This is why I need to understand you’re meaning of the Church, to understand why you automatically assume individually or as a group, they are teaching something different?

I’m not assuming.

19They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;13 if they had been, they would have remained with us. Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number.

 

[annad347]

My wish was to stay at a high level to stop from straying farther from the current conversation.

Ahhh… got ya. Everything will come to a full circle.

Just to be sure we’re on the same page, Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant are not different religions. We’re all Christians.

All united in Christ. Sure.

so if the core of our faith is in Jesus Christ… and all that we learn is to bring us to the understanding salvation is in Jesus Christ. Being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit… so that we can be cleansed to receive the Holy Spirit so we lead to follow the will of God… then why would not be all be in the Church? 1 Corinthians 3:16…

Each church believe they are the only ones capable of helping us building our “temple” for the God… but the foundation of that temple is the same for all of us. Jesus Christ.

Yes, we will be judged on how well we build our temple, and yes we are putting our hope that the teachers we have to help us build our temple are the ones being lead by God’s will and not their own. and the Catechism of the Catholic Church is the reference so we understand how Catholics build the temple Church of God.

that’s how I understand it anyway… thank you.

 

[annad347]

@EndTimes, why can’t you just say, yes or no to the question… is Jesus Christ the core to the Catholic faith, isn’t it a simple yes or no question?

 

[hope]

Core belief of the Catholic Church:

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
and 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 worshipped 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.

 

[annad347]

Lutheran’s also recite the Apostles Creed.

 

[o_mlly]

Unless we have different understanding to the meaning of the core of something, why would the core to the Catholic Church be anything other then Jesus Christ?

What is to you the difference in the definitions of “core” and “center”?

 

[annad347]

What is to you the difference in the definitions of “core” and “center”?

That’s my question…

 

[o_mlly]

o_mlly:

What is to you the difference in the definitions of “core” and “center”?

That’s my question…

The question you posted for your thread is:

What exactly is it and is it equal to the bible?

If you do not define your terms, i.e., “core”, “center”, then no progress is possible.

 

[annad347]

If you do not define your terms, i.e., “core”, “center”, then no progress is possible.

I didn’t use the term first… @Justin_Mary used it… but my definition of the term core and center is the same thing, the most important part of something. The very foundation of something. The part that if you lose or don’t have is destroyed.

Without the core of something whatever you have falls, crumbles without ever having the ability to be built back up, unless the core is repaired.

To me the core and or center of any church is Jesus Christ… everything we say, do, teach, praise, glorify, worship leads to Him, is for Him, and is built by Him.

That core Jesus Christ is what God promised us will never fall or be destroyed, our very foundation of the Church.

 

[o_mlly]

I didn’t use the term first… @Justin_Mary used it… but my definition of the term core and center is the same thing, the most important part of something. The very foundation of something. The part that if you lose or don’t have is destroyed.

Without the core of something whatever you have falls, crumbles without ever having the ability to be built back up, unless the core is repaired.

To me the core and or center of any church is Jesus Christ… everything we say, do, teach, praise, glorify, worship leads to Him, is for Him, and is built by Him.

That core Jesus Christ is what God promised us will never fall or be destroyed, our very foundation of the Church.

Given your definitions, then the core and center of the Catechism is Jesus Christ.

 

[hope]

So do Catholics. You asked about core beliefs both creeds contain them. The Nicene Creed is just more explanatory.

 

[Dovekin]

So do Catholics. You asked about core beliefs both creeds contain them. The Nicene Creed is just more explanatory.

The Creeds are close to the center of faith.

The Our Father is as well.

The Sacraments.

The Ten Commandments. (not the movie)

Each of these is a way we practice our faith in Jesus Christ, who is the core. The Catechism is an even more explanatory version of these things, always directed toward bringing us closer to Christ.

The Bible and the Church are other ways we can encounter Christ, but after 2000 years, we have created some very elaborate ways. These all can be useful, but always serve the faith hope and love we have from God in Jesus.

 

[annad347]

The Ten Commandments. (not the movie)

that was funny…

 

[annad347]

The Bible and the Church are other ways we can encounter Christ, but after 2000 years, we have created some very elaborate ways. These all can be useful, but always serve the faith hope and love we have from God in Jesus.

The Catechism of the Catholic church explains those ways Catholics encounter Christ… ways how they understand God’s will… a reference guide to that understanding.

 

[annad347]

@BartholomewB - this is a reference to IV. The Sacraments of Salvation #48 is this - Cf. Council of Trent (1547): DS 1605; DS 1606. Do you know what it means?

 

[Dovekin]

@BartholomewB - this is a reference to IV. The Sacraments of Salvation #48 is this - Cf. Council of Trent (1547): DS 1605; DS 1606. Do you know what it means?

You are looking at the Index of footnotes, which collects all the footnotes and lists them as endnotes.
Footnote #48 of this article is attached to “the sacraments confer the grace that they signify.”

DS refers to Denzinger, a compilation of Church documents. This shows where the Church taught the idea that was footnoted:

1605 Dz 848 Can. 5. If anyone shall say that these sacraments have been instituted for the nourishing of faith alone: let him be anathema.

1606 Dz 849 Can. 6. If anyone shall say that the sacraments of the New Law do not contain the grace which they signify, or that they do not confer that grace on those who do not place an obstacle in the way, as-though they were only outward signs of grace or justice, received through faith, and certain marks of the Christian profession by which the faithful among men are distinguished from the unbelievers: let him be anathema.

I think @BartholomewB was talking about an index in the print copies that does not appear with the online copy. I am pretty sure he did not mean this index of footnotes.

 

[Julie4]

We Catholics believe in The Bible, Tradition and the Magisterium (Vatican) equally. We do not believe that the entire deposit of faith is in the Bible. Some of it wad Passed down through tradition, while other truths were given by the Pope. None of these three contradict each other. The Catechism is teaches the doctrines, dogmas and historical information about the Church. I went through the Catechism (which means “teaching”) in RCIA 12 years ago before I converted to Catholicism. I also read the Bible almost daily and follow the teachings of the Magisterium. Ours is a rich, beautiful faith that is validated by the Bible, the Vatican and the Catechism. I hope this answered your question.