Rev. Kenneth Brighenti - Catholicism For Dummies

Catholicism For Dummies®, 4th Edition

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2022930209

ISBN 978-1-119-85571-2 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-85575-0 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-85576-7 (ebk)

1 Cover

2 Title Page

3 Copyright

4 Introduction About This Book Foolish Assumptions Icons Used in This Book Beyond the Book Where to Go from Here

5 Part 1: What Do Catholics Believe? Chapter 1: What It Means to Be Catholic What Exactly Is Catholicism Anyway? Knowing What the Catholic Church Teaches Worshipping as a Catholic: The Holy Mass Behaving Like a Catholic Praying as a Catholic: Showing Your Devotion Chapter 2: Having Faith in God’s Revealed Word How Do You Know If You Have Faith? Having Faith in Revelation Backing Up Your Faith with Reason: Summa Theologica Chapter 3: In the Beginning: Catholic Teachings on Creation and Original Sin Making Something Out of Nothing Breathing Life into the World: Creationism or Evolution? Angels and Devils: Following God or Lucifer Witnessing the Original Sin Anticipating What’s to Come: Moving toward the End of Creation Chapter 4: Believing in Jesus Understanding Jesus, the God-Man The Gospel Truth: Examining Four Written Records of Jesus Dealing with Heresy and Some Other $10 Words Chapter 5: Defining “The Church” and What Membership Means Establishing a Foundation: Built on Rock Seeing the Church as the Body of Christ and Communion of Saints Understanding the Four Marks of the Church Fulfilling Its Mission Membership Has Its Benefits Chapter 6: Organizing the Church Getting to Know the Pope Who’s Next in the Ecclesiastical Scheme of Things

6 Part 2: Celebrating the Mysteries of Faith Chapter 7: Body and Soul: Worshipping Catholic Style Getting Your Body and Soul into the Act Understanding Some Symbols and Gestures Sensing God Chapter 8: Entering the Church: Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation Come On In — The Water’s Fine The Holy Eucharist Coming of Age: Confirmation Chapter 9: The Sacraments of Service and Healing The Sacraments of Service and Community The Sacraments of Mercy and Healing Chapter 10: Celebrating the Catholic Mass What Exactly Is the Mass? The Two Parts of the Mass Vatican II and the Celebration of Mass Checking out the Roman Missal, Third Edition Adjusting the Mass for the Occasion Spiritual Seasons of the Year

7 Part 3: Living a Saintly Life Chapter 11: Obeying the Rules: Catholic Law Following the Eternal Law of God Playing by the Church’s Rules Chapter 12: Loving and Honoring: The Ten Commandments Demonstrating Love for God Loving Your Neighbor Coming Out Even Steven Chapter 13: Being Good When Sinning Is So Easy Cultivating Good Habits The Theological Virtues The Seven Deadly Sins Chapter 14: Standing Firm: The Church’s Stance on Some Sticky Issues Celibacy and the Male Priesthood Matters of Life and Death Planning Your Family Naturally Defending Traditional Family Life The Economy and the Environment

8 Part 4: Praying and Using Devotions Chapter 15: Growing in the Faith Having a Personal Relationship with God through Prayer Praying in Private and in a Community Taking It to the Next Level: The Stages of Spiritual Growth Chapter 16: Showing Your Love for God Going Beyond Your Basic Duty Running the Gamut of Devotions Chapter 17: Expressing Affection for Mary No, Catholics Don’t Worship Mary What Catholics Believe about Mary Up Close and Personal with Mary Chapter 18: Honoring the Catholic Saints Having a Place in the Hearts of Catholics Honoring God’s Good Friends It’s All about Intercession Recognizing a Saint A Saint for Every Day of the Year Discovering the Communion of Saints Chapter 19: Practicing Catholic Traditions Adoring the Blessed Sacrament Representing Life’s Journey: Other Religious Processions Meatless Fridays Using Sacramentals Celebrating Year-Round