In this section of your child’s textbook, Our Catholic Heritage, there is a summary of Catholic belief, organized in the same way as the Catechism. It is meant as a reference for both you and your child to provide, in summary fashion, the basic teachings of the Catholic Church.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, provides a clear statement of Catholic doctrine, divided into four parts, or pillars, of our faith. The first, "The Profession of Faith," develops the foundations of our creed, which is based on Sacred Scripture and the tradition of the Church throughout the ages. As a Catholic Christian community, we renew our dedication to these beliefs each week at Sunday Mass, the celebrations of Baptism and Confirmation, and during the Easter Vigil. Our recitation of the Creed reminds us of our unity in faith with Catholic Christians throughout the world.

Sacred Scripture is a source of nourishment and strength for the Church. The Church has accepted throughout history that all the books of the Old Testament and New Testament were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Church has recognized the importance of Bible scholarship for understanding the Scriptures. We are encouraged to study the Bible continually to be able to appreciate more deeply the word of God.

It is our belief as Catholics that Jesus established the Church and set its course by forming the Apostles and disciples as evangelists and missioners. We believe that at Pentecost the Holy Spirit revealed the Church to the world, and that the public mission of the Church began at that time. We profess in the creed that the Church is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. These four marks describe essential features of the Church and its mission. We should be able to see and experience these characteristics of the Church in our parishes, in the Church of our nation, and in the work of the Church throughout the world.

Mary’s willingness to be God’s servant was the beginning of our salvation in Jesus Christ. We believe that Mary was preserved from the state of original sin. In heaven Mary shares in the glory of her Son’s Resurrection. We honor Mary as the Mother of the Church because she is the model of holiness for all. Catholics are united with all those who believe in Jesus now and in every time and place.

Over the centuries the Church has come to an understanding of the Trinity as a result of reflection on the action of God in our lives. We have come to know God as love, creative and redemptive. The Son is "the image of the invisible God and one in being with the Father." The Holy Spirit is a divine Person in God who guided the prophets, disciples, and all of us "into the truth." This revelation of God, in whose image we are made, helps us understand both the meaning of our humanity and our calling to be part of a community. We believe that God reveals the work of the Trinity in the mystery of creation.

The sacred liturgy of the Catholic Church features sacred signs used in the celebration of Mass and the sacraments. Some of these signs are familiar objects, such as candles, oil, bread, and wine. Others include liturgical gestures, processions, song, and especially the proclamation of God’s holy word in the Scriptures. The church’s inner space reflects all of these and the articles it uses reflect the particular culture of the local Church community in prayer and worship.

Life everlasting, or new life forever, has traditionally been described as the "last things"—the particular judgement; the realities of heaven, purgatory, and hell; and the final judgment. We believe that at the Second Coming of Christ, all people will be gathered in Christ’s presence and that the truth of each one’s relationship with God will be revealed. Those who deliberately refuse to love God and their neighbor freely choose to separate themselves for all eternity. We call this separation hell.