CatholicBrides.com is not an authority on the doctrine of our faith nor will we answer any questions regarding it. We are merely providing an overview for those who wish to familiarize themselves with the Catholic Faith. Any Catholic priest or member of his pastoral team will be pleased to provide you with more detailed information.

Our world is a mosaic of different faiths and interfaith marriages. Marriages between a Catholic and a non-Catholic, have become common in the Catholic faith. With this in mind we have posted some general information for those who wish to familiarize themselves with our Catholic faith.

The Catholic Church also known as the Roman Catholic Church is the largest of all Christian churches, with over 1.2 billion world wide members.

The word catholic literally means - According to (Kata) the whole (holos) which generally means "Universal" in Greek.

The Church professes by doctrine to be the original Christian Church founded by Jesus Christ. It is governed by the Pope (currently Pope Benedict XVl) who is a successor of Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. Catholics recognize that they are a part of a broad (universal) body of believers which includes more than twenty different Rites.

The various churches that regard themselves as part of the Catholic Church use the Nicene Creed which prays for "one holy catholic and apostolic church." This creed also professes the core beliefs of the Catholic Faith.

The Catholic Church's liturgy is Trinitarian. Catholic Christians are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit - not "in the names of." They will later be sent from this world, upon their burial, in the name of the Father who created them, in the name of the son who redeemed them and in the name of the Holy Spirit who sanctified them. Throughout their lives every sacrament they celebrate and every prayer they say will be marked by an invocation of the Trinity through the Signing of the Cross.

The Crucifix, bearing the image of Jesus suffering on the cross, serves as a universal symbol of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Nicene Creed is a brief statement of the Christian beliefs of the Catholic Church. It is said by the assembly at the Sunday Eucharist.

NICENE CREED/PROFESSION OF FAITH

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


THE PRECEPTS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

The precepts of the Church set the basic standards of religious practice for Roman Catholics.