Of the seven sacraments, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are referred to as the “sacraments of Christian initiation” because it is by reception of these three sacraments [...]

According to the Catechism, “The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." Our whole life as Catholics is oriented towards worthy and fruitful reception of the Eucharist, and this life begins with the Eucharist as well [...]

In the lesson on Creation, we dealt with the Fall of Man and Original Sin. Now we will look at exactly what sin is, its effects, and the manner God has provided sacramentally to deal with sin.

Like all the sacraments, Penance was instituted by Christ. It is the means He left to His Church whereby He would be able to remit sin for all time. This sacrament is also called Confession and Reconciliation. The form of this sacrament is the absolving words of the priest, “I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

This institution has been with mankind since before recorded history and has appeared under a variety of forms throughout history. It transcends cultures and religions [...]

The reason a priest exists, in whatever religion, is to offer sacrifice. Though God is capable of hearing the prayers of any person directly, it is fitting because of His dignity and holiness that He should have a special class of men set apart and consecrated to His service and worship alone [...]

Prayer is the cornerstone of the Christian life, the secret of every triumph of every saint and the one practice that can be universally advised at all times and in every occasion. “Pray without ceasing,” St. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 [...]

In the first section on the Creed, we dealt with the question of what we are to believe; in the sacraments section, how we are to worship Him. Now in this section on morality, we answer the fundamental question how are we to live?