Catholic Faith

The bedrock upon which the Order of the Knights of Columbus is built consists of the truths of the Catholic Religion. These include:

The Ten Commandments

1. I am the Lord, your God. You shall not have strange gods before me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honor your father and mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

The Commandments of God may be stated more simply in terms of the Greatest Commandment:

You shall love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole mind and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Sacraments

It is difficult to live up to the Commandments of God. To help us do so, Jesus has given us the Church and the sacraments, signs instituted by Christ to give grace. The seven sacraments are:

1. Baptism
2. Reconciliation
3. Holy Eucharist
4. Confirmation
5. Matrimony
6. Holy Orders
7. Annointing of the Sick

Of the seven sacraments, Reconciliation, Holy Eucharist, Matrimony and the Anointing of the Sick may be received more than once.

Grace

There are two kinds of grace. Sanctifying grace makes us holy and pleasing to God. Actual grace helps us to do good and avoid evil.

Precepts of the Church

The precepts of the Church are:

• To attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation
• To fast and abstain from meat on appointed days
• To confess one's sins at least once a year
• To receive Holy Eucharist during the Easter time
• To contribute to the support of the Church
• To observe the laws of the Church concerning marriage
• To join in the missionary spirit and apostolate of the Church

Baptism

The ordinary minister of the sacrament of Baptism is a bishop, priest or deacon. In case of emergency, anyone can validly baptize. Water is poured on the forehead of the person to be baptized. While the water is being poured, the words "I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" are spoken.

Pentecost

Pentecost is known as the birthday of the Church. On that day the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles, giving them the graces they needed to go forth and teach the Gospel to all nations. This is one meaning of the word catholic: the Church is found in every land, therefore it is "universal" or worldwide.

Capital Sins

The seven capital sins are:

1. Pride
2. Covetousness
3. Lust
4. Anger
5. Gluttony
6. Envy
7. Sloth

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are:

• Wisdom
• Understanding
• Counsel
• Fortitude
• Knowledge
• Piety
• Fear of the Lord

Recommended Reading

The above is a summary of our Catholic beliefs. For in-depth topics, you may wish to visit our list of links on the Catholic Faith.