What We Believe

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light, 
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,  
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with 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.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Our belief in Jesus as the Son of God, and the Son of Mary, means that we believe in a God who is all good and all loving. Our God loves us with our gifts and talents and also with our faults and failings. This Christian faith is rooted in the Jewish tradition and built upon the Old Testament.

The Ten Commandments were given, by God, to Moses as a sign of the covenant with the Jewish people.

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 Lord’s 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 Pentateuch is the first five Books of the Old Testament. These books tell a single story of God’s intervention in the world. The five Books are:

1. The Book of Genesis
2. The Book of Exodus
3. The Book of Leviticus
4. The Book of Numbers
5. The Book of Deuteronom

The Gospels recount the life and ministry of Jesus on earth. Each of the Gospel writers was addressing a different audience and therefore accentuated different teachings of Jesus.

• The Gospel of Matthew
• The Gospel of Mark
• The Gospel of Luke
• The Gospel of John

Aside from the Gospels, the New Testament includes the Acts of the Apostles, which describes what the Apostles did after the Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus. The New Testament also includes 21 letters, written primarily by St. Paul to various Early Christian communities.

We believe that God, the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are three persons in One. We believe that this is a mystery that we can not fully understand, but we trust in God’s love.  Our faith teaches us that God gives us the gifts that we need to live our faith out in word and action

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit our Given to us at Confirmation and help us in our daily lives.

• Wisdom helps us recognize the importance of others and the importance of keeping God central in our lives.
• Understanding is the ability to comprehend the meaning of God's message.
• Knowledge is the ability to think about and explore God's revelation, and also to recognize there are mysteries of faith beyond us.
• Counsel is the ability to see the best way to follow God's plan when we have choices that relate to him.
• Fortitude is the courage to do what one knows is right.
• Piety helps us pray to God in true devotion.
• Fear of the Lord is the feeling of amazement before God, who is all-present, and whose friendship we do not want to lose.

The Corporal Works of Mercy are found in the teachings of Jesus and teach us how we are to treat others.

• Feed the Hungry
• Give Drink to the Thirsty
• Clothe the Naked
• Shelter the Homeless 
• Visit the Sick
• Visit the Prisoners
• Bury the Dead

The Spiritual Works of Mercy have long been a part of the Christian Tradition and teach how to help our neighbor in their spiritual needs.

• Counsel the Doubtful
• Instruct the Ignorant
• Admonish the Sinner
• Comfort the Sorrowful
• Forgive Others Willingly
• Bear Wrongs Patiently
• Pray for the Living and the Dead

We believe that God hears our prayers even when we do not get what we want. God in His infinite wisdom is watching over us, and one day, God’s plan will be revealed, but not until we are together again in the Heavenly Kingdom.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, 
Hallowed be Thy Name. 
Thy Kingdom come. 
Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our trespasses, 
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. 

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. 

Amen.

How to Pray the Rosary according to the USSCB

 The Rosary is a Scripture-based prayer. It begins with the Apostles' Creed, which summarizes the great mysteries of the Catholic faith. The Our Father, which introduces each mystery, is from the Gospels. The first part of the Hail Mary is the angel's words announcing Christ's birth and Elizabeth's greeting to Mary. St. Pius V officially added the second part of the Hail Mary. The Mysteries of the Rosary center on the events of Christ's life. There are four sets of Mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and––added by Saint John Paul II in 2002––the Luminous.

The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery. The gentle repetition of the words helps us to enter into the silence of our hearts, where Christ's spirit dwells. The Rosary can be said privately or with a group.

The Five Joyful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Mondays, Saturdays, and, during the season of Advent, on Sundays:

1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Nativity
4. The Presentation in the Temple
5. The Finding in the Temple

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Tuesdays, Fridays, and, during the season of Lent, on Sundays:

1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death

The Five Glorious Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Wednesdays and, outside the seasons of Advent and Lent, on Sundays:

1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption
5. The Coronation of Mary

The Five Luminous Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Thursdays:

1. The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan
2. The Wedding Feast at Cana
3. Jesus' Proclamation of the Coming of the Kingdom of God
4. The Transfiguration
5. The Institution of the Eucharist

Familiarize yourself and/or your group with the prayers of the rosary.

1. Make the Sign of the Cross.
2. Holding the Crucifix, say the Apostles' Creed.
3. On the first bead, say an Our Father.
4. Say one Hail Mary on each of the next three beads.
5. Say the Glory Be
6. For each of the five decades, announce the Mystery (perhaps followed by a brief reading from Scripture) then say the Our Father.
7. While fingering each of the ten beads of the decade, next say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery. Then say a Glory Be.
   (After finishing each decade, some say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy.)
8. After saying the five decades, say the Hail, Holy Queen, followed by this dialogue and prayer:
   
   V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
   R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
   Let us pray: O God, whose Only Begotten Son,
   by his life, Death, and Resurrection,
   has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life,
   grant, we beseech thee,
   that while meditating on these mysteries
   of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
   we may imitate what they contain
   and obtain what they promise,
   through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
   
   (A prayer to St. Joseph may also follow.)