What Every Confirmed Catholic Should Know

Ten Commandments

  1. I the Lord am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
  2. You shall not take the name of 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.

Precepts of the Church (Duties of a Catholic Christian)

  1. To keep holy the day of the Lord’s resurrection (Sunday). To worship God by participating in Mass for every Sunday and holy day of obligation. To avoid those activities (like needless work) that would hinder worship, joy, relaxation.
  2. To lead a sacramental life. To receive Holy Communion frequently and the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly.
  3. To study Catholic teachings in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, to be confirmed, and then to continue to study and advance the cause of Christ.
  4. To observe the marriage laws of the Church. To give religious training, by word and example, to one’s children. To use parish schools and catechetical programs.
  5. To strengthen and support the Church—one’s own parish community and parish priests, the worldwide Church, and the pope.
  6. To do penance, including abstaining from meat and fasting from food on the days appointed.

Days of Fasting (for adults) Days of Abstinence (for all those over the age 14)

*Ash Wednesday

*Good Friday

*All Fridays in Lent

Holy Days of Obligation in the United States

*The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God: January 1

We honor Mary, Mother of God

*Ascension: Fortieth day after Easter

Jesus ascended into heaven

*Assumption: August 15

Mary was taken into heaven, body and soul

* All Saint’s Day: November 1

We honor all the saints in heaven

*Immaculate Conception: December 8

Mary was free from sin from the first moment of her life.

*Christmas: December 25

We celebrate the birth of Jesus

The Seven Sacraments

Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation (Penance), Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, Holy Orders

Corporal Works of Mercy Spiritual Works of Mercy

Feed the Hungry

Warn the sinner

Give drink to the thirsty

Instruct the ignorant

Clothe the naked

Counsel the doubtful

Visit the sick

Comfort the suffering

Shelter the homeless

Bear wrongs patiently

Visit the imprisoned

Forgive all injuries

Bury the dead

Pray for the living and the dead

The Theological Virtues

The Cardinal Virtues Faith, hope, love (charity) Prudence, temperance, justice, fortitude

The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10)

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land.

Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Way of the Cross

  1. Jesus is condemned to death
  2. Jesus receives the cross
  3. The first fall
  4. Jesus meets His Mother
  5. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross
  6. Veronica wipes Jesus’ face with her veil
  7. The second fall
  8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
  9. The third fall
  10. Jesus is stripped of His garments
  11. Jesus is nailed to the cross
  12. Jesus dies on the cross
  13. Jesus’ body removed from the cross
  14. Jesus is laid in the tomb

Gifts of the Holy Spirit Fruits of the Holy Spirit

Wisdom Charity Longanimity

Understanding Joy Mildness

Right Judgment (counsel) Peace Faith

Courage Patience Modesty

Knowledge Benignity Continency

Reverence (piety) Goodness Chastity

Wonder and awe (fear of the Lord)

The Mysteries of the Rosary The Five Joyful Mysteries (to be said on Mondays & Saturdays)

The Annunciation

The Visitation

The Birth of Our Lord

The Presentation

The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries (to be said on Tuesdays & Fridays)

The Agony in the Garden

The Scourging at the Pillar

The Crowning with Thorns

The Carrying of the Cross

The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord

The Five Glorious Mysteries (to be said on Sundays & Wednesdays)

The Resurrection

The Ascension

The Descent of the Holy Spirit

The Assumption

The Crowning of Mary

The Five Luminous Mysteries (to be said on Thursdays)

The Baptism in the Jordan

The Wedding at Cana

The Proclamation of the Kingdom

The Transfiguration

The Institution of the Eucharist

The Divine Praises

Blessed be God.

Blessed be His Holy Name.

Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.

Blessed be the Name of Jesus.

Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.

Blessed be His Most Precious Blood.

Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.

Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.

Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.

Blessed be her glorious Assumption.

Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.

Blessed be St. Joseph , her most chaste spouse.

Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints.

The Hail Mary

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.

The Our Father

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.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Let us pray. O God, Who instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant in that same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.