Catholicism: Expert Guides and Resources

This comprehensive guide from Catholicism For Dummies explains how to pray the Rosary, detailing each step from the Apostles’ Creed to the Hail Holy Queen. It outlines the four sets of Mysteries—Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous—linked to specific days and seasons, and emphasizes the Rosary’s role in meditative prayer focused on the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary.

According to Exodus in the Old Testament, God issued his own set of laws, the Ten Commandments, to Moses on Mount Sinai. These 10 Commandments are listed here in order, and you can read on or click the links to learn more about each commandment and its meaning.Ten CommandmentsI am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have any gods before Me.

If you want to know the basics of the Catholic faith, look no further than the articles of Catholic faith. This list of twelve articles mirrors the Apostles' Creed, a prayer that sets out Catholic tenets:What are the 12 articles of faith?Article 1: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Every March 17th, thousands of people don their greenest garb, march in Irish pride parades, eat green clover-shaped cookies, and quaff frosty mugs of green beer in celebration of the Catholic Saint, St. Patrick's Day. But do you really know who St. Patrick was and why he is celebrated? ©Martin Mullen / Adobe StockPatrick was born in AD 387 just south of Hadrian’s Wall in Britain, which was part of the Roman Empire (that's right — he wasn't Irish!

This Cheat Sheet focuses on the mysteries of the rosary, which, to Catholics, represent the events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. They are referred to as "mysteries" not because they are mysterious things that cannot be figured out; when it comes to the rosary, the mysteries are events devout Catholics can never stop thinking about.

Catholics are, first and foremost, Christians who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Catholicism shares some beliefs with other Christian practices, but essential Catholic beliefs include the following: The Bible is the inspired, error-free, and revealed word of God. Baptism, the rite of becoming a Christian, is necessary for salvation — whether the Baptism occurs by water, blood, or desire.

On holy days of obligation, Catholics are obliged to participate in Mass. Every Sunday is a holy day of obligation, as are six other days throughout the year. In the United States, these holy days of obligation are January 1: The Feast of Mary, the Mother of God 40 days after Easter Sunday: Ascension Thursday August 15: Assumption of Mary into heaven November 1: All Saints’ Day December 8: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception December 25: Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord Holy days are like Sundays in that Catholics must attend Mass, and if possible, refrain from unnecessary servile work.