Get the quick facts on Catholicism This is your casual, down-to-earth introduction for non-Catholics and reintroduction for Catholics. Whether you're a Catholic or not, you may be totally clueless or just unaware of some aspects of Catholic traditions, history, doctrine, worship, devotion, or culture. If so, then this book is right for you! Open the book and find: What it means to be a Catholic Who's who in the Catholic hierarchy How Catholics worship The origins and importance of the Sacraments of Initiation

Get the quick facts on CatholicismThis is your casual, down-to-earth introduction for non-Catholics and reintroduction for Catholics. Whether you're a Catholic or not, you may be totally clueless or just unaware of some aspects of Catholic traditions, history, doctrine, worship, devotion, or culture. If so, then this book is right for you!Open the book and find:* What it means to be a Catholic* Who's who in the Catholic hierarchy* How Catholics worship* The origins and importance of the Sacraments of Initiation

Introduction.Icons Used in This Book.Where to Go from Here.Chapter 1: What Exactly Is Catholicism Anyway?The Basic Beliefs.The Primary Way of Worship.The Fundamental Perspective.The General Ground Rules.Chapter 2: Who's Who in the Catholic Church.Getting to Know the Pope.How the pope gets his job.Is he really infallible?Next in Command: Cardinals.Bishops and Archbishops.The Vicar General.The Parish Priest.Deacons.Monks and Nuns, Brothers and Sisters.Chapter 3: The Sacraments of Initiation.Baptism.Baptizing with water.Recognizing the role of godparents.The Holy Eucharist.Understanding the origins of the Eucharist.Receiving Holy Communion.Coming of Age: Confirmation.Chapter 4: Celebrating the Catholic Mass.What Exactly Is the Mass?Honoring the Sabbath publicly.Participating fully.The Two Parts of the Mass.The Liturgy of the Word.The Liturgy of the Eucharist.Spiritual Seasons of the Year.Christ Our Light: The first half of the liturgical year.Christ Our Life: The second half of the liturgical year.Other tidbits about the liturgical year.Chapter 5: Expressing Affection for Mary.No, Catholics Don't Worship Mary.The Official Scoop on Mary.She's the Mother of God.She's the Mother of the Church.She's the Mother of the Mystical Body of Christ.The last word on the Immaculate Conception.She went to heaven body and soul.Her never-ending virginity.