title: Catechism of the Catholic Church
author: Various
description: A catechism has been defined as "a summary of principles, often in question-and-answer format". Documents of religious instruction have been written since the beginning of Christianity and the catechism is typically an assemblage of these smaller documents into one large compilation of Church doctrine and teachings. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, for which the usual English-language abbreviation is CCC, is instead a source on which to base such catechisms and other expositions of Catholic doctrine, called a "major catechism." It was given, as stated in the Apostolic Constitution Fidei depositum, "that it may be a sure and authentic reference text for teaching catholic doctrine and particularly for preparing local catechisms." The CCC is in fact not in question and answer format.
zlib_text:   
  Compendium 
  OF THE
  CATECHISM 
  OF THE
  CATHOLIC CHURCH
   
  © Copyright 2005 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
   
  Motu proprio 
  Introduction
  PART ONE 
  THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
  Section One: "I Believe" — "We Believe"
  Chapter One: Man's Capacity for God 
  Chapter Two: God Comes to Meet Man
     The Revelation of God
     The Transmission of Divine Revelation 
     Sacred Scripture 
  Chapter Three: Man's Response to God 
     I Believe
     We Believe 
  
  Section Two: The Profession of the Christian Faith
  The Creed
  Chapter One: I Believe in God the Father 
        The Symbols of Faith 
     "I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth"
        Heaven and Earth 
        Man
        The Fall
  Chapter Two: I Believe in Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God 
     "And In Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord" 
     "Jesus Christ Was Conceived by the Power of the Holy Spirit, and Was Born of the Virgin Mary"
     "Jesus Christ Suffered Under Pontius Pilate, Was Crucified, Died, and Was Buried"
     "Jesus Christ Desce