Church - the union of those baptized in Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit.

Pope - visible head of the Church on earth, successor to St. Peter, vicar of Christ and universal teacher or religious truth.

Saints - people of extraordinary holiness who have joined God, often asked in prayer to intercede for people on earth.

Trinity - 3 persons in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Incarnation - God became man in the person of Jesus Christ.

Mary - the Theotokos, the Blessed Virgin, mother of God and mother of the Church.

10 Commandments - guidelines for living a moral life and for demonstrating love of God.

Bible - a collection of Sacred writings inspired by God, part of which the Gospels recounts actions and teachings of Christ and His followers.

Salvation - deliverance from sin and its punishment and eternal life with God. Judgment - Christ's evaluation of our life and work at our death and on Judgment day.

Heaven - a state of everlasting happiness with God after life on earth.

Faith - trust in God's words and goodness, belief in all that He has revealed.

Hope - belief that God will give eternal life in heaven.

Charity - love of God and all humanity.

Hell - permanent exile from God, the result of refusing God's friendship.

Purgatory - a state of purification for souls after death.

Sin - offense against God by any word, thought or omission contrary to His law.

Grace - God's friendship, given through Christ and communicated by the Holy Spirit, to nourish our souls and help us reach salvation.

All of these beliefs are summarized in the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed.

Holy Eucharist - This Mystery is Christ's presence in the elements of bread and wine. The Sacrament nourishes the souls of those who receive it.

Holy Eucharist is also a SACRIFICE - a renewal of Calvary. The Body and Blood of Christ are offered to God for the living and the dead. Christ becomes present in the lives of the faithful, uniting them with Him and strengthening their Christian faith and commitment.

During the main part of the Divine Liturgy, the priest consecrates leavened bread and wine, using the words Christ spoke at the Last Supper, invoking the Holy Spirit. The Eucharist is received under both forms.

Sacred Anointing - The Mystery of the Anointing of the Sick is a prayer of faith, bringing comfort, strength and grace to people who are ill. The priest anoints the person with blessed oil and offers prayers for the healing of soul and body. In some Eastern Catholic Churches, all are anointed before Easter for spiritual healing.

Holy Matrimony - The Mystery of Crowning joins a man and a woman in a holy union to share life, love and Christian faith selflessly with each other and with God.

In this mystery the priest blesses the couple and acts as the Church's witness. The Holy Spirit breathes God's love into the couple, so that each becomes a help to the other.

Holy Orders - This Mystery consecrates Christians in service to God and His community. Spiritual power and grace are given to help bishops, priests and deacons teach the Christian faith, administer the Sacraments and govern the Church.

The Mystery of Holy Orders is administered by a bishop at a ceremony of ordination. Amid prayers and hymns, the bishop places his hands on the candidate's head and speaks the words of ordination.