Catholic Christian practices

Catholic practice centres on the seven sacraments and the Mass. AQA expects you to know each sacrament, the Mass, key forms of devotion (rosary, pilgrimage), and the Catholic Church's role in mission and society.

The seven sacraments

Outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ:

1. Baptism — entry into the Church; original sin is washed away. Usually administered to infants.
2. Confirmation — strengthening with the Holy Spirit; usually around age 13–16. The bishop anoints with chrism oil.
3. Eucharist (Mass) — the central sacrament. Bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ (transubstantiation).
4. Reconciliation (Confession/Penance) — confession of sins to a priest; absolution received.
5. Anointing of the Sick — for the seriously ill; brings healing or peaceful death.
6. Holy Orders — ordination of deacons, priests and bishops.
7. Marriage (Matrimony) — lifelong covenant between a man and woman.

The Mass

The central act of Catholic worship. Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and major holy days. The Mass has two main parts:

Liturgy of the Word

• Greeting; penitential rite; Gloria; Old Testament reading; Psalm; New Testament reading; Gospel reading; homily; Creed; intercessions.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

• Offering of bread and wine.
• Eucharistic Prayer — recalls the Last Supper; the priest invokes the Holy Spirit (epiclesis); recites Christ's words ("This is my body…"); proclaims the anamnesis (remembrance).
• The bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ — transubstantiation. The substance changes; the appearance remains.
• The Lord's Prayer; Sign of Peace.
• Communion — the faithful receive the consecrated host.
• Final blessing and dismissal.

Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage is a journey to a holy site for spiritual benefit.

• Lourdes (France) — site of the apparitions of Mary to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. ~5 million pilgrims a year. Many sick people come hoping for healing; ~70 cures officially recognised by the Church.
• Walsingham (Norfolk, England) — England's Nazareth; major Marian shrine.
• Rome — Vatican City; tomb of St Peter; site of Papal authority.
• The Holy Land — Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Galilee — sites of Jesus' ministry.

Benefits include strengthened faith, community with fellow pilgrims, sense of historical continuity, and the possibility of healing or grace.

The rosary and devotions

The rosary is a prayer cycle using a string of beads. The faithful recite:

• Apostles' Creed.
• Our Father.
• Three Hail Marys.
• Glory Be.
• Five "decades" — each contains 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be — while meditating on a "mystery" from Christ's life.

Other devotions: novenas (nine-day prayer); Stations of the Cross (14 stations through Christ's passion); veneration of saints' relics.

Catholic mission

The Church's worldwide mission has both spiritual and humanitarian dimensions:

• Evangelisation — sharing the Gospel; sending missionaries (historically and today).
• CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) — UK Catholic charity working in 30+ countries; £55 m+ annual income.
• Schools and hospitals — Catholic Church runs ~140 000 schools and ~5 500 hospitals globally.
• Social teaching — Pope Francis' Laudato Si' (2015) on environment and climate change.

Catholic social teaching

Key principles:

• Dignity of the human person — imago Dei.
• Common good — society organised for the wellbeing of all.
• Subsidiarity — decisions made at the lowest possible level.
• Solidarity — bond with the poor and marginalised.
• Stewardship — care for creation.

Catholic Social Teaching has shaped responses to slavery, labour rights, environmental policy and refugee welcome.

Examiner tips

• Always name transubstantiation for the Mass.
• For 12-mark questions on pilgrimage, weigh whether physical journey is essential vs prayer at home.
• Use Catholic Social Teaching for any question on poverty, environment or human rights.