Adult Faith Formation Package

Introduction to Catholicism Online Course

Explore the foundations of the Catholic Faith, its truth, and its necessity in this introductory course rooted in Scripture and Tradition. In this Introduction to Catholicism class, we cover a number of key topics – why we need religion, the existence of God, and why relativism is wrong. After looking at various religions, we will better understand why the Catholic Church is the one true religion.

There are lessons on why we need the Catholic Church, the use of philosophy and logic in understanding the authenticity of Catholicism, the Apostles’ Creed, the Bible, and Tradition in the Church. Every lesson opens and ends with Catholic prayers and there are extensive quotations from the Bible and official Church teachings. Every lesson incorporates beautiful pictures to illustrate the point of the text. This is a course for those looking for faith and for those who want to follow the Catholic religion more faithfully and enthusiastically.

All CatechismClass Lessons follow our time-tested 7 Step format: Introduction, Opening Prayers, Scripture and Commentary, Catechism Passages, Integration of the Lesson Topic, an activity, and a closing prayer.

Marriage Preparation Program

The CatechismClass.com Marriage Preparation Program combines comprehensive Catholic Pre-Cana and Natural Family Planning instruction in one convenient, self-paced online course. It is designed for engaged couples, couples preparing for convalidation, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

The program addresses both the theology of Catholic marriage and the practical responsibilities of married life. Couples learn what makes Matrimony a Sacrament, how grace strengthens husbands and wives, and how to build a faithful Catholic home ordered toward mutual sanctification and the raising of children.

Course Highlights:

1. Combined Pre-Cana and NFP formation: Receive Catholic marriage preparation and Natural Family Planning instruction together in one comprehensive program.
2. Faithful Catholic teaching: Study the sacramental nature of marriage, its unity and indissolubility, openness to children, and the lifelong duties of husbands and wives.
3. Preparation for a fully Catholic marriage: Understand why Catholics should marry Catholics, receive Confirmation before Matrimony, practice the Faith together, and establish a truly Catholic family life.
4. An invitation to embrace the Catholic Faith: When one person is not yet Catholic, the course provides an opportunity to learn what the Church teaches and consider entering fully into the Catholic Faith.
5. Theological and practical preparation: Lessons address prayer, marital duties, finances, communication, conflict resolution, family goals, contraception, abortion, and the proper use of Natural Family Planning.
6. Rooted in authoritative Catholic sources: The course draws from Sacred Scripture, Catholic catechisms, the writings of the Popes, Catholic theological commentary, and materials from experienced Catholic marriage educators.
7. Self-paced with lifetime access: Course access does not expire. Most students should plan to spend approximately four to five hours completing the readings, videos, and activities.
8. Optional personalized guidance: Mentoring and correspondence with Certified Catechists are available for students who would like additional support.

What You Will Learn:

1. Why Holy Matrimony is a Sacrament rather than merely a civil arrangement
2. The purposes of marriage in God’s plan
3. Why marriage is an indissoluble and lifelong covenant
4. The three traditional blessings of marriage
5. The duties husbands and wives owe to one another
6. Why Catholics should receive Confirmation before entering Matrimony
7. Why Catholics should marry Catholics and build a shared Catholic family life
8. What to expect during the Catholic Rite of Matrimony
9. Why a Catholic wedding and a sacramental marriage matter
10. How couples can approach communication, conflict resolution, careers, finances, and family goals
11. Why artificial contraception is contrary to Catholic teaching and harmful to marriage
12. What Natural Family Planning is and how it differs morally from artificial contraception
13. Why abortion is gravely contrary to the sanctity of human life
14. How spouses can help one another grow in holiness and remain faithful throughout married life

Miracles of the Catholic Church Online Course

Discover Eucharistic miracles, incorruptible saints, Marian apparitions, and more in this Catholic course on God’s wonders through the ages. The Catholic Church is the great bastion of miracles. We have numerous miracles testifying to the authenticity of the Catholic Faith:

1. The stigmata: Dozens of saints have had the visible marks of Christ on their bodies.
2. Eucharistic miracles: We have dozens of miracles, some of which have been scientifically examined, testifying to the truth that the Eucharistic Host is actually Christ's flesh and blood.
3. Incorruptible Saints: We also have over 150 incorruptible saints whose incorruptibly defies all of science.
4. Miracles Worked Through the Saints: The blood of St. Januarius frequently liquefies. Throughout the centuries thousands of reported miracles have occurred at the tombs of the saints. St. Benedict and St. Dominic, among others, by the power of God resurrected people from the dead. St. Padre Pio, St. Gregory the Wonderworker, St. Charbel, and countless others have performed miracles. The Miracles of the Saints are numerous enough to fill volumes of books. Over 400 saints have raised the dead to life.
5. The Miracles Performed through the Blessed Virgin Mary: Over 70 people are been healed of incurable diseases in the waters of Lourdes. The Miracle of the Sun at Fatima was witnessed by over 70,000 people. And we have many miracles of the Rosary including the Miracle at Hiroshima. Many other such Rosary miracles have occurred. The Miraculous Medal and the Brown Scapular continue to work miracles up to this day unexplained by science.

In this course, we explore these and many more miracles to understand how we can know that the Catholic Faith is the divinely established religion. We also study the Church's teaching on what a miracle is and what a miracle is not. We will also carefully examine both the Old and New Testaments for what they teach us about miracles. This course goes beyond intellectual arguments and reasoning, which is often the focus of Apologetics, and shows God's works among us, some of which have even occurred in our own lifetimes.

All CatechismClass Lessons follow our time-tested 7 Step format: Introduction, Opening Prayers, Scripture and Commentary, Catechism Passages, Integration of the Lesson Topic, an activity, and a closing prayer.

Understanding Catholic Prayer and Spirituality Course

Deepen your Catholic prayer life and spirituality through Scripture, the saints, and catechism-based lessons that inspire virtue and devotion.

These lessons include the writings of saints and Doctors of the Church, Scripture, Catechism instruction and history. They include inspiring artwork and activities that will help uncover that treasure that is hidden in prayer. Not only does this investigation seek to help improve one’s prayer life, this study encourages the development of virtue and intercession on behalf of the entire world.

All CatechismClass Lessons follow our time-tested 7 Step format: Introduction, Opening Prayers, Scripture and Commentary, Catechism Passages, Integration of the Lesson Topic, an activity, and a closing prayer.

Catholic Mariology Online Course

Learn the Catholic teaching on Mary, her apparitions, prayers, and devotions in this online course answering common questions about Our Lady.

Do you know how to explain the Church's teachings about Mary? When someone challenges you about "worshipping" her, do you know what to say? Do you know how to recognize an authentic apparition of our Blessed Mother from something that has been fabricated? These and more questions are answered in ten lessons on Mariology. Learn about Marian prayers, seven important apparitions, the history of Marian devotions, shrines dedicated to Our Lady, the Litany of Loretto, apologetics, the saints who were devoted to Mary and much more.

All CatechismClass Lessons follow our time-tested 7 Step format: Introduction, Opening Prayers, Scripture and Commentary, Catechism Passages, Integration of the Lesson Topic, an activity, and a closing prayer.

Catholic Moral Life Online Course

Discover the foundations of Christian morality, virtue, and ethics in this Catholic course rooted in Scripture, Thomistic thought, and Tradition.

What is true Christian morality? How does God want us to live our lives? Why does God care how we live our lives, and why should I care about God's law? Is God real, and is His law universal and objective? What is the role of the moral life in spiritual growth? For many Catholics, morality plays a surprisingly minimal role in their daily walk with Jesus. Morality is seen simply as avoiding mortal sin to stay out of hell or as a standard by which to judge the health of our society. But there is much more to true Christian Morality!

In this course dedicated to understanding Christian morality, we explain the importance of virtue and ethics. With a Thomistic and Aristotelian basis, students will embark on an enriching journey in morality. By examining the sin of Adam and Eve, vices and virtues, the effects of the Sacraments, the true definition of grace, and much more, students will develop an understanding of and a deep appreciation for Christian morality.

All CatechismClass Lessons follow our time-tested 7 Step format: Introduction, Opening Prayers, Scripture and Commentary, Catechism Passages, Integration of the Lesson Topic, an activity, and a closing prayer.

Catholic Eschatology Online Course

Study the Four Last Things—death, judgment, heaven, and hell—plus purgatory in this Catholic eschatology course on the end of life and eternity.

Eschatology is the study of the end of life, the end of time, and the Final Coming of Christ. In Eschatology, Christian Theology focuses primarily on the “Four Last Things” that comprise its study. They are Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. In addition to these areas, we will explore as part of the five-part series on these topics, Purgatory, the place of temporary purification after death for souls that die in the state of grace (i.e. are destined for Heaven) but are no yet perfect and able to enter Heaven.

All CatechismClass Lessons follow our time-tested 7 Step format: Introduction, Opening Prayers, Scripture and Commentary, Catechism Passages, Integration of the Lesson Topic, an activity, and a closing prayer.

Catholic Precepts of the Church Online Course

Study the six principal precepts of the Catholic Church, their meaning, and their role in living a faithful Catholic life in this online course.

Catholics are bound to observe the laws of the Church, in addition to the Ten Commandments. Many of these additional laws have been long established and observed by the Faithful for centuries. All together, the Deposit of Faith, that which a Catholic must believe in order to truly be a Catholic, requires Catholics to observe the Precepts of the Church. The Precepts of the Church are not all inclusive in terms of the rules for living a Catholic life. There are other laws that Catholics are bound to observe that are not listed in the Precepts of the Church. The Precepts of the Church are the six principal ones, that is, the six ones with which Catholics should ordinary be concerned, since they ordinarily occur in a person’s life. Through this course we will study the precepts in depth to understand the need for the precepts, what the precepts require of us, and why they are so important.

All CatechismClass Lessons follow our time-tested 7 Step format: Introduction, Opening Prayers, Scripture and Commentary, Catechism Passages, Integration of the Lesson Topic, an activity, and a closing prayer.

Catholic Church Councils Online Course

Explore the history, debates, and outcomes of the Catholic Church’s Councils and learn more than most Catholics on these forgotten Councils!

When you think of the Councils of the Church, you probably imagine a group of Cardinals and Bishops quietly discussing obtuse theological doctrines which have no practical implications. Perhaps a loud cough is heard once in a while but, on the whole, it is a staid affair. Actually, the Councils were anything but impractical or quiet. There were loud disagreements and accusations of heresy. You will read about wars, riots, murders, and shipwrecks as well as anti-popes and the suppression of the Templars. The Council members cared deeply about the religious and social problems of their day, arguing for months, sometimes years, in order to find a solution. Each lesson of this course contains a discussion of why the Council was called and what happened at the Council, as well as Biblical references and prayers. We will hear from many saints as well as a few characters not so holy. Each Council has its own exciting story but each has a unifying theme in the Church’s unending mission to guide souls to God. Departing from our standard of sharing Catechism References on the 4th part of each lesson, that part will be devoted to reviewing and studying the documents and canons of the Council in question.

All CatechismClass Lessons follow our time-tested 7 Step format: Introduction, Opening Prayers, Scripture and Commentary, Catechism Passages, Integration of the Lesson Topic, an activity, and a closing prayer.

Apologetics 101

What is an apologetic? Simply put, an apologetic is an argument meant to persuade. Trial lawyers use apologetics every day to persuade juries and judges to adopt their point of view. But we, too, are exposed to apologetics everyday as we listen to advertising touting one product over another, or as we listen to our lawn care provider explain why we should continue using him to mow our lawn and trim our shrubs instead of a cheaper company down the street. No high theology to be found here! To the contrary, this course arms Catholics, both young and old, with easy to understand basics necessary to defend their Catholic Faith and to comfortably share this faith with others. If you are just beginning your walk as a newly committed Catholic or if you are a Cradle Catholic to whom the basic ways of the faith have become foggy, this course is for you.

All CatechismClass Lessons follow our time-tested 7 Step format: Introduction, Opening Prayers, Scripture and Commentary, Catechism Passages, Integration of the Lesson Topic, an activity, and a closing prayer.

Fundamentals of Christian Philosophy - Catholic Philosophy Course

This course is a survey of Christian Philosophy. Even that first sentence might tempt you to ask a whole host of questions… good! Believe it or not, you are already acting like a philosopher. Let's clear the air. The biggest problem most people have with the study of philosophy is that it's not "practical" (so they say). 'I can't pay my bills with philosophy,' 'I can't support my family by studying Aristotle,' 'The world needs scientists, mathematicians, and engineers… not philosophers."

These are all examples of an attitude that has saturated in a culture obsessed with doing—obsessed with the practical, the useful, and the pragmatic. 'Thou savourest not the things that are of God but the things that are of men,' says Our Lord (Mt 16:23).

The truth is, even though philosophy does deal with the theoretical, it is also supremely practical. Do we not think that every person has a reason behind every single thing that they do? The teacher runs a classroom based on their philosophy of education, the doctor treats a patient based on their philosophy of healthcare, the CEO runs a company based on their philosophy of business, the husband and wife treat each other based on their philosophy of marriage.

Since Philosophy is a foundation for Theology, this course is intended for all adults who seriously want to form their minds as students disposed to receive Divine Knowledge.

Catholic Pneumatology Online Course

Study the Holy Ghost, His role in the Church, and how to receive His graces and fruits in this Catholic course rooted in Scripture and Tradition. Pneumatology is the study of the Holy Ghost, the third person of the Blessed Trinity. In this course, we study the Holy Ghost and answer several key questions using both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition as our source. Who is the Holy Ghost? How do we receive the Holy Ghost? What role does the Holy Ghost play in our lives, in the life of the Church, in the Sacraments, or in our path to Heaven? Is the Holy Ghost real? How can we receive the graces and fruits of the Holy Ghost? What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Ghost? We will answer these and many more questions in this unique course.

All CatechismClass Lessons follow our time-tested 7 Step format: Introduction, Opening Prayers, Scripture and Commentary, Catechism Passages, Integration of the Lesson Topic, an activity, and a closing prayer.

World History from a Catholic Perspective Course

Learn world history through a Catholic lens, highlighting the Church’s contributions, defending truth, and addressing common historical myths. Unlike virtually all other history courses which undermine or omit the contributions of the Catholic Church, World History from A Catholic Perspective seeks to teach the truths of world history which are intricately tied to the Church's own history.

This course does three things which most courses never do:

1. Mention the Church's contributions which are often ignored
2. Combat modern errors like evolution which are touted as "fact" in public school
3. Address the areas where the Church is falsely accused (e.g. Spanish inquisition, Conquest of the World, Crusades, etc).

This 10 part self-study course for high school students or adults is based on the following segments:

1. Introduction to World History and Developing A Catholic Worldview
2. In the Beginning: From Creation to Abraham
3. God's Chosen People: From Isaac to the Division of the Kingdom
4. The Struggle for Restoration: From the Division to the Roman Empire
5. The Incarnation & Redemption: From 27 BC to the Ascension
6. The Empire's "Small" Problem: From 33 AD to 400 AD
7. The Middle Ages: From 400 AD to 1500 AD
8. The Early Modern Period: From 1500 AD to the Mid 1700s AD
9. The Late Modern Period: From the Mid 1700s to Vatican I
10. Contemporary Period: From Vatican I to World War II

Drawing on the various catechisms of the Church, the Scriptures, the writings of numerous historians, the work of Fr. John Laux, and the writings of Fr. D.I. Lanslot, students of Catholic History from a World Perspective will be armed with a more holistic knowledge of history that does not fail to mention the greatest institution the world has ever known: The Catholic Church.

Theology of Holy Matrimony

The Theology of Holy Matrimony is an individual Catholic marriage lesson included in our complete Marriage Preparation Program. It is suitable for engaged couples, married couples seeking a deeper understanding of their vocation, and couples receiving Catholic instruction while preparing to have a civil marriage convalidated by the Church.

This lesson explains why marriage is more than a civil arrangement. Marriage is a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman and, when both spouses are baptized, a Sacrament instituted by Christ. Students will examine the indissolubility of marriage, its three traditional blessings, and the duties husbands and wives owe to one another.

In This Lesson, You Will Study:

• Why Holy Matrimony is a Sacrament
• The purposes of marriage in God’s plan
• The unity and indissolubility of marriage
• The three traditional blessings of marriage
• The duties of husbands and wives
• The Catholic Rite of Matrimony
• The importance of a Catholic wedding and a shared Catholic family life
• Why artificial contraception is contrary to Catholic teaching and harmful to marriage
• Practical considerations involving communication, conflict resolution, careers, finances, and family goals

The lesson includes practical activities to help couples discuss important aspects of married life together. Students preparing for marriage are encouraged to complete the accompanying worksheet and discuss their answers with their prospective spouse.

The material draws from Sacred Scripture, Catholic catechisms, the writings of the Popes, Catholic theological commentary, and Marriage in the Heart and Mind of the Church by Preston E. Wiggins.

Students should plan to spend approximately two to three hours studying the readings, completing the activities, and preparing for the quiz. Course access does not expire, and personalized mentoring and correspondence with Certified Catechists are available for students who would like additional guidance.

Need Complete Catholic Marriage Preparation?

For comprehensive Catholic Pre-Cana and Natural Family Planning instruction, enroll in the complete Pre Cana Marriage Preparation Program. The full program includes this Theology of Holy Matrimony lesson together with the required Natural Family Planning and Catholic family-life instruction.

Students who complete the applicable requirements of the full Marriage Preparation Program may separately request a Certificate of Completion for Catholic Marriage Preparation and Natural Family Planning according to the current certificate procedures and fees.