Vigil of the Epiphany

The Catechism highlights the profound mystery of the Incarnation: Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man, not a mixture of the divine and human. Without ceasing to be God, the Son of God became man and our brother. The early Church defended and clarified this faith against errors that denied or confused Christ’s true divinity, true humanity, or his one divine person. The councils also proclaimed that Mary is truly the Mother of God, because the Son of God was conceived in her womb and born from her according to the flesh. For Catholic families, these truths invite us to wonder at Jesus Christ, who became man for our salvation and remains one of the Holy Trinity.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church presents the Catholic faith as an organic and unified whole, helping readers connect its themes through cross-references and an analytical index. Its references to Sacred Scripture invite readers to consult the biblical passages themselves for deeper understanding, and serve as a valuable tool for catechesis. Some small-print passages provide historical, apologetic, or supplementary doctrinal explanations, while quotations from patristic, liturgical, magisterial, and hagiographical sources enrich the presentation of doctrine. The Catechism seeks to deepen faith so that it matures, takes root in personal life, and shines forth in personal conduct. It also recognizes that adapting doctrine and catechetical methods to different cultures, ages, spiritual maturity, and circumstances is the responsibility of particular catechisms and especially those who instruct the faithful.

In our journey of faith, we begin with the declaration, “I believe,” recognizing that faith is our response to God, who reveals and gives himself to us as we search for the ultimate meaning of life. The desire for God is written in every human heart, and people express this search in prayer, rituals, meditation, and other religious practices. At times, we may forget, overlook, or reject our bond with God because of suffering, indifference, worldly concerns, bad examples, or fear. Yet God never ceases to call each person to seek him and find life and happiness. As we pray and learn together, we can encourage one another in this search, noticing signs of God in the beauty and order of the world and in our own longing for truth, goodness, and happiness. These ways can help us know that God exists and see that faith is not opposed to reason, while real intimacy with God comes through his revelation and the grace to welcome it in faith.