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Prefatory Note to Index

The following index is an English translation of the Index Analyticus that appeared in the Latin typical 
edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, promulgated on August 15, 1997. For the most part, this 
index is a literal rendering of the Latin, with attention given to maintaining consistency with the language 
of the English edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Index Analyticus was designed to be both 
a general subject index as well as a conceptual index of the contents of the Catechism, and this English 
translation is faithful to that design. This English translation does not participate in the approval of the 
Latin typical edition given in the apostolic letter Laetamur Magnopere of Pope John Paul II, by which the 
Latin text was approved and promulgated.


Abandonment

Disciples,’ 1851
God never abandons His people, 2577
Mary's abandonment of herself to God, 506
to providence, 305, 322, 2115
to the will of God, 2677


Abba

the Spirit of the Son of God in our
hearts, crying out: "Abba! Father!" 683, 742, 1303, 2766, 2777


Abel

fratricide against, 401, 2559
as the venerated just man, 58


Abortion

moral precepts and, 2271, 2274
and respect for life, 2270
those who help obtain an, 2272


Abraham

Abraham's prayer, 2569, 2570, 2592
calling of, 59, 72, 762
divine blessing and, 59, 1080
God's covenant with, 72, 992, 2571
Jesus, stem of, 527
as model of hope, 165, 1819
as model of obedience in believing God, 144-46, 165, 2572, 2676
Muslims and the faith of, 841
a people sprung from its father Abraham, 63, 709, 762, 1541
promises made to, 422, 705, 706, 1222, 1716, 1725, 2571, 2619


Absolution See Penance and Reconciliation


Abstinence

in preparing for liturgical feasts, 2043


Acceptance/accepting

Christian initiation and acceptance of the Gospel, 1229, 1247
of foreigners, 2241
of forgiveness, 1989
of God's grace, 2001
of God's love, 2712, 2792
of God's mercy, 1847, 1991
of grace, 678, 682
of homosexuals, 2358
of Jesus' word, 528, 543, 764, 1967, 2835
Man's acceptance of divine life, 505
Mary's acceptance, 148, 502, 2617
of one's neighbor, 2519
of the poor, 2449
of Revelation through faith, 35, 99
of the vocation of children, 2233 
"Whoever receives you receives me," 858
of the Word of God, 839, 1719, 2030, 2086, 2835


Acclamation

given to Jesus entering Jerusalem, 559


Accusation. See Penance and Reconciliation: the acts of the penitent: confession


Acedia, 1866, 2733,2755. See also Sloth


Action/acting

according to God, 798, 1695, 2000, 2752
as a Christian, 3, 16, 1813, 2031, 2047, 2181
Christ's (see Christ)
the Church's, 771, 1072, 1074, 1083
ethical (see Conscience)
of evangelization, 900, 905
freedom and, 302, 323, 1731, 1744, 1745
God's, 260, 292, 301, 308, 988, 1148, 1164, 1325, 1448, 2008, 2084, 2171, 2258, 2564, 2738
of grace, 644, 1453, 1742
of the Holy Spirit in Mary, 2675, 2682
human, 236, 307, 1146, 1148, 1724, 1806, 2306, 2668, 2670
intention in, 1752
Jesus in, 576, 1575, 2076
liturgical, 15, 1070, 1074, 1088, 1097, 1108, 1111, 1136, 1140, 1153, 1155
merit of, 2006, 2008
ministers acting in the person of Christ, 875, 935, 1548, 1563, 1581, 1584
moral action drawing its meaning from the Covenant, 2061
pastoral, 2352, 2423
prayer and, 2157, 2166, 2570, 2670
purpose of, 1752
social, 407, 1883, 2442
of the Trinity, 648
truth in, 2468
by virtue of love, 1972
as a witness of the Gospel, 2472


Activity

apostolate activity as of the Mystical Body, 863
Christian carrying the cross in daily, 2427
Christian family and its, 2205
of the Church, 824, 828, 1442
economic, 2424, 2426, 2431
of God, 2500, 2501
human activity directed by God, 912, 1818, 2172, 2185
just wage and the activity of work, 2434
missionary, 856
See also Action/acting; Work


Adam

Adam's sin and its consequences, 402-05, 416-17, 1736
grace of original holiness and, 375, 399
Jesus Christ and, 359, 388, 402, 504, 505, 518, 532, 538, 539, 635


Adherence

of faith in God, 150, 176, 1098, 1102, 1730, 2609, 2716
of faith to the teachings of the Church, 88
of Jesus to the Father's plan, 566, 2600, 2603, 2620
of Mary to the Father's will, 967


Adolescence

and catechesis, 5, 24
and modesty, 2524
and prostitution, 2355
and self-mastery, 2342
and sexual abuse, 2389


Adoption

Christ is not an adopted son, 2673, 2717, 2740, 2745, 2766
effects of, 654, 1709, 2784
family adoption of abandoned children, 2379
filial adoption makes men co-heirs of Christ, 2009
filial adoption makes men sons of God, 257, 1077
the freedom of God being given in, 52, 257, 1996
God gives adoption through the sacraments, 537, 1129, 1197, 1265, 1279
in God's plan, 1, 52, 257, 270, 2782
and inheritance of eternal happiness, 1, 294
of man, sons through Jesus Christ, 52, 257, 422, 460, 505, 654, 839, 1110, 1709, 2639, 2782, 2798, 2825


Adoration

blessing and, 2626
of God, 2096
of the Incarnate Word by the angels, 333
as principal act of the virtue of religion, 2096, 2628 (see also God)
sacred art and, 2502


Adultery

definition of, 2380
and desire, 2336, 2528
and divorce, 1650, 2384
and God's commandment, 2052, 2055, 2196
gravity of, 1756, 1856, 1858, 2380, 2400
and the heart of man, 1853, 2517
and insults against the dignity of marriage, 2380-81


Adults

adult children and family life, 2214, 2218, 2230
Baptism of, 1247
catechesis of, 5, 2688
catechumenate for, 1232, 1233
Christian initiation of, 1233, 1247 (see also Initiation, Christian)


Advancement

of economic activities, 2426
See also Development; Growth


Advent

"Come, Lord Jesus," 2853
coming of Christ and the Last Judgment, 1040
coming of God's kingdom brought on by signs and miracles, 542, 1505
corning of God's kingdom and the defeat of Satan's kingdom, 550
coming of the Holy Spirit and Pentecost, 729, 732
expectation of the coming of Christ, 840
preparation for Christ's coming, 522-24
"Thy kingdom come," 2816-21, 2859
transfiguration as a foretaste of Christ's glorious coming, 556
uncertainty of the time of Christ's glorious coming, 673-74, 1040, 2772
See Consummation; Expectation


Advocate

Christ, our, 519
Holy Spirit, the other advocate (Paraclete), 692, 729, 1433, 1848


Age

adult age of faith distinct from the age of natural growth, 1307-08
for celebrating Confirmation, 1318-19
of discretion for going to Confession, 1457


Agnosticism, 2127, 2128


Almsgiving

as a form of penance, 1434, 1438
in the New Law, 1969
as works of charity and mercy, 2447, 2462


Altar

blessing of the, 1672
celebration of the Eucharist and the meanings of the, 1383
Eucharist, sacrament of the, 1372
the heart as, 786, 2655
of heaven, 1383, 1589
the Lord's altar built by Abraham, 2570
New Covenant and the, 1182
sacrifice of the cross and the, 1182, 1364, 1366-68, 1939


Ambo, 1184


Amen

Christ, the definitive amen of the Father's love, 1065
in the Eucharistic liturgy, 1345
the last word of the "Creed" and of Sacred Scripture, 1061
meaning of, 1062-64, 1348, 1396, 2856, 2865


Analogy

analogy of faith, 114
of biblical revelation, 128-30 (see also Typology)
the Creator and the likeness of His creatures, 41, 2500
spiritual life and its analogy With the natural life, 1210-12


Anamnesis, 1103, 1106, 1354, 1362


Anaphora, 1352


Angel(s)

in the anaphora, 1352
birth of Christ and, 525, 559
Christ and, 331, 538, 954, 1038, 1161
in the Church's life, 334-35
cosmic order and the guardianship of, 57
existence of angels as a truth of faith, 328
fallen, 391-93, 414, 760
Gabriel announcing, 148, 2676
gone astray, 311
guardian, 336
heaven and, 326, 1023-29, 1053
identity and duties of, 329, 332-36, 350-52, 1034, 1352
images in art, 1192, 2131, 2502
protectors of men, 336


Anger

as a capital sin, 1866
definition of, 2302
evil and, 1765
and the love of God, 208, 210
murder of Abel and human, 2259
passions and, 1772


Animals

difference between man and, 371
relation between man and, 2417, 2456-57
respect for, 2415, 2416, 2418


Annunciation

angel salutes Mary as "full of grace" at the, 490
feast day of the, 1171
the fullness of time inaugurated by the, 484
Jesus, the name given by God at the, 430
Mary's consent at the, 973
Mary's prayer and the, 2617
motherhood of Mary and the, 969, 2674
See also Angels; Mary


Anointing

in Baptism, 1241, 1291
Christ anointed in the Holy Spirit, 438, 690
in Confirmation, 1242, 1289, 1291, 1295, 1300
effects of the Holy Spirit's anointing for the Christian faithful, 91, 698, 786, 2769
in Holy Orders, 1574
significance of, 1293-94
symbol of anointing with oil, 695


Anointing of the Sick, 1499-1525
celebration of the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick in the Roman rite, 1513, 1517-19, 1531

effects of, 1520-23, 1532
minister of, 1530
preparation of the faithful for receiving the sacrament of, 1516
purpose of, 1511, 1527
over the centuries, 1512
for whom the sacrament is intended, 1514-15, 1528-29
See also Sacrament(s)


Apostasy

the Church's final trial and, 675
meaning of, 2089
Moses and the apostasy of his people, 2577
wounds to the unity of the Church and, 817


Apostle(s)

acceptance of the teachings of, 87, 949, 2624
apostolic college, 880 (see also Apostolic college)
appearances of the Risen One and, 641-42, 644-45, 647
Baptism and, 1226
catechesis of, 1094
choosing and calling of, 2, 75, 96, 858-60, 873, 935, 1086, 1120, 1122, 1575, 2600
the Church and, 688, 756, 857, 865, 869, 1342, 2032
Holy Spirit and, 244, 746, 798, 1287, 1288, 1299, 1302, 1315, 1485, 1556
imposition of hands and, 699, 1288, 1299, 1315
institution of the Eucharist and, 610-11, 1337, 1339-41
ministry of Reconciliation and, 981, 1442, 1461
power of the apostles to forgive sins, 981, 983, 984, 1442, 1444, 1485, 1586
preaching of, 76
sacrament of Holy Orders and, 1087, 1536, 1565, 1576, 1577, 1594
significance of the Apostles' mission, 858
successors of, 77, 861-63, 892, 938, 1313, 1560, 1562, 2068
transmission of the faith and, 171, 173, 605, 815, 816, 889, 1124
transmission of the Word of God and, 3, 81, 84, 96, 126, 571
witness of the, 664, 1518


Apostolate

the Church's, 863-64
and the Eucharist, 864, 1324
of lay people, 900, 905, 940


Apostolic. See Church


Apostolic college

choosing the, 1577
episcopal college and, 880
New Covenant and, 816
office of binding and loosing, 881, 1444
of the twelve and Peter, 552


Apostolic succession, 861, 1087

as the bond of the Church's unity, 815
reason for, 77
safeguards the communion in the faith, 1209


Ark of the Covenant

and prayer of the People of God, 2578, 2594
symbol of salvation and the, 2130
tables of the Testimony and the, 2058


Arms

accumulation of, 2315
arms race, 2315, 2329, 2438
conditions for resorting to, 2243, 2309
indiscriminate use of, 2314
production and sale of, 2316
refusal to bear, 2311
as a threat to peace, 2317


Art

likeness to God's activity in creation, 2501
sacred, 2500, 2502-03, 2513
See also Icon(s); Images, holy


Artificial fertilization

insemination or heterologous artificial fertilization as gravely immoral, 2376
as morally unacceptable, 2377


Artificial insemination

as morally unacceptable, 2376-77


Ascension of Christ

celebration of, 2177
See also Christ


Ascesis

fidelity to the baptismal promises and, 2340
mastery of the will and, 1734
spiritual growth and, 2015


Assembly

the Church as an assembly of men, 541, 751-52, 771, 777-78
directing an assembly and presiding over it, 1184, 1348
Eucharistic, 1329, 1348, 1383, 1566, 2777
Holy Spirit at work in, 1092, 1112
human, 1880
liturgical, 752, 1097, 1102, 1144, 1167, 1193, 2760
participation of, 1141, 1372, 2178
prayer and, 2585-86, 2589
preparation and disposition of the assembly for the liturgy, 1098, 1112, 1154, 1236, 1688
profession of faith in, 167
of the saints, 946, 1372, 2006
Sunday, 1167, 1174, 2188


Assent

of faith to the Magisterium's definitions, 891
religious assent of the mind to the Magisterium's ordinary teaching, 892


Assistance/assisting

the Angels' assistance to men, 332, 335
of deacons, 1369, 1570
divine assistance to the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops, 892
the family, 2211
of the Holy Spirit, 86, 94, 688, 2182, 2422
at the liturgy, 2178, 2180
from the Lord to the sick, 1520
social assistance for well-being, 2288


Associations

economy and, 2431
providing conditions for, 1928, 1943, 2211
right of association, 900
supporting, 1882, 1893


Associations of wage earners, 2430


Assumption of Mary, 966. See also Mary


Atheism

agnosticism and, 2128
causes of, 2126, 2424
forms and meanings of, 2123-24
sin of, 2125, 2140


Atonement, 1992. See also Expiation


Authority(ies)

abuse of civil, 2155, 2242-2298
of the Apostles, 551, 873, 1444, 1575
bishops', 883, 888, 894, 1596, 2034, 2179
Christ's, 581-82, 651, 668-69, 1063, 1441, 1673, 2173
the Church's, 85, 119, 553, 874, 895, 918, 1023, 1125, 1399, 1578, 1635, 1673, 1792, 2037, 2420
of the Church's ministers, 875, 1551, 1563
civil and human, 1900, 1901, 2234
common good and, 1903, 1906, 1909, 1928, 2266, 2293, 2406, 2429, 2498
duties of, 1917, 1923, 2235-36, 2241, 2272, 2316, 2354, 2498
family and, 2202, 2207, 2234
foundation of, 1899, 1918, 1920, 1930
foundation of human, 1897-1904
God's, 156, 239, 668, 1295, 1381, 2086, 2777
illegitimate civil, 2155
Jesus and religious authorities in Jerusalem, 575, 587, 589, 591, 595-96
law as the enactment of, 1951
legitimate exercise of, 1897, 1921
limits to, 2267
of the Magisterium of the Church, 88, 2036
necessary for human society, 1897-98, 1919
refusal to obey, 2256
respect for, 1880
respect for others and, 1902, 1930, 2199, 2254
service of, 2235
of the Supreme Pontiff, 1594, 2034
of the symbol, 194-95
of truth, 1777
war and international, 2308


Autonomy

of children, 2232
conscience and the mistaken notion of its, 1792


Autopsies, 2301


Avarice

capital sin, 1866