Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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ARTICLE OF FAITH

A term used by the catechism of the Council of Trent, speaking of the Apostles' Creed: "The chief truths which Christians must hold are those which the holy Apostles, the leaders and teachers of the faith, inspired by the Holy Spirit have divided into the twelve Articles of the Creed." But the term "article" has a long history and designates whatever a Catholic must believe, whether defined by the Church as revealed or commonly held by the Church's ordinary and universal magisterium as revealed in Scripture or sacred tradition. (Etym Latin articulus, a joint, member, part; literally, a small joint.)