Catholic Dogma: A Historical Reference Catalogue

A substantial original guide to teachings arranged in the broad theological order of Ludwig Ott’s 1952 Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma

Prepared for MiracleOfTheRosary.com • October 2026

How to use this catalogue

This is an independently written thematic reference, not the full text of Ludwig Ott’s copyrighted book and not a verified, exhaustive inventory of every proposition in his 1952 edition. It contains concise paraphrases of Catholic teachings to help plan a website. The entries are not quotations from Ott, and their order, phrasing and numbering are editorial.

Important: the list includes solemnly defined dogmas, truths taught infallibly by the ordinary and universal Magisterium, and some closely related authoritative doctrines. It does not assert that every sentence has the same theological note. Before publishing any item as “de fide,” verify its precise theological qualification and wording in the primary sources or a scholarly edition of Ott.

Historical source guide

• Ludwig Ott, Grundriß der katholischen Dogmatik (1952); English title Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma. Consult the original edition for Ott’s exact propositions and theological notes.
• Heinrich Denzinger, Enchiridion Symbolorum: historical creeds, councils, and magisterial texts; use a specific edition because numbering differs.
• Council of Trent, decrees on original sin, justification and the sacraments (1545–1563).
• First Vatican Council, Dei Filius and Pastor Aeternus (1870).
• Council of Ephesus (431), Council of Chalcedon (451), Third Council of Constantinople (680–681).
• Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus (1854); Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus (1950).

The One God

1. God exists and can be known with certainty by natural reason from created things.
2. God is one in nature.
3. God is eternal.
4. God is immutable.
5. God is infinite in perfection.
6. God is simple, without composition.
7. God is spirit, not a material body.
8. God is omnipotent.
9. God is omniscient.
10. God knows all things, including free human acts.
11. God is perfectly good and holy.
12. God is perfectly just and merciful.
13. God is the creator and ruler of all things.
14. God is distinct from the created world.

The Blessed Trinity

15. There is one God in three distinct divine Persons.
16. The Father is truly God.
17. The Son is truly God.
18. The Holy Spirit is truly God.
19. The three Persons possess one undivided divine nature.
20. The divine Persons are really distinct from one another.
21. The Son is eternally begotten of the Father.
22. The Holy Spirit proceeds eternally from the Father and the Son.
23. The three divine Persons are coequal and coeternal.
24. The external works of the Trinity are undivided.

Creation, Angels and Providence

25. God freely created the world from nothing.
26. The world had a beginning.
27. God created all things that exist apart from Himself.
28. God created the world for His glory.
29. God preserves created things in existence.
30. God governs creation by His providence.
31. Angels are real personal spiritual creatures.
32. Angels were created good by God.
33. Some angels freely sinned and became demons.
34. The devil and demons are subject to divine providence.
35. Human beings possess a spiritual and immortal soul.
36. Each human soul is created directly by God.
37. The rational soul is the substantial form of the human body.
38. Human beings have genuine free will.

Original Justice, Sin and the Fall

39. The first human beings were established in original holiness and justice.
40. Adam sinned through disobedience to God.
41. Adam’s sin injured human nature.
42. Original sin is transmitted to Adam’s descendants by propagation, not imitation alone.
43. Original sin is remitted by the grace of Christ through Baptism.
44. Death entered human history as a consequence of sin.
45. The human will remains free after the Fall, though wounded.
46. God is not the author of moral evil.

Jesus Christ: Person and Incarnation

47. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.
48. The Word became flesh.
49. Jesus Christ is one divine Person in two natures, divine and human.
50. Christ possesses a complete human nature, body and rational soul.
51. Christ’s two natures remain distinct without separation or confusion.
52. The divine and human natures are united in the one Person of the Word.
53. Jesus Christ is true God and true man.
54. The Son of God became man for our salvation.
55. Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
56. Christ was born of the Virgin Mary.
57. Christ is without personal sin.
58. Christ possesses a true human will.
59. Christ possesses a true divine will.
60. Christ’s human will is not contrary to His divine will.
61. Christ’s human nature is worthy of adoration because of its union with the divine Person.

Jesus Christ: Redemption and Exaltation

62. Christ truly suffered under Pontius Pilate.
63. Christ truly died on the Cross.
64. Christ freely offered Himself for the salvation of humanity.
65. Christ’s sacrifice is a true and proper sacrifice.
66. Christ’s death reconciles humanity with God.
67. Christ descended to the dead.
68. Christ rose bodily from the dead on the third day.
69. The risen Christ is the same Jesus who was crucified.
70. Christ ascended into heaven.
71. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father.
72. Christ will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.

The Blessed Virgin Mary

73. Mary is truly the Mother of God (Theotokos).
74. Mary was preserved from original sin from the first instant of her conception.
75. Mary conceived Jesus virginally by the Holy Spirit.
76. Mary remained a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ.
77. Mary was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory at the end of her earthly life.
78. Mary is rightly honored with a special veneration distinct from divine worship.

The Church and Her Authority

79. Jesus Christ founded His Church.
80. The Church is one.
81. The Church is holy.
82. The Church is catholic.
83. The Church is apostolic.
84. The Church is necessary for salvation in the sense taught by Catholic doctrine.
85. Christ entrusted a teaching office to the apostles and their successors.
86. The bishops succeed the apostles in their pastoral office.
87. The Roman Pontiff succeeds Saint Peter in his primacy.
88. The Pope possesses full and supreme authority in the Church.
89. The Roman Pontiff is infallible when he defines a doctrine of faith or morals ex cathedra under the specified conditions.
90. The college of bishops united with the Pope exercises supreme authority in the Church.
91. The Church can teach infallibly through the ordinary and universal Magisterium.
92. The Church is the custodian and interpreter of the deposit of faith.
93. The Church has authority to administer the sacraments.
94. The Church includes the faithful on earth, those being purified, and the blessed in heaven.
95. The saints in heaven may intercede for the faithful on earth.
96. Sacred images and relics may receive relative veneration, not the adoration due to God.

Sacred Scripture and Tradition

97. God is the author of Sacred Scripture through human inspired authors.
98. The canonical books of Scripture are inspired by the Holy Spirit.
99. Scripture teaches without error the truth God wished written for our salvation.
100. Apostolic Tradition transmits the Word of God entrusted to the apostles.
101. The Church recognizes and guards the canon of Scripture.
102. The Church has authority to give an authentic interpretation of the Word of God.

Grace, Justification and Merit

103. Supernatural grace is a free gift of God.
104. Human beings cannot merit the first grace of justification by natural powers alone.
105. Justification includes the remission of sins and interior renewal.
106. Sanctifying grace makes the justified truly righteous before God.
107. Faith is necessary for justification.
108. Hope and charity are supernatural virtues infused by God.
109. Justification can be lost through mortal sin.
110. The grace of justification can be recovered through repentance and the sacrament of Penance.
111. A person in grace can truly merit an increase of grace and eternal life through Christ.
112. God gives sufficient grace for salvation.
113. Final perseverance is a special gift of God.

The Sacraments in General

114. Christ instituted the sacraments of the New Law.
115. There are seven sacraments of the New Law.
116. The sacraments signify and confer grace.
117. The sacraments confer grace ex opere operato when validly celebrated and not obstructed by the recipient.
118. Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders imprint an indelible spiritual character.
119. The sacraments are necessary for salvation according to the condition of each person and the divine economy.

Baptism

120. Baptism is a true sacrament instituted by Christ.
121. Baptism is ordinarily necessary for salvation.
122. Baptism remits original sin and all personal sins.
123. Baptism remits all punishment due to sin.
124. Baptism confers sanctifying grace.
125. Baptism imprints an indelible character and cannot be repeated.
126. Water is the necessary matter of Baptism.
127. The Trinitarian formula is necessary to Baptism.
128. Infants may and should be baptized.
129. In necessity, anyone with the right intention can validly baptize.

Confirmation

130. Confirmation is a true sacrament distinct from Baptism.
131. Confirmation confers the Holy Spirit in a special way.
132. Confirmation strengthens the baptized for Christian witness.
133. Confirmation imprints an indelible character and cannot be repeated.

The Holy Eucharist

134. The Eucharist is a true sacrament instituted by Christ.
135. Christ is truly, really and substantially present in the Eucharist.
136. The whole Christ is present under the species of bread.
137. The whole Christ is present under the species of wine.
138. At consecration, the entire substance of bread becomes the Body of Christ.
139. At consecration, the entire substance of wine becomes the Blood of Christ.
140. The conversion of the substances is fittingly called transubstantiation.
141. Only the appearances of bread and wine remain after consecration.
142. Christ is present whole and entire in every part of either species.
143. The Eucharist may rightly receive adoration due to Christ.
144. The Eucharist is spiritual food that increases grace and charity.
145. Holy Communion under one species communicates the whole Christ.
146. The Mass is a true and proper sacrifice.
147. The sacrifice of the Mass makes present sacramentally the one sacrifice of Calvary.
148. The sacrifice of the Mass may be offered for the living and the dead.

Penance and Reconciliation

149. Penance is a true sacrament instituted by Christ for sins committed after Baptism.
150. Christ gave the apostles authority to forgive and retain sins.
151. The sacrament requires contrition, confession and satisfaction on the penitent’s part.
152. Priestly absolution truly remits sins.
153. All remembered mortal sins must be confessed in kind and number after diligent examination.
154. Perfect contrition reconciles the sinner to God before sacramental confession when joined to the intention to confess.
155. The Church has authority to grant indulgences.
156. An indulgence remits temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven, under the prescribed conditions.

Anointing of the Sick

157. Anointing of the Sick is a true sacrament of the New Law.
158. The sacrament is intended for the seriously ill and those in danger from illness or old age.
159. The sacrament confers grace and spiritual strengthening.
160. The sacrament forgives sins when the recipient is properly disposed and unable to confess.

Holy Orders

161. Holy Orders is a true sacrament instituted by Christ.
162. Holy Orders imprints an indelible character.
163. The sacrament confers grace for sacred ministry.
164. Bishops possess the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders.
165. Only a validly ordained bishop can confer Holy Orders.
166. The Church reserves priestly ordination to baptized men.

Matrimony

167. Matrimony between baptized persons is a true sacrament.
168. Marriage is a covenant of one man and one woman.
169. The essential properties of marriage are unity and indissolubility.
170. A valid consummated sacramental marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power.
171. The sacrament confers grace to spouses for their married life.

Death, Judgment and the Last Things

172. Every human being must die, except those alive at Christ’s return.
173. After death comes the particular judgment.
174. The souls of the just who need no purification enter heavenly blessedness.
175. The blessed see God face to face in the beatific vision.
176. Heavenly blessedness is eternal.
177. Those who die in God’s grace but still need purification undergo purgatory.
178. The faithful on earth can assist the souls in purgatory by prayers and suffrages.
179. Those who die in mortal sin without repentance undergo eternal separation from God.
180. Hell is eternal.
181. Christ will return visibly and gloriously.
182. All the dead will rise bodily at the end of time.
183. There will be a general judgment.
184. God will bring His saving plan to its final fulfillment.