You owe it to yourself to learn all about Christ’s life and teaching and what the Church believes. The goal is exposure to the entire content of the faith—not just a few things sprinkled willy-nilly. It ultimately boils down to truth, and truth matters!

The Catholic Online School RCIA program is carefully designed to provide you with a systematic, comprehensive education in the divine faith of the Church. The goal is to make you “of the truth” by exposing you to the voice of Christ.

In this third section of the program, we explore “Life in Christ”

From all of us at Catholic Online School: May Christ bless you on your journey of faith.

“Life in Christ" is broken up into different chapters. 

In this course, students will work through Chapter 1.

Students will cover - 

  • Course 1 -  The Dignity of the Human Person
  • Course 2 - Destined for Beatitude
  • Course 3 - The Gift of Freedom


Earning a certificate of completion in this online course is not a substitute for completing a parish-based RCIA program. The Sacraments of Initiation can only be conferred by a bishop or priest. This certificate means you have successfully completed a course of study that is intended to supplement your parish RCIA program.


Course curriculum

  • 01

    Introduction to RCIA - For Adults - Life in Christ - Chapter 1 with 'Certificate of Completion'

    • How to get your 'Certificate of Completion'
  • 02

    RCIA - Life in Christ - Course 1 - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 1 - Made in the Image and Likeness of God

    • INTRODUCTION - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 1 - Made in the Image and Likeness of God

    • LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 1 - Made in the Image and Likeness of God

    • OPENING PRAYER - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 1 - Made in the Image and Likeness of God

    • SCRIPTURE READING - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 1 - Made in the Image and Likeness of God

    • DISCUSSION QUESTIONS - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 1 - Made in the Image and Likeness of God

    • VIDEO - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 1 - Made in the Image and Likeness of God

    • CLOSING PRAYER - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 1 - Made in the Image and Likeness of God

    • CATECHISM TEXT, RESOURCES, AND GLOSSARY - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 1 - Made in the Image and Likeness of God

    • QUIZ - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 1 - Made in the Image and Likeness of God

    • ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE READINGS - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 1 - Made in the Image and Likeness of God

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers
  • 03

    RCIA - Life in Christ - Course 1 - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 2 - The Struggle Between Light and Darkness

    • INTRODUCTION - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 2 - The Struggle Between Light and Darkness

    • LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 2 - The Struggle Between Light and Darkness

    • OPENING PRAYER - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 2 - The Struggle Between Light and Darkness

    • SCRIPTURE READING - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 2 - The Struggle Between Light and Darkness

    • VIDEO - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 2 - The Struggle Between Light and Darkness

    • DISCUSSION QUESTIONS - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 2 - The Struggle Between Light and Darkness

    • CLOSING PRAYER - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 2 - The Struggle Between Light and Darkness

    • CATECHISM TEXT, RESOURCES, AND GLOSSARY - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 2 - The Struggle Between Light and Darkness

    • QUIZ - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 2 - The Struggle Between Light and Darkness

    • ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE READINGS - The Dignity of the Human Person - Lesson 2 - The Struggle Between Light and Darkness

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers
  • 04

    RCIA - Life in Christ - Course 2 - Destined for Beatitude - Lesson 1 - The Beatitudes and the Desire for Happiness

    • INTRODUCTION - Destined for Beatitude - Lesson 1 - The Beatitudes and the Desire for Happiness

    • LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE - Destined for Beatitude - Lesson 1 - The Beatitudes and the Desire for Happiness

    • OPENING PRAYER - Destined for Beatitude - Lesson 1 - The Beatitudes and the Desire for Happiness

    • SCRIPTURE READING - Destined for Beatitude - Lesson 1 - The Beatitudes and the Desire for Happiness

    • VIDEO - Destined for Beatitude - Lesson 1 - The Beatitudes and the Desire for Happiness

    • DISCUSSION QUESTIONS - Destined for Beatitude - Lesson 1 - The Beatitudes and the Desire for Happiness

    • CLOSING PRAYER - Destined for Beatitude - Lesson 1 - The Beatitudes and the Desire for Happiness

    • CATECHISM TEXT, RESOURCES, AND GLOSSARY - Destined for Beatitude - Lesson 1 - The Beatitudes and the Desire for Happiness

    • QUIZ - Destined for Beatitude - Lesson 1 - The Beatitudes and the Desire for Happiness

    • ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE READINGS - Destined for Beatitude - Lesson 1 - The Beatitudes and the Desire for Happiness

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers
  • 05

    RCIA - Life in Christ - Course 3 - The Gift of Freedom - Lesson 1 - Freedom and Responsibility

    • INTRODUCTION - The Gift of Freedom - Lesson 1 - Freedom and Responsibility

    • LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE - The Gift of Freedom - Lesson 1 - Freedom and Responsibility

    • OPENING PRAYER - The Gift of Freedom - Lesson 1 - Freedom and Responsibility

    • SCRIPTURE READING - The Gift of Freedom - Lesson 1 - Freedom and Responsibility

    • VIDEO - The Gift of Freedom - Lesson 1 - Freedom and Responsibility

    • DISCUSSION QUESTIONS - The Gift of Freedom - Lesson 1 - Freedom and Responsibility

    • CLOSING PRAYER - The Gift of Freedom - Lesson 1 - Freedom and Responsibility

    • CATECHISM TEXT, RESOURCES, AND GLOSSARY - The Gift of Freedom - Lesson 1 - Freedom and Responsibility

    • QUIZ - The Gift of Freedom - Lesson 1 - Freedom and Responsibility

    • ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE READINGS - The Gift of Freedom - Lesson 1 - Freedom and Responsibility

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

For free. For everyone. Forever.

With God, you can learn anything

Reviews; See what others are saying about this course

GARY CRUZ-ANDREWS

5 star rating

“Wow, most revealing and informative course have ever taken!!”

“Wow, most revealing and informative course have ever taken!!”

→Read Less

Michelle Muldrew

5 star rating

“Very informative. Strengthened my faith.”

“Very informative. Strengthened my faith.”

→Read Less

Carolyn Hamilton

5 star rating

“I WAS WRONG TO NOT HAVE EXPECTATIONS. THIS CLASS WAS INFORMATIVE, ENRICHING, AND UNDERSTANDABLE. WORTH MY EEFORT AND TIME.”

“I WAS WRONG TO NOT HAVE EXPECTATIONS. THIS CLASS WAS INFORMATIVE, ENRICHING, AND UNDERSTANDABLE. WORTH MY EEFORT AND TIME.”

→Read Less

LEONARD BIEMBZM

5 star rating

“Excellent courses, thank you.”

“Excellent courses, thank you.”

→Read Less

Tamara Burgess

5 star rating

“Enjoyed course. Well set out. Easy to understand. Great resources. Best definition of Freedom that I have seen. Thank you.”

“Enjoyed course. Well set out. Easy to understand. Great resources. Best definition of Freedom that I have seen. Thank you.”

→Read Less

Janice Herbon

4 star rating

“Great Course, very informative”

“Great Course, very informative”

→Read Less

Instructor(s)

Instructor Bio:

Deacon Frederick Bartels is a member of the Catholic clergy who serves the Church in the diocese of Pueblo, CO. He received an MA in Theology and Educational Ministry from Catholic Distance University, where he is currently employed as an adjunct professor of theology. He is founder and editor of Joy In Truth (joyintruth.com), an online magazine dedicated to the New Evangelization. As a Catholic educator, public speaker and evangelist, Deacon Bartels strives to infuse culture with the saving principles of the gospel. He lives in Colorado with his wife, Shelly, and the youngest two of their six children. Professor Bartels is Chairman of the Theology Department.

Deacon Frederick Bartels

Professor of Theology, Department Chair