THE BASIC RELIGOUS BELIEFS OF ROMAN CATHOLICS ARE THOSE SHARED BY OTHER CHRISTIANS AS DERIVED FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT AND FORMULATED IN THE ACNIENT CREEDS OF THE EARLY ECUMENICAL COUNCILS. THE CENTER BELIEF IS THAT GOD ENTERED THE WORLD THROUGH THE INCARNATION OF SON, THE CHRIST OR MESSIAH, JESUS OF NAZARETH. THE FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH IS TRACED TO THE LIFE AND TEACHING OF JESUS, WHOSE DETH IS FOLLOWED BY THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD AFTER WHICH HE SENDS THE HOLY SPIRIT TO ASSIST BELIEVERS. THE WORSHIP OF GOD THE PUBLIC WORSHIP OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IS ITS LITURGY, PRICIPALLY THE EUCHARIST, WHICH IS CALLED THE MASS. AFTER THE RECITATION OF PRAYERS AND READING FROM THE BIBLE, THE PRESIDING PRIEST INVITES THE FAITHFUL TO RECIEVE COMMUNION, UNDERSTOOD AS SHARING IN THE SACRAMENTAL PRESENCE OF CHRIST. AT THE SUNDAY LITURGY THE PRIEST PREACHES A SERMON OR HOMILY, APPLYING THE DAY'S BIBLICAL TEXTS TO THE PRESENT LIVES OF BELIVERS.