CCC 500 Against this doctrine the objection is sometimes raised that the Bible mentions brothers and sisters of Jesus.1 The Church has always understood these passages as not referring to other children of the Virgin Mary. In fact James and Joseph, “brothers of Jesus”, are the sons of another Mary, a disciple of Christ, whom St. Matthew significantly calls “the other Mary”.2 They are close relations of Jesus, according to an Old Testament expression.3

CCC 699 The hand. Jesus heals the sick and blesses little children by laying hands on them.4 In his name the apostles will do the same.5 Even more pointedly, it is by the Apostles’ imposition of hands that the Holy Spirit is given.6 The Letter to the Hebrews lists the imposition of hands among the “fundamental elements” of its teaching.7 The Church has kept this sign of the all-powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit in its sacramental epicleses.

CCC 2610 Just as Jesus prays to the Father and gives thanks before receiving his gifts, so he teaches us filial boldness: “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will.”8 Such is the power of prayer and of faith that does not doubt: “all things are possible to him who believes.”9 Jesus is as saddened by the “lack of faith” of his own neighbors and the “little faith” of his own disciples10 as he is struck with admiration at the great faith of the Roman centurion and the Canaanite woman.11

1 Cf. Mk 3:31-35; 6:3; I Cor 9:5; Gal 1:19.
2 Mt 13:55; 28:1; cf. Mt 27:56.
3 Cf. Gen 13:8; 14:16; 29:15; etc.
4 Cf. Mk 6:5; 8:23; 10:16.
5 Cf. Mk 16:18; Acts 5:12; 14:3.
6 Cf. Acts 8:17-19; 13:3; 19:6.
7 Cf. Heb 6:2.
8 Mk 11:24.
9 Mk 9:23; cf. Mt 21:22.
10 Cf. Mk 6:6; Mt 8:26.
11 Cf. Mt 8:10; 15:28.