FFC CATECHISM
SERAPHIM HOME . . FFC . . YOUTH . . CATECHISM
MHII.120110
A CATECHISM OF
CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE
No. 2
{For Confirmation Classes}
Prepared
and Enjoined by Order of
The
Third Plenary Council of Baltimore
QUESTIONS
NUMBERED TO AGREE WITH
"EXPLANATION
OF THE BALTIMORE CATECHISM"
WITH
PRAYERS AND HYMNS
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
IMPRIMATUR
New
York, April 6, 1885. John Cardinal McCloskey, Archbishop of New
York.
Baltimore,
April 6, 1885. "The Catechism ordered by The Third Plenary
Council
of Baltimore, having been diligently compared and examined, is
hereby
approved."
+
James Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, Apostolic Delegate.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PRAYERS
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Our
Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come;
Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against
us: and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
THE ANGELICAL SALUTATION
Hail
Mary, full of grace! the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou
amongst
women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary,
Mother
of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
THE APOSTLES' CREED
I
believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and
in
Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy
Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified;
died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day
He
arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth
at the
right
hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to
judge
the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost the Holy
Catholic
Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection
of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE CONFITEOR
I
confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary, ever Virgin, to blessed
Michael
the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles
Peter
and Paul, and to all the Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in
thought,
word and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my
most
grievous fault. Therefore, I beseech blessed Mary, ever Virgin,
blessed
Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy
Apostles
Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to pray to the Lord our God
for
me.
May
the Almighty God have mercy on me, and forgive me my sins, and bring
me
to everlasting life. Amen.
May
the Almighty and merciful Lord grant me pardon, absolution, and
remission
of all my sins. Amen.
AN ACT OF FAITH
O
my God! I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three Divine
Persons,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; I believe that Thy Divine Son
became
man, and died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the
living
and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy
Catholic
Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, who canst
neither
deceive nor be deceived.
AN ACT OF HOPE
O
my God! relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to
obtain
pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting,
through
the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
AN ACT OF LOVE
O my
God! I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul,
because
Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor
as
myself
for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask
pardon
of all whom I have injured.
AN ACT OF CONTRITION
O
my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all
my
sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but
most
of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all-good and
deserving
of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace,
to
confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.
THE BLESSING BEFORE MEALS
+
Bless us, O Lord! and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive
from
Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
GRACE AFTER MEALS
+
We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits, O Almighty God, who livest
and
reignest forever, and may the souls of the faithful
departed
through
the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
THE MANNER IN WHICH A LAY PERSON IS TO BAPTIZE IN CASE OF NECESSITY
Pour
common water on the head or face of the person to be baptized, and
say
while pouring it:
"I
baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy
Ghost."
N.B.
Any person of either sex who has reached the use of reason can
baptize
in case of necessity, but the same person must say the words
while
pouring the water.
CATECHISM
LESSON
FIRST
ON THE END OF MAN
1.
Q. Who made the world?
A.
God made the world.
2.
Q. Who is God?
A.
God is the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things.
3.
Q. What is man?
A.
Man is a creature composed of body and soul, and made to the image
and
likeness of God.
4.
Q. Is this likeness in the body or in the soul?
A.
This likeness is chiefly in the soul.
5.
Q. How is the soul like to God?
A.
The soul is like God because it is a spirit that will never die, and
has
understanding and free will.
6. Q. Why did God make you?
A.
God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world,
and
to be happy with Him forever in the next.
7.
Q. Of which must we take more care, our soul or our body?
A.
We must take more care of our soul than of our body.
8.
Q. Why must we take more care of our soul than of our body?
A.
We must take more care of our soul than of our body, because in
losing
our soul we lose God and everlasting happiness.
9.
Q. What must we do to save our souls?
A.
To save our souls we must worship God by faith, hope, and charity;
that
is, we must believe in Him, hope in Him, and love Him with all our
heart.
10.
Q. How shall we know the things which we are to believe?
A.
We shall know the things which we are to believe from the Catholic
Church,
through which God speaks to us.
11.
Q. Where shall we find the chief truths which the Church teaches?
A.
We shall find the chief truths which the Church teaches in the
Apostles'
Creed.
12. Q. Say the Apostles' Creed.
A.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth;
and
in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the
Holy
Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified;
died, and was buried. He descended into hell: the third day
He
arose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, and sitteth
at
the
right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to
judge
the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy
Catholic
Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection
of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
LESSON
SECOND
ON GOD AND HIS PERFECTIONS
13.
Q. What is God?
A.
God is a spirit infinitely perfect.
14.
Q. Had God a beginning?
A.
God had no beginning; He always was and He always will be.
15.
Q. Where is God?
A.
God is everywhere.
16.
Q. If God is everywhere, why do we not see Him?
A.
We do not see God, because He is a pure spirit and cannot be seen
with
bodily eyes.
17.
Q. Does God see us?
A.
God sees us and watches over us.
18.
Q. Does God know all things?
A.
God knows all things, even our most secret thoughts, words, and
actions.
19.
Q. Can God do all things?
A.
God can do all things, and nothing is hard or impossible to Him.
20.
Q. Is God just, holy, and merciful?
A.
God is all just, all holy, all merciful, as He is infinitely perfect.
LESSON
THIRD
ON THE UNITY AND TRINITY OF GOD
21.
Q. Is there but one God?
A.
Yes; there is but one God.
22.
Q. Why can there be but one God?
A.
There can be but one God, because God, being supreme and infinite,
cannot
have an equal.
23.
Q. How many Persons are there in God?
A.
In God there are three Divine Persons, really distinct, and equal in
all
things--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
24.
Q. Is the Father God?
A.
The Father is God and the first Person of the Blessed Trinity.
25.
Q. Is the Son God?
A.
The Son is God and the second Person of the Blessed Trinity.
26.
Q. Is the Holy Ghost God?
A.
The Holy Ghost is God and the third Person of the Blessed Trinity.
27.
Q. What do you mean by the Blessed Trinity?
A.
By the Blessed Trinity I mean one God in three Divine Persons.
28.
Q. Are the three Divine Persons equal in all things?
A.
The three Divine Persons are equal in all things.
29.
Q. Are the three Divine Persons one and the same God?
A.
The three Divine Persons are one and the same God, having one and the
same
Divine nature and substance.
30.
Q. Can we fully understand how the three Divine Persons are one and
the
same God?
A.
We cannot fully understand how the three Divine Persons are one and
the
same God, because this is a mystery.
31.
Q. What is a mystery?
A.
A mystery is a truth which we cannot fully understand.
LESSON
FOURTH
ON CREATION
32.
Q. Who created heaven and earth, and all things?
A.
God created heaven and earth, and all things.
33.
Q. How did God create heaven and earth?
A.
God created heaven and earth from nothing by His word only; that is,
by
a single act of His all-powerful will.
34.
Q. Which are the chief creatures of God?
A.
The chief creatures of God are angels and men.
35.
Q. What are angels?
A.
Angels are pure spirits without a body, created to adore and enjoy
God
in heaven.
36.
Q. Were the angels created for any other purpose?
A.
The angels were also created to assist before the throne of God and
to
minister unto Him; they have often been sent as messengers from God
to
man; and are also appointed our guardians.
37.
Q. Were the angels, as God created them, good and happy?
A.
The angels, as God created them, were good and happy.
38.
Q. Did all the angels remain good and happy?
A.
All the angels did not remain good and happy; many of them sinned and
were
cast into hell, and these are called devils or bad angels.
LESSON
FIFTH
ON OUR FIRST PARENTS AND THE FALL
39.
Q. Who were the first man and woman?
A.
The first man and woman were Adam and Eve.
40.
Q. Were Adam and Eve innocent and holy when they came from the hand
of
God?
A.
Adam and Eve were innocent and holy when they came from the hand of
God.
41.
Q. Did God give any command to Adam and Eve?
A.
To try their obedience God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of a
certain
fruit which grew in the garden of Paradise.
42.
Q. Which were the chief blessings intended for Adam and Eve had they
remained
faithful to God?
A.
The chief blessings intended for Adam and Eve, had they remained
faithful
to God, were a constant state of happiness in this life and
everlasting
glory in the next.
43.
Q. Did Adam and Eve remain faithful to God?
A.
Adam and Eve did not remain faithful to God; but broke His command by
eating
the forbidden fruit.
44.
Q. What befell Adam and Eve on account of their sin?
A.
Adam and Eve, on account of their sin, lost innocence and holiness,
and
were doomed to sickness and death.
45.
Q. What evil befell us on account of the disobedience of our first
parents?
A.
On account of the disobedience of our first parents, we all share in
their
sin and punishment, as we should have shared in their happiness if
they
had remained faithful.
46.
Q. What other effects followed from the sin of our first parents?
A.
Our nature was corrupted by the sin of our first parents, which
darkened
our understanding, weakened our will, and left in us a strong
inclination
to evil.
47.
Q. What is the sin called which we inherit from our first parents?
A.
The sin which we inherit from our first parents is called original
sin.
48.
Q. Why is this sin called original?
A.
This sin is called original because it comes down to us from our
first
parents, and we are brought into the world with its guilt on our
soul.
49.
Q. Does this corruption of our nature remain in us after original
sin
is forgiven?
A.
This corruption of our nature and other punishments remain in us
after
original sin is forgiven.
50.
Q. Was any one ever preserved from original sin?
A.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, through the merits of her Divine Son, was
preserved
free from the guilt of original sin, and this privilege is
called
her Immaculate Conception.
LESSON
SIXTH
ON SIN AND ITS KINDS
51.
Q. Is original sin the only kind of sin?
A.
Original sin is not the only kind of sin; there is another kind of
sin,
which we commit ourselves, called actual sin.
52.
Q. What is actual sin?
A.
Actual sin is any wilful thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to
the
law of God.
53.
Q. How many kinds of actual sin are there?
A.
There are two kinds of actual sin--mortal and venial.
54.
Q. What is mortal sin?
A.
Mortal sin is a grievous offense against the law of God.
55.
Q. Why is this sin called mortal?
A.
This sin is called mortal because it deprives us of spiritual life,
which
is sanctifying grace, and brings everlasting death and damnation
on
the soul.
56.
Q. How many things are necessary to make a sin mortal?
A.
To make a sin mortal three things are necessary: a grievous matter,
sufficient
reflection, and full consent of the will.
57.
Q. What is venial sin?
A.
Venial sin is a slight offense against the law of God in matters of
less
importance, or in matters of great importance it is an offense
committed
without sufficient reflection or full consent of the will.
58.
Q. Which are the effects of venial sin?
A.
The effects of venial sin are the lessening of the love of God in our
heart,
the making us less worthy of His help, and the weakening of the
power
to resist mortal sin.
59.
Q. Which are the chief sources of sin?
A.
The chief sources of sin are seven: Pride, Covetousness, Lust, Anger,
Gluttony,
Envy, and Sloth; and they are commonly called capital sins.
LESSON
SEVENTH
ON THE INCARNATION AND REDEMPTION
60.
Q. Did God abandon man after he fell into sin?
A.
God did not abandon man after he fell into sin, but promised him a
Redeemer,
who was to satisfy for man's sin and reopen to him the gates
of
heaven.
61.
Q. Who is the Redeemer?
A.
Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of mankind.
62.
Q. What do you believe of Jesus Christ?
A.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the second Person of
the
Blessed Trinity, true God and true man.
63.
Q. Why is Jesus Christ true God?
A.
Jesus Christ is true God because He is the true and only Son of God
the
Father.
64.
Q. Why is Jesus Christ true man?
A.
Jesus Christ is true man because He is the Son of the Blessed Virgin
Mary
and has a body and soul like ours.
65.
Q. How many natures are there in Jesus Christ?
A.
In Jesus Christ there are two natures, the nature of God and the
nature
of man.
66.
Q. Is Jesus Christ more than one person?
A.
No, Jesus Christ is but one Divine Person.
67.
Q. Was Jesus Christ always God?
A.
Jesus Christ was always God, as He is the second Person of the
Blessed
Trinity, equal to His Father from all eternity.
68.
Q. Was Jesus Christ always man?
A.
Jesus Christ was not always man, but became man at the time of His
Incarnation.
69.
Q. What do you mean by the Incarnation?
A.
By the Incarnation I mean that the Son of God was made man.
70.
Q. How was the Son of God made man?
A.
The Son of God was conceived and made man by the power of the Holy
Ghost,
in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
71.
Q. Is the Blessed Virgin Mary truly the Mother of God?
A.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is truly the Mother of God, because the same
Divine
Person who is the Son of God is also the Son of the Blessed
Virgin
Mary.
72.
Q. Did the Son of God become man immediately after the sin of our
first
parents?
A.
The Son of God did not become man immediately after the sin of our
first
parents, but was promised to them as a Redeemer.
73.
Q. How could they be saved who lived before the Son of God became
man?
A.
They who lived before the Son of God became man could be saved by
believing
in a Redeemer to come, and by keeping the commandments.
74.
Q. On what day was the Son of God conceived and made man?
A.
The Son of God was conceived and made man on Annunciation day--the
day
on which the Angel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin Mary that
she
was to be the Mother of God.
75.
Q. On what day was Christ born?
A.
Christ was born on Christmas day in a stable at Bethlehem, over
nineteen
hundred years ago.
76.
Q. How long did Christ live on earth?
A.
Christ lived on earth about thirty-three years, and led a most holy
life
in poverty and suffering.
77.
Q. Why did Christ live so long on earth?
A.
Christ lived so long on earth to show us the way to heaven by His
teachings
and example.
LESSON
EIGHTH
ON OUR LORD'S PASSION, DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION
78.
Q. What did Jesus Christ suffer?
A.
Jesus Christ suffered a bloody sweat, a cruel scourging, was crowned
with
thorns, and was crucified.
79.
Q. On what day did Christ die?
A.
Christ died on Good Friday.
80.
Q. Why do you call that day "good" on which Christ died so sorrowful
a
death?
A.
We call that day "good" on which Christ died because by His death He
showed
His great love for man, and purchased for him every blessing.
81.
Q. Where did Christ die?
A.
Christ died on Mount Calvary.
82.
Q. How did Christ die?
A.
Christ was nailed to the Cross and died on it between two thieves.
83.
Q. Why did Christ suffer and die?
A.
Christ suffered and died for our sins.
84.
Q. What lessons do we learn from the sufferings and death of Christ?
A.
From the sufferings and death of Christ we learn the great evil of
sin,
the hatred God bears to it, and the necessity of satisfying for it.
85.
Q. Where did Christ's soul go after His death?
A.
After Christ's death His soul descended into hell.
86.
Q. Did Christ's soul descend into the hell of the damned?
A.
The hell into which Christ's soul descended was not the hell of the
damned,
but a place or state of rest called Limbo, where the souls of
the
just were waiting for Him.
87.
Q. Why did Christ descend into Limbo?
A.
Christ descended into Limbo to preach to the souls who were in
prison--that
is, to announce to them the joyful tidings of their
redemption.
88.
Q. Where was Christ's body while His soul was in Limbo?
A.
While Christ's soul was in Limbo His body was in the holy sepulchre.
89.
Q. On what day did Christ rise from the dead?
A.
Christ rose from the dead, glorious and immortal, on Easter Sunday,
the
third day after His death.
90.
Q. How long did Christ stay on earth after His resurrection?
A.
Christ stayed on earth forty days after His resurrection to show that
He
was truly risen from the dead, and to instruct His Apostles.
91.
Q. After Christ had remained forty days on earth whither did He go?
A.
After forty days Christ ascended into heaven, and the day on which He
ascended
into heaven is called Ascension day.
92.
Q. Where is Christ in heaven?
A.
In heaven Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
93.
Q. What do you mean by saying that Christ sits at the right hand Of
God?
A.
When I say that Christ sits at the right hand of God I mean that
Christ
as God is equal to His Father in all things, and that as man He
is
in the highest place in heaven next to God.
LESSON
NINTH
ON THE HOLY GHOST AND HIS DESCENT UPON THE APOSTLES
94.
Q. Who is the Holy Ghost?
A.
The Holy Ghost is the third Person of the Blessed Trinity.
95.
Q. From whom does the Holy Ghost proceed?
A.
The Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son.
96.
Q. Is the Holy Ghost equal to the Father and the Son?
A.
The Holy Ghost is equal to the Father and the Son, being the same
Lord
and God as They are.
97.
Q. On what day did the Holy Ghost come down upon the Apostles?
A.
The Holy Ghost came down upon the Apostles ten days after the
Ascension
of our Lord; and the day on which He came down upon the
Apostles
is called Whitsunday, or Pentecost.
98.
Q. How did the Holy Ghost come down upon the Apostles?
A.
The Holy Ghost came down upon the Apostles in the form of tongues of
fire.
99.
Q. Who sent the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles?
A.
Our Lord Jesus Christ sent the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles.
100.
Q. Why did Christ send the Holy Ghost?
A.
Christ sent the Holy Ghost to sanctify His Church, to enlighten and
strengthen
the Apostles, and to enable them to preach the Gospel.
101.
Q. Will the Holy Ghost abide with the Church forever?
A.
The Holy Ghost will abide with the Church forever, and guide it in
the
way of holiness and truth.
LESSON
TENTH
ON THE EFFECTS OF THE REDEMPTION
102.
Q. Which are the chief effects of the Redemption?
A.
The chief effects of the Redemption are two: The satisfaction of
God's
justice by Christ's sufferings and death, and the gaining of grace
for
men.
103.
Q. What do you mean by grace?
A.
By grace I mean a supernatural gift of God bestowed on us, through
the
merits of Jesus Christ, for our salvation.
104.
Q. How many kinds of grace are there?
A.
There are two kinds of grace, sanctifying grace and actual grace.
105.
Q. What is sanctifying grace?
A.
Sanctifying grace is that grace which makes the soul holy and
pleasing
to God.
106.
Q. What do you call those graces or gifts of God by which we
believe
in Him, hope in Him, and love Him?
A.
Those graces or gifts of God by which we believe in Him, and hope in
Him,
and love Him, are called the Divine virtues of Faith, Hope, and
Charity.
107.
Q. What is Faith?
A.
Faith is a Divine virtue by which we firmly believe the truths which
God
has revealed.
108.
Q. What is Hope?
A.
Hope is a Divine virtue by which we firmly trust that God will give
us
eternal life and the means to obtain it.
109.
Q. What is Charity?
A.
Charity is a Divine virtue by which we love God above all things for
His
own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love
of God.
110.
Q. What is actual grace?
A.
Actual grace is that help of God which enlightens our mind and moves
our
will to shun evil and do good.
111.
Q. Is grace necessary to salvation?
A.
Grace is necessary to salvation, because without grace we can do
nothing
to merit heaven.
112.
Q. Can we resist the grace of God?
A.
We can and unfortunately often do resist the grace of God.
113.
Q. What is the grace of perseverance?
A.
The grace of perseverance is a particular gift of God which enables
us
to continue in the state of grace till death.
LESSON
ELEVENTH
ON THE CHURCH
114.
Q. Which are the means instituted by our Lord to enable men at all
times
to share in the fruits of the Redemption?
A.
The means instituted by our Lord to enable men at all times to share
in
the fruits of His Redemption are the Church and the Sacraments.
115.
Q. What is the Church?
A.
The Church is the congregation of all those who profess the faith of
Christ,
partake of the same Sacraments, and are governed by their lawful
pastors
under one visible head.
116.
Q. Who is the invisible Head of the Church?
A.
Jesus Christ is the invisible Head of the Church.
117.
Q. Who is the visible Head of the Church?
A.
Our Holy Father the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, is the Vicar of Christ
on
earth and the visible Head of the Church.
118.
Q. Why is the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, the visible Head of the
Church?
A.
The Pope, the Bishop of Rome, is the visible Head of the Church
because
he is the successor of St. Peter, whom Christ made the chief of
the
Apostles and the visible Head of the Church.
119.
Q. Who are the successors of the other Apostles?
A.
The successors of the other Apostles are the bishops of the Holy
Catholic
Church.
120.
Q. Why did Christ found the Church?
A.
Christ founded the Church to teach, govern, sanctify, and save all
men.
121.
Q. Are all bound to belong to the Church?
A.
All are bound to belong to the Church, and he who knows the Church to
be
the true Church and remains out of it cannot be saved.
LESSON
TWELFTH
ON THE ATTRIBUTES AND MARKS OF THE CHURCH
122.
Q. Which are the attributes of the Church?
A.
The attributes of the Church are three: authority infallibility, and
indefectibility.
123.
Q. What do you mean by the authority of the Church?
A.
By the authority of the Church I mean the right and power which the
Pope
and the bishops, as the successors of the Apostles, have to teach
and
to govern the faithful.
124.
Q. What do you mean by the infallibility of the Church?
A.
By the infallibility of the Church I mean that the Church cannot err
when
it teaches a doctrine of faith or morals.
125.
Q. When does the Church teach infallibly?
A.
The Church teaches infallibly when it speaks through the Pope and the
bishops,
united in general council, or through the Pope alone when he
proclaims
to all the faithful a doctrine of faith or morals.
126.
Q. What do you mean by the indefectibility of the Church?
A.
By the indefectibility of the Church I mean that the Church, as
Christ
founded it, will last till the end of time.
127.
Q. In whom are these attributes found in their fullness?
A.
These attributes are found in their fullness in the Pope, the visible
Head
of the Church, whose infallible authority to teach bishops,
priests,
and people in matters of faith or morals will last till the end
of
the world.
128.
Q. Has the Church any marks by which it may be known?
A.
The Church has four marks by which it may be known: it is One; it is
Holy;
it is Catholic; it is Apostolic.
129.
Q. How is the Church One?
A.
The Church is One because all its members agree in one faith, are all
in
one communion, and are all under one Head.
130.
Q. How is the Church Holy?
A.
The Church is Holy because its founder, Jesus Christ, is holy;
because
it teaches a holy doctrine; invites all to a holy life; and
because
of the eminent holiness of so many thousands of its children.
131.
Q. How is the Church Catholic or universal?
A.
The Church is Catholic or universal because it subsists in all ages,
teaches
all nations, and maintains all truth.
132.
Q. How is the Church Apostolic?
A.
The Church is Apostolic because it was founded by Christ on His
Apostles,
and is governed by their lawful successors, and because it has
never
ceased, and never will cease, to teach their doctrine.
133.
Q. In which Church are these attributes and marks found?
A.
These attributes and marks are found in the Holy Roman Catholic
Church
alone.
134.
Q. From whom does the Church derive its undying life and infallible
authority?
A.
The Church derives its undying life and infallible authority from the
Holy
Ghost, the spirit of truth, who abides with it forever.
135.
Q. By whom is the Church made and kept One, Holy, and Catholic?
A.
The Church is made and kept One, Holy, and Catholic by the Holy
Ghost,
the spirit of love and holiness, who unites and sanctifies its
members
throughout the world.
LESSON
THIRTEENTH
ON THE SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL
136.
Q. What is a Sacrament?
A.
A Sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.
137.
Q. How many Sacraments are there?
A.
There are seven Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist,
Penance,
Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.
138.
Q. Whence have the Sacraments the power of giving grace?
A.
The Sacraments have the power of giving grace from the merits of
Jesus
Christ.
139.
Q. What grace do the Sacraments give?
A.
Some of the Sacraments give sanctifying grace, and others increase it
in
our souls.
140.
Q. Which are the Sacraments that give sanctifying grace?
A.
The Sacraments that give sanctifying grace are Baptism and Penance;
and
they are called Sacraments of the dead.
141.
Q. Why are Baptism and Penance called Sacraments of the dead?
A.
Baptism and Penance are called Sacraments of the dead, because they
take
away sin, which is the death of the soul, and give grace, which is
its
life.
142.
Q. Which are the Sacraments that increase sanctifying grace in our
soul?
A.
The Sacraments that increase sanctifying grace in our soul are:
Confirmation,
Holy Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and
Matrimony;
and they are called Sacraments of the living.
143.
Q. Why are Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy
Orders,
and Matrimony called Sacraments of the living?
A.
Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and
Matrimony
are called Sacraments of the living, because those who receive
them
worthily are already living the life of grace.
144.
Q. What sin does he commit who receives the Sacraments of the
living
in mortal sin?
A.
He who receives the Sacraments of the living in mortal sin commits a
sacrilege,
which is a great sin, because it is an abuse of a sacred
thing.
145.
Q. Besides sanctifying grace do the Sacraments give any other
grace?
A.
Besides sanctifying grace the Sacraments give another grace, called
sacramental.
146.
Q. What is sacramental grace?
A.
Sacramental grace is a special help which God gives, to attain the
end
for which He instituted each Sacrament.
147.
Q. Do the Sacraments always give grace?
A.
The Sacraments always give grace, if we receive them with the right
dispositions.
148.
Q. Can we receive the Sacraments more than once?
A.
We can receive the Sacraments more than once, except Baptism,
Confirmation,
and Holy Orders.
149.
Q. Why can we not receive Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders
more
than once?
A.
We cannot receive Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders more than
once,
because they imprint a character in the soul.
150.
Q. What is the character which these Sacraments imprint in the
soul?
A.
The character which these Sacraments imprint in the soul is a
spiritual
mark which remains forever.
151.
Q. Does this character remain in the soul even after death?
A.
This character remains in the soul even after death: for the honor
and
glory of those who are saved; for the shame and punishment of those
who
are lost.
LESSON
FOURTEENTH
ON BAPTISM
152.
Q. What is Baptism?
A.
Baptism is a Sacrament which cleanses us from original sin, makes us
Christians,
children of God, and heirs of heaven.
153.
Q. Are actual sins ever remitted by Baptism?
A.
Actual sins and all the punishment due to them are remitted by
Baptism,
if the person baptized be guilty of any.
154.
Q. Is Baptism necessary to salvation?
A.
Baptism is necessary to salvation, because without it we cannot enter
into
the kingdom of heaven.
155.
Q. Who can administer Baptism?
A.
The priest is the ordinary minister of Baptism; but in case of
necessity
any one who has the use of reason may baptize.
156.
Q. How is Baptism given?
A.
Whoever baptizes should pour water on the head of the person to be
baptized,
and say, while pouring the water: I baptize thee in the name
of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
157.
Q. How many kinds of Baptism are there?
A.
There are three kinds of Baptism: Baptism of water, of desire, and of
blood.
158.
Q. What is Baptism of water?
A.
Baptism of water is that which is given by pouring water on the head
of
the person to be baptized, and saying at the same time: I baptize
thee
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
159.
Q. What is Baptism of desire?
A.
Baptism of desire is an ardent wish to receive Baptism, and to do all
that
God has ordained for our salvation.
160.
Q. What is Baptism of blood?
A.
Baptism of blood is the shedding of one's blood for the faith of
Christ.
161.
Q. Is Baptism of desire or of blood sufficient to produce the
effects
of Baptism of water?
A.
Baptism of desire or of blood is sufficient to produce the effects of
the
Baptism of water, if it is impossible to receive the Baptism of
water.
162.
Q. What do we promise in Baptism?
A.
In Baptism we promise to renounce the devil with all his works and
pomps.
163.
Q. Why is the name of a saint given in Baptism?
A.
The name of a saint is given in Baptism in order that the person
baptized
may imitate his virtues and have him for a protector.
164.
Q. Why are godfathers and godmothers given in Baptism?
A.
Godfathers and godmothers are given in Baptism in order that they may
promise,
in the name of the child, what the child itself would promise
if
it had the use of reason.
165.
Q. What is the obligation of a godfather and a godmother?
A.
The obligation of a godfather and a godmother is to instruct the
child
in its religious duties, if the parents neglect to do so or die.
LESSON
FIFTEENTH
ON CONFIRMATION
166.
Q. What is Confirmation?
A.
Confirmation is a Sacrament through which we receive the Holy Ghost
to
make us strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ.
167.
Q. Who administers Confirmation?
A.
The bishop is the ordinary minister of Confirmation.
168.
Q. How does the bishop give Confirmation?
A.
The bishop extends his hands over those who are to be confirmed,
prays
that they may receive the Holy Ghost, and anoints the forehead of
each
with holy chrism in the form of a cross.
169.
Q. What is holy chrism?
A.
Holy chrism is a mixture of olive-oil and balm, consecrated by the
bishop.
170.
Q. What does the bishop say in anointing the person he confirms?
A.
In anointing the person he confirms the bishop says: I sign thee with
the
sign of the cross, and I confirm thee with the chrism of salvation,
in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
171.
Q. What is meant by anointing the forehead with chrism in the form
of
a cross?
A.
By anointing the forehead with chrism in the form of a cross is
meant,
that the Christian who is confirmed must openly profess and
practice
his faith, never be ashamed of it, and rather die than deny it.
172.
Q. Why does the bishop give the person he confirms a slight blow on
the
cheek?
A.
The bishop gives the person he confirms a slight blow on the cheek,
to
put him in mind that he must be ready to suffer everything, even
death,
for the sake of Christ.
173.
Q. To receive Confirmation worthily is it necessary to be in the
state
of grace?
A.
To receive Confirmation worthily it is necessary to be in the state
of
grace.
174.
Q. What special preparation should be made to receive Confirmation?
A.
Persons of an age to learn should know the chief mysteries of faith
and
the duties of a Christian, and be instructed in the nature and
effects
of this Sacrament.
175.
Q. Is it a sin to neglect Confirmation?
A.
It is a sin to neglect Confirmation, especially in these evil days
when
faith and morals are exposed to so many and such violent
temptations.
LESSON
SIXTEENTH
ON THE GIFTS AND FRUITS OF THE HOLY GHOST
176.
Q. Which are the effects of Confirmation?
A.
The effects of Confirmation are an increase of sanctifying grace, the
strengthening
of our faith, and the gifts of the Holy Ghost.
177.
Q. Which are the gifts of the Holy Ghost?
A.
The gifts of the Holy Ghost are Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel,
Fortitude,
Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord.
178.
Q. Why do we receive the gift of Fear of the Lord?
A.
We receive the gift of Fear of the Lord to fill us with a dread of
sin.
179.
Q. Why do we receive the gift of Piety?
A.
We receive the gift of Piety to make us love God as a Father and obey
Him
because we love Him.
180.
Q. Why do we receive the gift of Knowledge?
A.
We receive the gift of Knowledge to enable us to discover the will of
God
in all things.
181.
Q. Why do we receive the gift of Fortitude?
A.
We receive the gift of Fortitude to strengthen us to do the will of
God
in all things.
182.
Q. Why do we receive the gift of Counsel?
A.
We receive the gift of Counsel to warn us of the deceits of the
devil,
and of the dangers to salvation.
183.
Q. Why do we receive the gift of Understanding?
A.
We receive the gift of Understanding to enable us to know more
clearly
the mysteries of faith.
184.
Q. Why do we receive the gift of Wisdom?
A.
We receive the gift of Wisdom to give us a relish for the things of
God,
and to direct our whole life and all our actions to His honor
and
glory.
185.
Q. Which are the Beatitudes?
A.
The Beatitudes are:
1.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land.
3.
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
4.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall
be filled.
5.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
6.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.
7.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of
God.
8.
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice sake, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.
186.
Q. Which are the twelve fruits of the Holy Ghost?
A.
The twelve fruits of the Holy Ghost are Charity, Joy, Peace,
Patience,
Benignity, Goodness, Long-suffering, Mildness, Faith, Modesty,
Continency, and Chastity.
LESSON
SEVENTEENTH
ON THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
187.
Q. What is the Sacrament of Penance?
A.
Penance is a Sacrament in which the sins committed after Baptism are
forgiven.
188.
Q. How does the Sacrament of Penance remit sin, and restore to the
soul
the friendship of God?
A.
The Sacrament of Penance remits sins and restores the friendship of
God
to the soul by means of the absolution of the priest.
189.
Q. How do you know that the priest has the power of absolving from
the
sins committed after Baptism?
A.
I know that the priest has the power of absolving from the sins
committed
after Baptism, because Jesus Christ granted that power to the
priests
of His Church when He said: "Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose
sins
you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; whose sins you shall
retain,
they are retained."
190.
Q. How do the priests of the Church exercise the power of forgiving
sins?
A.
The priests of the Church exercise the power of forgiving sins by
hearing
the confession of sins, and granting pardon for them as
ministers
of God and in His name.
191.
Q. What must we do to receive the Sacrament of Penance worthily?
A.
To receive the Sacrament of Penance worthily we must do five things:
1.
We must examine our conscience.
2.
We must have sorrow for our sins.
3.
We must make a firm resolution never more to offend God.
4.
We must confess our sins to the priest.
5.
We must accept the penance which the priest gives us.
192.
Q. What is the examination of conscience?
A.
The examination of conscience is an earnest effort to recall to mind
all
the sins we have committed since our last worthy confession.
193.
Q. How can we make a good examination of conscience?
A.
We can make a good examination of conscience by calling to memory the
commandments
of God, the precepts of the Church, the seven capital sins,
and
the particular duties of our state in life, to find out the sins we
have
committed.
194.
Q. What should we do before beginning the examination of
conscience?
A.
Before beginning the examination of conscience we should pray to God
to
give us light to know our sins and grace to detest them.
LESSON
EIGHTEENTH
ON CONTRITION
195.
Q. What is contrition, or sorrow for sin?
A.
Contrition, or sorrow for sin, is a hatred of sin and a true grief of
the
soul for having offended God, with a firm purpose of sinning no
more.
196.
Q. What kind of sorrow should we have for our sins?
A.
The sorrow we should have for our sins should be interior,
supernatural,
universal, and sovereign.
197.
Q. What do you mean by saying that our sorrow should be interior?
A.
When I say that our sorrow should be interior, I mean that it should
come
from the heart, and not merely from the lips.
198.
Q. What do you mean by saying that our sorrow should be
supernatural?
A.
When I say that our sorrow should be supernatural, I mean that it
should
be prompted by the grace of God, and excited by motives which
spring
from faith, and not by merely natural motives.
199.
Q. What do you mean by saying that our sorrow should be universal?
A.
When I say that our sorrow should be universal, I mean that we should
be
sorry for all our mortal sins without exception.
200.
Q. What do you mean when you say that our sorrow should be
sovereign?
A.
When I say that our sorrow should be sovereign, I mean that we should
grieve
more for having offended God than for any other evil that can
befall
us.
201.
Q. Why should we be sorry for our sins?
A.
We should be sorry for our sins, because sin is the greatest of evils
and
an offense against God our Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer, and
because
it shuts us out of heaven and condemns us to the eternal pains
of
hell.
202.
Q. How many kinds of contrition are there?
A.
There are two kinds of contrition: perfect contrition and imperfect
contrition.
203.
Q. What is perfect contrition?
A.
Perfect contrition is that which fills us with sorrow and hatred for
sin,
because it offends God, who is infinitely good in Himself and
worthy
of all love.
204.
Q. What is imperfect contrition?
A.
Imperfect contrition is that by which we hate what offends God,
because
by it we lose heaven and deserve hell; or because sin is so
hateful
in itself.
205.
Q. Is imperfect contrition sufficient for a worthy confession?
A.
Imperfect contrition is sufficient for a worthy confession, but we
should
endeavor to have perfect contrition.
206.
Q. What do you mean by a firm purpose of sinning no more?
A.
By a firm purpose of sinning no more I mean a fixed resolve not only
to
avoid all mortal sin, but also its near occasions.
207.
Q. What do you mean by the near occasions of sin?
A.
By the near occasions of sin I mean all the persons, places, and
things
that may easily lead us into sin.
LESSON
NINETEENTH
ON CONFESSION
208.
Q. What is Confession?
A.
Confession is the telling of our sins to a duly authorized priest,
for
the purpose of obtaining forgiveness.
209.
Q. What sins are we bound to confess?
A.
We are bound to confess all our mortal sins, but it is well also to
confess
our venial sins.
210.
Q. Which are the chief qualities of a good Confession?
A.
The chief qualities of a good Confession are three: it must be
humble,
sincere, and entire.
211.
Q. When is our Confession humble?
A.
Our Confession is humble, when we accuse our selves of our sins, with
a
deep sense of shame and sorrow for having offended God.
212.
Q. When is our Confession sincere?
A.
Our Confession is sincere, when we tell our sins honestly and
truthfully,
neither exaggerating nor excusing them.
213.
Q. When is our Confession entire?
A.
Our Confession is entire, when we tell the number and kinds of our
sins
and the circumstances which change their nature.
214.
Q. What should we do if we cannot remember the number of our sins?
A.
If we cannot remember the number of our sins, we should tell the
number
as nearly as possible, and say how often we may have sinned in a
day,
a week, or a month, and how long the habit or practice has lasted.
215.
Q. Is our Confession worthy if, without our fault, we forget to
confess
a mortal sin?
A.
If without our fault we forget to confess a mortal sin, our
Confession
is worthy, and the sin is forgiven; but it must be told in
Confession
if it again comes to our mind.
216.
Q. Is it a grievous offense wilfully to conceal a mortal sin in
Confession?
A.
It is a grievous offense wilfully to conceal a mortal sin in
Confession,
because we thereby tell a lie to the Holy Ghost, and make
our
Confession worthless.
217.
Q. What must he do who has wilfully concealed a mortal sin in
Confession?
A.
He who has wilfully concealed a mortal sin in Confession must not
only
confess it, but must also repeat all the sins he has committed
since
his last worthy Confession.
218.
Q. Why does the priest give us a penance after Confession?
A.
The priest gives us a penance after Confession, that we may satisfy
God
for the temporal punishment due to our sins.
219.
Q. Does not the Sacrament of Penance remit all punishment due to
sin?
A.
The Sacrament of Penance remits the eternal punishment due to sin,
but
it does not always remit the temporal punishment which God requires
as
satisfaction for our sins.
220.
Q. Why does God require a temporal punishment as a satisfaction for
sin?
A.
God requires a temporal punishment as a satisfaction for sin, to
teach
us the great evil of sin and to prevent us from falling again.
221.
Q. Which are the chief means by which we satisfy God for the
temporal
punishment due to sin?
A.
The chief means by which we satisfy God for the temporal punishment
due
to sin are: Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving, all spiritual and corporal
works
of mercy, and the patient suffering of the ills of life.
222.
Q. Which are the chief spiritual works of mercy?
A.
The chief spiritual works of mercy are seven: To admonish the sinner,
to
instruct the ignorant, to counsel the doubtful, to comfort the
sorrowful,
to bear wrongs patiently, to forgive all injuries, and to
pray
for the living and the dead.
223.
Q. Which are the chief corporal works of mercy?
A.
The chief corporal works of mercy are seven: To feed the hungry, to
give
drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to ransom the captive,
to
harbor the harborless, to
visit the sick, and to bury the dead.
LESSON
TWENTIETH
ON THE MANNER OF MAKING A GOOD CONFESSION
224.
Q. What should we do on entering the confessional?
A.
On entering the confessional we should kneel, make the sign of the
Cross,
and say to the priest, Bless me, Father; then add, I confess to
Almighty
God and to you, Father, that I have sinned.
225.
Q. Which are the first things we should tell the priest in
Confession?
A.
The first things we should tell the priest in Confession are the time
of
our last Confession, and whether we said the penance and went to Holy
Communion.
226.
Q. After telling the time of our last Confession and Communion what
should
we do?
A.
After telling the time of our last Confession and Communion we should
confess
all the mortal sins we have since committed, and all the venial
sins
we may wish to mention.
227.
Q. What must we do when the confessor asks us questions?
A.
When the confessor asks us questions we must answer them truthfully
and
clearly.
228.
Q. What should we do after telling our sins?
A.
After telling our sins we should listen with attention to the advice
which
the confessor may think proper to give.
229.
Q. How should we end our Confession?
A.
We should end our Confession by saying, I also accuse myself of all
the
sins of my past life, telling, if we choose, one or several of our
past
sins.
230.
Q. What should we do while the priest is giving us absolution?
A.
While the priest is giving us absolution we should from our heart
renew
the Act of Contrition.
LESSON
TWENTY-FIRST
ON INDULGENCES
231.
Q. What is an Indulgence?
A.
An Indulgence is the remission in whole or in part of the temporal
punishment
due to sin.
232.
Q. Is an Indulgence a pardon of sin, or a license to commit sin?
A.
An Indulgence is not a pardon of sin, nor a license to commit sin,
and
one who is in a state of mortal sin cannot gain an Indulgence.
233.
Q. How many kinds of Indulgences are there?
A.
There are two kinds of Indulgences--Plenary and Partial.
234.
Q. What is a Plenary Indulgence?
A.
A Plenary Indulgence is the full remission of the temporal punishment
due
to sin.
235.
Q. What is a Partial Indulgence?
A.
A Partial Indulgence is the remission of a part of the temporal
punishment
due to sin.
236.
Q. How does the Church by means of Indulgences remit the temporal
punishment
due to sin?
A.
The Church by means of Indulgences remits the temporal punishment due
to
sin by applying to us the merits of Jesus Christ, and the
superabundant
satisfactions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the
saints;
which merits and satisfactions are its spiritual treasury.
237.
Q. What must we do to gain an Indulgence?
A.
To gain an Indulgence we must be in the state of grace and perform
the
works enjoined.
LESSON
TWENTY-SECOND
ON THE HOLY EUCHARIST
238.
Q. What is the Holy Eucharist?
A.
The Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament which contains the body and
blood,
soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearances
of
bread and wine.
239.
Q. When did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist?
A.
Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, the night
before
He died.
240.
Q. Who were present when our Lord instituted the Holy Eucharist?
A.
When our Lord instituted the Holy Eucharist the twelve Apostles were
present.
241.
Q. How did our Lord institute the Holy Eucharist?
A.
Our Lord instituted the Holy Eucharist by taking bread, blessing,
breaking,
and giving to His Apostles, saying: Take ye and eat. This is
My
body; and then by taking the cup of wine, blessing and giving it,
saying
to them: Drink ye all of this. This is My blood which shall be
shed
for the remission of sins. Do this for a commemoration of Me.
242.
Q. What happened when our Lord said, This is My body; this is My
blood?
A.
When our Lord said, This is My body, the substance of the bread was
changed
into the substance of His body; when He said, This is My blood,
the
substance of the wine was changed into the substance of His blood.
243.
Q. Is Jesus Christ whole and entire both under the form of bread
and
under the form of wine?
A.
Jesus Christ is whole and entire both under the form of bread and
under
the form of wine.
244.
Q. Did anything remain of the bread and wine after their substance
had
been changed into the substance of the body and blood of our Lord?
A.
After the substance of the bread and wine had been changed into the
substance
of the body and blood of our Lord there remained only the
appearances
of bread and wine.
245.
Q. What do you mean by the appearances of bread and wine?
A.
By the appearances of bread and wine I mean the figure, the color,
the
taste, and whatever appears to the senses.
246.
Q. What is this change of the bread and wine into the body and
blood
of our Lord called?
A.
This change of the bread and wine into the body and blood of our Lord
is
called Transubstantiation.
247.
Q. How was the substance of the bread and wine changed into the
substance
of the body and blood of Christ?
A.
The substance of the bread and wine was changed into the substance of
the
body and blood of Christ by His almighty power.
248.
Q. Does this change of bread and wine into the body and blood of
Christ
continue to be made in the Church?
A.
This change of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ
continues
to be made in the Church by Jesus Christ through the ministry
of
His priests.
249.
Q. When did Christ give His priests the power to change bread and
wine
into His body and blood?
A.
Christ gave His priests the power to change bread and wine into His
body
and blood when He said to the Apostles, Do this in commemoration of
Me.
250.
Q. How do the priests exercise this power of changing bread and
wine
into the body and blood of Christ?
A.
The priests exercise this power of changing bread and wine into the
body
and blood of Christ through the words of consecration in the Mass,
which
are the words of Christ: This is My body; this is My blood.
LESSON
TWENTY-THIRD
ON THE ENDS FOR WHICH THE HOLY EUCHARIST WAS INSTITUTED
251.
Q. Why did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist?
A.
Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist--
1.
To unite us to Himself and to nourish our soul with His divine life.
2.
To increase sanctifying grace and all virtues in our soul.
3.
To lessen our evil inclinations.
4.
To be a pledge of everlasting life.
5.
To fit our bodies for a glorious resurrection.
6.
To continue the sacrifice of the Cross in His Church.
252.
Q. How are we united to Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist?
A.
We are united to Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist by means of Holy
Communion.
253.
Q. What is Holy Communion?
A.
Holy Communion is the receiving of the body and blood of Christ.
254.
Q. What is necessary to make a good Communion?
A.
To make a good Communion it is necessary to be in the state of
sanctifying
grace, to have a right intention, and to obey the laws of
fasting.
(See Q. 257.)
255.
Q. Does he who receives Communion in mortal sin receive the body
and
blood of Christ?
A.
He who receives Communion in mortal sin receives the body and blood
of
Christ, but does not receive His grace, and he commits a great
sacrilege.
256.
Q. Is it enough to be free from mortal sin to receive plentifully
the
graces of Holy Communion?
A.
To receive plentifully the graces of Holy Communion it is not enough
to
be free from mortal sin, but we should be free from all affection to
venial
sin, and should make acts of faith, hope, and love.
257.
Q. What is the fast necessary for Holy Communion?
A.
The fast necessary for Holy Communion is to abstain from all food,
beverages,
and alcoholic drinks for one hour before Holy Communion.
Water
may be taken at any time. The sick may take food, non-alcoholic
drinks,
and any medicine up to Communion time.
[This
answer has been changed in the 1977 printing to bring it up to
date
with the current rules.]
258.
Q. Is any one ever allowed to receive Holy Communion when not
fasting?
A.
Any one in danger of death is allowed to receive Holy Communion when
not
fasting or when it is necessary to save the Blessed Sacrament from
insult
or injury.
259.
Q. When are we bound to receive Holy Communion?
A.
We are bound to receive Holy Communion, under pain of mortal sin,
during
the Easter time and when in danger of death.
260.
Q. Is it well to receive Holy Communion often?
A.
It is well to receive Holy Communion often, as nothing is a greater
aid
to a holy life than often to receive the Author of all grace and the
Source
of all good.
261.
Q. What should we do after Holy Communion?
A.
After Holy Communion we should spend some time in adoring our Lord,
in
thanking Him for the grace we have received, and in asking Him for
the
blessings we need.
LESSON
TWENTY-FOURTH
ON THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS
262.
Q. When and where are the bread and wine changed into the body and
blood
of Christ?
A.
The bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ at
the
Consecration in the Mass.
263.
Q. What is the Mass?
A.
The Mass is the unbloody sacrifice of the body and
blood of Christ.
264.
Q. What is a sacrifice?
A.
A sacrifice is the offering of an object by a priest to God alone,
and
the consuming of it to acknowledge that He is the Creator and Lord
of
all things.
265.
Q. Is the Mass the same sacrifice as that of the Cross?
A.
The Mass is the same sacrifice as that of the Cross.
266.
Q. How is the Mass the same sacrifice as that of the Cross?
A.
The Mass is the same sacrifice as that of the Cross because the
offering
and the priest are the same--Christ our Blessed Lord; and the
ends
for which the sacrifice of the Mass is offered are the same as
those
of the sacrifice of the Cross.
267.
Q. What were the ends for which the sacrifice of the Cross was
offered?
A.
The ends for which the sacrifice of the Cross was offered were: 1st,
To
honor and glorify God; 2d, To thank Him for all the
graces bestowed
on
the whole world; 3d, To satisfy God's justice for the sins of men;
4th,
To obtain all graces and blessings.
268.
Q. Is there any difference between the sacrifice of the Cross and
the
sacrifice of the Mass?
A.
Yes; the manner in which the sacrifice is offered is different. On
the
Cross Christ really shed His blood and was really slain; in the Mass
there
is no real shedding of blood nor real death, because Christ can
die
no more; but the sacrifice of the Mass, through the separate
consecration
of the bread and the wine, represents His death on the
Cross.
269.
Q. How should we assist at Mass?
A.
We should assist at Mass with great interior recollection and piety
and
with every outward mark of respect and devotion.
270.
Q. Which is the best manner of hearing Mass?
A.
The best manner of hearing Mass is to offer it to God with the priest
for
the same purpose for which it is said, to meditate on Christ's
sufferings
and death, and to go to Holy Communion.
LESSON
TWENTY-FIFTH
ON EXTREME UNCTION AND HOLY ORDERS
271.
Q. What is the Sacrament of Extreme Unction?
A.
Extreme Unction is the Sacrament which, through the anointing and
prayer
of the priest, gives health and strength to the soul, and
sometimes
to the body, when we are in danger of death from sickness.
272.
Q. When should we receive Extreme Unction?
A.
We should receive Extreme Unction when we are in danger of death from
sickness,
or from a wound or accident.
273.
Q. Should we wait until we are in extreme danger before we receive
Extreme
Unction?
A.
We should not wait until we are in extreme danger before we receive
Extreme
Unction, but if possible we should receive it whilst we have the
use
of our senses.
274.
Q. Which are the effects of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction?
A.
The effects of Extreme Unction are: 1st, To comfort us in the pains
of
sickness and to strengthen us against temptation; 2d, To remit venial
sins
and to cleanse our soul from the remains of sin; 3d, To restore us
to
health, when God sees fit.
275.
Q. What do you mean by the remains of sin?
A.
By the remains of sin I mean the inclination to evil and the weakness
of
the will which are the result of our sins, and which remain after our
sins
have been forgiven.
276.
Q. How should we receive the Sacrament of Extreme Unction?
A.
We should receive the Sacrament of Extreme Unction in the state of
grace,
and with lively faith and resignation to the will of God.
277.
Q. Who is the minister of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction?
A.
The priest is the minister of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction.
278.
Q. What is the Sacrament of Holy Orders?
A.
Holy Orders is a Sacrament by which bishops, priests, and other
ministers
of the Church are ordained and receive the power and grace to
perform
their sacred duties.
279.
Q. What is necessary to receive Holy Orders worthily?
A.
To receive Holy Orders worthily it is necessary to be in the state of
grace,
to have the necessary knowledge and a divine call to this sacred
office.
280.
Q. How should Christians look upon the priests of the Church?
A.
Christians should look upon the priests of the Church as the
messengers
of God and the dispensers of His mysteries.
281.
Q. Who can confer the Sacrament of Holy Orders?
A.
Bishops can confer the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
LESSON
TWENTY-SIXTH
ON MATRIMONY
282.
Q. What is the Sacrament of Matrimony?
A.
The Sacrament of Matrimony is the Sacrament which unites a Christian
man
and woman in lawful marriage.
283.
Q. Can a Christian man and woman be united in lawful marriage in
any
other way than by the Sacrament of Matrimony?
A.
A Christian man and woman cannot be united in lawful marriage in any
other
way than by the Sacrament of Matrimony, because Christ raised
marriage
to the dignity of a Sacrament.
284.
Q. Can the bond of Christian marriage be dissolved by any human
power?
A.
The bond of Christian marriage cannot be dissolved by any human
power.
285.
Q. Which are the effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony?
A.
The effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony are: 1st, To sanctify the
love
of husband and wife; 2d, To give them grace to bear with each
other's
weaknesses; 3d, To enable them to bring up their children in the
fear
and love of God.
286.
Q. To receive the Sacrament of matrimony worthily is it necessary