Geiermann - The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine

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THE
CONVERT’S CATECHISM
OF
CATHOLIC DOCTRINE
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BY
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,»^^, -l?PTER GEIERMANN, C. SS. R;
TWELFTH EDITION
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B. HERDER BOOK CO.

Cl 5 and 17 South Broadway
ST. LOUIS, MO.
LONDON, W. C,
33 Queen Square
1937
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THE J
CONVERTS CATECHISIVl
OF
CATHOLIC DOCTRINE
BY
REV. PETER GEIERMANN, C. SS. R.
TWELFTH EDITION
B. HERDER BOOK CO.

15 and 17 South Broadway
ST. LOUIS, MO.
LONDON, W. C.
33 Queen Square
1937
IMPRIMATUR
St Louis, Sept 1st, 1909.
Thos. P. Brown, C.SS.R.,

Sup. Prov,
NIHIL OBSTAT
Sti. Ludovlci, die 30, Nov. 1909.
F. G. Holweck,
Censor Lihrorum.
IMPRIMATUR
Sti. Ludovici, die 1, Dec. 1909.
O. J. S. Hoog, V.G.
Copyright, 1910, by Joseph Gummersbach.

All Rights Reserved
Printed in U. 5 A.
’-
DoaMed
Vatican, January 25th, 1910.
Dear Reverend Father:

His Holiness, in bestowing His Apostolic Bless-
ing upon you and your labors, desires me to convey to
you the expression of His appreciation of your zealous
efforts for the salvation of souls and for the spread of
the knowledge of the True Faith.
Wishing you every blessing, I am Dear Rev.

Father,
Yours faithfully in Christ,
R. Card. Merry dee Vae.
Rev. Fr. P. Geiermann, C.SS.R.

De Soto, Mo.
PEAYEE TO THE HOLY GHOST
Come^ Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faith-
ful,and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be cre-
ated.
E. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray —
0 God, Who hast taught the hearts of the faith-
ful by the light of the Holy Ghost, grant that by
the same Spirit we may be always truly wise, and
ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ
our Lord.
E. Amen.
mTEODUCTION
The Convert’s Catechism aims at presenting Ee-
ligious Truths in the order of their relative im-
portance to the sincere non-Catholic. It empha-
sizes controverted points in a special manner,
while stating the Catholic doctrine clearly.
There are two views of life; the divine and the
human. The one is true, eternal and immutable;
the other false, temporal and changeable. The
former is in perfect accord with right reason, en-
lightened by Faith; the latter, the result of rea-
son alone, is invariably distorted by ignorance,
prejudice or passion. Catholics take the former
view of life; men of the world, the latter. Be-
tween these two classes there are many honest souls
groping in darkness or semidarkness, seeking the
Light. It would be demanding too much to re-
quire these to embrace the Catholic view in all
details before receiving the light of Faith. They
can, however, be expected to follow the guidance
of right reason and the promptings of grace, and
thus advance gradually on the right Way, to the
realization of the Truth, and the possession of di-
vine Life.
For these reasons The Convert’s Catechism does
not follow the beaten path in imparting religious
instruction, but is composed on an entirely new
plan, to facilitate the labor both of the Inquirer
and of the Instructor. Part I insists on the ne-
cessity of serving God, as God ordains in Eevela-
tion^ especially as taught by His divine Son. It
shows the necessity of a divine Church, infallibly
guided by God, to teach man how to live as a
child of God and heir to the Kingdom of Heaven.
When he has once mastered this principle of Di-
vine Authority, the Inquirer is prepared to accept
whatever the Divine Church teaches on Faith,
Morals and the Means of Grace, all of which is
clearly stated in Part II of this Catechism. The
scope of this little work prevented the Author
from entering into the Eeason and Authority of
Eeligion. For additional reading he therefore re-
fers the Convert to his Manual of Theology for
the Laity,’’ of which six editions have been issued
in three years.
( —
1. CONTENTS
PART I. THE CATHOLIC DOCTRINE IN GENERAL.
Natural Truths — (
a) Fundamental
Truths, (b) Obligation of Religion,
(c) Religion Leads to Happiness . . 11
II. Revelation —
Tradition The Bible— —
The Canon of the Bible 13
III. Faith —
Good Works The Rule of —
Faith —
Motives of Faith .... 15
IV. Jesus Christ a) —His Personality,
(b) His Mission 19
V. The Catholic Church (a) Divine So-
ciety, (b) Her. Attributes, (c) Her
Marks, (d) The True Church To-Day 23
VI. The Pope — The Primacy of Peter The —
^
Infallibility of the Pope .... 27
PART 11. THE CATHOLIC DOCTRINE IN

PARTICULAR.
section I. WHAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHES.
I. On God 31
II. On Creation 31
III. On Redemption 32
IV. On Sanctification 33
V. On the Last Things 35
SECTION II. WHAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ORDAINS.

I. Knowledge of the Word of God 36 ...
II. The Law of God 37
III. Sin 39
1. Sin of the Angels — Consequence of
Their Trial 39
2. — Consequence of the
Original Sin
Fall Our First Parents ....
of 41
Mortal Sin — Hell
3. 43
4.Venial Sin — Purgatory .... 44
Judgment, Particular — General
5. . 45
IV. Conscience ... 46
V. The Ten Commandments 48
1. The First Commandment .... 48
2. The Second Commandment . . . 49
3. The Third Commandment ... 49
4. The Fourth Commandment . . .51
5. The Fifth Commandment . . .51
6. The Sixth and Ninth Commandments 52
7. The Seventh and Tenth Command-
ments 53
8. The Eighth Commandment 54 ...
VI The Six Precepts of the Church 54 ...
1. The First Precept . ..55. . .
2. The Second Precept 56

3. The Third Precept 57
4. The Fourth Precept ....
58
5. The Fifth Precept 59
6. The Sixth Precept (a) —
Impedi-
ments to Marriage, (b) Dispensations,
(c) Divorce, Separation .... 59
VII, The Evangelical Counsels — Vocation . 63
SECTION III. SPIRITUAL AIDS FOSTERED BY THE CHURCH.

I. On Grace 64
II. The Sacraments 66
1. Baptism 68
2. Confirmation 70
3. The Holy Eucharist —
a) Its Institution 72
b) Transubstantiation — The Real
Presence 73
c) Holy Communion . .75
. .
d) The Sacrifice of the New Law 77

4. Penance —
the Forgiveness of Sins —
the Power of the Keys 80
5. Auricular Confession 81
6. Indulgences 84
7. Extreme Unction 85
8. Holy Orders 86
9. Matrimony 86
III. Prayer —Devotion to Mary —
Interces-
sion OF THE Saints —
Veneration of
Saints, Relics and Images Prayers—
FOR THE Dead 87
IV. The Sacramentals —
Blessings of the
Church —
Articles of Devotion Cath- —
olic ^Devotions 89
APPENDIX.
L Prayers, Devotions and Good Works . 93
II. Obligations —
Ten Commandments Pre- —
cepts —
Days of Obligation Absti- —
nence Days —
Fasting Days .... 99
III. Reception of Convert —
a) Profession of Faith lOI
b) Ceremony Baptism
of 102
IV. Definitions of Catholic Terms . . . 105
:
THE CONVEET’S CATECHISM

OE CATHOLIC DOCTEINE
PAET I. THE CATHOLIC DOCTEINE IX

GEXEEAL
CHAPTEE I
NATURAL TRUTHS
A. Fundamental Truths.
Q. What Religions Truths can man discover by
his own efforts?
A. By his own efforts man can discover espe-
cially the existence of these four religious truths
(1.) There is a God, Creator and Preserver of the
Universe. (2.) Man has a free will. (3.) God
rewards the good and punishes the wicked. (4.)
The human soul is immortal.
Q. What is God?
A. God is a spirit, who exists of Himself, and
on whom all things depend.
Q. What is man?
A. Man is a creature composed of a material
body and a spiritual soul.
11
12
B. Obligatio^^ of Eeligion.
Q. What relationship exists between God and
man?
A. Between God and man there exists a four-
fold relationship: (1) God is the Creator, man
is His creature. (2) God is the Benefactor, man
is His beneficiary. (3) God is the Supreme
Euler, man is His subject. (4) God is the End
of all creation; in God alone man can find last-
ing happiness.
Q. What obligation flows from this relation-
ship ?
A. From this relationship flows man^s obliga-
tion of Eeligion.
Q. What is Religion?
A. Eeligion is man’s obligation to know, to
love, and to serve God.
Q. Is man free to serve God as he pleases?
A. Man is not free to serve God as he pleases;
he must serve God, as God, his Supreme Master,
ordains.
c. Eeligion Leads to Happiness.

Q. For what does every human heart crave?
A. Every human heart craves for happiness.
Q. Can man acquire perfect happiness on
earth ?
A. Man cannot acquire perfect happiness on
earth.
Q. Why cannot man acquire perfect happiness
on earth ?
A. Man cannot acquire perfect happiness on
earth: (1) because his soul wfill live after his fleet-
ing life on earth is ended; (2) because God put in
13
every human heart a longing for an endless pos-

session of an Infinite Good, which He alone can
satisfy in eternity,
Q. How then can man acquire perfect happi-
ness?
A. Man can acquire perfect happiness by seek-
ing the friendship of God in this life, so that he
may enjoy the same fully in the next life.
Q. Howdoes God reward the good?
A. God rewards the good with His blessings on
earth, and shares with them the joys of heaven.
Q. How does God punish the wiciced?
A. God punishes the wicked with His enmity
during this life, and consigns them to the tor-
ments of hell after death.
Q. What is heaven?
A. Heaven the state of everlasting life, in
is
which the good seeGod face to face, are made like
unto Him in glory, and enjoy eternal happiness.
Q. What is hell?
A. Hell is the state of never-ending torments.
CHAPTEE II
REVELATION — TRADITION — THE BIBLE — THE
CANON OF THE BIBLE
A. Eevelation.
Q. Has God ever spoTcen to man ?
A. God, who, sundry times and in diverse
manners spoke in times past to the fathers by the
prophets, last of all in these days hath spoken to
us by His Son.’^ Eph. i, 1-2.
14
Q. What do we call the truths tvhich God has

spohen to man?
A. We call the truths which God has spoken to
man divine Eevelation.
B. Tradition.
Q. How was divine Revelation preserved and
transmitted to man?
A. In the beginning of the world^s history di-
vine Eevelation was preserved and transmitted
only by Tradition or the reverential belief and
teaching of succeeding ages. In the course of time
God inspired holy men to record many of His re-
vealed Truths. Finally Jesus Christ made His
Church the custodian and interpreter of Eevela-
tion.
c. The Bible.
Q. What has become of the truths recorded un-
der the inspiration of God?
A. The truths recorded under the inspiration of
God have been collected into the Bible and trans-
lated into every known language.
Q. When was the first complete collection of the
Inspired Writings made?
A. The first complete collection of the Inspired
Writings was made only towards the close of the
fourth century of the Christian era.
D. The Canon of the Bible.

Q. What is the list of the various inspired writ-
ings called?
A. The list of the various inspired writings is
called the Canon of the Bible.
Q. When was the present Canon of the Bible of-
ficially declared authentic?
15
A. The present Canon of the Bible was officially

declared authentic by the universal Council of
Trent, August 8, 1546.
CHAPTEE III
FAITH — GOOD WORKS — THE RULE OF FAITH —

MOTIVES OF FAITH
A. Paith.
Q. How does man accept divine Revelationf
A. Man accepts divine Eevelation by Faith.
Q. What is Faith?
A. Faith is a divine gift which enables man to
believe firmly all that God has revealed.
Q. How does man dispose himself for the gift of
Faith?
A. Man disposes himself for the gift of Faith
by humility, sincerity, obedience, and sacrifice in
the service of God.
Q. How will man ohtain and preserve the gift
of Faith ?
A. Man will obtain and preserve the gift of
Faith by submitting his mind and heart to the im
fiuence ofGod by prayer.
Q.What prayers should every Christian commit
to memory?
A. Every Christian should commit at least the
following prayers to memory: (1) The Lord’s
Prayer, (2) The Angelical Salutation, (3) An Act
of Contrition, (4) The Christian Acts of Faith,
(5) Hope and (6) Charity.
;
16
1. 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 for-
2.
give those who trespass against us. And lead us
not into temptation: but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
The
3.
Angelical Salutation.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee
blessed art thou among 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.
Act of Contrition.
0 myGod, I am heartily sorry for all my sins,
because by them I have lost heaven and deserved
hell, but, more than all, because I have offended
Thee, my God, Who art infinitely good and worthy
of all my love. I am firmly resolved, with the
help of Thy grace, never to sin again and to avoid
all the occasions of sin.
4. Act of Faith.
0 my God, I firmly believe
all the sacred truths
which the holy Catholic Church believes and
teaches, because Thou hast revealed them. Who
canst neither deceive nor be deceived.
5. Act of Hope.
0 my God, relying on Thy infinite goodness and
promises, I hope to obtain the pardon of my sins,
the assistance of Thy grace, and life everlasting.
17
through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and

Eedeemer.
6. Act of Charity.
0 my God, I love Thee with my whole heart
above all things, because Thou
art infinitely good
and worthy of all my love; and for the love of
Thee I love my neighbor as myself.
Q. Where are the chief truths which man must
believe summed up?
A. The chief truths which man must believe are
summed up in The Sign of the Cross and in The
Apostles’ Creed.
1. The Sign of the Cross.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
2. The Apostles’ Creed.

1 believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator
of heaven and earth ; and in J esus 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, sit-
:
teth at the right hand of God, the Father Al-

mighty; 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 life everlasting. Amen.
Q. Why will man go to heaven if he perseveres
in prayer?
A. Man will go to heaven if he perseveres in
18
prayer, because God is infinitely good, has created

allmen for heaven, and has promised to hear their
prayer.
B. Good Works.
Q. Will Faith alone save man?
A. Faith alone will not save man, for Faith, if
it have not works, is dead.^^ Jas. ii, 17.
Q. How man perform good worics?
does
A. Man
performs good works by keeping the
Commandments. If you love me, keep my Com-
mandments.^^ John xiv, 15..
Q. What is Hope?
A. Hope a divine gift by which man firmly
is
trus*ts that God will give him eternal life and the
means to obtain it.
What is Charity ?
Q.
A. Charity is a divine gift by which man loves
God above all things for His own sake, and his
neighbor as himself, for the love of God.
c. The Eule of Faith.

Q. What is The Rule of Faith ?
A. The Eule of Faith is a divine guide whereby
man can infallibly possess revealed truth.
Q. Why is a Rule of Faith necessary?
A. A Eule of Faith is necessary: (1) to discover
revealed truth; (2) to preserve purity of doctrine;
(3) to settle religious controversies with divine
authority.
Q. What is this guide or Rule of Faith with di-
vine authority?
A. This guide or Eule of Faith with divine au-
thority is a teaching body sent by God, and guided
by Him, in leading the faithful to life eternal.
19
D. The Motives of Faith.

Q. How has God safeguarded the genuineness
of His Revelation f
A. God has safeguarded the genuineness of His
Eevelation by Miracles and Prophecies.
Q. What is a Miracle f
A. A Miracle is an evident, supernatural and
extraordinary effect produced by God for the bene-
fit of Eeligion.
Q. What
is a Prophecy?
A. A
Prophecy is an exact prediction of an event
that can be foreseen only by God.
Q. Why should man accept divine Revelation?
A. Man should accept divine Eevelation because
God neither can nor will deceive.
Q. On what does man to-day base his Faith in
Revelation ?
A. Man to-day bases his Faith in Eevelation on
the divinity of J esus Christ, of His Teaching, and
of His Church.
CHAPTEE IV
JESUS CHRIST — HIS PERSONALITY — HIS MISSION
A. His Personality.
Q. Who is Jesus Christ?
A. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Second
Person of the Blessed Trinity, true God and true
man.
What is the Blessed Trinity?
Q.
A. The Blessed Trinity is the union of three
divine Persons in one God. See Matt, xxviii, 19.
20
Q. Why is Jesus Christ true God?

A. Jesus Christ is true God: (1) Because in
Him were fulfilled the prophecies made concerning
the Messias; (2) Because He proved His Divinity
by His miracles, especially by His Eesurrection
from the dead; (3) Because His Church has tri-
umphed over the powers of hell as He predicted.
See Matt, iii, 17; Luke iii, 22.
Q. Why is Jesus Christ true man?
A. Jesus Christ is true man because He has a
human mother, and a human body and soul like
ours. See Luke i, 26-39; ii, 1-52; xxiii, 1-47.
Q. Had Jesus Christ a human father?
A. Jesus Christ had no human father: He was
conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost. See
Is. vii, 14; Luke i, 35.
Q. Who is the Mother of Jesus Christ?

A. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the mother of
Jesus Christ.
Q. Give an outline of the life of Jesus Christ,
A. The advent of Jesus Christ was announced
by the Angel Gabriel. His birth in the stable of
Bethlehem was proclaimed by Angels to shepherds.
He spent about seven years of His childhood in
exile in Egypt. IJp to His thirtieth year He then
lived in seclusion at N’azareth. His public min-
istry lasted three and one-half years. He lived in
poverty and privation, and died on the cross on
Mount Calvary on Good Friday.
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. See John
vi, 70; vii, 12.
Q. Is Jesus Christ more than one person?

21
A. Jesus Christ is but one Divine Person. See

Matt, xxii, 41-44.
Q. Why is there hut one person in Jesus Christ?
A. There is but one person in Jesus Christ be-
cause His human nature never existed independ-
ently of His Divinity, but was united to It at the
moment His soul was created. See Ps. Ixxi, 11;
Apoc. i^ 5; I John iv, 3.
Q. What do we call the union of the divine and
the human nature in Jesus Christ?
A. The union of the divine and the human na-
ture in Jesus Christ we call the Incarnation gf the
Son of God —
The Word was made flesh.^^ John
i. 14.
Q. How many wills are there in Jesus Christ?

A. In J esus Christ there are two wills, a human
and a divine will. See Matt, vlil, 29 ; ix, 27.
B. His Mission.
Q.Why did Jesus' Christ come into the world?
A. Jesus Christ came into the world: (1) To
make Atonement to His heavenly Father for the
sins of the world; (2) To effect the Eedemption
of the human race from the slavery of Satan; (3)
To begin the Sanctification of mankind by the Ap-
plication of His Merits. See I John iii, 8; Luke
ii, 11; xiii, 34; Matt, xxiii, 37; Eph. ii^ 18.
Q. Why are the merits of Christ infinite?

A. The merits of Christ are infinite because He
is a Divine Person. See Col. i, 20.
Q. How
did Jesus Christ maJce Atonement for
the sins of the world?
A. Jesus Christ made i^tonement for the sins of
the world by His suffering and death.
22
Q. What were the chief sufferings of Jesus

Christ ?
A. The chief sufferings of Jesus Christ were
His bloody sweat, His cruel scourging, His igno-
minious crowning with thorns, and His painful
death on the cross.
Q. What are the effects of Christ's triumph over
Satan ?
A. The effects of Christ’s triumph over Satan
are: (1) Christ became Lord and Master of the
world; (2) He made it possible for man to be jus-
tified.
Q. What is Justification?
A. Justification is that application of Christ’s
merits to man, which: (1) frees him from the
slavery of Satan; (2) gives him spiritual life; (3)
makes him a child of God and an heir to the king-
dom of heaven. See Eom. iv, 25 ; v, 18.
Q. What is Sanctification?
A. Sanctification is man’s growth in grace, vir-
tue, holiness and merit.
Q. How is man sanctified?
A. Man is sanctified by avoiding evil, and by
using the means of grace, which Christ has left
him, to do God’s will in all things.
Q. What did Jesus Christ to facilitate man's
Sanctification ?
A. To facilitate man’s Sanctification Jesus
Christ did chiefly six things: (1) He completed
divine Eevelation, thus clearly indicating the way
to heaven; (2) He promulgated a New Law, de-
fining how man should make the journey of life;
(3) He instituted special means of grace, called
Sacraments, to enable all to keep the Law; (4)
;
23
He organized His followers into a Society, which

He called His Church; (5) He gave that Church
the unerring guidance of the Holy Ghost in help-
ing all of good will to sanctify themselves; (6) He
promised to watch over that Church to the end of
time.
CHAPTEE V
THE CHURCH A DIVINE SOCIETY HER ATTRI- —
BUTES HER MARKS THE TRUE CHURCH TO-
DAY
A. A Divine Society.
Q. What is the Church f
A. The Church is a divine society composed of
all who profess to pay God the dqbt of Keligion as
prescribed by divine Authority.
Q. Of whom Church composed?
is the
A. The Church composed of all who profess
is
the faith of Christ, partake of the same Sacra-
ments, and are governed by their lawful pastors
under one visible head.
Q. Has the Church a divine and a human ele-
ment?
A. The Church has a divine and a human ele-
ment.
Q. Why is the Church divine?
A. The Church is divine: (1) Because she is
the mystical body of Christ; (2) Because she has
Christ for her Founder and spiritual Head; (3)
Because she has the Holy Ghost for her Soul
or Principle of undying life; (4) Because she is
instituted to lead mankind to God. See Col. i, 18
Cor. hi, 11 ; Eph. iv, 15.
;
24
Q. Wh^ is the Church visible and human?

A. The Church is visible and human because she
is composed of visible human beings.
B.* Her Attributes.

Q. Which are the inherent Attributes of a divine
Church ?
A. The inherent Attributes of a divine Church
are four: Authority, Infallibility, Indefectibility
and Necessity.
Q. What do these Attributes mean?
A. These Attributes mean that the true Church
must (1) be authorized to act in the name of God
(2) Be preserved by Him from error; (3) Last to
the end of time; (4) Be the gate to heaven for all
of good will.
Q. When did Jesus Christ give His divine Au-

thority to His Church?
A. Jesus Christ gave His divine Authority to
His Church when He said As the Father hath
:
sent Me, so I send you.^^ John xx, 21.

Q. Why must a divine Church be infallible in
teaching Faith and Morals?
A. A divine Church must be infallible in teach-
ing Faith and Morals, because she is intended by
God to lead all of good will to heaven with divine
certainty.
How is the Church of Christ made infallible?
Q.
A. The Church which Jesus Christ established
is made infallible by the power of the Holy Ghost.
See John xiv, 26; Matt, xxviii, 20.
Q. Why is the Church of Christ indefectible?
A. The Church of Christ is indefectible: (1)
Because He sent the Holy Ghost to abide with her
;
25
to theend of time; (2) Because He promised to

remain with her to the consummation of the world.
See Matt, xxviii^ 20, John xiv, 16.
Q. Why is the Church of Christ necessary to

mankind ?
A. The Church of Christ is necessary to man-
kind, because: (l)No one can go to the Father
except through Christ; (2) This is the only church
instituted by Christ for the salvation of mankind.
Q. Are all, therefore, bound to belong to the
Church which Christ established?
A. All are bound to belong to the Church, which
Christ established, to share in His merits and thus
attain life everlasting. See Acts iv, 12.
Q. Can
those who know the Church of Christ be
saved outside of her fold?
A. Those who know the Church of Christ can-
not be saved outside of her fold. See Matt, xviii,
17.
Q. How can those be saved who do not know the
Church of Christ?
A. Those who do not know the Church of Christ
can be saved by belonging to her in spirit.
Q. How can a sincere non-Catholic belong to the

Church in spirit?
A. A sincere non-Catholic can belong to the
Church in spirit by having an efficacious desire of
doing all that God has ordained for his salvation
that by Faith, Prayer, Perfect Sorrow for his
is,
sins, and a Sincere Effort to do the will of God as

he understands it.
26
c. Her Marks.
Q. Are there any Marks by which the Church of
Christ can he recognized?
A. There are four Marks by which the Church
of Christ may be recognized. It must be One,
Holy, Catholic and Apostolic.
Q. How must the Church of Christ be One?
A. The Church of Christ must be One in Faith,
One in worship, One in obedience, and One in the
means of grace throughout the world.
Q. How is the Church of Christ Holy?
A. The Church of Christ is Holy, because: (1)
Her Founder, Jesus Christ, is holy; (2) She
teaches a holy doctrine; (3) She invites all to live
a holy life; (4) She has aided countless souls to at-
tain great holiness.
Q. How is the Church of Christ Catholic or
Universal?
A. The Church of Christ is Catholic or Univer-
sal, because: (1) She teaches all the doctrine of
Jesus Christ; (2) She teaches all nations; (3) She
subsists in all ages; (4) She was established by
Jesus Christ to bring salvation to all of good will.
Q. Why is the Church of Christ Apostolic?
A. The Church of Christ is Apostolic, because:
(1) She was founded by Jesus Christ on His
Apostles; (2) She is governed by their Lawful
Successors; (3) She can never cease to teach their
doctrine.
c. The True Church of To-day.

Q. What Church of the present day can prove
her claim to be the divine Church founded by
Jesus Christ?
27
A. The only Church of the present day which
can prove her claim to be the divine Church estab-
lished by Jesus Christ is the Catholic Church.
Q. Which is the Catholic Church?
A. The Catholic Church is the Church governed
by the Pope, the Bishop of Eome.
Q. Why is the Catholic Church called Roman?
A. The Catholic Church is called Homan be-
cause the Pope, her Head, resides in Eome.
Q. Why is the Catholic Church the true Church
of Jesus Christ?
A. The Catholic Church is the true Church of
Jesus Christ because: (1) She alone has Apostolic
Succession; (2) She alone possesses the Attributes
and Marks of the true Church; (3) She alone ex-
ercises that Authority, which is necessary for the
Church of God.
Q. How did the other churches, sects and de-
nominations originate?
A. All the other churches, sects and denomina-
tions are of Purely Human origin.
CHAPTEE VI
THE POPE — THE PRIMACY OF PETER — THE IN-
FALLIBILITY OF THE POPE
A. The Pope.
Q. Who is the Holy Father or Pope?

A. The Holy Father or Pope is the Visible Head
of the Church, the Successor of St. Peter and the
Vicar of Christ on earth.
28
Q. Why is a visible head necessary for the

Church ?
A. A head is necessary for the Church
visible
to maintain her Unity of Eaith^ her Unity of Wor-
ship, and her Unity of Governm_ent.
Q. Why must the visible head of the Church to-
day be the Successor of St, Peter?
A. The visible head of the Church to-day must
be the successor of St. Peter, because Jesus Christ
made St. Peter The Visible Head of His Church.
B. The Primacy of Peter.
Q. When did Christ promise to make St. Peter
the Head of His Church?
A. Christ promised to make St. Peter the Head
of His Church when He said Thou art Peter
:
and upon this rock I will build My Church, and

the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And
I will give to thee the keys of the Kingdom of
Heaven. Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou
shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’^
Matt, xvi, 18-19.
Q. When did Christ make St, Peter the Head of
His Church ?
A. Christ made St. Peter the Head of His
Church when He appeared to His Disciples after
His Eesurrection, and solemnly said to Simon
Peter : Peed My lambs —
feed My sheep.’^
John xxi, 15-17.
Q. Did Christ give St. Peter authority over the
other Apostles?
A. Christ gave. St. Peter authority over the
other Apostles.
;
29
Q. What Scriptural proofs are there for the

Primacy of Pet^r?
A. The princ.^ al Scriptural proofs for the Pri-
macy of St. Peter are: (1) St. Matthew (x, 2)
calls St. Peter the first Apostle; (2) St. Peter pro-
posed the election of a successor to Judas (Acts
1) ; (3) St. Peter was the first to preach (Acts 2) ;
(4) The first to perform miracles (Acts 3) ; (5)
The first to rebuke civil authorities (Acts 4) ; (6)
The first to receive Gentile converts (Acts 10)
(7) In the Council of Jerusalem there was much
disputing until Peter spoke, when all the multi-
tude held their peace (Acts 15) ; (8) When the
Chief Pastor was in prison, prayers were offered
for his delivery (Acts 12).
c. The Infallibility of the Pope.

Q. Was St, Peter infallible in teaching Faith
and Morals?
A. St. Peter was infallible in teaching Faith
and Morals.
Q. Why is the Pope an infallible teacher in
Faith and Morals?
A. The Pope is an infallible Teacher in Faith
and Morals because the Attributes of a divine
Church are necessarily found in their fulness in
her headship, which the Pope inherits from St.
Peter.
Q. When does the Pope teach with the infallible
guidance of the Holy Ghost?
A. The Pope teaches with the infallible guid-
ance of the Holy Ghost only when he acts in his
official capacity as Vicar of Christ, that is, when
he publicly teaches a doctrine of Faith or Morals
to be held by all the faithful.
30
Q. Who are the successors of the other Apostles f

A. The successors of the other Apostles are the
Bishops of the Catholic Church.
Q. Why does the Catholic Church use the Latin
Language in the Sacrifice of the Mass and in the
administration of the Sacraments?
A. The Catholic Church uses the Latin, a dead
language, whose words always retain the same
meaning: (1) To preserve the original doctrine in
all its purity; (2) To safeguard the proper Form
of the Sacraments; (3) To obtain clearness and
precision in her Laws.
:
FAET II. THE CATHOLIC DOCTEINE IN

PAETICULAE.
SECTION I. WHAT THE CATHOLIC

CHUECH TEACHES.
CHAPEE I
ON GOD
Q. What does the Catholic Church teach about
God?
A. About God the Catholic Church teaches as
divinely revealed, that
(1.) There is one God, infinitely perfect, who
exists of Himselffrom all eternity.
In God there are three persons. Father,
(2.)
Son and Holy Ghost, equal in all perfections.
(3.) The Son proceeds from the Father, and
the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Son from
all eternity.
(4.) God loves to show His goodness and mercy

to mankind.
CHAPTEE II
ON CREATION AND THE FALL OF MAN.
Q. What does the Catholic Church teach on the
Creation of the World and the Fall of our First
Parents?
31
:
33
A. On the Creation of the World and the Fall
of our First Parents, the Catholic Church teaches
as divinely revealed, that:
(1.) God created all things in time, for His

glory and the welfare of His creatures.
(2.) God created angels and men in original
justice, endowed them with intelligence and free
will, and subjected them to a trial.
(3.) The supernatural joys of heaven were to be
the reward of the fidelity of angels and men.
(4.) Some angels rebelled against God and were
cast into hell.
(5.) God gave a man a guardian angel.
(6.) Man, tempted by Satan, ate of the forbid-
den fruit, and lost his right to heaven.
(7.) Human nature was weakened but not es-
sentially changed by Original Sin.
(8.) All mankind is descended from Adam and
Eve.
(9.) God creates every human soul.
(10.) The guilt of Original Sin is transmitted
to the children of Adam by generation.
(11.) God promised mankind a Eedeemer.
CHAPTEE III
ON REDEMPTION

Redemption of Mankind?
A. On the Eedemption of Mankind the Catholic
Church teaches as divinely revealed, that
(1.) God the Son assumed human nature from
33
the Virgin Mary, uniting the human and the di-

vine' nature in one divine person, J esus Christ.
(2.) Jesus Christ has a human and a divine
will.
(3.) Jesus Christ died for the Eedemption of all
mankind.
(4.) The merits of Christ are infinite.
(5.) Jesus Christ rose from the dead and as-
cended into heaven by His own divine power.
(6.) The Virgin Mary gave the God-Man, Jesus
Christ, His body, and is therefore truly the Mother
of God.
(7.) To make Mary worthy of her Divine Ma-
ternity, God preserved her from Original Sin.
(8.) In consequence, Mary^s body did not taste
corruption, but was reunited after her death to her
soul, and both taken to heaven.
CHAPTEK IV
ON SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification of Mankind f
A. On the Sanctification of Mankind the Cath-
olic Church teaches as divinely revealed, that:
(1.) In Christ’s merits is salvation for all of

good will.
(2.) Christ established the one, holy. Catholic,
apostolic Church to teach, guide, and govern the
faithful.
(3.) Christ made St. Peter the Head of His
Church.
(4.) The Pope is the lawful Successor of St.
Peter.
34
(5.) Christ gave His Church the infallible

guidance of the Holy Ghost.
(6.) The Catholic Church is the guardian of
revealed truth as contained in divine Tradition
and Sacred Scripture.
(7.) The Holy Ghost keeps the Pope, the Vicar
of Christ on earth, from error when he teaches a
doctrine of Faith and Morals to be held by all the
faithful.
(8.) Public Eevelation was completed with the
Apostles.
(9.) Faith alone will not save man, but good
morals or good works, are necessary.
(10.) God gives sufficient grace for salvation to
all mankind.
(11.) Prayer is the universal means of obtain-
ing God^s help.
(12.) Christ instituted seven Sacraments as
special fountains of grace.
(13.) Every sin can be forgiven.
Charity unites God^s friends on earth
(14.)
with those in heaven and in purgatory.
(15.) Due veneration of Angels and Saints is
pleasing to God.
(16.) It is a holy thought to pray for the souls
in purgatory.
(17.) The pious use of Sacramentals disposes us
for, and draws down God’s special blessing upon
us.
:
35
CHAPTEE V
THE LAST THINGS
Last Things?
A. On the Last Things the Catholic Church
teaches as divinely revealed, that
(1.) Man’s probation ends with death.
(2.) The Particular Judgment follows imme-
diately after death.
(3.) The good go and the wicked go
to heaven
to hell after the ParticularJudgment.
(4.) Those who are not entirely purified go to
purgatory after the Particular Judgment.
(5.) This world will come to an end when God
wills.
(6.) The dead will rise again on the Last Day.
(7.) On the Last Day Jesus Christ will come
again to judge the living and the dead.
(8.) After the General Judgment the elect will
enter life eternal, but the reprobate will go into
the everlasting torments of hell.
(9.) The thought of the Last Things inspires
man with the fear of the Lord and the love of
God.
:
36
SECTION II. WHAT THE CATHOLIC

CHUECH OEDAINS
CHAPTEE I
KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD OF GOD

Q. What is the word of God?
A. The word of God is all that God has re-
vealed for man^s Salvation.
Q. What does the Knoivledge of God's word do
for man ?
A. The Knowledge of God^s word^ (1) Enables
man to know what to believe,what to do, and what
means to use to please God; (2) It moves all of
good will to seek to please God.
Q. Is the Knowledge of God's word necessary to
man's Salvation?
A. Some Knowledge of God’s word is necessary
to man’s Salvation.
Q. How can man oitain a knowledge of God's
word ?
A. Man
can obtain a knowledge of God’s w’ord,
(1) listening to the Sunday Sermons; (2) By
By
reading the Bible and Books of Instruction; (3)
By consulting his Pastor or Father Confessor; (4)
By cultivating the society of intelligent and prac-
tical Catholics.
Q. What knoivledge of God's word is essential

for man's Salvation ?
A. For man’s Salvation it is essential to know
(1) That there is one God, infinitely perfect; (2)
That God will reward the good and punish the
:
37
wicked for ever; (3) That in God there are threk
divine persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost; (4)
That God the Son became man and died for onr
Salvation.
Q. What additional knowledge is necessary for
the proper reception of the Sacraments?
A. For the proper reception of the Sacraments
it is besides necessary to know: (1) That Jesus
Christ established the Catholic Church to lead men
to heaven; (2) That He instituted seven Sacra-
ments as fountains of grace; (3) That God prom-
ised to hear our prayer; (4) To have a knowledge
of the Our Father, Hail Mary, Apostles^ Creed,
Ten Commandments, and the Six Precepts; (5)
To have a knowledge of the nature of the Sacra-
ment to be received.
CHAPTEE II
THE LAW OF GOD
Q. What is the Law of God?
A. The Law of God is the will of God, binding
the liberty of man in conscience.
Q. Where is the Law of God summed up?
A. The Law of God is summed up principally in
the Ten Commandments of God and in the Six
Precepts of the Church.
Q. Which are the Ten Commandments?
A. The Ten Commandments are
(1.) I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not
have strange gods before me.
(2.) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord
thy God in vain.
:
38
(3.) Eemember thou keep holy the Sabbath day.

(4.) Honor thy father and thy mother.
(5.) Thou shalt not kill.
(6.) Thou shalt not commit adultery.
(7.) Thou inlt not steal.
(8.) Thou halt not bear false witness against
thy neighbor.
(9.) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
(10.) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.
Q. Which are the Six Precepts?
A. The Six Precepts are
(1.) To hear Mass on Sundays and Holy days of
Obligation.
(2.) To
fast and abstain on the days appointed.
(3.) To
confess at least once a year.
(4.) To
receive the Holy Eucharist during the
Easter time.
(5.) To contribute to the support of our pas-
tors.
(6.) Not to marry non-Catholics, nor those who
arc related to us within the fourth degree of kin-
dred, nor privately without pastor and two wit-
nesses, nor to solemnize marriage at forbidden
time.
Q. How did Christ sum up the Law of God?
A. Christ summed up the Law of God in three
points: (1) ^Îf any one will come after Me, let
him deny himself and take up his cross and follow
Me.” Matt, xvi, 24. (2) Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with thy whole heart, with thy whole
soul, and with thy whole mind. (3) Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matt, xxii, 37.
Q. Has the Catholic Church the power to make
laws that hind man in conscience?
39
A. The Catholic Church has the power to make

laws that bind man in conscience, for Jesus Christ
gave her that power when He said As the Fa- :
ther hath sent Me, so I also send you” John xx,

21. If he will not hear the Church, let him be
to thee as the heathen and publican.” Matt, xviii,
17.
Q. In what matters can the Catholic Church
hind her subjects in conscience f
A. The Catholic Church can bind her subjects
in conscience in all matters that pertain directly
or indirectly to the salvation of their immortal
souls.
CHAPTEK III
SIN
Q. What is sin?
A. Sin any wilful breaking of God^s law.
is
Q. Which are the Seven Capital sins, or Sources

of sins ?
A. The Seven Capital sins, or Sources of sin
are : pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony,
envy, and sloth.
1. Sin of the Angels —

Consequence of
Their Trial.
Q. Who committed the first sin ?
A. The rebellious angels committed the first sin.
Q. What
are angels?
A. Angels are pure spirits created to adore, love,
and serve God in heaven.
Q. Why did God try the angels?
40
A. God tried the angels that they might earn
the reward of heaven.
Q. How did God try the angels f
A. God tried the angels by giving them a Com-
mandment.
Q. What Commandment did God give the an-
gels?
A. It is a probable opinion that God revealed to
the angels the mystery of the Incarnation and
commanded them to adore the God-Man. Hebr.
i, vi.
Q. What sin did the angels commit?

A. Some of the angels committed a sin of pride
and disobedience in transgressing God’s Com-
mandment.
Q. What was the consequence of the trial of the
angels ?
A. The consequence of the trial of the angels
was that the good angels were taken to heaven
and the rebellious angels were cast into hell.
Q. What do we now call the rebellious angels?
A. We now call the rebellious angels^ demons,
devils, or bad angels.
Q. Who was
the leader of the rebellious angels?
A. Lucifer was the leader of the rebellious an-
gels.
Q. What do the bad angels do now?

A. The bad angels oppose the designs o: God by
tempting man to sin.
Q. What do the good angels do for us?

A. The good angels pray for us, oppose the de-
signs of the devils, and are appointed by God as
our Guardian Angel.” Matt, xviii, 10.
41
2 . Original Sin —
Consequence of the Fall
OF Our First Parents.
Q. What is Original Sin ?
A. Original Sin is the sin we inherit from
Adam, the Father of the Human Pace.
Q. In what does Original Sin, as we inherit it,
vractically consist?
A. Original Sin, as we inherit it, practically
consists in the privation of the friendship of God.
Q. Why do we inherit the sin of Adam?
A. We inherit the. sin of Adam because by
Grod^s positive design, revealed to Adam, Adam, as
head of the human race, was to act in the name
of mankind in preserving or losing original jus-
tice and holiness.
Q. Who were our First Parents?

A. Our parents were Adam and Eve.
first
Q. Were Adam and Eve innocent and holy

vhen God created them?
A. Adam and Eve were innocent and holy when
Srod created them.
Q. What commandment did God give Adam and
Eve?
A. To try their obedience, God commanded
,\dam and Eve not to eat of a certain fruit which
grew in the Garden of Paradise.
Q, How did Adam and Eve sin?
A. Eve was tempted by Satan under the form
of a serpent, and ate of the forbidden fruit. She
then persuaded Adam to do the same.
Q. What befell Adam and Eve on account of
their sin?
A. On account of their sin, Adam and Eve lost
innocence and holiness and were doomed to sick-
ness and death.
Q.Which were the chief blessings intended for
Adam and Eve, had they remained faithful?
A. The chief blessings intended for Adam and
Eve, had they remained faithful, were a state of
constant happiness in this life, without pain or
death, and everlasting happiness in heaven.
Q. What do we now inherit from Adam?

A. We now inherit the sin of Adam and its pun-
ishment, just as we would have inherited the hap-
piness of our first parents, if they had remained
faithful.
Q. What other effects flow from original sin?

A. In consequence of original sin the nature of
man is corrupted, his understanding darkened, his
will weakened, and his whole nature inclined to
evil.
Q. Who alone was preserved from incurring

original sin?
A. The Blessed Virgin Mary alone was pre-
served from incurring original sin.
Q. Why was the Blessed Virgin Mary preserved

from incurring original sin,
A. The Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved
from incurring original sin because she was the
woman destined to crush the serpent’s head ” by
becoming the Mother of God.
Q. What is this privilege of Mary called?
A. This privilege of Mary is called her im-
maculate conception.
43
3. Mortal Sin — Hell.

Q. What is Actual Sin?
A. Actual sin is any wilful thought, desire,
word, deed, or omission forbidden by the Law of
God.
Q. How is Actual Sin divided?
A. Actual Sin is divided into Mortal Sin and
Venial Sin.
Q. What is Mortal Sin ?
A, Mortal Sin is a grievous offense against the
Law of God.
Q. How is Mortal Sin committed?
A. Mortal Sin is committed by transgressing
the Law of God, (1) In a serious or grievous mat-
ter; (2) While adverting to the gravity (l the
transgression; (3) And acting with a bad will.
Q. What are the consequences of Mortal Sin?
A. The consequences of mortal sin are: (1)
The loss of sanctifying grace; (2) The enmity of
God; (3) The slavery of Satan; (4) The penalty
of the torments of hell.
Q. Is Mortal Sin a great evil?
A. Mortal Sin is the greatest evil in the world,
because it robs man of God and heaven, the great-
est good.
Q. Which are the Six Sins against the Holy

Ghost?
A. The Six Sins against the Holy Ghost are:
Presumption, Despair, Eesisting the known truth.
Envy of another’s spiritual good. Obstinacy in sin,
and Pinal Impenitence.
Q. What do the reprobates suffer in Hell?
A. In Hell the reprobates suffer an agony of
44
remorse and despair for having lost eternal happi-
ness. They are the slaves of Satan, imprisoned,
and tortured by an avenging fire.
4. Venial Sin — Purgatory.

Q. What is Venial Sin?
A. Venial Sin is a slight offence against the
Law of God.
Q. How is Venial Sin committed?
A. Venial Sin is committed by transgressing the
Law of God, (1) In a light matter; or (2) With-
out sufficient knowledge or full consent of the will.
Q. What are the consequences of Venial Sin?
A. The consequences of Venial Sin are: (1)
The lessening of the love of God; (2) Disposing
the soul to mortal sin; (3) The penalty of tem-
poral punishment.
Q. What is temporal punishment?
A. Temporal punishment is the punishment
that will have an end either in this world or in the
next.
Q. Of what does temporal punishment consist?
A. Temporal punishment consists of remorse,
sickness and reverses in this life, and of the pains
of purgatory in the next life.
Q. What is purgatory?
A. Purgatory is the state in which those suffer
for a time who die guilty of venial sins, or whr
die without having fully satisfied for the punish-
ment due to their forgiven sins.
Q. How can we satisfy in this life for the tem-
poral punishment due to sin ?
A. In this life we can satisfy for the temporal
punishment due to sin by Prayer, Fasting, Alms-
45
deeds, by the Spiritual and Corporal Works of

Mercy, and by the patient suffering of the ills of
life.
5. Judgment, Particular — General.

Q- When will man be judged?
A. Man will be judged at the moment of death
and at the end of the world.
Q. Who will be man’s judge?
A. Jesus Christ will be man^s judge.
Q. Why will Jesus Christ judge man?
A. Jesus Christ will judge man because He has
acquired dominion over man by paying the price
of his ransom.
Q. How will Jesus Christ judge man at the hour

of death ?
A. Jesus Christ will judge man at the hour of
death as God.
Q. How will Jesus Christ judge man at the end
of the world?
A. Jesus Christ will come with great power and
majesty as the God-Man at the end of the world
and judge angels and men.
Q. Why will man be judged at the hour of
death ?
A. Man will be judged at the hour of death to
receive his reward or punishment.
Q. Why will man be judged at the end of the

world ?
A. Man will be judged at the end of the world
(1) To vindicate the Providence of God before
the world; (2) To reward the elect publicly; (3)
To overwhelm the reprobate with public confusion.
46
Q. What will take place before the General

Judgment?
A. Before the General Judgment the resurrec-
tion of the dead will take place.
Q. How will the dead rise on the Last Day?
A. The dead will rise on the Last Day through
the power of God, their Creator.
Q. Why will mans body rise on the Last Day?
A. Man^s body will rise on the Last Day to
share in the reward or punishment, as it shared in
the good or wicked deeds of life.
CHAPTEE IV
CONSCIENCE
Q. What is conscience ?
A. Conscience is the judgment of man’s reason
regarding the morality of his actions.
Q. Why did God give man a conscience?
A. God gave man a conscience to discern good
from evil, and to judge himself so that God may
not judge him unfavorably after this life.
Q. How conscience divided?
is
A. Conscience is divided into true, right, wrong,
erroneous, and doubtful.
Q. What is a true conscience?
A. A true conscience is one that agrees with the
mind of God.
Q. What is a right coriscience ?
A. A right conscience is one which is sincerely
dictated according to the Law of God.
What is a wrong conscience?
47
A. A
wrong conscience is one that is know-
ingly dictated contrary to the Law of God.
Q. What
is an erroneous conscience?
A. An
erroneous conscience is one that is sin-
cerely dictated contrary to the Law of God.
Q. What
is a doubtful conscience?
A. A
doubtful conscience is that state of mind
in which man has not sufficient knowledge of a
particular right or duty to form a just judgment
of the morality of his action.
Q. Is it right to act with a doubtful conscience?
A. It is not right to act with a doubtful con-
science.
Q. How can man dispose of his doubt?

A. Man can dispose of his doubt, (1) By
further investigation; (2) By following the pre-
sumption in the case, if the doubt still remains.
Q. What does the presumption favor?
A. Presumption favors (1) Human Liberty as
long as it is not evidently restrained by the Law
of God; (2) It then favors the Law until Liberty
is evidently freed again.
Q. What is the first obligation of conscience?
A. The first obligation of conscience is to strive
to form a true conscience.
Q. What hinder the formation of a true con-
science ?
A. Ignorance, Passion, and Human Eespect
hinder the formation of a true conscience.
Q. What is the result of acting with a right
conscience ?
A. The result of acting with a right conscience
is moral goodness or holiness.
48
CHAPTER V
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
1. The First Commandment.
Q. What is the First Commandment?
A. The First Commandment is I am : the Lord
thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before
Me.
Q. What does the First Commandment com-
mand?
A. The First Commandment commands us to
worship God by acts of faith, hope and charity ; by
prayer and sacrifice.
Q. What does the First Commandment forbid?
A. The First Commandment forbids especially
Idolatry, False Worship, Superstition, Neglect of
prayer, all dealings with devils, spirit-mediums,
and fortune-tellers, and all sins against Faith,
Hope and Charity.
Q. Which are the chief sins against Faith?

A. The chief sins against Faith are: (1) Wil-
ful religious ignorance; (2) Wilful Religious In-
difference; (3) Maliciously to deny God; (4) Ob-
stinately to refuse to believe His Revelation; (5)
Not to profess the Faith openly when circum-
stances require it.
Q. What leads to a loss of Faith ?

A. A godless education, reading irreligious and
immoral books, attending false worship, member-
ship in un-Catholic societies, immorality, and inti-
mate association with godless and immoral persons
lead to a loss of Faith.
Q. R/iat are the sins against Hope?
49
A. The sins against Hope are presumption and

despair.
Q. Which sins offend against the love of God?
A. All sins offend against the love of God, but
especially hatred of God and holy things.
Q. Dotransgressions against the First Com-
mandment constitute a grievous matter?
A. Transgressions against the First Command-
ment generally constitute a grievous matter.
3. The Second Commandment.
Q. What is the Second Commandment?
A. The Second Commandment is: Thou shalt
not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Q. What does the Second Commandment com-
mand ?
A. The Second Commandment commands us
(1) To use the name of God reverently; (2) To
speak with respect of God, holy persons, and holy
things; (3) To keep our lawful oaths and vows.
Q. What does the Second Commandment for-
hid?
A. The Second Commandment forbids the tak-
ing of God^s name in vain, profane words, blas-
phemy, cursing, false and unjust oaths.
Q. Do transgressions against the Second Com-
mandment constitute a light or a grievous matter?
A. Blasphemy, cursing and perjury constitute a
grievous matter. Taking God’s name in vain and
profane words are ordinarily a light matter.
3. The Third Commandment.

Q. What is the Third Commandment ?
A. The Third Commandment is: Eemember
that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.
50
Q. Which is the Sabbath day?

A. Saturday is the Sabbath day.
Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Satur-

day?
A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday be-
cause the Catholic Church, in the Council of
Laodicea (AD. 336), transferred the solemnity
from Saturday to Sunday.
Q. Why did Catholic Church substitute
the
Sunday for Saturday?
The Church substituted Sunday for Satur-
day, because Christ rose from the dead on a Sun-
day, and the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apos-
tles on a Sunday.
Q. By what authority did the Church substitute
Sunday for Saturday?
A. The Church substituted Sunday for Satur-
day by the plenitude of that divine power which
Jesus Christ bestowed upon her.
Q. What does the Third Commandment com-
manhi
A. The Third Commandment commands us to
sanctify Sunday as the Lord^s Day.
Q.What does the Third Commandment forbid?

A. The Third Commandment forbids (1) The
omission of prayer and divine worship; (2) All
unnecessary servile work; (3) Whatever hinders
the keeping of the Lord’s Day holy.
Q. Is the desecration of the Lord's Day a griev-

ous matter?
A. The desecration of the Lord’s Day is a griev-
ous matter in itself, though it admits of light mat-
ter.
51
4. The Fourth Commandment.

Q. What is the Fourth Commandment?
A. The Fourth Commandment is: Honor thy
father and thy nfother.
Q.What does the Fourth Commandment com
mand?
A. The Fourth Commandment commands, (1)
Children to love, honor, and obey their Parents;
(2) Parents to provide for the temporal welfare
of their children and give them a Eeligious Edu-
cation; (3) It defines the duties of Subjects and
Superiors.
Q. What reward did God promise to obedient
children ?
A. God has promised a long and happy life to
obedient children.
Q. What does the Fourth Commandment for-
hid?
A. The Fourth Commandment forbids, (1) All
disobedience, ill-will, and contempt of parents, and
other lawful superiors; (2) All neglect of duty in
parents and other superiors.
Q. Is a transgression against the Fourth Com-
mandment a grievous or a light matter?
A. A
transgression against the Fourth Com-
mandment may be either a grievous or a light mat-
ter.
5. The Fifth Commandment.

Q. What is the Fifth Commandment?
A. The Fifth Commandment is: Thou shalt
not kill.
Q. What does the Fifth Commandment com-

mand?
52
A. The Fifth Commandment commands us to

respect our neighbor's right to life, liberty and
heaven, and to consult our own temporal and spir-
itual welfare.
Q. What does the Fifth Commandment forbid?
A. The Fifth Commandment forbids the injury
of our neighbor's life and liberty, as hatred, re-
venge, angry and contemptuous words, blows, mur-
der; (2) Injury to our neighbor’s soul, by scan-
dal, leading him into sin or cooperating in his
sin; (3) All abuse of our own life and liberty, by
excess in eating and drinking, or otherwise injur-
ing our health, and suicide.
Q. Is a transgression against the Fifth Com-
A. A
transgression against the Fifth Command-
ment may be either a grievous or a light matter.
6. The Sixth and the Ninth Command-

ments.
Q. What is the Sixth Commandment ?
A. The Sixth Commandment is: Thou shalt
not commit adultery.
Q. What is the Ninth Commandment?
A. The Ninth Commandment is: Thou shalt
not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
Q. What do the Sixth and the Ninth Command-
ments command?
A. The Sixth and Ninth Commandments com-
mand us to be chaste in thought, desire, words,
and actions.
Q. What does the Sixth and Ninth Command-
ments forbid?
A. The Sixth and Ninth Commandments for-
53
bid all immodesty in thoughts, desires, words and

actions.
Q. Is a transgression against the Sixth and
Ninth Commandments a grievous matter?
A. A direct transgression against the Sixth and
Ninth Commandments is always a grievous mat-
ter.
7. The Seventh and Tenth Commandments.

Q. What is the Commandment?
Seventh
A. The Seventh Commandment is: Thou shall
not steal.
Q. What is the Tenth Commandment?
A. The Tenth Commandment is: Thou shalt
not covet thy neighbor's goods.
Q. What do the Seventh and Tenth Command^
ments command?
A. The Seventh and Tenth Commandments
command us to respect our neighbor’s right to hil
property in desire and in action.
Q. What do the Seventh and Tenth Command'
ments forbid ?
A. The Seventh and Tenth Commandments for-
bid to desire, take, keep, or damage our neighbor’s
goods.
Q. What must he do who has wilfully wronged
his neighbor's right to his property?
A. He who has wilfully wronged his neighbor’s
right to his property must make Kestitution as
soon as possible.
Q. Is a transgression against the Seventh and
Tenth Commandments a grievous or a light maU
ter?
A. A transgression against the Seventh and
54
Tenth Commandments may be either a grievous or
a light matter.
8. The Eighth Commandment.

Q. What is the Eighth Commandment f
A. The Eighth Commandment is Thou shalt
:
not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Q. What does the Eighth Commandment com-
mand?
A. The Eighth Commandment commands us to
tell the truth and to be charitable in our words.
Q. What does the Eighth Commandment for-
hid?
A. The Eighth Commandment forbids us to lie
to our neighbor, or to injure him by calumnies,
detractions, violations of secrecy, unjust suspicions,
rash judgments, or unkind words.
Q. What must he do who has injured his neigh-
bor s good name?
A. He who has injured his neighbor's good
name must undo the harm as soon as possible.
Q. Is a transgression against the Eighth Com-
A. A
transgression against the Eighth Com-
mandment may be either a grievous or a light mat-
ter.
CHAPTEE VI
THE SIX PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH
Q. Which are the chief laws which the Church
has made?
A. The chief laws which the Church has made
are the Six Precepts of the Church.
:
55
Q. Is a transgression of the Precepts of the

Church a grievous or a light matter ?
A. A
transgression of the Precepts of the
Church is always a grievous matter.
Q. Why a transgression of the Precepts of the
is
Church always a grievous matter?
A. A
transgression of the Precepts of the
Church is always a grievous matter because the
Precepts indicate the lowest standard consistent
with Catholic Practice.
1. The First Precept.

Q. What is the First Precept?
A. The First Precept is To hear Mass on Sun-
:
days and Holydays of Obligation.

Q. Why did the Church institute Holydays?
A. The Church instituted Holydays to recall to
our minds the great events in the life of our Lord
and the Saints.
Q. Which are the Holydays of Obligation in the
United States?
A. The Holydays of Obligation in the United
States are
(1.) The Circumcision of our Lord, January
1st.
(2.) The Ascension of our Lord, the fortieth
day after Easter Sunday.
(3.) The Assumption of our Lady, August 15th.
(4.) All Saints, November 1st.
(5.) The
Immaculate Conception of Our
Blessed Lady, December 8th.
(6.) The Birth of our Lord, December 25th.
Q. How should we Tceep Holydays of Obliga-
tion ?
56
A. We should keep Holy days of Obligation as

we should keep Sundays.
Q. Why is missing Mass on Sundays and Holy-
days of Obligation a grievous matter?
A. Missing Mass on Sundays and Holydays
of Obligation is a grievous matter because at least
on these days we must unite ourselves to Jesus
Christ, our Mediator and High-priest, to offer an
acceptable Sacrifice of Adoration, Thanksgiving,
Separation and Petition to the Eternal Father.
2. The Second Precept.

Q. What is the Second Precept?
A. The Second Precept is to Fast and Abstain
on days appointed.
Q. What are Fast-days ?
A. Fast-days are days on which we are allowed
but one full meal.
Q. What are Days of Abstinence?
A. Days of Abstinence are days on which the
use of Flesh-meat is forbidden.
Q. Whyare we commanded to fast and abstain ?
A. Weare commanded to fast and abstain: (1)
To practice self-denial and thereby bring the flesh
under the dominion of the Spirit; (2) To do pen-
ance for our sins.
Q. Why are we commanded to abstain from
Flesh-meat on Fridays?
A. We are commanded to abstain from Flesh-
meat on Fridays, (1) As an act of gratitude to
our Saviour who died for us on Friday; (2) To
do penance for our sins and thereby share in His
merits.
57
Q. Who makes known to us the days and man^

ner of fasting and abstinence f
A. The Bishop through our Pastors makes
known to us the days and manner of fasting and
abstinence.
Q. Which are the Fast-days and Days of A&-
stinence in the United States?
A. The Fast-days in the United States are: (1)
The forty days of Lent. (2) The Vigils of Pente-
cost, The Assumption, All Saints and Christmas.
(3) The Ember Days. These are the Wednesday,
Friday and Saturday, (a) after the first Sunday
in Lent, (b) after Pentecost, (c) after the four-
teenth of September, (d) after the third Sunday
in Advent. (4) The Fridays in Advent in the
Provinces of Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York
and Boston.
The Days of Abstinence in the United States
are : ( 1 ) All Fridays of the year, excepting when
Christmas falls on a Friday; (2) All Fast-days.
Q. Who are dispensed from the Fast prescribed

by the Church?
A. The sick, the infirm and those who labor
hard are dispensed from the Fast prescribed by the
Church.
Q. What should those do who have doubts about
the law of fasting and abstinence?
A. Those who have doubts about the laws of
fasting and abstinence should consult their Pastor
or Confessor.
3. The Third Precept.

Q. What is the Third Precept?
A. The Third Precept is: To confess our sins
at least once a year.
5S
Q. Why does the Church command us to con-

fess at least once a year?
A. The Church commands us to confess at least
once a year: (1) To warn us against presuming
on the mercy of God, which is a sin against the
Holy Ghost; (2) To induce us to live Christian
lives.
Q. A# what age must parents prepare their chil-

dren to go to confession?
A. Parents must prepare their children for con-
fession when the children learn to distinguish
right from wrong, that is, when they are about
seven years old.
4. The Fourth Precept.

Q. What is the Fourth Precept?
A. The Fourth Precept is: To receive Holy
Communion during Easter-time.
Q. What is the Easter-time in the United
States?
A. The Easter-time in the United States begins
with the first Sunday of Lent and ends with Trin-
ity Sunday.
Q. Why does the Church command us to receive
Holy Communion during Easter-time?
A. The Church commands us to receive Holy
Communion at Easter-time, (1) Because Christ
gave us a pledge of eternal life by His Eesurrec-
tion on Easter-Sunday ; (2) To warn us that we
forfeit our claim to this pledge if we neglect to re-
ceive Him during this time.
59
5. The Fifth Precept.

Q. What is the Fifth Precept?
A. The Fifth Precept is: To contribute to the
support of our Church, School and Pastor.
Q. What does the Fifth Precept command ?
A. The Fifth Precept commands us to con-
tribute according to our means to the support of
Religion.
Q. Why should we contribute to the support of
Religion ?
A. We should contribute to the support of Re-
ligion, because, (1) Every society must supply its
own want; (2) Because Religion is impossible
without Church, School and Pastor; (3) Because
the school is the Nursery of the Parish; (4) Be-
cause the laborer is worthy of his hire ; ( 5 ) Because
the Sacrifice of Material Offerings disposes us for
Spiritual Blessings.
6. The Sixth Precept — Impediments — Dis-

pensations — Divorce — Separation.
A. Impediments to Marriage.
Q. What is the Sixth Precept?
A. The Sixth Precept is: Not to marry non-
Catholics; nor to marry those who are related to
us within the fourth degree of kinship ; nor to sol-
emnize marriage at forbidden times; and not to
marry except in the presence of a duly appointed
pastor and two witnesses.
Q. What does the Sixth Precept command?
A. The Sixth Precept commands Catholics (1)
To marry Catholics; (2) Who are not related to
them within the fourth degree of kinship; (3)
Before their pastor and two witnesses; (4) Dur-
60
ing the open season of the year; (5) After the

triple publication of the banns; (6) With the sol-
emn Blessing of the Church.
Q. What
is a Marriage Impediment ?
A. A
marriage impediment is a prohibition of
God or His Church forbidding certain marriages.
Q. Why should Catholics marry Catholics f
A. Catholics should marry Catholics to safe-
guard their own spiritual welfare and that of their
children.
Q. Why should persons not marry near rela-
tives ?
A. Persons should not marry near relatives be-
cause such marriages are unnatural and have a
hurtful effect on the physical welfare of the chil-
dren.
Q. Why must Catholics marry in the presence
of their Pastor and two witnesses?
A. Catholics must marry in the presence of
their Pastor and two witnesses to safeguard the
general welfare of Eeligion.
Q. What is the open season for marriages?
A. The open season for marriages extends from
the seventh of January to Ash-Wednesday, and
from the first Sunday after Easter to the first
Sunday in Advent.
Q. Why does the Church require a triple publi-
cation of the Banns?
A. The Church requires a triple publication of
the Banns to discover whether any impediments
exist to the marriage.
Q. What is the Marriage Blessing?

A. The Marriage Blessing is a most special
61
Blessing which the Church imparts only to Cath-

olics who are married at a Nuptial Mass.
Q. When does a Catholic contract an invalid

marriage f
A. A Catholic contracts an invalid marriage by
marrying without the necessary dispensation: (1)
A person not baptized; (2) A person related with-
in the fourth degree of kinship; (3) By marrying
otherwise than before the parish-priest and two
witnesses; (4) By marrying when any other in-
validating impediment exists.
B. Dispensations.
Q. What a Marriage Dispensation ?
is
A. A Marriage Dispensation is an exemption
to marry contrary to the laws of the Church.
Q. From whom must a Marriage Dispensation
he obtained?
A. A Marriage Dispensation must be obtained
from the Bishop of the diocese in which the parties
live.
Q. Is a grave reason necessary to ash for a Mar-

riage Dispensation?
A. A
grave reason is necessary to ask for a Mar-
riage Dispensation.
c. Divorce — Separation.
Q. What is Divorce?
A. Divorce is the dissolving of the marriage
bond.
Q.Can man grant a Divorce valid in the sight
of God?
A. No man can grant a Divorce valid in the
sight of God^ for Christ said :What God hath
62
joined together^ let no man put asunder/^ Matt,

xix, 6.
Q. What is a Separation*?
A. A Separation is a suspension of the actual
marriage relation.
Q. What cause suffices for a temporary Separa-
tion?
A. Mutual consent for the sake of health, busi-
ness, and the like, suffices for a temporary Separa-
tion.
Q. What cause justifies a permanent Separa-

tion ?
A. Infidelity, and grave danger of corporal or
spiritualharm justifies a permanent Separation.
Q. Should Catholics consult their Pastor before
taking this extreme step?
A. Catholics should consult their Pastor before
taking this extreme step.
Q. When may a Catholic have a permanent
Separation ratified by a Civil Divorce?
A. A Catholic may have a permanent Separa-
tion ratified by Civil Divorce when legal rights
must be safeguarded.
Q. Is a Catholic in the United States bound to
consult Ecclesiastical Authority before applying
for a Civil Divorce ?
A. A
Catholic in the United States is bound to
consult Ecclesiastical Authority before applying
for a Civil Divorce. (See III Plen. Cone. Balt,
n. 126.)
Q. Dare Catholics ever regard a divorced person

as eligible to marriage?
A. Catholics dare not regard divorced persons
as eligible to marriage unless their former mar-
riage has been declared null and void by the Ec-
clesiastical Court.
CHAPTEE VII
THE EVANGELICAL COUNSELS — VOCATION
Q. What are the Evangelical Counsels?
A. The Evangelical Counsels are our Saviour^s
counsels to practice voluntary Poverty, virginal
Chastity, and perfect Obedience out of love for
God.
Q. Why are they called Evangelical Counsels?
A. They are called Evangelical Counsels be-
cause they are recorded by the Evangelist.
Q. Does the practice of the Evangelical Coun-
sels lead to thesummit of Christian Perfection ?
A. The practice of the Evangelical Counsels
does lead to the summit of Christian Perfection.
Q. How does the practice of the Evangelical
Counsels lead to the summit of Christian Perfec-
tion ?
A. The practice of the Evangelical Counsels
leads to the summit of Christian Perfection by
remedying the three great sources of moral evil,
which St. John calls the concupiscence of the
eyes, the concupiscence of the flesh, and the pride
of life.^^
Q. Who should embrace the Evangelical Coun-

sels ?
A. Only those should embrace the Evangelical
Counsels who have received a special Vocation
from God.
64
Q. What are the general signs of a divine Voca^
tion to a particular state in life?
A. The general signs of a divine Vocation to a
particular state in life are
: (1) A constant desire to
sanctify oneself in that state; (2) Mental, moral,
physical fitness; (3) The absence of impediments
to that state.
Q. How many hinds of divine Vocations are
there ?
A. There are four kinds of divine Vocations:
(1) To the Clerical State; (2) To the Eeligious
State; (3) To the Life of Virginity in the World;
(4) To the Married State.
Q. Which is nobler, the Married State or Vir-
ginity ?
A. Virginity is nobler than the Married State.
See I Cor. vii, 1-40.
Q. What is a necessary and sure preparation for
a divine Vocation?
A. A pure and devout life is a necessary and
sure preparation for any Vocation.
SECTION III. THE SPIEITUAL AIDS EOS-

TEKED BY THE CHUECH
CHAPTEE I
ON GRACE
Q. What can man do when left to his natural
strength ?
A. When left to his natural strength man can
live only a natural, human life.
65
Q. What does man need to live the life of a

child of God?
A. To live the life of a child of God man needs
the grace of God.
Q. What is Grace ?
A. Grace is a divine help given to man^ through
the merits of Christy for his salvation.
Q. Whai claim has man on God's help?

A. Man’s only claim on God’s help rests on the
Goodness and Promises of God and the Merits of
his Saviour.
Q. How may man dispose himself for the grace
of God?
A. Man disposes himself for the grace of God
by observing the Law of God as far as he knows
it, and by practicing charity towards his neighbor.
Q. How^ is grace divided?

A. Grace
is divided into Sanctifying and Actual
Grace.
Q. What is Sanctifying Grace?
A. Sanctifying Grace is that grace which makes
man holy and pleasing in the sight of God. It is
also called Habitual Grace, and the Grace of Jus-
tification.
Q. How may man obtain Sanctifying Grace?

A. Man may obtain Sanctifying Grace (1) By
receiving the Sacraments of Baptism and Pen-
ance; (2) By perfect sorrow for his sins and
ardent desire to do whatever God has ordained for
his salvation.
Q. How does man lose Sanctifying Grace?
A. Man loses Sanctifying Grace by committing
any mortal sin.
66
Q. What is Actual Grace?

A. Actual Grace is a transient help of God,
which enlightens the mind, and moves the will to
perform virtuous actions.
Q. Can man neglect the grace of God?
A. Man can, and unfortunately often does neg-
lect the grace of God.
Q. What is the Grace of Perseverance ?

A. The Grace of Perseverance is a chain of Ac-
tual Graces which enables man to persevere in the
friendship of God until death.
Q. How can man obtain the grace of God?
A. Man can obtain the grace of God by Prayer,
the devout reception of the Sacraments, and the
pious use of the Sacramentals.
CHAPTER II
THE SACRAMENTS
Q. What are the great means instituted by
Christ to give grace ?
A. The great means instituted by Christ to give
grace are the Sacraments,
Q. What is a Sacrament?
A. A Sacrament is an outward sign instituted
by Christ to give grace.
Q. How many Sacraments are there?
A. There are seven Sacraments.
Q. Which are the seven Sacraments?
A. The seven Sacraments are Baptism, Con-
:
firmation, Holy Eucharist, Penance, Extreme

Unction, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.
67
Q. Why did Christ institute seven Sacraments?

A. Christ instituted seven Sacraments to sup-
ply the seven spiritual wants of mankind.
Q. Which are the seven spiritual wants of man-
kind ?
A. The seven spiritual wants of mankind are:
(1) Spiritual life; (2) The perfection of spiritual
life; (3) Nourishment for the spiritual life; (4)
A remedy for spiritual disease and death; (5)
Special provision for the journey to Eternity; (6)
Power and strength to minister in the name of
Christ; (7) Special grace to bring up children for
heaven.
Q. What graces do the Sacraments give ?
A. Every Sacrament gives a special grace, and
all give, or increase Sanctifying Grace.
Q. What special graces do the Sacraments give?

A. The special graces which the Sacraments
give is a right to those actual graces that are nec-
essary to attain the end for which Christ instituted
each particular Sacrament. This special grace is
called Sacramental Grace.
Q. Which Sacraments were instituted to give
Sanctifying Grace?
A. Baptism and Penance were instituted to give
Sanctifying Grace.
Q. Which Sacraments were instituted to in-
crease Sanctifying Grace?
A. Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Extreme
Unction, Holy Orders and Matrimony were insti-
tuted to increase Sanctifying Grace.
Q. Which Sacraments can he received hut once ?
A. Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders can
be received but once.
68
Q. Why can Baptism, Confirmation and Holy

Orders be received but once?
A. Baptism^ Confirmation and Holy Orders can
be received but once, because these Sacraments al-
ways attain their end by one reception, and there-
fore imprint a character on the soul that will last
forever.
Q. How do the Sacraments produce their ef-
fect?
A. The Sacraments produce their effect through
the power of Christ, as long as we place no obsta-
cle in the way.
Q. Which is the ordinary place for the adminis-

tration and reception of the Sacraments?
A. The Church is the ordinary place for the ad-
ministration and reception of the Sacraments.
Q. What sin is it to receive a Sacrament un-
worthily ?
A. It is a sacrilege to receive a Sacrament un-
worthily.
1. Baptism.
Q. What is Baptism?
A. Baptism is a Sacrament which frees us from
original sin, makes us children of God, brethren of
Christ,and co-heirs with Him of the Kingdom of
Heaven.
Q. Hoes Baptism ever remit actual sin?
A. Baptism remits actual sin whenever the per-
son baptized is guilty of any.
Q. Is Baptism necessary for Salvation ?
A. Baptism is necessary for Salvation, for
Christ says Unless a man be born again of
:
water and the Holy Ghost he shall not enter the

kingdom of heaven.^^ John iii, 5.
69
Q. Who can baptize?

A. Any person, having the use of reason, can
baptize.
Q. Who is the ordinary minister of baptism?

A. The Parish-Priest is the ordinary minister
of baptism.
Q. When should a lay person baptize?
A. A lay person should baptize when there is
danger of death before a priest can arrive.
Q. How is baptism given?
A. Baptism is given by pouring water on the
head of the person to be baptized and saying
whilst pouring: ‘'I baptize you in the name 0 /
the Father^ and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost/' See Matt, xxviii, 19.
Q. What should be done if a child, that has re-
ceived private baptism, recovers?
A. When a child, that has received private bap-
tism, recovers, it should be brought to the Church
that the Pastor may supply the canonical Prayers
and Exorcisms.
Q. How
can the Baptism of Water be supplied?
A. The Baptismof Water can be supplied by
the Baptism of Desire and the Baptism of Blood.
Q. What is the Baptism of Desire?
A. The Baptism of Desire is the desire of Bap-
tism of Water, which is included in an act of per-
fect love of God.
Q. What is the Baptism of Blood?
A. The Baptism of Blood is the shedding of
one’s blood for Christ’s sake, as many of the early
martyrs did.
Q. What do we promise in Baptism?
70
A. In Baptism we promise^ (1) To renounce

Satan, all his works and pomps; (2) To be ever
faithful to Jesus Christ and His Church.
Q. What are the works and pomps of Satan?
A. The works and pomps of Satan are sin and
itsProximate Occasions.
Why are Sponsors given in Baptism ?
Q.
A. Sponsors are given in Baptism, (1) That
they may make
the necessary promises when a
child is baptized; (2) That they may watch over
the spiritual welfare of the baptized person.
Q. What impediment to marriage is contracted
by Baptism?
A. By Baptism the impediment of Spiritual Af-
finity is contracted, which forbids marriage be-
tween the sponsors and the person baptizing on
the one side, and the person baptized and his
parents on the other.
Q. Why is the name of a saint given in Bap-
tism ?
A. The name of a saint is given in Baptism to
place the person baptized under the special pro-
tection of that saint, and to encourage him to imi-
tate the virtues of that saint.
2. Confirmation.
Q. What
Confirmation?
is
A. Confirmation is the Sacrament which im-
parts to baptized persons the grace of the Holy
Ghost to profess and practice their faith.
Q. Who is the ordinary minister of Confirma-
tion ?
A. The Bishop is the ordinary minister of Con-
firmation.
71
Q. How does the Bishop administer Confirma-

tion ?
A. The Bishop, (1) Extends his hands over all
that are to be confirmed and prays that they may
receive the Holy Ghost; (2) He then anoints the
forehead of each with Holy Chrism in the form
of a cross and 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 (3) He gives
those confirmed a slight blow on the cheek to re-
mind them that they must be ready to suffer any-
thing for the faith of Christ; (4) He concludes by
imparting to them his Episcopal Blessing.
Q. How must Confirmation he received?
A. Confirmation must be received in the state
of grace.
Q. What knowledge should a person to he con-

firmed possess ?
A. A person to be confirmed should know the
mysteries of faith, the duties of a Christian, and
the nature and effects of this Sacrament.
Q. Is a sin to neglect Confirmation?

it
A. It a sin to neglect Confirmation, especially
is
now when Faith and Morals are exposed to so
many and violent temptations.
Q. Which are the Seven Gifts of the Holy
Ghost?
A. The Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost are:
Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude,
Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord.
72
3. The Holy Eucharist — a. Its Institu-

tion.
Q. What is the Holy Eucharist?
A. The Holy Eucharist is, (1) The Sacrament
which contains the Body and Blood, Soul and Di-
vinity of Jesus Christ, under the appearance of
bread and wine; (2) The Sacrifice of the New
Law.
Q. When did Christ promise the Holy Eucha^
rist ?
A. Christ promised the Holy Eucharist after
the miraculous multiplication of bread, about a
year before He died. ^Î am the living bread
which came down from heaven. If any man eat
of this bread, he shall live for ever ; and the bread
that I will give is My fiesh, for the life of the
world.^^ John vi, 51-52.
Q. When did Christ institute the Holy Eucha-
rist ?
A. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist at the
Last Supper, the night before He died.
Q. Who were present ivhen Christ instituted the
Holy Eucharist?
A. When Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist,
the twelve Apostles were present.
Q. How did Christ institute the Holy Eucha-

rist ?
A. Christ took bread, blessed, broke and gave to
His disciples, saying Take ye and eat, this is
:
My Body.’^ He then took a cup of wine and

blessedit, saying Drink ye all of this for this
: :
-is My
Blood of the New Testament, which shall
be shed for many unto remission of sins. . . .
73
Do this in commemoration of Me/^ Matt, xxvi,

26-28 ; Luke xxii_, 19.
Q. Why did Christ institute the Holy Eucha-

rist ?
A. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist, (1)
’As a token of His love, by abiding with us on our
Altars; (2) As food for our souls and as a pledge
of our future glory in Holy Communion; (3) As
a Memorial of His death and the lasting Sacrifice
of the Hew Law.
B. Transubstantiation — The Eeal Pres-

ence.
Q. What is Transubstantiation?
A. Transubstantiation is the changing of the
substance of bread and wine into the substance of
the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
When was the substance of bread and wine
Q.
firstchanged into the substance of the Body and
Blood of Christ?
A. The substance of bread and wine was first
changed into the substance of the Body and Blood
,of Jesus Christ at the Last Supper, when He said:
This is My Body — This is My Blood.'^
Q. How is Transubstantiation effected?

A. Transubstantiation is effected by the al-
mighty power of Jesus Christ.
Q. What remained of the bread and wine after
Christ said: ‘'This is My Body This is My —
Mood”?
A. After Christ said This is My Body
:
—
This is My Blood, the accidents, or appearances,
of bread and wine alone remained.
:
u
Q. What are the accidents, or appearances, of
bread and wine f
A. The accidents^ or appearances, of bread and
wine are whatever appears to the senses, as color,
taste, shape and the like.
Q. Is Christ whole and entire, both under the

form of bread and under the form of wine ?
A. Christ is whole and entire, both under the
form of bread and under the form of wine.
Q. Why is Christ whole and entire, both under
the appearance of bread and under the appearance
of wine?
A. Christ is whole and entire both under the
appearance of bread and under the appearance of
wine, because in His Living Personality His Body
and Blood are united.
Q. When did Christ make the Apostles priests
and give them power to transubstantiate?
the
A. Christ made His Apostles priests and gave
them the power to transubstantiate, when He said
Do this in commemoration of Me.^^ Luke xxii,
19 .
Q. When does the priest to-day change bread

and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ?
A. The priest to-day changes bread and wine
into the Body and Blood of Christ at the Conse-
cration of the Mass.
Q. Is the Holy Eucharist preserved on our Al-
tars?
A. The Holy Eucharist is preserved on our Al-
tars.
Q. What do we call the Holy Eucharist when

preserved on our Altars?
A. We call the Holy Eucharist, when preserved
75
on our Altars^ The Beal Presence or The Blessed

Sacrament.
Q. Why is the Blessed Sacrament Icept on our
Altars?
A. The Blessed Sacrament is kept on our Al-
tars, (1) To be adored by the faithful; (2) To be
given in Holy Communion; (3) To be our Em-
manuel or God-With-Us to the end of the world.
c. Holy Communion.
Q. What is Holy Communion ?
A. Holy Communion is the receiving of Jesus
Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
Q. How is Jesus Christ received in Holy Com^
munion ?
A. In Holy Communion Jesus Christ is re-
ceived whole and entire ; His Body and His Blood,
His Soul and His Divinity.
Q. What are the chief benefits of Holy Com-
munion ?
A. The chief benefits of Holy Communion are:
(1) Union with Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of
His Love; (2) The reception of countless graces to
enable us to avoid evil and to do good; (3) The
cleansing of our nature from the dross of sin; (4)
A pledge of a glorious Kesurrection and life ever-
lasting.
Q. What must we do to receive Holy Com-

munion worthily?
A. To receive Holy Communion worthily we
must be in the state of grace and be fasting from
midnight.
Q. How can we recover the grace of God, if we
are in mortal sin ?
76
A. If we are in mortal sin, we can recover the

grace of God by a good confession.
Q. What does the fast necessary for Holy Com-
munion prescribe?
A. The fast necessary for Holy Communion
prescribes that we take nothing as food or drink
from midnight to the time of Holy Communion.
Q. How long does the Real Presence remain
with us in Holy Communion?
A. The Eeal Presence remains with us in Holy
Communion until the Sacred Species, or the ap-
pearances of bread and wine are destroyed.
Q. When is a Catholic allowed to receive Holy
Communion when not fasting ?
A. A Catholic allowed to receive Holy Com-
is
munion when not fasting when he is in danger of
death from sickness or accident.
Q. What is the dispensation in favor of those
from a lingering illness?
suffering
A. The dispensation in favor of those suffering
from a lingering illness is that they may receive
Holy Communion occasionally when not fasting.
Q. What is required to receive Holy Commun-
ion daily?
A. To receive Holy Communion daily, it is nec-
essary,(1) To be in the state of grace; (2) To
have a right intention; (3) To be guided by our
Father Confessor.
Q. What should we do to receive plentifully the
graces of Holy Communion?
A. To receive plentifully the graces of Holy
Communion we should strive to overcome delib-
erate venial sins, perform acts of self-denial, and
77
make acts of lively faith, firm hope, and of ardent

love.
Q. How much time should we spend in ador-

ation, petition and thanksgiving after Holy Com-
munion?
A. After Holy Communion we should spend at
least a quarter of an hour in adoration, petition
and thanksgiving.
Q. When are we hound to receive Holy Com-
munion under pain of mortal sin?
A. We are bound to receive Holy Communion
under pain of mortal sin during the Easter-time
and when we are in danger of death.
Q. Why does the Church give Communion to
the Laity only under the form of bread?
A. The Church gives Communion to the Laity
only under the form of bread principally to em-
phasize the doctrine of the Eeal Presence of Jesus
Christ, whole and entire, under each form.
D. The Sacrifice of the New Law.

Q. How do we call the Holy Eucharist as the
Sacrifice of the New Law?
A. As the Sacrifice of the New Law we call the
Holy Eucharist the Mass.
Q. What is the Mass?
A. The Mass isthe unbloody Sacrifice of the
Body and Blood of Christ.
Q. What is a sacrifice?
A. A sacrifice is the offering of an object by a
priest to God alone, and the destroying of it as the
supreme act of adoration, thanksgiving, petition
and reparation.
:
78
Q. Is a sacrifice necessary to pay God man's

debt of religion?
A. A sacrifice is necessary to pay God man’s
debt of religion.
Q. When did Christ institute the Sacrifice of
the Mass?
A. Christ instituted the Sacrifice of the Mass
at the Last Supper, when He said to the Apostles
^^Do this in commemoration of Me.” Luke xxii,
19.
Q. How did the prophet Malachy foretell the

Sacrifice of the Mass?
A. The prophet Malachy foretold the Sacrifice
of the Mass when he said From the rising of
:
the sun even to the going down, my name is great

among the Gentiles, and in every place is Sacrifice,
and there is offered to my name a clean oblation.”
Mai. i, 11.
Q. What did the Hebrews understand by clean

oblation?
A. By clean oblation the Hebrews understood a
sacrifice of bread and wine.
Q. Are the Last Supper, the Sacrifice of the

Cross, and the Sacrifice of the Mass one and the
same Sacrifice?
A. The Last Supper, the Sacrifice of the Cross,
and the Sacrifice of the Mass are one and the same
Sacrifice.
Q. Why are the Last Supper, the Sacrifice of

the Cross, and the Sacrifice of the Mass one and
the same Sacrifice?
A. The Last Supper, the Sacrifice of the Cross,
and the Sacrifice of the Mass are one and the same
79
Sacrifice, because the Victim and the Priest, Jesus

Christ, is the same in all three.
Q. How do the Sacrifice of the Cross and the

Sacrifice of the Mass differ?
A. The Sacrifice of the Cross and the Sacrifice
of the Mass differ in three ways: (1) The Sac-
rifice of the Cross was bloody, the Sacrifice of the
Mass is an unbloody and commemorative Sacri-
fice; (2) On the Cross Jesus Christ offered Him-
self by Himself, in the Mass He offers Himself
by the hands of the ministering Priest; (3) On
the Cross Christ merited our salvation, in the Mass
He applies His merits to the faithful.
Q. Which is the best manner of assisting at
Mass ?
A. The best manner of assisting at Mass is to
offer it to God
in union with the priest, to medi-
tate on Christ’s suffering and death, and to re-
ceive Holy Communion.
Q. Why are Ceremonies used in divine worship ?
A. Ceremonies are used in divine worship, be-
cause: (1) They are prompted by the human
heart; (2) They raise the mind and heart to God;
(3) They are pleasing to God.
Q. Were the Rites and Ceremonies of the Mass
instituted by Christ or by the Church ?
A. The Eites and Ceremonies of the Mass were
instituted by the Church.
Q. What do the Ceremonies of the Mass repre-
sent ?
A. The Ceremonies of the Mass represent the
details of the Sacrifice of Calvary. (For an ex-
planation of the Ceremonies of the Mass, see
^^THE MISSION EEMEMBEANCE,” pages
39-79.)
80
4. Penance —
The Forgiveness of Sins —
The Power of the Keys.
Q. What is Penance?
A. Penance is the Sacrament in which sins com-
mitted after Baptism are forgiven.
Q. How does the Sacrament of Penance for-
give sins?
A. The Sacrament of Penance forgives sins
through the Absolution of the Priest.
Q. When did Jesus Christ give the priest the
power of forgiving sins?
A. Jesus Christ gave the priest the power of
forgiving sins when He said Whose sins you
:
shall forgive, they are forgiven them; whose sins

you shall retain, they are retained.’’ Jno. xx, 23.
Q. Why did Christ delegate the power of for-
giving sins?
A. Christ delegated the power of forgiving sins,
because: (1) He is infinitely merciful; (2) He,
knowing the weakness of human nature, and the
temptations and allurements to sin, saw that sins
would be committed after the reception of Bap-
tism; (3) He wished to give every repentant sin-
ner an occasion of reconciliation and the certamty
of divine pardon.
Q. What consolation does the Sacrament of Pen-
ance give to a repentant soul ?
A. The Sacrament of Penance: (1) Gives di-
vine certainty to the repentant soul that past sins
are forgiven; (2) It gives peace and joy in recon-
ciling the soul to God; (3) It infuses courage and
hope to serve God faithfully in the future.
Q. Why is the power of forgiving sins called the
Power of the Keys?
81
A. The power of forgiving sins is called the

Power of The Keys^ because, when promising it,
Christ said to St. Peter I will give to thee the
:
keys of the Kingdom of Heaven,” Matt, xvi, 19.
5, Auricular Confession.
Q. What is Confession f
A. Confession is the telling of our sins to the
priest of God to obtain forgiveness.
Q. What testimony have we that Auricular Con-
fession was practiced in the early Church?
A. We have the testimony of the Fathers of the
Church that Auricular Confession was always
practiced in the early Church, for example: (1)
St. John 4" Idl: we confess our sins. He is
faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from iniquity.^^ (2) St. Cyprian
+ 257: ^^Let each confess his sins, and the satis-
faction and remission made through the priest are
pleasing before the Lord.^^ Confession is made
with inquiry into the life of him who is doing
penance, nor may anyone come to Communion, ex-
cept the hand shall have been imposed on him by
theclergy.^^ .
(3) St. Athanasius
. 1- 373:
He who confesses in Penance, receives through

the priest, by the grace of Christ, the remission of
his sins.^^ (4) St. Ambrose 1- 397 The poi-
:
son is sin ; confession is the remedy.^^ God

promised mercy to all and granted his priests per-
mission to loose all without exception.^’
Q. What must the penitent do to obtain for-
giveness ?
A. To obtain forgiveness the penitent must (1)
Examine his conscience; (2) Be sorry for his sins;
(3) Eesolve never more to offend God; (4) Con-
82
fess his sins to the priest; (5) Perform the pen-
ance that the priest imposes.
Q. How can the penitent easily examine his con-
science ?
A. The penitent can easily examine his con-
science by consulting the Examination of Con-
science in his Prayerbook. (See THE
MIS-
SION EEMEMBEANCE, pageo 269, 271, 275.)
Q. What motives may prompt the sinner to true
repentance?
A. The motives that may prompt a sinner to
true repentance, are, the Fear of God and the Love
of God.
Q. What does the Fear of God do?
A. The Fear of God mov«s the sinner to turn
from sin because he dreads the pains of hell and
the loss of heaven. This sorrow is called Imper-
fect Contrition.
Q. What does the Love of God do ?
A. The Love of God prompts the sinner to re-
turn to God because God is infinitely good and de-
serving of all love. This sorrow is called Perfect
Contrition. *
Q. May Perfect Contrition remit mortal sin?

A. Perfect Contrition, united with the resolu-
tion of going to confession, remits mortal sin.
Q. Why must the penitent detest sin more than
any other evil?
A. The sinner must detest sin more than any
other evil because sin is the greatest evil.
Q. Must the penitent feel his sorrow?
A. It not necessary for the penitent to feel his
is
sorrow, because contrition is essentially an act of
the will.
83
(^. Howis a soul moved to sorrow for sin?

A. Asoul is moved to sorrow for sin by re-
flecting on the Shortness of Life, the Certainty
of Death, the transient gratification of sin, the
Joys of Heaven, the Torments of Hell, the Mercy
of God, and the Price of sin paid by the Saviour
on the Cross.
Q. In what does the Purpose of Amendment
consist ?
A. The Purpose of Amendment consists in a
fixed determination to avoid at least all mortal
sin and its proximate occasion, and to use the
necessary means to persevere in the friendship of
God.
Q. What is the Proximate Occasion of sin?
A. The Proximate Occasion of sin is any per-
son, place or thing, that easily leads us into sin.
Q. What sins must the penitent confess?
A. The penitent must confess all his mortal
sins, their number and the circumstances which
change their nature.
Q. If without his fault a person forgets a mor~
tal sin in Confession is it forgiven?
A. If without his fault a person forgets a mor-
tal sin in Confession^ the sin is forgiven, but must
be confessed later if it comes to mind.
Q. What sin is it wilfully to conceal a mortal
sin in Confession?
A. Wilfully to conceal a mortal sin in Con-
fession is a sacrilege, or an abuse of the Sacra-
ment, which renders the confession worthless.
Q. How can a bad confession be remedied?
A. A bad confession can be remedied only by
a General Confession, or the repetition of all the
:
84
confessions that have been made since the last
worthy confession.
Q. Is it well to include some past sins when we
have only venial sins to confess?
A. It is well to include some past sins^ for which
we are sorry^ when we have only venial sins to
confess, so that we receive the benefit of Absolu-
tion.
Q. What should we do on entering the Con-

fessional ?
A. On
entering the Confessional we should
kneel, makethe Sign of the Cross, and say
Bless me, Father. It is (state length of time)
since my last confession. Since then I have (men-
tion the sins). I also include in this confession
all my past sins, and especially. ...
I hum-
bly ask pardon of God and you, my Spiritual Fa-
ther.
Q. Has a priest ever revealed the confession of

anyone?
A. No priest has ever revealed the confession
of anyone. He is bound to silence, and God
watches over this Sacrament of His mercy by His
special Providence.
Q. What Penance does a priest give in con-
fession ?
A. As Penance the priest usually prescribes the
some prayers or the performance of
recitation of
some good work.
6. Indulgences.
Q. What
is an Indulgence?
A. An
Indulgence is the remission of the tem-
poral punishment due to sin.
85
Q. How are the Indulgences divided?

A. Indulgences are divided into Plenary and
Partial.
Q. Whatis a Plenary Indulgence ?
A. APlenary Indulgence is the full remission
of the temporal punishment due to sin.
Q. What is a Partial Indulgence?
A. A Partial Indulgence is the remission in
part of the temporal punishment due to sin.
Q. Why can the Church grant an Indulgence?
A. The Church can grant an Indulgence^ be-
cause Christ gave her the power to forgive sin and
the punishment due to sin.
Q. How does the Church grant an Indulgence?
A. The Church grants an Indulgence by apply-
ing to the faithful the merits of Jesus Christ out-
side of the Sacraments.
Q. What must a person do to gain an Indul-
gence?
A. To gain an Indulgence a person must be in
a state of grace and perform the works prescribed.
7. Extreme Unction.
Q. What is Extreme Unction?
A. Extreme Unction is the Sacrament which
gives grace and sometimes restores health to those
who are in danger of death from sickness.
Q. Who is the minister of Extreme Unction?
A. The Priest is the minister of Extreme Unc-
tion.
Q. How does the Priest give Extreme Unction ?

A. The Priest gives Extreme Unction by pray-
ing over the sick and anointing them in the name
of the Lord.
Q. When should the Priest be called to a side
person ?
A. A Priest should be called to a sick person
when the illness has become serious.
Q. What
are the effects of Extreme Unction?
A. The of Extreme Unction are:
effects (1)
An increase of grace; (2) Eesignation to God’s
will; (3) Comfort in pain; (4) Strength in temp-
tation; (5) Eemission of venial sin; (6) Ee-
mission of mortal sins, if the sick person be sorry
, for them; (7) The restoration of health if God
see fit.
8. Holy Orders.
Q. What is Holy Orders?
A. Holy Orders is the Sacrament by which the
Ministers of the Church are ordained and receive
the power and grace to perform their sacred du-
ties.
Q. What is necessary to receive Holy Orders

worthily ?
A. To receive Holy Orders worthily it is nec-
essary to be in the state of grace, to have the nec-
essary knowledge, and the divine vocation for this
sacred office.
Q. Is it a source of blessing to have a priest in
the family?
A. It is a source of countless blessings to have a
priest in the family.
9. Matrimony.
Q. What Matrimony?
is
A. Matrimony is a Sacrament which unites and
sanctifies the Christian man and woman in lawful
marriage.
:
87
Q. How can the bond of Christian marriage

dissolved?
A. The bond of a Christian marriage can be
broken only by the death of husband or wife.
Q. What are the effects of the Sacrameni of
matrimony ?
A. The Sacrament of matrimony
effects of the
are, (1) Tosanctify the love of husband and
wife; (2) It gives them the strength to bear up
with each other’s weaknesses; (3) To enable them
to bring up their children in the fear and love of
God.
Q. How should those called to the Marriage
State prepare themselves for this Sacrament?
A. Those called to the Married State should
prepare themselves for this Sacrament by living
a life of practical faith and holy purity, by con-
sulting the parents, and by notifying their Pastor
about a month before the marriage.
Q. What is an ideal Catholic Wedding?
A. An ideal Catholic Wedding is one in which
(1) The contracting parties are both practical
Catholics; (2) The Bonds of Marriage have been
published on three successive Sundays; and (3)
The contracting parties are married at a Nuptial
Mass and receive Holy Communion.
CHAPTEE III
PRAYER — DEVOTION TO MARY INTERCESSION OF
THE SAINTS VENERATION OF SAINTS, RELICS
AND IMAGES — PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD.
Q. What is Prayer?
A. Prayer is asking God’s help.
:
88
Q. Is prayer necessary to salvation?

A. For those who have reached the use of reason
prayer is necessary for salvation.
Q. Why is prayer necessary
to salvation for
those who have reached
the use of reason ?
A. Prayer is necessary to salvation for those
who have reached the use of reason, because God
will not give them the grace to avoid evil and do
good, unless they submit themselves to the influ-
ence of His grace of their own free will.
Q. How do we pray always?
A. We pray always, By reciting vocal pray-
(1)
ers at stated times; (2) By renewing our good in-
tention frequently; (3) And by keeping our minds
busied with spiritual things while performing our
daily work.
Q. Why do Catholics honor and love Mary?

A. Catholics honor and love Mary, because
(1) God honors her above all other creatures; (2)
Mary has given us Spiritual Life in the person of
her divine Son.
Q. What is the Communion of Saints?

A. The Communion of Saints is the union of
charity and good will that unites all God’s friends
in heaven, on earth and in purgatory.
Q. Why can the Saints pray for us?

A. The Saints can pray for us, because they
have influence with God, who makes our wants
known to them.
Q. Is it lawful to honor the Saints?
A. It is lawful to honor the Saints because we
thereby honor God whose grace has made them
Saints.
89
Q. Do Catholics adore Belies and Images of

Saints f
A. Catholics adore God alone. They honor the
relics and images of the Saints as precious souve-
nirs of the champions of the Faith and friends of
God.
Q. Is good and useful to pray for the dead?
it
A. It a holy and wholesome thought to pray
is
for the dead that they may be loosed from their
sins. II Mach, xii, 48.
CHAPTEE IV
THE SACRAMENTALS — BLESSINGS OF THE CHURCH
ARTICLES OF DEVOTION CATHOLIC DEVO-
TIONS.
Q. What is a Sacramental?
A. A Sacramental is an external act of Ee-
ligion, established by the Church, to draw God^s
blessings on the faithful.
Q. How many hinds of Sacramentals are there?
A. There are four kinds of Sacramentals: (1)
The Eites and Ceremonies used in the adminis-
tration of the Sacraments; (2) Blessings and
Exorcisms used independently of the Sacraments;
(3) The use of Sacred names, signs and things,
such as the name of Jesus, the Sign of the Cross,
the Use of Blessed Articles; (4) The use of pious
exercises, as the recitation of the Lord^s Prayer,
praying in a consecrated church, giving alms pre-
scribed by the Church, and many others.
Q. What benefits are derived from the devout
use of the Sacramentals?
90
A. The benefits derived from the devout use of
the Sacramentals are five: (1) They excite good
thoughts and increase devotion; (2) They remit
venial sin by inspiring one with sorrow for the
same; (3) They remit temporal punishments as
acts of satisfaction; (4) They strengthen us
against temptations and put the powers of dark-
ness to flight; (5) They sometimes effect health of
body and other temporal favors.
Q. Whence do the Sacramentals derive their
'power?
A. The Sacramentals derive their power from
the institution and prayer of the Church, which is
always pleasing to God.
Q. What is a Blessing?
A. A Blessing, as a Sacramental, is a religious
Ceremony, which draws the protection of God on
a person, or on a thing and those who use it de-
voutly.
Q. What is an Article of Devotion?
A. An Article of Devotion is anything with-
drawn from profane use and devoted to the exer-
cise of Eeligion.
Q. Which are the principal Articles of Devotion

in use among Catholics?
A. The principal Articles of Devotion in use
among Catholics are The Crucifix, Holy Pic-
:
tures, Eosary Beads, Medals, Scapulars, Candles,

Holy Water, and Blessed Palm and Ashes.
Q. What is a Catholic Devotion ?
A. A Catholic Devotion is a pious practice ap-
proved by the Church.
Q. Name the principal devotions approved by
the Church?
91
A. The principal devotions approved by the

Church are, Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament,
Frequent Communion, Devotion to the Sacred
Heart, The Way of the Cross, Devotion to the
Blessed Virgin, The Eosary, the Scapulars, besides
various other devotions in honor of St. J oseph and
other Saints and Angels.
APPENDIX
I
PRAYERS^ DEVOTIONS AND GOOD WORKS

Sign of the Cross.
The Sign of the Cross is made by putting the
right hand to the forehead^ then to the breast,
then to the left and right shoulders, saying
: In
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Ghost. Amen.^^
The Sign of the Cross is a profession of Faith
in the chief mysteries of the true Eeligion. The
words, In the name,^^ express the unity of God.
The words that follow, of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,^^ express the mys-
tery of the Trinity. The making of the Sign of
the Cross expresses the mystery of the Incarnation
and Eedemption, by reminding us that the Son of
God came down from heaven, suffered and died on
the Cross, to save us from perdition and bring us
to salvation.
The Our Father.

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 them who trespass against us. And lead
us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil.
Amen. (Matt, vi, 9-13.)
93
:
94
Hail Mary.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee
blessed art thou among women (Luke 1, 28), and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb (Luke i, 42),
Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us
sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
(Council of Eph.)
The Apostles^ Creed.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, the Cre-
ator 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, suf-
fered 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 Com-
munion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and in life everlasting.
Amen.
The Christian Acts.
(1) An Act of Faith. ^^0 my God, I firmly

believe that Thou art one God in three divine per-
sons, the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost. I be-
lieve that Thydivine 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, be-
cause Thou hast revealed them, who canst neither
deceive nor be deceived.^^
(2) An Act of Hope. ^^0 my God, relying on
95
Thy infinite goodness and Thy

promises^ I hope to
obtain pardon of my help of Thy grace,
sins, the
and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus
Christ, my Lord and Kedeemer/^
(3) An Act of Love. 0 my God, I love Thee
above all things, with my whole heartand 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 asked par-
don of all whom I have injured.^^
(4) An Act of Contrition. 0 my God, I am
heartily sorry for having offended ^hee, and I de-
test 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 deserv-
ing of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help
of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance,
and amend my life.^^
to
The Confiteor.
(5) confess to almighty
God, to the Blessed Mary ever Virgin, to the
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 exceed-
ingly, in thought, word and deed, through my
fault, through my fault, through my most grievous
fault. Therefore I beseech thee, 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. May the Almighty and merciful
Lord grant me pardon, absolution and remission of
all my sins. Amen.^^ . . .
: : :
96
The Blessing Before Meals.

^^-j-Bless US;, 0 Lord, and these Thy gifts, which
we are about to receive from thy bounty, through
Christ our Lord. Amen.^^
Grace After Meals.

We
give thanks for all Thy benefits, 0 Al-
mighty God, who livest and reignest forever; and
may the soul of the faithful departed, through the
mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.^^
The Angelus.
1. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary;
And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary ! etc.
2. Behold the handmaid of the Lord

Be it done unto me according to Thy Word.
Hail Mary etc. !
3. And the Word was made fiesh

And dwelt amongst us.
Hail Mary ! etc.
Pray for us, 0 holy Mother of God

That we may be made worthy of the promises
of Christ.
Let us pray.
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord, Thy grace
whom the incarnation
into our hearts, that we, to
of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the mes-
sage of an angel, may, by His passion and cross,
be brought to the glory of His resurrection,
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
97
May the divine assistance remain always with
us.
And may the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Mysteries oe the Holy Eosary.
THE FIVE JOYFUL MYSTERIES.
1. The annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel.
2. The visit of the Blessed Virgin to her cousin.
Saint Elizabeth.
3. The birth of our Saviour.
4. The presentation of the Infant Jesus in the
Temple.
5. The finding of the Child Jesus in the Tem-
ple amidst the doctors.
THE FIVE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES.

1. The agony in the garden.
2. The scourging at the pillar.
3. The crowning with thorns.
4. The carrying of the cross.
5. The crucifixion and death of our Saviou,
THE FIVE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES.

1. The resurrection of our Lord.
2. The ascension into heaven.
3. The coming down of the Holy Ghost.
4. The assumption of our Blessed Lady into
heaven.
5. The crowning of the most Blessed Virgin
Mary in heaven.
The Three Chief Good Works.

The Three Chief Good Works are: Prayer,
Easting and Almsgiving.
98
The Evangelical Counsels.
The Evangelical Counsels are: Voluntary
Poverty, Perpetual Chastity, and Entire Obedi-
ence.
The Eight Beatitudes.

Matt. 5.
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 tfiey shall ob-
tain mercy.
6. Blessed are the clean of heart ; for they shall
see God.
7. Blessed are the peace-makers ; for they shall
be called the children of God.
8. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for
justice's sake ; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Spiritual Works oe Mercy.

1. To give counsel to the doubtful.
2. To instruct the ignorant.
3. To admonish sinners.
4. To comfort the afflicted.
5. To forgive offenses.
6. To bear patiently the troublesome.
7. To pray for the living and the dead.
99
The Corporal Works of Mercy.

1. To feed the hungry.
2 . To give drink to the thirsty.
3. To clothe the naked.
4. To harbour the harbourless.
5. To visit the sick.
6. To visit the imprisoned.
7. To bury the dead.
II
OBLIGATIONS
The Ten Commandments.

1. I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have
strange gods before Me.
2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord
thy God, in vain.
3. Eemember thou keep holy the Sabbath day.
10.
4. Honor thy father and thy mother.
5. Thou shait not kill.
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
7. Thou shalt not steal.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy
neighbor.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
Thy shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.
The Precepts.
1. Hear Mass on Sundays and Holy days of obli-
gation.
2. Fast and abstain on the days appointed.
3. Confess at least once a year.
4. Receive the Holy Eucharist during the Eas-
ter-time.
100
5. Contribute to the support of the pastor,

church, and school.
6. Not to marry non-Catholics, nor relatives
within the fourth degree of kindred. Not to
marry privately without pastor and two witnesses,
nor to solemnize marriage at forbidden times.
Days of Obligation in the United States.
1. All Sundays of the year.
2. The Circumcision of our Lord. January 1.
3. Ascension day, fourteenth day after Easter.
4. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, August
15.
5. All Saints^ Day, November 1.
6. The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, December 8.
7. Nativity of our Lord, December 25.
Abstinence Days.
All Fridays of the year, except when Christmas
falls on a Friday, and all Fast Days.
Fast Days.
1. The Fridays ofAdvent in the provinces of
Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston.
2. Every day in Lent, except Sundays.
3. Ember days, viz. The Wednesdays, Fridays,
and Saturdays following (a) The first Sunday of
Lent; (b) Whitsunday; (c) The fourteenth day
of September; (d) The third Sunday in Advent.
4. Vigils of Whitsunday of the Assumption of
All Saints and of Christmas.
Note 1. When a Fast Day falls on a Sunday
it is kept on the Saturday before.
2. The dispensations from fasting and absti-

nence granted to the faithful are annually ex-
plained by the Pastors.
101
III
RECEPTION OF A CONVERT
A. The Profession of Faith.

I, ^ having before my eyes the holy
Gospels, which I touch with my hands, and know-
ing that no one can be saved without that Faith
which the Holy Catholic Apostolic Eoman Church
holds, believes, and teaches, against which I agree
that I have greatly erred, in as much as I have
held and believed doctrines opposed to her teach-
ing.
I now, with grief and contrition for my past er-
rors, profess that I believe the Holy, Catholic,
Eoman Church to be the only and true
Apostolic,
Church established on earth by Jesus Christ, to
which I submit myself with my whole heart. I
believe all the articles that she proposes to my be-
lief, and I reject and condemn all that she re-
jects and condemns, and I am ready to observe all
that she commands me. And especially I profess
that I believe : One only God in three divine Per-
sons, distinct from and equal to each other, —
that
is to say, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost: The Catholic Doctrine of the Incarna-
tion, Passion, Death and Eesurrection of our Lord
Jesus Christ; and the personal union of the two
Natures, the divine and the human; the divine
Maternity of the most holy Mary, together with
her most spotless Virginity;
The true, real and substantial presence of the
body and blood, together with the Soul and Di-
vinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the most holy
Sacrament of the Eucharist;
; ;
102
The seven Sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ

for the salvation of mankind; that is to say, Bap-
tism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Extreme
Unction, Order, Matrimony
Purgatory, the Eesurrection of the dead. Ever-
lasting life
The Primacy, not only of honor, but also of
jurisdiction of the Eoman Pontiff, successor of
St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, Vicar of Jesus
Christ; the veneration of the Saints and of their
images; The authority of the Apostolic and Ec-
clesiastical traditions, and of the Holy Scriptures,
which we must interpret and understand only in
the sense which our holy Mother the Catholic
Church has held and does hold; And everything
else that has been defined and declared by the
Sacred Canons and by the General Councils, and
particularly by the Holy Council of Trent, and de-
livered, defined and declared by the General Coun-
cilof the Vatican, especially concerning the Pri-
macy of the Eoman Pontiff and his Infallible
teaching authority.
With a sincere heart, therefore, and with un-
feigned faith, I detest and abjure every error,
heresy and sect opposed to the said Holy Catholic
and Apostolic Eoman Church. So help me God
and these holy Gospels, which I touch with my
hand.
B. Ceremonies of Baptism.
Only sincere, exemplary Catholics should be
taken as sponsors.
The candidate is given a sainPs name. He
should come to the bantismal-font with the collaj*
or clothing about the neck arranged in auch a way
103
that it can be easily removed when the Priest is

about to anoint the lower part of the neck, above
the breast and between the shoulders.
The Priest begins: N ,
What dost thou
ask of the Church of God ?
The candidate answers Faith.
:
What doth Faith give thee ?

Ans. Life everlasting.
The Priest then prays over the candidate and
breathes upon him three times, saying : Depart
from him, thou unclean spirit, and make way for
the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.^^
The Sign of the Cross is made on the forehead
and breast, as a sign that the Christian belongs to
the crucified Saviour. A small quantity of salt is
placed in the candidate’s mouth, with the words:
Eeceive the salt of Wisdom.” —
Salt is a symbol
of Christian wisdom and a protection from the
foulness of sin. Through repeated prayers, bless-
ings, and the imposition of hands upon the head,
the Priest shows the conquest of grace over Satan,
and the change of the sinner into a child of God.
The Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer are re-
cited aloud by the candidate as a profession of
faith. The Priest, after the example of J esus,
•
touches with spittle the ears and nose of the per-

son to be baptized, saying: ^^Be thou opened.’*'
Man’s spiritual sense is opened by Baptism to re-
ceive heavenly truths.
Satan with all his works and pomps must be re-
nounced. The candidate declares, when ques-
tioned: do renounce him. I do renounce
them.”
Next comes the anointing of the breast and
shoulders with Holy Oil. Anointing with Holy
104
Oils in Holy Scriptures and in the Traditions of
the Church is a sign of spiritual strength, and also
of consecration to the service of God.
To the three questions, Dost thou believe,^^
etc., . . the candidate answers,
. I do be-
lie ve.^^ ^^Wilt thou be baptized Answer:
will.^^
When the Priest pours the water on the head,
the sponsors hold their right hands on the shoul-
ders of the candidate.
After Baptism, the head is anointed with chrism,
because the person baptized is to take his place
among Christians; he is of ChrisPs anointed. A
white cloth is placed upon the head to admonish
the Christian to lead a pure and holy life. The
lighted candle, which is placed in the hand, signi-
fies the light of Christian Faith, Hope, and Char-
ity.
After conditional baptism, the Convert goes to
the Confessional to confess his sins and receive
conditional absolution.
IV.
DEFINITIONS OF CATHOLIC TEEMS.
—
Ah stain not to eat meat.
Administer the Sacraments —
to give the sacraments.
Adore — to give the highest honor to God.
Advent — a time of preparation for Christmas.
Agnus Dei — a tablet of wax blessed by the Pope, on
which the figure of our Lord is stamped as the
Lamb of God.”
Almsgiving
—
— giving to the poor out of love for God.
Altar the table on which the Mass is offered.
Angels — good spirits.
Annual Confession and Communion —
the reception of
these sacraments prescribed by the church.
Anoint — to use oil in blessings and sacraments of the
church.
Apostles— the twelve men chosen by Christ to continue
His work.
Apostles^ Creed — the profession of faith composed by
the Apostles.
Articles of Devotion —
things withdrawn from profane
use and destined to aid private devotion.
Ashes, blessed — ashes blessed and distributed on Ash-
Wednesday.
Atonement —the satisfaction which Christ made for the
sins of man.
Attributes of the Church —
inherent qualities of a divine
Church.
Attributes of God —
qualities of the nature and person-
alities of God.
Authority of the Church —
her power to act in the name
of God.
Authorized Driest a—priest commissioned by a Bishop
to labor in his diocese.
Backbiting —speaking with pleasure of the known

faults of the absent.
Balm — the juice of an Asiatic plant (used in Chrism).
Beads— the rosary.
Benignity — kindness.
105
106
Bible — the collection of books containing the inspired
word of God.
Blessed Sacrament —
the real presence of Jesus Christ
preserved in the Holy Eucharist.
Blessings of the Church —
ceremonies which confer a
religious title to divine protection.
Calumny — accusing others falsely.

Candlemas — Feb. the day on which candles are
2, sol-
emnly blessed.
Candles — lighted wax candles on the altar symbolize
Christ the light of the world.
Catholic — universal.
Ceremonies — the outward expression of reverence and
devotion in an act of Religion.
Charity — a divine virtue whereby we love God above
all things and our neighbors as ourselves for the
love of God.
Chrism —
a mixture of olive oil and balm blessed by the
Bishop and used by him in Confirmation.
Communion —the receiving of the Holy Eucharist.
Conscience —
the judgment of right reason regarding the
morality of our actions.
Consecration of a church —
the solemn blessing of a
church.
Consecration of Mass —
the time of transubstantiation.
Contrition —
grief of the soul for having offended God.
Corporal —
relating to the body.
Create —
to make out of nothing.
Desecration —treating holy things wickedly.

Destiny — the object for which a thing was made.
Devils —evil spirits.
Devotion — the reverent inclination of the will towards
God in prayer.
Diocese —the territory under the jurisdiction of a
Bishop.
Dispensation —exemption from a law.
Disposition —
state of fitness.
Divine —relating to God.
Easter Communion — annual Communion prescribed by

the Church.
Ecumenical Councils — the general councils of the
Church.
107
Ember Days — fast days at the beginning of the four
seasons of the year.
Evangelical Counsels —
poverty, chastity and obedience
to be practised in accordance with the advice of our
Savior.
Examination of the Conscience —
an earnest effort to
call to mind the sins we have committed.
Faith —
a divine virtue whereby we believe all that God
has revealed.
Faithful —
all who profess the true faith.
Fasting —
self-denial in eating.
Fast Days —
days on which but one full meal is allowed.
Fortitude —
bravery in encountering the dangers of sal-
vation.
Frequent Communion —
the practice of receiving Com-
munion several times a week.
Garden of Paradise — the home of Adam and Eve before

they sinned.
General Judgment — the public iudgment at the end of
the world.
Grievous Matter — a serious transgression of God’s Law.
E allowed — sacred.
Holy Days of Devotion —
feast days which we are recom-
mended to keep holy.
Holy Days of Obligation —
days which we must keep as
Sundays.
Holy Oils —blessed oils used in administering some of
the sacraments.
Holy Water — natural water mixed with a little blessed
salt and blessed by the priest.
Holy Week —the week before Easter Sunday.
Hope — a divine virtue by which we trust that God
will give us eternal life and the means to attain it.
Immaculate Conception —
the privilege of the Blessed
Virgin Mary whereby she was exempted from in-
curring original sin.
Immortal —
that will never die.
Incarnation —the union of the divine and the human
nature in Jesus Christ.
Indulgence —
an act of kindness on the part of the
108
Church in applying to us the merits of the Savior
outside the sacraments.
Infallibility —
an attribute of the Church of God where-
by she is free from error in teaching doctrines of
faith and morals.
Infinite —
without end or Innit.
Invisible —
what cannot be seen by human eye.
Inspiration —
the divine impulse which moved the sacred
writers to record accurately some of God’s revela-
tions.
Jesus Christ the— God-man. Jesus means Savior,

Christ means the Anointed One.
Justification —
the grace which makes man pleasing to
God.
Law — the will God, guiding man to heaven.

of
Lent — forty days’ penance before Easter.
Limbo — a place where the just souls awaited Christ to
be taken by Him to heaven.
Long-suffering — patience in bearing with the defects of
others.
Lord’s Day — Sunday.
Merit — thecondition of an act entitling it to reward.

Mixed Marriage —
a marriage between a Catholic and a
non-Catholic.
Mystery —
a hidden truth.
Natural Law —a rule of right and wrong given to all

men.
New Law — the law Christ and His Church.
of
Novena — a nine-days’ devotion.
Nuptial Mass — a special Mass marriages.
for
Octave — an eight days’ devotion in celebrating a feast.
Palms — branches blessed and distributed on Palm Sun-

day in memory of Christ’s triumphal entry into
Jerusalem.
Particular Judgment — the judgment immediately after
death.
Pastor —the priest in charge of a congregation.
Pentecost —
the day on which the Holy Ghost came down
upon the Apostles.
109
Pontiff, Sovereign —
the Pope.
Precepts — the principal laws of the Church.
Priest— one who offers the sacrifice of the mass.
Pontius Pilate —
the Roman governor who condemned
Christ to death.
Prophets — the special teachers of Israel to whom God
revealed future events.
Province — the diocese under the jurisdiction of an
Archbishop.
Real Presence —
the presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy
Eucharist.
Relics— the* earthly remains of holy persons.
Religious Liberty —
every one’s right to practice the
true Religion as he understands it.
Remains of Sin —
a certain darkness of' the mind and
weakness of the will resulting from sin.
Repentance — regret for transgressing God's law.
Ritual — the book which prescribes the ceremonies to be
employed in administering the Sacraments.
Rosary — a popular devotion in honor of Mary.
Sacrilege — an abuse of something sacred.

Saint — one whose soul heaven.
is in
Salvation — working out man’s destiny.
Sanctification — the application Christ’s merits to
of
man.
Satan — the chiefof the fallen angels.
Saved, tobe — to enter heaven.
Scapulars — a badge worn honor
in Mary. of
Servile Works — manual labor.
Solemnize Marriage — to marry with Nuptial Mass.
Spiritual — pertaining to the soul.
Substance — that which underlies the appearance a
of
thing and makes what
it it is.
Superabundant — more than enough.
Supernatural — above created nature.
Superstition — the practice
false Religion.
of
Sponsors — the Godfather and Godmother of Baptism
or Confirmation.
Tabernacle —
the apartment in the middle of the Altar
inwhich the Blessed Sacrament is kept.
Temporal —
that which will end with time.
110
Trinity — three persons one God. in
True Church — the Church which has the authority and
sanction Almighty God.
of
Trespass — violate the right of another.
to .
Vestments — garments worn by the priest at the altar.

Veneration — honor given angels and
to saints.
Virginity — a state counseled by our Lord and praised
by Paul.
St.
Visible — what can be seen.
Vocation — a divine to a particular state in
call life.
Vow — a solemn promise made to God.
Way of the Cross — a popular devotion in honor of the
suffering of our Savior.
Worship — the public honor man owes to God. In a
wide sense also applied to the honor given to the
angels and saints.

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,6 5

-The- con«/*r+s Cen^eckutr^

,»^^, -l?PTER GEIERMANN, C. SS. R;

B. HERDER BOOK CO.

B. HERDER BOOK CO.

Thos. P. Brown, C.SS.R.,

Copyright, 1910, by Joseph Gummersbach.

Dear Reverend Father:

the knowledge of the True Faith.

Wishing you every blessing, I am Dear Rev.

Rev. Fr. P. Geiermann, C.SS.R.

PART 11. THE CATHOLIC DOCTRINE IN

SECTION II. WHAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ORDAINS.

2. The Second Precept 56

SECTION III. SPIRITUAL AIDS FOSTERED BY THE CHURCH.

d) The Sacrifice of the New Law 77

THE CONVEET’S CATECHISM

PAET I. THE CATHOLIC DOCTEINE IX

c. Eeligion Leads to Happiness.

every human heart a longing for an endless pos-

Q. What do we call the truths tvhich God has

D. The Canon of the Bible.

A. The present Canon of the Bible was officially

FAITH — GOOD WORKS — THE RULE OF FAITH —

1. The Lord's Prayer.

through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and

1. The Sign of the Cross.

2. The Apostles’ Creed.

teth at the right hand of God, the Father Al-

prayer, because God is infinitely good, has created

c. The Eule of Faith.

D. The Motives of Faith.

Q. Why is Jesus Christ true God?

Q. Who is the Mother of Jesus Christ?

Q. Is Jesus Christ more than one person?

A. Jesus Christ is but one Divine Person. See

Q. How many wills are there in Jesus Christ?

Q. Why are the merits of Christ infinite?

Q. What were the chief sufferings of Jesus

He organized His followers into a Society, which

Q. Wh^ is the Church visible and human?

B.* Her Attributes.

Q. When did Jesus Christ give His divine Au-

sent Me, so I send you.^^ John xx, 21.

to theend of time; (2) Because He promised to

Q. Why is the Church of Christ necessary to

Q. How can a sincere non-Catholic belong to the

sins, and a Sincere Effort to do the will of God as

c. The True Church of To-day.

Q. Who is the Holy Father or Pope?

Q. Why is a visible head necessary for the

and upon this rock I will build My Church, and

Q. What Scriptural proofs are there for the

c. The Infallibility of the Pope.

Q. Who are the successors of the other Apostles f

FAET II. THE CATHOLIC DOCTEINE IN

SECTION I. WHAT THE CATHOLIC

(4.) God loves to show His goodness and mercy

(1.) God created all things in time, for His

Q. What does the Catholic Church teach on the

the Virgin Mary, uniting the human and the di-

(1.) In Christ’s merits is salvation for all of

(5.) Christ gave His Church the infallible

SECTION II. WHAT THE CATHOLIC

Geiermann - The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine

Geiermann - The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine