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THE

CONVERT’S CATECHISM

OF

CATHOLIC DOCTRINE

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BY

,»^^, -l?PTER GEIERMANN, C. SS. R;

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TWELFTH EDITION

B. HERDER BOOK CO.

Cl 5 and 17 South Broadway

ST. LOUIS, MO.

LONDON, W. C,

33 Queen Square

1937

=z«;Ji





THE

CONVERTS CATECHISIVl
OF

CATHOLIC DOCTRINE

-1

J

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.



CONTENTS

PART I. THE CATHOLIC DOCTRINE IN GENERAL.

1.

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. Original Sin— Consequence of the
Fall of Our First Parents .... 41

3. Mortal Sin— Hell 43
4. Venial Sin— Purgatory .... 44
5. Judgment, Particular — General . 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 of Baptism 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. How does 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 is the state of everlasting life, in

which the good see God 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 of God 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-

give those who trespass against us. And lead us

not into temptation: but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

2.

The 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.

3.

Act of Contrition.

0 my God, 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 Jesus Christ, His only

Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy

Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary^ suffered under

Pontius Pilate, was crucified
;
died, and was buried.

He descended into hell: the third day He arose

again from the dead : He ascended into heaven, 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

all men 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 does man perform good worics?
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 is a divine gift by which man firmly

trus*ts that God will give him eternal life and the

means to obtain it.

Q. What is Charity ?

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 Jesus 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.

Q. What is the Blessed Trinity?

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 Jesus 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 is the Church composed?
A. The Church is composed of all who profess

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.

Q. How is the Church of Christ made infallible?
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 the end 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 is, by Faith, Prayer, Perfect Sorrow for his

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 visible head is necessary for the Church
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 Himself from all eternity.

(2.) In God there are three persons. Father,

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

Q. What does the Catholic Church teach on the

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, Jesus 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

Q. What does the Catholic Church teach on the

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.

(14.) Charity unites God^s friends on earth

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

Q. What does the Catholic Church teach on the

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 to heaven and the wicked go

to hell after the Particular Judgment.

(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) By listening to the Sunday Sermons; (2) 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 Holydays 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) ^^If 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 is any wilful breaking of God^s law.

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 first parents were Adam and Eve.

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 is conscience divided?
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. Do transgressions 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 the Catholic Church substitute

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-

mandment a grievous or a light matter?

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 Seventh Commandment?

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-

mandment a grievous or a light matter?

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 is a transgression of the Precepts of the

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 Holydays 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. Why are we commanded to fast and abstain ?
A. We are 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 is a Marriage Dispensation ?

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

spiritual harm 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 the summit 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 Baptism of 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

its Proximate Occasions.

Q. Why are Sponsors given in Baptism ?
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 is Confirmation?

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 it a sin to neglect Confirmation?

A. It is a sin to neglect Confirmation, especially

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. ^^I 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
blessed it, 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.

Q. When was the substance of bread and wine

first changed 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 the power to transubstantiate?

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 is allowed to receive Holy Com-
munion when not fasting when he is in danger of

death from sickness or accident.

Q. What is the dispensation in favor of those

suffering from a lingering illness?

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 is the 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 is not necessary for the penitent to feel his

sorrow, because contrition is essentially an act of

the will.



83

(^. How is a soul moved to sorrow for sin?
A. A soul 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, make the 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

recitation of some prayers or the performance 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. What is a Plenary Indulgence ?

A. A Plenary 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 effects of Extreme Unction are: (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 is Matrimony?

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 effects of the Sacrament of matrimony

are, (1) To sanctify 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, (1) By reciting vocal pray-

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 it good and useful to pray for the dead?

A. It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray

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. Joseph 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 Thy divine Son became man and died

for our sins, and that He will come to judge the

living and the dead. I believe these and all the

truths which the holy Catholic Church teaches, 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 sins, the help of Thy grace,
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 heart and soul,
because Thou art all good and worthy of all love.

I love my neighbor as myself for the love of thee.
I forgive all who have injured me, and 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 to amend my life.^^

(5) The Confiteor. 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

into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation

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.

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.

10.

Thy shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.

The Precepts.

1. Hear Mass on Sundays and Holydays 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 of Advent 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,

Apostolic, Eoman Church to be the only and true

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-

cil of 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 Jesus,

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-

lieve.^^ ^^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.

Ahstain— 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. 2, the day on which candles are 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.

Eallowed— 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 of God, guiding man to heaven.
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— the condition 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 of Christ and His Church.
Novena— a nine-days’ devotion.
Nuptial Mass— a special Mass for marriages.

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 is in heaven.
Salvation— working out man’s destiny.
Sanctification— the application of Christ’s merits to

man.

Satan— the chief of the fallen angels.
Saved, to be— to enter heaven.
Scapulars— a badge worn in honor of Mary.
Servile Works— manual labor.
Solemnize Marriage— to marry with Nuptial Mass.
Spiritual— pertaining to the soul.
Substance— that which underlies the appearance of a

thing and makes it what it is.

Superabundant— more than enough.
Supernatural— above created nature.
Superstition— the false practice of Religion.
Sponsors— the Godfather and Godmother of Baptism

or Confirmation.

Tabernacle— the apartment in the middle of the Altar
in which the Blessed Sacrament is kept.

Temporal— that which will end with time.



110

Trinity— three persons in one God.
True Church— the Church which has the authority and

sanction of Almighty God.

Trespass— to violate the right of another.
.

Vestments— garments worn by the priest at the altar.
Veneration— honor given to angels and saints.
Virginity— a state counseled by our Lord and praised

by St. Paul.

Visible— what can be seen.
Vocation— a divine call to a particular state in 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.