MOST REVEREND DOCTOR JAMES BUTLIU CATECHISM, REVISED, ENLARGED, IMPROVED, AND RECOMMENDED BY THE FOUR R. C. ARCHBISHOPS OF IRELAND, AS A GENERAL CATECHISM. TO WHICH JS ADDF.D THE SCRIPTURAL CATECHISM, BY THE Rt. REV. DR. MfLNER. Suffer the little children to come to' me. and forbid them not, for ol such is the kingdom of God. — Mark x. 14. This is eternal life : That they know thee the only true God, and Jesus ChriBt, whom thou hast sent .-—John xvii. 3. NEW -YORK: PUBLISHED BY D. & J. SADLiER & Co 164 WILLIAM STREET, BO 8 TON:— 12 8 FEDERAL. STREET MONTREAL, C. E : Cor. of St. Francis Xavier and Notre Dame Streets MOST R £ V E II END DOCTOR JAMES BUTLER' CATECHISM, REVISED, ENLARGED, IMPROVED, AND RECOMMENDED BY THE FOUR R. C. ARCHBISHOPS OF IRELAND, AS A GENERAL CATECHISM. TO WHICH IS ADDED THE SCRIPTURAL CATECHISM, BY THE Rt. REV. DR. MILNE R. Suffer the little children to come to me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.—rMdrk x. 14. This i? eternal life : That they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast tent — John xvii. 3. N E W -YORK: PUBLISHED BY D. & J. SADLIER & Co. 164 WILLIAM STREET, B B T-0 N :— 1 2 S FEDERAL STREET MONTREAL, C. E : Cor. of St. Francis Xavier and Notre Dame Streets. in the name vf \he Father, and of tlie Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Our Father, *vho art in heaven, hallowed be th} 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 trespa&ses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. THE ANGELIC SALUTATION. Hail Mary, full of grace, the I *orti is with thee ; blessed art thou amongst women, and ulessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus — Holy Mary, motner of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the houi 01 our death. Amen. THE APOSTLES* CREED. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator 0/ heaven and earth ; and in Jesus Christ his omy Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghosi, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried ; he descended into hell ; the third day he arose again from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty ; from thence he will come to judg* 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. THE CONFITEOR, OR GENERAL CONFESSION. I confess to Almighty God, to the blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly, in thought, word, and deed, through my faulty through my fault, through my most grievous fault : therefore I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me. The Almighty God have mercy on me, and forgive me my sins, and bring me to everlasting life. Amen. THE ANGELUS DOMINI. 1. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary; and she conceived of the Holy Ghost. Hail Mary, full of grace ; the Lord is with thee ; blessed art thou amongst women ; and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen. 2. Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word. Hail Mary and Holy Mary. 3. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among ns. Hail Mary and Holy Mary. V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us Pray. Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts ; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may, by his Passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of his resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord, Amen. May the divine assistance always remain with us ; and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. A PRAYER BEFORE MEAT. Bless us, O Lord ! and these thy gifts, which of thy bounty we are to receive, through Christ our Lord Amen. A PRAYER AFTER JIEAT. We give thee thanks, Almighty God, for all thy benefits, who livest and reignest for ever. Amen. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. ACTS OF CONTRITION, FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. A PRAYER BEFORE THE ACTS. Let us Pray. O Almighty and Eternal God, grant unto us an increase of faith, hope, and charity ; and that we may obtain what thou hast promised, make us to love and practise what thou commandest, through Jesus Chris! our Lord. Amen. AN ACT OF CONTRITION. O my God ! I am heartily sorry for having offended thee, and I detest my sins most sincerely, not only because by them I have lost all right to heaven, and have deserved the everlasting punishment of hell, bui especially because they displease thee, my God, who art so deserving of all my love, for thy infinite goodness and most amiable perfections ; and I firmly purpose, by thy holy grace, never more to ofTend thee. AN ACT OF FAITH. O my God ! I firmly believe that thou art one only God, the Creator and Sovereign Lord of Heaven and Earth, infinitely great, and infinitely good; I firmly believe, that in thee, one only God, there are three Divine Persons, really distinct, and equal In all things, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost; I firmly believe in Jesus Christ, God the Son, who became Man ; was conceived by the Holy Ghost and was born of the Virgin Mary; suffered and died on a cross fb redeem and save us ; arose the third day from the dead, and ascended into heaven ; will come at the end of the world to judge mankind, and will reward the good with eternal happiness, and condemn the wicked to the everlasting pains of hell. I believe these and all other articles which the holy Roman Catholic Church pro- poses to our belief, because thou, my God, the infallible Truth, hast revealed them ; and thou hast commanded us to hear (lie Church which is the pillar and the ground of Truth. In this faith I am firmly resolved, by thy holy grace, to live and die. Malt, xviii. 17, and 1 Tim. iii. 15. AN ACT OF IIOrE. O my God! who hast graciously promised every blessing, even heaven itself, through Jesus Christ, to those who keep thy commandments; relying on thy infinite power, goodness, and mercy, and on thy sacred promises, to which thou art always faithful, I confi- dently hope to obtain pardon of all my sins, grace to serve thee faithfully in this life, by doing the good works thou hast commanded, and which, with thy assistance, I will perform; and eternal happiness in the next, through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. AX ACT OF CIIAKITY. Or of the Love of God and of our Neighbours. t my God ! I love thee with my whole heart and soul, and above all things: because thou art infinitely good and perfect, and most worthy of all my love ; and for thy sake, I love my neighbour as myself. Merci- fully grant, O my God! that having loved thee on earth, may love and enjoy thee for ever in heaven. Amen. PRAYER TO BE SAID BEFORE 31 ASS. Let us Pray. O merciful Father, who didst so love thp world, as 8 to give up for our redemption thy beloved Son ; who, in obedience to thee, and for us sinners, humbled him- self even unto the death of the Cross ; and continues to offer himself daily, by the ministry of his priests, for the living and the dead ; we humbly beseech thee, that, penetrated with a lively faith, we may always assist with the utmost devotion and reverence, at the oblation of his most precious body and blood, which is made at Mass ; and thereby be made partakers of the Sacrifice, which he consummated on Calvary. In union with thy holy church and its minister, and invoking the blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and all the Angels and Saints, we now offer the adorable Sacrifice of the Mass to thy honour and glory, to acknowledge thy infinite perfections, thy supreme do- minion over all thy creatures, our entire subjection to thee, and total dependence on thy gracious Providence, and in thanksgiving for all thy benefits and for the remission of our sins. We offer it for the propagation of the Catholic faith, for our most holy Father the Pope, for our Archbishop, (or Bishop,) and for all the Pastors and Clergy of thy Holy Church, that they may direct the faithful in the way of salvation! for the President of the United States, for the Governor of this State, and for all who are in high stations — that we may lead a quiet and holy life ; for peace and good- will among all states and people ; for the necessities of mankind, and particu- larly for the congregation here present, to obtain all blessings we stand in need of in this life, everlasting happiness in the next, and eternal rest to the faithful departed. And as Jesus Christ so ordained when he instituted at his last supper this wonderful mystery of his power, wisdom, and goodness ; we offer the Mass in grateful remembrance of all he has done and suffered for the love of us, making special commemoration of his bitter Passion and Death, and of his glorious Resurrection and Ascension into heaven — Vouchsafe, O Almighty and Eternal God! (for to thee alone so great a sacri- fice is due) graciously to accept it, for these and all other purposes, agreeable to thy holy will. And to render it the more pleasing, we offer it to thee through the same Jesus Christ, thy beloved Son, our Lord and Saviour, our High Priest and victim : and in the name of the most Holy Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost — to whom be honour, praise, and glory, for ever and ever — Amen. PRAYER BEFORE CATECHISM. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Blessed be the Holy and undivided Trinity, now and for ever, Amen. Come, Holy Spirit! fill the hearts of thy faithful, and kin- dle in them the fire of thy love. V. Send forth thy Spirit and they will be created. — R. And thou wilt renew the face of the earth. Let us Pray. God, who by the light of trre Holy Ghost didst instruct the hearts of the faithful, give us, by this same Holy Spirit, a love and relish of what is right and just, and a constant enjoyment of his comforts, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who, with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth one God for ever and ever. Amen. AFTER CATECHISM. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, we beseech thee through thy holy cross and passion, through thy death and glo- rious resurrection, be gracious and merciful unto us and all linners. Jesus ! hear us ; Jesus ! save us ; Jesus ! have mercy upon us, and strengthen our faith, increase our hope. and make us perfect in the love of God, and of our neighbour , that in this life we may serve thee alone in true justice, and ioi ever extol and praise thee with all the saints in heaven. LESSON I. On God, and the Creation of the world. Question. Who made the world ? Answer. GOD. Q. Who is God? A. The Creator and sovereign Lord of Heaven and earth, and of all things. Q. How many Gods are there ? A. There is but one God, who will reward the good and punish the wicked. Q. Where is God \ A. God is everywhere, but he is said principally to be in Heaven, where he manifests himself to the blessed Q. What is Heaven ? A. The .kingdom of God's glory, and of his angels and saints. Q. If God be everywhere, why do we not see him ? A. Because God is a pure spirit, having no body, and therefore cannot be seen by corporal eyes. Q. Does God see us? A. He does, and continually watches over us. Q Does God know all things ? A. Yes ; all things are naked and open to his cyes> even our most secret thoughts and actions. Heb. iv. 13. Q. Will God judge our most secret thoughts and actions ? A. Yes ; and every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it, in the day of judg* ment. Matt. xii. 36. Q. Had God a beginning ? A. No ; he always was, and always will be. Q. Can God do all things ? A. Yes ; with God all tilings are possible ; and noth- ing can be difficult to him. Malt. xix. 20. Q. How did God make the world ? 11 A. Of nothing, and by his word only ; that is, dy a gingle act of his all-powerful will. Q. Why did God make the world? A. For his own glory, to show his power anc \vi* dom ; and for man's use and benefit. LESSON II. On Man y and the End of his Creation. Q. What is man ? A. One of God's creatures, composed of a body am) bouI, and made to God's likeness. Q. In what is man made to God's likeness ? A. In his soul. Q. In what is man's soul like to God ? A. In being a spirit and immortal, and in being ca pable of knowing and loving God. Q. What do you mean, when you say, the soul is immortal. A. I mean that it can never die. Q. Why did God give us souls capable of knowing and loving him ? A. That we might fulfil the end for which he made us. Q. For what end did God make us? A. To know and serve him here on earth, and after, to see and enjoy him for ever in Heaven. Q. How can we know God on earth? A. By learning the truths he has taught. Q. Where shall we find the truths God has taught? A. They are chiefly contained in the Apostles' creed. LESSON III. On the Apostles' Creed. Q. What does the Apostles' creed contain ? A. The principal mysteries of religion, and other accessary articles. 12 Q. Which are the principal mysteries of religion. A. The Unity and Trinity of God, the incarnation, death, and resurrection of our Saviour. Q. Why are they called principal mysteries ? A. Because most necessary to be explicitly believed; and because all other mysteries of religion are ground- ed on them. John xvii. 3. Q. What do you mean by mysteries of religion. A. Revealed truths which we do not comprehend. Q. Does God require of us to believe mysteries of religion ? A. Yes ; God requires of us to pay the homage of our understanding, and to submit our will to him in ali things. St. Paul. Rom. x. 10. Q. How do we pay the homage of our understand- ing to God ? A. By firmly believing on God's unerring word, whatever he has revealed, be it ever so incomprehensible to us. Q. How do we submit our will to God ? A. By cheerfully doing, in obedience to God, all things whatsoever he commands. Q. Wiiat means the Unity of God ? A. That there is but one God ; and there cannot be more Gods than one. Eph. iv. 6. Q. Why cannot there be more Gods than one ? A. Because God, being supreme and sovereign Lord, cannot have an equal. LESSON IV. On the Trinity, and Incarnation. Q. How many persons are there in God ? A. Three divine persons, really distinct and equal in all things. 1 St. John, v. 7. Q. How do you call the three divine persons? A. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost 13 Q. Is the Father God ? A. Yes ; the Father is God. and the first person o£ the blessed Trinity. Q. Is the Son God ? A. Yes ; the Son is God, and the second person of the blessed Trinity. • Q. Is the Holy Ghost God ? A. Yes ; the Holy Ghost is God, and the third per son of the blessed Trinity. Q. What means the blessed Trinity? A. One God in three divine persons. SL John, v. 7. Q. Are the three divine persons, three Gods ? A. No ; they are one only God, having but one and the same divine nature ; and they are from eternity, i Q. Is any one of the three divine persons more pow- erful or more wise than the other ? A. No ; as the three divine persons are all but one and the same God, they must be alike in all divine per.- fections ; therefore one cannot be more powerful or more wise than the other. Q. Did one of the three divine persons become man ? A. Yes ; God the Son, the second divine person, be- came man. St. John, i. 14. Q. How did God the Son become man ? A. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and was born of the Virgin Mary. Ap. Cr. Q. What do you mean by saying, that the Son of God was conceived by the Holy Ghost ? A. I mean that he assumed human nature, that is, a body and soul like ours, by the power or operation of the Holy Ghost. Q. Where did God the Son take a body and soul like ours ? A. In the chaste womb of the Virgin Mary, and lie was born man of her. Q. How do you call God the Son, made man ? 14 A. Jesus Christ. Q. What fs the meaning of these words, Jesus C krist ? A. Jesus signifies Saviour, and Christ signifies the Anointed ; and St. Paul says that, in the name of Jesus every knee should bow. Phil. ii. 10. Q. Did Jesus Christ remain God, when he became man ? A. Yes ; he was always God. Q. Was Jesus Christ always man ? A. Only from the time of his conception, or incar- nation. Q. What means the incarnation ? A. That God the Son, the second person of the bless- ed Trinity, was made man. St. John, i. 14. , Q. What do you believe Jesus Christ to be? A. True God and true man. Q. Why did Christ become man? A. To redeem and save us. Q. How did Christ redeem and save us ? A. By his sufferings and death on the cross. Q. Was it by his passion and death Christ also satis fied the justice of God for our sins ? A. Yes ; and delivered us from hell, and from the power of the devil. Col. ii. 14. LESSON V. On our First Parents, fyc. Q. How came we to be in the power of the devil f A. By the disobedience of our first parents, in eat- ing the forbidden fruit. Gen. ii. and iii. Q. Who were our first parents ? A. Adam and Eve, the first man and woman. Q. Why did God command our first parents not to oat the forbidden fruit? 15 A. To make them sensible of his dominion over them, and of their dependence on him, and to try their obe- dience. Q. Who tempted our first parents to eat the forbid- den fruit I A. The Devil, envying their happy state. Gen. iii. Q. Whom do you mean by the Devil ? A. One of the rebellious or fallen angels, whom God cast out of heaven. Q. What do you mean by Angels ? A. Pure spirits, that is, without a body, created to adore and enjoy God in heaven. Q. Were the Angels created for any other purpose ? A. Yes ; to assist before the throne of God, and to minister unto him; and they have been often sent as messengers from God to man: and are also appointed our guardians. Apoc. vii. 9. Heb. i. 7. Matt. iv. 6. xviii. 10. Q. Why were any Angels cast out of heaven ? A. Because through pride they rebelled against God. Isaias, xiv. Q. Did God punish in any other way the Angels who rebelled ? A. Yes ; he condemned them to Hell, a place of eternal torments. Q. Why did God make Hell? A. To punish the Devils or bad Angels. Q. Are any other condemned to Hell, beside the Devils or bad Angels ? A. Yes ; all who die enemies to God ; that is, all who die in the state of mortal sin. Q. Can any one come out of Hell? A. No ; out of Hell there is no redemption. Q. How did God reward the Angels who remained faithful ? A He confirmed them for ever in glory. 16 LESSON VI. On original Sin, <$fc. Q. How did God punish the disobedience oi oui first parents? A. They were stript of original justice and innocence* driven out of paradise; and condemned to death with their posterity. Q. Did God inflict any other punishments on our first parents? A. Yes ; he deprived them of all right to Heaven, and of several other blessings intended for them. Q. What were the chief blessings intended for our first parents ? A. A constant state of happiness, if they remained faithful to God. Q. Were we condemned to the same punishments with our first parents ? A. Yes ; we were all made partakers of their sin and punishments: as we would be all sharers in their inno- cence and happiness, if they had been obedient to God. Rom. v. 12. Q. How do you call the sin of our first parents 1 A. Original sin. Q. What is original sin? A. The sin we inherit from our first parents ; and in which we were conceived and born children of wrath. Ephes. ii. 3. Q» Why is it called original sin ? A, Because it is transmitted to us from our first parents, and we came into the world infected with it ; and because it is the origin and source of avary evil and misery to us. Rom. v. 12. Q. What other particular effects follow from the sin of our first parents ? 17 A. It darkened our understanding ; weakened our will; and left in us a strong inclination to evil. Q. What is the reason that darkness in our under- standing, weakness in our will, and a propensity to evil, still remain, with many other temporal punishments, after original sin is forgiven I A. To serve as an occasion of merit to us ; by re- sisting our corrupt inclinations, and by bearing patiently the suffering of this life. LESSON VII. On Jesus Christ, to salvation" Rom. x. 10. Q. Will strict honesty to every one, and moral good works, ensure salvation, whatever church or religion one professes ? 23 A. No ; good words must be enlivened by faith, that worketh by charity. Gal. v. 6. Q. Why must our good works be enlivened by faith ? A. Because the Scriptures says; without faith it is impossible to please God. Ileb. xi. G. Q. Are we justified by faith alone, without good works ? A. No ; As the body without the spirit is dead, so al- so faith without works is dead. James, ii. 26. Q. Must our good works be also enlivened by charity? A. Yes ; for St. Paul says : If I should deliver all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not (harily, it profdeth me nothing. 1 Cor. xiii. 3. O. What' is that charity of which St. Paul speaks ? A. That pure and sincere love for God, which makes us do his will in all things ; and be obedient to his church, which he commands us to hear. Matt, xviii. 17. Luke, x. 1G. Q. Which are the marks and signs of true church ? A. The true church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolical. Q. How is the church one ? A. In being one body and one fold, animated by one rpirii, under one head, and one shepherd, Jesus Christ, who is over all the church. Eplies. i. and iv. Q. In what else is the church one ? A. In all its members believing the same truths, har- ing the same sacraments and sacrifice, and being under one visible head on earth. Q. How is the church holy? A. In its founder, Jesus Christ: in its doctrine and sacraments; and in numbers of its children, who havo been eminent for holiness in all ages. Q. How is the church catholic or universal! A. Because it has subsisted in every age. and va U 24 last to the end of time, and is spread throughout ijl nations. Matt, xxviii. 20. Q. How is the church apostolical ? A. Because it was founded by Christ on his apostles, and was governed by them and their lawful successors; and because it never ceased, and never will cease to teach their doctrine. Ephes. ii. 20. Matt, xxviii. 20. LESSON XI. The Church continued. Q. Why do we call the church Roman ? A. Because the visible head of the church is Bishop of Rome ; and because St. Peter and his successors fix- ed their see in Rome. Q. Who is the visible head of the church? A. The Pope : who is Christ's vicar on earth, and supreme visible head of the church. Q. To whom does the Pope suceeed, as visible head of the church? A. To St. Peter, who was the chief of the apostles, Christ's vicar on earth, and first Pope and Bishop of Rome. Q. What texts of Scripture prove that St. Peter was made head of the church? A. Chiefly the words which Christ said to him : Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, — and I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven. Feed my lambs, feed my sheep. Matt, xvi John, xxi. Q. What do these texts prove ? A. That Christ committed to St. Peter and to his lawful successors, the care of his whole flock, that is, of his whole church, both pastors and people. Q. Who succeed to the other apostles ? A. The bishops of the holy catholic church. Q. Can the church err in what it teaches ? 25 A. No ; because Christ promised to the pastors of his church : Behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world. Matt, xxviii. 20. Q. Why did Christ promise always to remain with his church ? A. That he himself, directing and assisting by his holy spirit the pastors of his church, might teach all age* and nations. Q. What else did Christ promise to his church ? A. That the gates of Hell shall not prevail agaitiM it. Matt. xvi. 18. Q. What other advantage have we in the true church ? A. We have true faith, with the communion of saints and the forgiveness of sins. Ap. Cr. Q. What means the forgiveness of sins? A. That Christ left to the pastors of his church the power of forgiving sins. St. John, xx. 23. LESSON XTL On Sin. Q. What is actual sin ? A. Any wilful thought, word, deed, or omission, con- trary to the law of God. Q. How many kinds of actual sin are there ? A. Two : mortal and veniaL Q. What is mortal sin ? A. A grevious offence or transgression against the law of God. Q. Why is it called mortal ? A. Because it kills the soul, by depriving it of its truo life, which is sanctifying grace — and because it brings everlasting death and damnation on the soul. Q. Does venial sin deprive the soul of sanctifvi ng grace, and deserve everlasting punishment ? A. No ; but it hurts the soul by lessening its love for Cod, and by disposing to mortal sin. — The Scriptures 26 says : He that contemneth small things, shall fall by little and little. Eccles. xix. 1. Q. What is sanctifying grace? A. That grace which sanctifies the soul, and makes it pleasing to God. Q. What do you mean by grace ? A. A supernatural gift, destined by God for our sanc- tification, and to enable us to merit heaven. Q. Is grace necessary to salvation ? A. Yes; without me, says Christ, you can do nothing. John, xv. 5. Q. Is it a great misfortune to fall into mortal sin ? A. It is the greatest of all misfortunes. Q. What should we do, when we have fallen into mortal sin ? A. We should repent sincerely^ and go to confession as soon as possible. Q. Why should ^ e go to confession after we have fallen into mortal sin ? A. That we may recover God's friendship, and be always prepared to die. Q. YVhat should we do, if we cannot go to confession when we fall into mortal sin ? A. We should excite ourselves to perfect contrition, with u, sincere desire of going to confession as soon as we tan. Q. How do you express an act of perfect contrition ? A. O my God, I am heartily sorry for having ofFend- ed thee, and I detest my sins most sincerely, not only because by them I have lost all right to heaven, and have deserved the everlasting torments of hell, but especially because they displease thee, my God, who art so deserv- ing of all my love, on account of thy infinite goodness, and most amiable perfections; and I firmly resolve, by thy holy grace, never more to offend thee, and to amend rnv life. 27 Q. Will perfect contrition reconcile us to God when we cannot go to confession ? A. Yes ; and it is the only means we have to recover God's friendship when we cannot go to confession. Q. What is necessary for our contrition to be perfect? A. That we should be truly sorry for our sins, be- cause they are offensive to God, who is so good in him self ; with a sincere resolution not to offend God any more ; to satisfy for our sins, and to go to confession as soon as we can. Q. How many are the chief mortal sins, commonly called capital and deadly sins? A. Seven,— Pride, Covetousness, Lust, Anger, Glut- tony, Envy, Sloth. y. Where shall they go who die in mortal sin ? A. To hell, for all eternity. Q. Where do they go who die in venial sin? A. To purgatory. LESSON XIII. On Purgatory. Q. What is purgatory ? A. A place of punishment in the other life, where some souls suffer for a time, before they can go to heaven. Matt. xii. 32. Q. Do any others go to purgatory besides those who die in venial sin ? A. Yes ; all who die indebted to God's justice on ac- count of mortal sin. Q. When God forgives mortal sin, as to the guilt of it, and the eternal punishment it deserved, does he* require temporary punishments to be suffered for it I A. \ es ; very often, for our correction — to deter us from relapsing into sin ; and that we should make some atonement to his offended justice and goodness. Num. *iv. 23, and 2 Kings, xii. xiii. xiv. Q. Can the souls in purgatory be relieved by our prayers and other good works ? A. Yes ; being children of God, and still members of the church, they share in the communion of saints — and the scripture says, it is a holy and wlwlesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins. 2 Mace. xii. 46. Q. What means the communion of saints ? A. It means that all who belong to the true church, by their prayers and good works assist each other. Q. Is it sufficient for salvation to be members of tho true church ? A. No ; we must avoid evil and do good. Pet. i. 3? Q. What good shall I do that J may h*we life ever- lasting? Matt. xix. 16. A. If thou wilt enter into life, says Christ, keep tke commandments. Matt. xix. 17. Q. What commandments am I to keep ? A. The ten commandments of God. LESSON XIV. On the Ten Commandments. Q. Say the Ten Commandments of God. A. 1. I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have strange gods before me, &c* 2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. 3. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. 4. Honour thy father and thy mother. 5. Thou shalt not kill. 6. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 7. Thou shalt not steal. 8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife. * See Appendix, p. 69. 29 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's good*. Ex. xx Q. Is it necessary to keep all and every one of the ten commandments ? A. Yes: the Scripture says, whosoever shall offend in one, is become guilty of all — that is, the observance of the other commandments will not avail him to salva vation. James, xi. 10. Q. Which is the first commandment? A. I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have strange gods before me. Q. What is commanded by the first commandment? A. To adore one God, and to adore but him alone. Q. How are we to adore God? A. By faith, hope, and charity ; by prayer and sacrifice. Q. What is faith? A. A divine virtue, by which we firmly believe what God has taught. Q. How do we know with certainty , what God has taught ? A. By the authority of his church, which is the 'pillar and ground of truth. 1 Tim. hi. 15. Q. Why do we believe what God has taught? A. Because he is the Infallible Truth, and therefore cannot deceive, nor be deceived. Q. What is hope ? A. A divine virtue, by which we firmly hope for eter- nal life, and for the means to obtain it. Q. Why do we hope in God ? A. Because he is infinitely powerful, good and merci- ful; and because he is faithful to his word, and has promised all graces, even heaven itself, through Jesus I hrist, to all those who keep his commandments. Q. What is charity ? A. A divine virtue, by which we love God above all for his own sake; and our neighbours as ourselves for the love of God. 30 Q. Why should we love God above all for his own sake 1 A. Because God alone is infinitely good and perfect. Q. How are we to love God above all ? A. By loving him more than ourselves, and more than any thing in the world — and by being disposed to sac- rifice every thing that is most dear to us, even our very lives, if necessary, rather than to offend him. Q. Should we often make acts of faith, hope, and charity ? A. Yes; and particularly when we come to the use of reason, and at the hour of death — also when we are tempted to sin, or have sinned against those divine vir- tues — and when we prepare ourselves to receive anj sacrament LESSON XV. On the First Commandment. Q. What is forbidden by the first Commandment? A. All sins against faith, hope, and charity, and other duties of religion. Q. How does a person sin against faith? Ai By not endeavouring to know what God has taught, by not believing all that God has taught, and by not professing his belief in what God has taught. Q. Who are they who do not endeavour to know what God has taught ? A. They who neglect to learn the Christian doctrine, Q. Who are they who do not believe all that God has taught ? A. Heretics and infidels. Q. Who are they who sin against faith by not pro- fessing their belief in what God has taught ? A. All those, who by any outward act, profession, or declaration, deny the true religion or church, in which they inwardly believe. Q. When, in particular, are we obliged to make open profession of our faith or religion ? 31 A. As often as God's honour, our own spiritual good, or our neighbour's edification requires it. Whosoever, 6ays Clirist, shall confess me before men ; I will also confess him before my Father wlio is in heaven. Matt. x. 32. Q. What does St. Paul say of apostates ; that is, of those who are fallen away from the true religion or church ? A. That it is impossible for them to be renewed again Co penance ; that is, their conversion is extremely diffi- cult. Heb. vi. 4. 6. Q. Why is the conversion of apostates so very difficult ? A. Because, by their apostacy they crucify again the Son of God, and make a mockery of him. Heb. vi. 6. Q. Which are the sins against hope ? A. Despair and presumption. Q. What is despair? A. A diffidence in God's mercy. Q. What is presumption ? A. A foolish expectation of salvation, without mak- ing proper use of the necessary means to obtain it. Q. How does a person sin against the love of God? A. By every sin, but particularly by mortal sin. Q. How does a person sin against the love of his neighbour ? A. By injuring him in any respect ; and by not as- sisting him, when able, in his spiritual or corporal necessities, LESSON XVI. First Commandment continued. Q. What else is forbidden by the first Command- ment ? A. To give to any creature the honour due to God alone Q. x\re we forbidden to honour the saints? A. No; if we only honour them as God's special 32 friends and faithful servants, and if we do not give them supreme or divine honour, which belongs to God alone, Q. How do Catholics distinguish between the honour they give to God, and the honour they give to the saints, when they pray to God and the saints ? A. Of God alone they beg grace and mercy; and of the saints they only ask the assistance of their prayers. Tobias, xii. 12. Q. Is it lawful to recommend ourselves to the saints, and to ask their prayers ? A. Yes ; as it is lawful and a very pious practice to ask the prayers of our fellow- creatures on earth, and to pray for them. Thessal. v. 25. James, v. 16. Q. Why do Catholics kneel before the images of Christ and of his saints ? A. To honour Christ and his saints, whom their images represent. Exod. xxv. 18, 19, 22. Q. Is it proper to show any mark of respect to the crucifix and to the pictures of Christ and his saints ? A. Yes ; because they relate to Christ and his saints, being representations and memorials of them. Acts, xix. 12. Q. Why do Catholics honour the relics of the saints ? A. Because their bodies have been the temples of the Holy Ghost: and at the last day will be honoured and glorified for ever in heaven. Matt. ix. 20, 21. Q. May we then pray to the crucifix, or to the images, or relics of the saints ? A. By no means; for they have neither life, nor sense, nor power to hear or help us. O. Why then do we pray before the crucifix, and before the images and relics of the saints ? A. Because they enliven our devotion, by exciting pious affections and desires, and reminding us of Christ and his saints; they also encourage us to imitate their virtues and good works. Exod. xxv. 18, 19, 22. St John, iii. 14. 33 Q. Is it not forbidden by the first commandment to make images ? A. No ; if we do not make them for gods, to adore and serve them, as the idolaters did. Q. Is there any tiling else forbidden by the first com- mandment ? A. Yes; all dealings and communications with the devil ; and inquiring after things lost, hidden, or to come, by improper means. Q. Are crediting dreams, fortune-telling, and the like superstitious practices, also forbidden ? A. Yes ; and all incantations, charms, and spells ; also, idle observation of omens and accidents, and all such nonsensical remarks. Q. What do you think of theatrical representations, in which religion, its ministers, and sacred rites are ridiculed? A. They are impious and highly criminal, and strictly forbidden by the first commandment LESSON XVII. On tlie Second, Third, and Fourth Commandments. Q. Say the second commandment. A. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. y. What is commanded by the second commandment? A. To speak with reverence of God, of his saints and ministers: of religion, its practices and ceremonies; and of all things relating to divine service. Q. What else is commanded by the second com- mandment ? A. To keep our lawful oaths and vows. Q. What is forbidden by the second commandment? A. All false, rash, unjust, and unnecessary oaths ; Also, cursing, swearing, blaspheming, and profane words Mail. v. 34. James, v. 12. 34 Q. Is it ever lawful to swear ? A. It is ; when God's honour, our own or our neigh hour's good, or necessary defence, require it. Q. What do you mean by an unjust oath? A. An oath injurious to God, to ourselves, or to oui neighbours. Q. Is a person obliged to keep an unjust oath ? A. No ; he sinned in taking it, and would sin more grievously in keeping it Q. Is a person obliged to keep a lawful oath ? A. Yes; and it would be perjury to break it. Q. What is perjury ? A. To break a lawful oath, or to take a false one. Q. Is perjury a great sin? • 4. It is a most grevious sin. Q. Say the third commandment. A. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath da^P. Q. What is commanded by the third commandment? A. To sanctify the Sunday. Q. Which is the chief duty by which we are com- manded to sanctify the Sunday ? A. Assisting at the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Q. What other religious exercises are recommended to sanctify the Sunday? A. Attending vespers, reading moral and pious books, and going to communion. Q. What particular good works are recommended to sanctify the Sunday ? A. The works of mercy, spiritual and corporal ; and particularly to instruct the ignorant in the way of sal- vation, by word and example. Daniel, xii. 3. Q. What is forbidden by the third commandment? A. All unnecessary servile work ; and whatever may hinder the due observance of the Lord's day, or tend to profane it. Q. Say the fourth commandment. A. Honour thy father and thy mother. 35 Q. What is commanded by the fourth commandment A. To love, honour, and obey parents and superiors
    oldiers of Christ, to be faithful to him unto death. Apoc. ii. 10. Q. Js it a sin to neglect confirmation ? A. Yes ; especially in these evil days, when faith and norals are exposed to so many, and such violent tempta- Jons. LESSON XXVI. On the blessed Eucharist. Q. What is the blessed Eucharist 1 A. TIip body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, under the appearance of bread and wine. Q. What means the word Eucharist 1 A. A special grace or Gift of God ; and it means also \ solemn act of thanksgiving to God for all his mercies. 48 Q. What do you mean by the appearances of bread •and wine ? A. The taste, colour, and form of bread and wine, which still remain, after the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ. Q. Are both the body and blood of Christ under the appearance of bread and under the appearance of wine 1 A. Yes ; Christ is whole and entire, true God and true Man, under the appearance of each. Q. Are we to believe, that the God of all Glory is un- der the appearance of our corporal food? A.. Yes ; as we also believe, that the same God of all Glory suffered death, under the appearance of a criminal on the cross. Q. How can the bread and w T ine become the body and blood of Christ] A. By the goodness and power of God, with whom no word shall be impossible. Luke, i. 37. Q. Are we assured, that Christ changed bread and wine into his body and blood ? A. Yes ; by the very words which Christ himself said, when he instituted the blessed Eucharist at his last supper. Q. Which are the words Christ said, when he insti tuted the blessed Eucharist ? A. This is my body — this is my blood. Matt. xy\. Q. Did Christ give power to the priests of his cnurch, to change bread and wine into his body and blood ? A. Yes; when he said to his apostles at his last sup per : Do this for a commemoration of me. Luke xxii. 19. Q. Why did Christ give to the priests of his church so great a power ? A. That his children, throughout, all ages and nations, might have a most acceptable sacrifice to offer to their Heavenly Father — and the most precious food to nourish their souls. * 49 Q. What is a sacrifice ? A. That first and most necessary act of religion, whereby we acknowledge God's supreme domiuion over us, and our total dependence on him. Q. What is the sacrifice of the new law 1 A. The Mass. Q. What is the Mass 1 A. The sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ, which are really present under the appearances of bread and wine ; and are offered to God by the priest for the living and the dead. Q. Is the Mass a different sacrifice from that of the cross 1 ? A. No; because the same Christ, who once offered himself a bleeding victim to his heavenly Father on the cross, continues to offer himself, in an unbloody man- ner, by the hands of his priests, on our altars. Q. Was Mass offered in the old law % A, No ; so great a sacrifice was reserved for the new law, which was to fulfil the figures of the old law, and to give religion its full perfection. Q. At what part of the M ass are the bread and wine changed into the body and blood of Christ ? A. At the consecration. Q. By whom are the bread and w^ine changed into the body and blood of Christ ? A. By the priest ; but in virtue of the words of Christ, whose person the priest represents, at the awful moment of consecration. Q. What are the ends for which Mass is said 1 A. To give God honour and glory ; to thank him for his benefits ; to obtain the remission of our sins and all other graces and blessings through Jesus Christ. Q. For what other end is Mass offered 1 A. To continue and represent the sacrifice of Christ on the cross — This do, says Christ, for the commemoration oj me. 1 Cor. xi. 50 Q. How should we assist at Mass ? A. With great interior recollection and piety : and with every mark of outward respect and devotion. Q. Which is the besc manner of hearing Mass ? A. To offer it to God with the priest for the same pur poses for which it is said ; to meditate on Christ's sufFer iiigs, and to go to communion. LESSON XXVII. On Communion and Penance. Q. What do you mean by going to communion ? A. Receiving the blessed Eucharist. Q. Is it advisable to go often to communion? A. It is ; as nothing can conduce more to a holy life. He that eateth this bread, saijs Christ, shall live for ever. John, vi. 59. Q. How must we be prepared for communion ? A. We must be in the state of grace ; penetrated M§th a lively faith, animated with a firm hope, and inflamed with an ardent charity. 1 Cor. xi, 28. , Q. What means to be in the state of grace ? A. To be free, at least, from the guilt of mortal sin. Q. How are we to be penetrated with a lively faith? A. By firmly believing, that the Blessed Eucharist is Jesus Christ himself, true God and true man, his very flesh and blood, with his soul and divinity. Q. How are we to be animated with a firm hope ? A. By having great confidence in the goodness of Christ, who gives himself to us without reserve, in that banquet of love. Q. And how are we to be inflamed with ardent charity? A. By returning love for love to Christ, and by de- voting ourselves in earnest to his service, all the days of our lives. Q. Is any thing else required before communion? A ^s; to be fasting from midnight; and we should 51 appear very modest and humble, and clean in dreas showing in our whole exterior the greatest devotion and reverence to so holy a sacrament. Q. What should we do after communion ? A. We should spend some time in meditation and prayer; and particularly in acts of thanksgiving. Q. Is it a great sin to receive it unworthily? A. Yes ; Whosoever receives unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord ; and eats judy ment, (that is, damnation,) to himself not discerning ilie body of the Lord. 1 Cor. xi. 27. 29. Q. What do you mean by receiving unworthily ? A. To receive the blessed Eucharist in the state of mortal sin. Q. What should "a person do, if he be in mortal sin, before communion ? A. He must obtain pardon in the sacrament of Penance. Q. What is Penance? A. A sacrament, by which the sins are forgiven, which are committed after baptism. Q. By whose power are sins forgiven? A. By the power of God, which Christ left to the pastors of his church. Q. When did Christ leave to the pastors of his church the power of forgiving sins? A. Chiefly when he said to his apostles, Receive ye the Holy Ghost : whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them : and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. John, xx. 22, 23. ' Q. What must we do, to obtain pardon of our sins in the sacrament of penance? A. We must make a good confession. LESSON XXVIII. On Confession, and on Indulgence. Q. What is the best method to prepare for a good confession ? 52 A. First : earnestly to beg of God the grace to make a good confession. — Secondly : to examine ourselves, carefully, on the commandments of God and of his church ; on the seven deadly sins, and particularly on our predominant passions ; and the duties of our stations in life : that we may know in what : and how often we have sinned by thought, word, deed, or omission. Thirdly: to make acts of faith, hope, and charity. — And fourthly : to excite ourselves to sincere contrition for our sins, Q. What is contrition 1 A. A hearty sorrow and detestation of sin, for having offended God, with a firm resolution of sinning no more. Q. How may we excite ourselves to contrition ? A. By the following motives or considerations : the fear of hell ; the loss of heaven ; our ingratitude in offend- ing God, who is so good to us ; and the injury our sins do to God, who is infinitely good in himself. Q. Do you recommend any other motive to excite sorrow for our sins 1 A. Yes ; to consider that the son of God died for our sins : and that we crucify him again as often as we offend him. Heb. vi. 6. Q. Which of these motives is the best to excite con- trition ? A. To be sorry for our sins because they are offensive to God, who is infinitely good and perfect in himself Q. What should we do at confession ? A. We should beg the priest's blessing • say the con- fiteor ; accuse ourselves of our sins ; listen attentively to his instructions : and renew our sorrow, when he gives absolution. Q. What do you think of those who conceal a mortal sin in confession % A. They commit a most grievous sin by telling a lie to the Holy Ghost — and instead of obtaining pardon, they ;n— r milcn . more the wrath of God. Acts. v. 53 Q. What must persons do, who did not carefully ex amine their conscience ; or who had not sincere sorrow for their sins ; or who wilfully concealed a mortal sin in confession? A. They must truly repent of all such bad and sacrile- gious confessions ; and make them all over again. Q. What is the surest sign that our confessions wer good ; and that we had a sincere sorrow for our sins ? A. The amendment of our lives. Q. What should we do after confession ? A. We should return God thanks; and diligently per- form the penance enjoined by the confessor. Q. What do you mean by the penance enjoined by the confessor ? A. The prayers and other good works which he enjoins on penitents, in satisfaction for their sins. Q. Will the penance, enjoined in confession, always satisfy for our sins ? A. No ; but whatever else is wanting may be supplied by indulgences, and our own penitential endeavours. Q. What does the church teach concerning indulgences? A. That Christ gave power to the church to grant indulgences ; and that they are most useful to Christian people. Cone. Trid. xi. 25. Q. What is the use of an indulgence? A. It releases from canonical penance, enjoined by the church on penitents, for certain sins. Q. Has an indulgence any other efFect ? A. It also remits the temporary punishments, with which God often visits our sins — and which must be suffered in this life, or the next ; unless cancelled by in dulgences, by act of penance, or other good works. Q. lias the church power to grant such indulgences? A. Yes ; Whatsoever, says Christ to St. Peter, thou ihalt loose upon e:trth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. Matt xvi. 19. 2 Cor. ii. 10. o4 Q. To whom does the church grant indulgences 1 A. To such only as are in the state of grace ; and are sincerely desirous to amend their lives ; and to satisfy God's justice by penitential works. Q. An indulgence is not then a pardon for sins to come nor license to commit sin ? A. No ; nor can it remit past sin — for sin must be re- mitted by penance, as to the guilt of it, and the eternal punishment due to mortal sin, before an indulgence can be gained. 1 Cor. v. and 2 Cor. ii. %). Why does the church grant indulgences ? A. To assist our weakness, and to supply our insufrt ciency in satisfying the Divine Justice for our transgress sions. Q. What conditions are generally necessary to gain in- dulgences ? A. A good confession and communion, and a faithful compliance with the other good works, which the church requires on such occasions. Q. What are the other good works, which the church usually prescribes, in order to gain indulgences % A. Prayer, fast, and almsdeeds ; which good works indulgences promote : and on this account also they are most useful to Christian people. LESSON XXIX. On Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. Q. What is extreme unction ? tA. A sacrament which gives grace to die well ; and is instituted chiefly for the spiritual strength and comfort of dying persons. Q. Is extreme unction given to all persons in danger of death ? A. No ; only to such as are in danger of death by sickness. Q. How should we prepare ourselves for extreme unction ? 55 A. By a good confession — and we should bo truly sorry for our sins : and resigned to the will of God, when we are receiving that last sacrament. Q. Who are appointed to administer the sacrament of extreme unction ? A. The priests of the church, as St. James teaches, and as the church has constantly practised. Is any man sick among you ? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray aver him, anointing him wiili oil in the name of the Lord, ination of conscience every night. Prayer said in common, that is, by many together, is certainly more acceptable to God, and more beneficial, than prayer which is offered in private by one individual alone; and on this principal is chiefly grounded the pious and edifying practice in many families, of joining together in prayer every night ; and it is most earnestly to be wished, that every Catholic family did adopt it. The many signal blessings which God has bestowed on those families in which prayers are regularly said in common, should engage every head of a family to intro- duce and establish so laudable a custom ; particularly at night, when all in the family may be assembled with greater convenience. Wliere there are two or three gatli- ered together in my name, says Christ, there am I in the midst of them. Matt xviii. 20. A PRAYER TO OUR ANGEL GUARDIAN. 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