CHAPTER I: Faith

1. Who made you? God made me.

2. Why did God make you? God made me to know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him for ever in the next.

To know God. By hearing instructions, reading good books, knowing what He is, and what He has done for us.

To love and serve God. By keeping His Commandments, and doing all we can to please Him.

3. To whose image and likeness did God make you? God made me to His own image and likeness.

Image. That which exactly represents anything.

Likeness. That which resembles a thing, as a picture or a portrait.

4. Is this likeness to God in your body, or in your soul? This likeness to God is chiefly in my soul.

5. How is your soul like to God? My soul is like to God because it is a spirit, and is immortal.

Spirit. An immaterial living being, having free-will and understanding, as God, the Angels, our souls. We cannot touch or see a spirit.

Immortal. Not mortal, can never die. The soul has a twofold life—(1) natural, which it receives at its creation and never loses; (2) supernatural, or the grace of God, received in Baptism, lost by mortal sin, but regained by a worthy reception of the Sacrament of Penance, or by an act of perfect contrition.

6. What do you mean when you say that your soul is immortal? When I say that my soul is immortal, I mean that my soul can never die.

7. Of which must you take most care, of your body or of your soul? I must take most care of my soul: for Christ has said, ‘What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul?’ (Matt. xvi. 26.)

Profit. That which is for a person’s good.

Suffer the loss, &c. To lose one’s soul and go to hell.

8. What must you do to save your soul? To save my soul I must worship God by Faith, Hope, and Charity; that is, I must believe in Him, I must hope in Him, and I must love Him with my whole heart.

Worship. To adore, as in the case of Almighty God: to honour or respect, as in the case of the Angels, or of the Saints.

Faith. To believe: to have trust or confidence in what a person says. There are two kinds of faith—(1) divine faith, which is relying on the word of God; (2) human faith, which is relying on the testimony of man.

CHAPTER II

9. What is Faith? Faith is a supernatural gift of God, which enables us to believe without doubting whatever God has revealed.

Without doubting, &c. We must believe firmly all that God has made known to us.

Firmness and entirety are the two qualities of faith. The denial of an article of faith by one who has professed the Christian religion is called heresy; to renounce or turn away from our religion is called apostasy; the denial of Jesus Christ by an unbaptized person is called infidelity.

10. Why must you believe whatever God has revealed? I must believe whatever God has revealed because God is the very truth, and can neither deceive nor be deceived.

The very truth. God is truth itself; He is all truth.

Deceive. To cause a person to go wrong, or to try to make him believe that which is not true.

11. How are you to know what God has revealed? I am to know what God has revealed by the testimony, teaching, and authority of the Catholic Church.

Testimony. To bear proof or witness to anything, The Church tells us what she has been taught by our Lord.

Authority. The power or right to do a thing.

12. Who gave the Catholic Church divine authority to teach? Jesus Christ gave the Catholic Church divine authority to teach, when He said, ‘Go ye and teach all nations’. (Matt xxviii. 19.)

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

13. What are the chief things which God has revealed? The chief things which God has revealed are contained in the Apostles’ Creed.

Contained. To be found or held in it.

Creed. A form of belief. There are five forms of the Creed—(1) The Apostles’, composed by the Apostles before they separated to preach the Gospel throughout the world; (2) the Nicene, composed at the Council of Nicaea; (3) the Athanasian; (4) the Creed of Pope Plus IV, which was drawn up immediately after the Council of Trent; and (5) the anti-modernist Creed of Pope Plus X. The Creed teaches us our faith, or what we must believe in order to be saved.

14. Say the Apostles’ Creed. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven; sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Catholic Church; the Communion of Saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and life everlasting. Amen.

Amen. ‘So be it’, or ‘May it be so’. This word at the end of prayers expresses a wish that what we have been praying for may be granted.

15. How is the Apostles’ Creed divided? The Apostles’ Creed is divided into twelve parts or articles.

Articles. Small parts or divisions, short clauses. The articles of the Creed may be divided into three parts—(1) the first article, which treats especially of God the Father and the work of Creation; (2) from the second to the seventh inclusive, in which particular mention is made of God the Son, and the work of Redemption; (3) from the eighth to the twelfth; which treat of God the Holy Ghost and the work of Sanctification.

FIRST ARTICLE OF THE CREED

16. What is the first article of the Creed? The first article of the Creed is, ‘I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth’. Almighty. Being able to do all things; all-powerful. Creator. One who produces or makes something out of nothing.

17. What is God? God is the supreme Spirit, who alone exists of Himself, and is infinite in all perfections.

Supreme. Greatest, highest, above all others. There can be only one who is supreme, and that one is God.

Exists of Himself. He depends on no one for His life or being. God is the origin of all life.

Infinite. Without end or limit in any way,

Perfections. Good qualities or attributes. God alone is perfect in all things. Some of God’s perfections are—His omnipotence, or being able to do all things; His omniscience, or knowing all things; His omnipresence, or being in all places; His eternity, or having neither a beginning nor an end; His goodness, His mercy, His justice, &c.

18. Why is God called Almighty? God is called ‘Almighty’ because He can do all things: ‘With God all things are possible’. (Matt. xix. 26.) Possible. That which one is able to do.

19. Why is God called Creator of heaven and earth? God is called ‘Creator of heaven and earth’ because He made heaven and earth, and all things, out of nothing, by His word.

His word. God had only to command, and what He wished was done.

20. Had God any beginning? God had no beginning; He always was, He is, He always will be.

21. Where is God? God is everywhere.

22. Does God know and see all things? God knows and sees all things, even our most secret thoughts.

Secret. Hidden, concealed.

23. Has God any body? God the Father. God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost are Spirit, but God the Son, Jesus Christ, has a body since his Incarnation.

24. Is there only one God? There is only one God.

25. Are there three Persons in God? There are three Persons in God; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

26. Are these three Persons three Gods? These three Persons are not three Gods; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are all one and the same God.

27. What is the mystery of the three Persons in one God called? The mystery of the three Persons in one God is called the mystery of the Blessed Trinity.

Mystery. The five chief mysteries of our faith are—the Unity and Trinity of God, who will render to every man according to his work; the Incarnation, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord. Besides these there are many other great mysteries, as the Creation, and the Holy Eucharist. We are bound to believe all the mysteries of our faith, because God commands us to do so.

Mystery of the Blessed Trinity. Three Persons in one God, equal to one another in every respect.

28. What do you mean by a mystery? By a mystery I mean a truth which is above reason, but revealed by God.

29. Is there any likeness to the Blessed Trinity in your soul? There is this likeness to the Blessed Trinity in my soul, that as in one God there are three Persons, so in my one soul there are three powers.

30. Which are the three powers of your soul? The three powers of my soul are my memory, my understanding, and my will.

Memory. That power which helps us to retain or keep what we have learnt.

Understanding. That power of the soul by which it grasps the meaning of things.

Will. The power by which we determine our choice, or by which we act.

THE SECOND ARTICLE

31. What is the second article of the Creed? The second article of the Creed is, ‘And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord’.

And in Jesus Christ. The words ‘I believe’ are understood here after the word ‘and’.

Our Lord. Jesus is our Lord—(1) because He has redeemed us by His Precious Blood; (2) because He preserves us from sin by the Sacraments; and forgives us our sins, and will judge us at the end of our life.

32. Who is Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is God the Son, made man for us.

33. Is Jesus Christ truly God? Jesus Christ is truly God.

Is truly God. Jesus Christ is really God, and proved that He was so by His miracles, by what took place at His Baptism, and at His Transfiguration; by His Resurrection from the dead, and His Ascension into heaven.

34. Why is Jesus Christ truly God? Jesus Christ is truly God because He has one and the same nature with God the Father.

35. Was Jesus Christ always God? Jesus Christ was always God, born of the Father from all eternity.

36. Which Person of the Blessed Trinity is Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.

37. Is Jesus Christ truly man? Jesus Christ is truly man.

Is truly man. Jesus Christ is really man, because He has a human nature like ours, consisting of a body and a soul. Our Lord proved that He had a body by suffering the pains of the body, such as hunger, thirst, weariness, and death. He had a soul for we learn that the sufferings of His passion and death began with His soul: ‘My soul is sorrowful even unto death’. (Matt. xxvi 38.)

38. Why is Jesus Christ truly man? Jesus Christ is truly man because He has the nature of man, having a body and soul like ours.

39. Was Jesus Christ always man? Jesus Christ was not always man: He has been man only from the time of His Incarnation.

Time of His Incarnation. Our Lord took unto Himself our human nature when His Blessed Mother said to the Angel Gabriel, ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done unto me according to thy word’. This occurred at the Annunciation, 25th March.

40. What do your mean by the Incarnation? I mean by the Incarnation that God the Son took to Himself the nature of man: ‘the Word was made Flesh’. (John i. 14.)

41. How many natures are there in Jesus Christ? There are two natures in Jesus Christ, the nature of God, and the nature of man.

There are two, &c. The union of the divine with the human nature, in the person of God the Son, is called the ‘Hypostatic Union’.

42. Is there only one Person in Jesus Christ? There is only one Person in Jesus Christ, which is the Person of God the Son.

43. Why was God the Son made man? God the Son was made man to redeem us from sin and hell, and to teach us the way to heaven.

Redeem. To buy back, to save.

Hell. The place, or state, of eternal punishment, set apart for the wicked, after death.

44. What does the holy name Jesus mean? The holy name JESUS means Saviour. (Matt. i. 21.)

Saviour. One who saves others from evil.

45. What does the name Christ mean? The name CHRIST means Anointed.

Christ. The Anointed, the Messiah. Our Lord is called ‘Christ’ because He is a king, a priest, and a prophet; the person chosen for any of these offices being always anointed. Jesus is King of all creation; He offers Himself in sacrifice in the Mass, and is therefore a Priest; He prophesied when on earth, and taught the law of God, interpreted His will, and consequently is a Prophet.

46. Where is Jesus Christ? As God, Jesus Christ is everywhere. As God made man, He is in heaven, and in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.

THE THIRD ARTICLE

47. What is the third article of the Creed? The third article of the Creed is, ‘Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary’.

Conceived by the Holy Ghost. Our Lord was made man by the power of the Holy Ghost. He had no earthly father. St. Joseph was his Foster-Father.

The Virgin Mary. The Mother of our Lord, who by the power of God remained a virgin all her life. She was descended from King David.

48. What does the third article mean? The third article means that God the Son took a Body and Soul like ours, in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

49. Had Jesus Christ any Father on earth? Jesus Christ had no Father on earth: St. Joseph was only his Guardian or Foster-father.

Guardian. One who takes care of another.

Foster father. One who lakes the place of its father in bringing up a child.

50. Where was our Saviour horn? Our Saviour was born in a stable at Bethlehem.

Bethlehem. The City of David, about six miles from Jerusalem. Our Lord was born here, as the prophet Micheas had foretold.

51. On what day was our Saviour born? Our Saviour was born on Christmas Day.

THE FOURTH ARTICLE

52. What is the fourth article of the Creed? The fourth article of the Creed is, ‘Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried’. Pontius Pilate. The Roman Governor who ruled over Judea, the southern part of Palestine. Crucify. To put to death by fastening the body by the hands and feet to a cross.

53. What were the chief sufferings of Christ? The chief sufferings of Christ were—first, His agony and His sweat of blood in the Garden; secondly, His being scourged at the pillar, and crowned with thorns; and thirdly, His carrying His cross, His crucifixion, and His death between two thieves.

Chief sufferings. The greatest or principal sufferings. There were many others besides these. Scourging. Whipping with great severity. Our Lord was scourged in Pilate’s hall. Here He was also crowned with thorns. Carrying His cross. Our Lord carried His cross from Pilate’s hall to the summit of Calvary. The ‘Stations of the Cross’ is a devotion in honour of this journey.

54. What are the chief sufferings of our Lord called? The chief sufferings of our Lord are called the Passion of Jesus Christ.

55. Why did our Saviour suffer? Our saviour suffered to atone for our sins, and to purchase for us eternal life.

56. Why is Jesus Christ called our Redeemer? Jesus Christ is called our Redeemer because His precious Blood is the price by which we were ransomed.

Ransomed. Redeemed or bought back, and so made free.

57. On what day did our Savour die? Our Saviour died on Good Friday. Good Friday. So called because on that day we were saved from sin and hell, and therefore a great good was done for us.

58. Where did our Saviour die? Our Saviour died on Mount Calvary.

Mount Calvary. This is a hill just outside Jerusalem, and was used as a place of execution for criminals, Here St. Helen, the mother of Constantine the Great, erected the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It was she who discovered the true cross, after it had remained hidden for a long time.

59. Why do we make the sign of the cross? We make the sign of the cross—first, to put us in mind of the Blessed Trinity; and secondly, to remind us that God the Son died for us on the cross.

Sign of the cross. We make this sign—(1) to show that we are Christians, or followers of Christ; (2) to ask God’s help in all that we do; (3) to arm ourselves against temptation. The cross is the sign of our Redemption.

60. In making the sign of the cross how are we reminded of the Blessed Trinity? In making the sign of the cross we are reminded of the Blessed Trinity by the words, ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost’.

In the name. This is to signify our belief in the Unity of God.

Of the Father, &c. By using these three names we express our faith in the Trinity of God.

61. In making the sign of the cross how are we reminded that Christ died for us on the Cross? In making the sign of the cross we are reminded that Christ died for us on the cross by the very form of the cross which we make upon ourselves.

THE FIFTH ARTICLE

62. What is the fifth article of the Creed? The fifth article of the Creed is, ‘He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead’.

Descend. To go down.

Hell. Here it means ‘Limbo’, where the souls of the just were detained. The word ‘hell’ is now always used for the place where the devils and lost souls are punished.

63. What do you mean by the words, ‘He descended into hell? By the words, ‘He descended into hell’, I mean that, as soon as Christ was dead, His blessed Soul went down into that part of hell called Limbo.

64. What do you mean by Limbo? By Limbo I mean a place of rest, where souls of the just who died before Christ were detained.

Detained. Held back, kept shut in, not being able to leave

65. Why were the souls of the just detained in Limbo? The souls of the just were detained in Limbo because they could not go up to the kingdom of heaven till Christ had opened it for them.

66. What do you mean by the words, ‘The third day He rose again from the dead? By the words, ‘The third day He rose again from the dead’, I mean that, after Christ had been dead and buried part of three days, He raised His blessed Body to life again on the third day.

He raised His blessed Body, &c. By His own divine power our Lord raised His Body from death to life, thus proving that He was God, and that He had gained the victory over sin and death. Our Lord kept His five sacred wounds—(1) that they might be proofs of His Resurrection; (2) that He might present them to His heavenly Father as everlasting memorials of His Passion; (3) that we might meditate on them as the sources of grace and the refuge of sinners.

67. On what day did Christ rise again from the dead? Christ rose again from the dead on Easter Sunday.

Easter Sunday. On this day Christians commemorate their deliverance from the slavery of sin and the devil through the Resurrection of their Saviour. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of our faith and our hope. This festival is therefore celebrated with great pomp and ceremony.

THE SIXTH ARTICLE

68. What is the sixth article of the Creed? The sixth article of the Creed is, ‘He ascended into heaven; sitteth at the right hand of the Father Almighty’.

Ascend. As God, our Lord had always been in heaven; but as man, He was there only from the time of His Ascension.

At the right hand, &c. This means that Jesus is equal to the Father as God, and next to Him as man.

69. What do you mean by the words, ‘He ascended into heaven? By the words, ‘He ascended into heaven’, I mean that our Saviour went up Body and Soul into heaven on Ascension Day, forty days after His Resurrection.

On Ascension Day. Our Lord went to heaven—(1) to receive His reward as man; (2) to be our advocate; (3) to prepare a place for us; (4) to send the Holy Ghost.

70. What do you mean by the words, ‘Sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty? By the words, ‘Sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty’, I do not mean that God the Father has hands, for He is a spirit; but I mean that Christ, as God is equal to the Father; and, as a man, is in the highest place in heaven.

THE SEVENTH ARTICLE

71. What is the seventh article of the Creed? The seventh article of the Creed is, ‘From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead’. From thence, &c. Our Lord will come from heaven to judge and pass sentence on all mankind.

72. When will Christ come again? Christ will come again from heaven at the last day, to judge all mankind.

The last day. The end of the world, when the following signs will warn us that it is at hand—(1) the Gospel will be preached throughout the whole world (Matt. xxiv. 14); (2) great numbers will forsake the faith; (3) the coming of Elias, Henoch, and Antichrist. (2 Thess. ii.)

73. What are the things Christ will judge? Christ will judge our thoughts, words, works, and omissions.

74. What will Christ say to the wicked? Christ will say to the wicked, ‘Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels’. (Matt. xxv. 41.)

75. What will Christ say to the just? Christ will say to the just, ‘Come ye blessed of My Father; possess ye the kingdom prepared for you’. (Matt. xxv. 34.)

76. Will everyone be judged at death, as well as at the last day? Everyone will be judged at death as well as at the last day: ‘It is appointed unto men once to die; and after this, the judgment’. (Heb. ix. 27.)

Judged at death, &c. Everyone must undergo two judgments—(1) the particular at the hour of death, when the soul is judged alone; (2) the general at the last day, when the body and soul will be again united.

THE EIGHTH ARTICLE

77. What is the eighth article of the Creed? The eighth article of the Creed is, ‘I believe in the Holy Ghost’.

Holy Ghost. Holy Spirit. The Holy Ghost is God like the Father and the Son, and is a distinct Person in Himself. He proceeds from the Father and Son, and is equal to them in every respect. He is often called the ‘Love of God’, the ‘Paraclete’ or Comforter, and the ‘Dove’. He appeared in the form of a dove at our Lord’s Baptism, and in the form of tongues of fire on the day of Pentecost.

78. Who is the Holy Ghost? The Holy Ghost is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity.

79. From whom doth the Holy Ghost proceed? The Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son.

80. Is the Holy Ghost equal to the Father and to the Son? The Holy Ghost is equal to the Father and Son, for He is the same Lord and God as they are.

81. When did the Holy Ghost come down on the Apostles? The Holy Ghost came down on the Apostles on Whit-Sunday, in the form of ‘parted tongues, as it were, of fire’. (Acts ii. 3.)

Whit-Sunday. This is also called ‘Pentecost’, which means fiftieth, because it is the fiftieth day after Easter.

82. Why did the Holy Ghost come down on the Apostles? The Holy Ghost came down on the Apostles to confirm their faith, to sanctify them, and to enable them to found the Church.

Confirm. To make firm or to strengthen.

Sanctify. To make holy, and pleasing to God.

Enable. To help, to assist, to make able.

THE NINTH ARTICLE

83. What is the ninth article of the Creed? The ninth article of the Creed is, ‘The Holy Catholic Church; the Communion of Saints’.

84. What is the Catholic Church? The Catholic Church is the union of all the faithful under one head. ##

Union. The being joined together.

The faithful. All those who have been baptized and who profess the true faith. The whole body of Catholics.

85. Who is the Head of the Catholic Church? The Head of the Catholic Church is Jesus Christ our Lord.

86. Has the Church a visible Head on earth? The Church has a visible head on earth—the Bishop of Rome, who is the Vicar of Christ.

Visible. That which we can see. Our Lord is the invisible Head of the Church.

Invisible means that which we cannot see.

Bishop. An overseer, one who has charge of a diocese; a successor of the Apostles.

Rome. The residence of the Popes, and the chief city of Italy. St. Peter was the first Bishop of Rome.

Vicar. One who performs the office or duty of another; one who supplies the place of another.

87. Why is the Bishop of Rome the Head of the Church? The Bishop of Rome is the visible Head of the Church because he is the successor of St. Peter, whom Christ appointed to be the Head of the Church.

Successor. One who comes after or takes the place of another, and is equal to him in power and authority.

Appointed. Chosen or picked out, placed over.

88. How do you know that Christ appointed St. Peter to be the Head of the Church? I know that Christ appointed St. Peter to be the Head of the Church, because Christ said to him; ‘Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And to thee I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven’. (Matt. xvi. 18, 19)

Peter. A rock. Our Lord added Peter to Simon’s name.

Gates of hell. Devils and non-Catholics.

Prevail. To overcome or to conquer, to defeat.

The keys, &c. The power given to the Apostles and their successors to forgive sins, and to rule the Church.

89. What is the Bishop of Rome called? The Bishop of Rome is called the Pope, which word signifies Father.

Pope. Father. The Pope has charge of our souls, and is therefore our spiritual Father.

90. Is the Pope the spiritual Father of all Christians? The Pope is the spiritual Father of all Christians.

91. Is the Pope the Shepherd and Teacher of all Christians? The Pope is the Shepherd and Teacher of all Christians, because Christ made St. Peter the Shepherd of the whole flock when He said, ‘Feed My lambs, feed My sheep’. He also prayed that his ‘faith’ might never fail, and commanded him to ‘confirm’ his brethren. (John xxi. 15–17; Luke xxii. 32.)

92. Is the Pope infallible? The Pope is infallible.

93. What do you mean when you say that the Pope is infallible? When I say that the Pope is infallible, I mean that the Pope cannot err when, as Shepherd and Teacher of all Christians, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals, to be held by the whole Church.

94. Has the Church of Christ any marks by which we may know her? The Church of Christ has four marks by which we may know her; she is One—she is Holy—she is Catholic—she is Apostolic.

Marks. The signs or notes which distinguish the true Church from all others.

95. How is the Church One? The Church is One because all her members agree in one Faith, have all the same Sacrifice and Sacraments, and are all united under one Head.

Because all her members, &c. The Church is One in faith, in worship, and in government. The members of the Church are those who belong to it.

96. How is the Church Holy? The Church is Holy because she teaches a holy doctrine, offers to all the means of holiness, and is distinguished by the eminent holiness of so many thousands of her children.

Because she teaches, &c. The Church is Holy in her doctrine, in her means of holiness, and in the effects of her teaching upon her children, which has made so many of them Saints. Those means which help us to become holy are the Sacraments, prayer, Holy Mass, good example, hearing instructions reading good books, &c.

Distinguished. Marked out in a special manner.

Eminent. Rising above others, very remarkable.

97. What does the word Catholic mean? The word Catholic means Universal.

Universal. Extending over the whole world.

98. How is the Church Catholic or Universal? The Church is Catholic or Universal because she subsists in all ages, teaches all nations, and is the one Ark of salvation for all.

Because she subsists, &c. The Church is Universal in time, in place and in doctrine.

99. How is the Church Apostolic? The Church is Apostolic because she holds the doctrines and traditions of the Apostles, and because, through the unbroken succession of her Pastors, she derives her Orders and her Mission from them.

Apostolic. Coming down from the time of the Apostles.

Because she holds, &c. The Church is Apostolic in her doctrine, or teaching; in her orders, or priesthood; and in her mission, or that which she has been sent to do.

Pastors. The bishops and priests of the Church, who are the shepherds of the fold of Christ.

Unbroken. To go on without break or interruption.

100. Can the Church err in what she teaches? The Church cannot err in what she teaches as to faith or morals, for she is our infallible guide in both.

To err. To make a mistake.

Faith. What we must believe. The Apostles’ Creed teaches us the chief articles of our faith.

Morals. What we must do. The Commandments teach us morals.

Infallible guide. One who cannot deceive or lead in a wrong way. The Pope, when speaking to the Church ex cathedra, as the successor of St. Peter, cannot err in faith or in morals.

101. How do you know that the Church cannot err in what she teaches? I know that the Church cannot err in what she teaches, because Christ promised that the gates of hell shall never prevail against His Church; that the Holy Ghost shall teach her all things; and that he Himself will be with her all days, even to the consummation of the world. (Matt. xvi. 18; John xiv. 16–26; Matt. xxviii. 20.)

102. What do your mean by the Communion of Saints? By the Communion of Saints I mean that all members of the Church, in heaven, on earth, and in purgatory, are in communion with each other, as being one body in Jesus Christ.

Communion. To make common, to share, to join or unite together.

103. How are the faithful on earth in communion With each other? The faithful on earth are in communion with each other by professing the same faith, obeying the same authority, and assisting each other with their prayers and good works.

104. How are we in communion with the Saints in heaven? We are in communion with the Saints in heaven by honouring them as the glorified members of the Church; and also by our praying to them, and by their praying for us.

105. How are we in communion with the souls in purgatory? We are in communion with the souls in purgatory by helping them with our prayers and good works; ‘it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins’. (2 Mach. xii. 46.)

Purgatory. A place for cleansing or purifying.

106. What is purgatory? Purgatory is a place where souls suffer for a time after death on account of their sins.

107. What souls go to purgatory? Those souls go to purgatory that depart this life in venial sin, or that have not fully paid the debt of temporal punishment due to those sins of which the guilt has been forgiven.

Debt. That which one owes to another.

Temporal. Lasting only for a time.

108. What is temporal punishment? Temporal punishment is punishment which will have an end, either in this world or in the world to come.

109. How do you prove that there is a purgatory? I prove that there is a purgatory from the constant teaching of the Church; and from the doctrine of Holy Scripture, which declares that God will render to every man according to his works; that nothing defiled shall enter heaven; and that some will be saved, ‘yet so as by fire’. (Matt. xvi. 27; Apoc. xxi. 27; 1 Cor. iii. 15.)

Scripture. A writing; the books of the Bible, the written word of God. Render. To pay back, to give.

Defiled. Corrupted or stained, polluted, made dirty.

THE TENTH ARTICLE

110. What is the tenth article of the Creed? The tenth article of the Creed is, ‘The forgiveness of sins’.

111. What do your mean by ‘The forgiveness of sins? By ‘The forgiveness of sins’ I mean that Christ has left the power of forgiving sins to the pastors of His Church. (John xx. 23.)

112. By what means are sins forgiven? Sins are forgiven principally by the Sacraments of Baptism and Penance.

Principally, &c. Because sin is forgiven by worthily receiving other Sacraments, as the Holy Eucharist and Extreme Unction.

113. What is sin? Sin is an offence against God by any thought, word, deed, or omission, against the law of God.

An offence. Something which displeases, either by doing a wrong, or neglecting to do good when we ought. We may offend God by thinking of what is bad, and desiring it, as in the case of the fallen angels; or by saying what is bad, as in the case of cursing, swearing, using bad language, telling lies; or by doing what is bad, as in the case of Cain killing his brother Abel; or by omission, which is neglecting to perform our duty, as in the case of missing Mass on Sundays when a Catholic Mass is available.

114. How many kinds of sin are there? There are two kinds of sin, original sin and actual sin.

115. What is original sin? Original sin is that guilt and stain of sin which we inherit from Adam, who was the origin and head of all mankind. Inherit. To receive or possess, as from an ancestor.

116. What was the sin committed by Adam? The sin committed by Adam was the sin of disobedience when he ate the forbidden fruit.

117. Have all mankind contracted the guilt and stain of original sin? All mankind have contracted the guilt and stain of original sin, except Jesus and the Blessed Virgin, who, through the merits of her divine Son, was conceived without the least guilt or stain of original sin.

Conceived &c. Not having the slightest stain of sin on the soul from the first moment of her existence.

118. What is this privilege of the Blessed Virgin called? This privilege of the Blessed Virgin is called the Immaculate Conception.

Privilege. A particular favour or benefit.

119. What is actual sin? Actual sin is every sin which we ourselves commit.

120. How is actual sin divided? Actual sin is divided into mortal sin and venial sin.

Mortal sin. That sin which causes the death of the soul. Three conditions are necessary in order to make a mortal sin—(1) the matter must be grave; (2) the person who commits it must have a clear knowledge of the guilt of the action with no excuses for sins committed against the Natural Law, the law upon the heart; (3) there must be full consent of the will.

Venial sin. That sin which does not contain the conditions necessary to make a mortal sin. No number of venial sins will destroy God’s grace in the soul or make a mortal sin, but unrepented venial sins can lead to mortal sins .

121. What is mortal sin? Mortal sin is a grievous offence against God.

A grievous offence. A serious or great offence.

122. Why is it called mortal sin? It is called mortal sin because it kills the soul and deserves hell.

123. How does mortal sin kill the soul? Mortal sin kills the soul by depriving it of sanctifying grace, which is the supernatural life of the soul.

Depriving. Taking from one that which he possesses.

Supernatural. Above nature.

124. Is it a great evil to fall into mortal sin? It is the greatest of all evils to fall into mortal sin.

125. Where will they go who die in mortal sin? They who die in mortal sin will go to hell for all eternity.

126. What is venial sin? Venial sin is an offence which does not kill the soul, yet displeases God and often leads to mortal sin.

127. Why is it called venial sin? It is called venial sin because it is more easily pardoned than mortal sin.

THE ELEVENTH ARTICLE

128. What is the eleventh article of the Creed? The eleventh article of the Creed is, ‘The resurrection of the body’.

Resurrection. The act of rising again. The bodies of the just will be immortal and have the four gifts of—impassibility, which will prevent them suffering; agility, which will enable them to pass as swift as though from one end of creation to the other; brightness, which will make them shine like stars for all eternity; and subtility, which will enable them to overcome all obstacles.

129. What do you mean by ‘The resurrection of the body? By ‘The resurrection of the body’ I mean that we shall all rise again with the same bodies at the day of judgment.

THE TWELFTH ARTICLE

130. What is the twelfth article of the Creed? The twelfth article of the Creed is, ‘Life everlasting’.

Everlasting. That which has a beginning, but no end.

131. What does ‘Life everlasting’ mean? ‘Life everlasting’ means that the good shall live for ever in the glory and happiness of heaven.

132. What is the glory and happiness of heaven? The glory and happiness of heaven is to see, love, and enjoy God for ever.

To see &c. This is called the ‘Beatific Vision’.

133. What does the Scripture say of the happiness of heaven? The Scripture says of the happiness of heaven ‘That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love Him’. (1 Cor. ii. 9.)

134. Shall not the wicked also live for ever? The wicked also shall live and be punished for ever in the fire of hell.

CHAPTER III: Hope

135. Will Faith alone save us? Faith alone will not save us without good works; we must also have Hope and Charity.

Good Works. To keep the Commandments; to go to the Sacraments; to attend at instructions and sermons; to read good books; prayer, fasting, and alms-deeds. In order to be saved it is necessary to perform good works ‘For even as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.’ (James ii. 26)

136. What is Hope? Hope is a supernatural gift of God, by which we firmly trust that God will give us eternal life and all the means necessary to obtain it, if we do what He requires of us.

Hope. To expect or desire anything. The sins against the virtue of Hope are—(1) despair, or a want of confidence in God, or distrusting God’s goodness and His promises to us; Cain and Judas were guilty of this sin; (2) presumption, which is a foolish expectation that God will give us salvation even if we do not make use of the proper means to obtain it.

137. Why must we hope in God? We must hope in God because He is infinitely good, infinitely powerful, and faithful to His promises.

138. Can we do any good work of ourselves towards our salvation? We can do no good work of ourselves towards our salvation; we need the help of God’s grace.

Of ourselves. By our own power without the help of anyone.

Grace. A gift, a favour. The principal kinds of grace are—(1) sanctifying or habitual grace, which is the state of the soul when possessed by the Holy Ghost, and which makes it holy and pleasing to God; (2) actual grace, or the action of the Holy Ghost upon the soul, by which God enlightens our understanding, and inclines our will to avoid evil and to do what is good; (3) Sacramental grace, which is the special and distinguishing grace conferred by each Sacrament.

139. What is grace? Grace is a supernatural gift of God, freely bestowed upon us for our sanctification and salvation.

Freely bestowed. Given to us by the free will of God.

Sanctification. Making us holy and pleasing to God.

Salvation. Saving our souls and gaining heaven.

140. How must we obtain God’s grace? We must obtain God’s grace chiefly by prayer and the holy Sacraments.

Prayer. Asking, beseeching. The two chief kinds of prayer are—(1) mental, or praying with the mind alone; (2) vocal, or praying with the voice as well as the mind.

141. What is prayer? Prayer is the raising up of the mind and heart to God.

142. How do we raise up our mind and heart to God? We raise up our mind and heart to God by thinking of God; by adoring, praising, and thanking Him; and by begging of Him all blessings for soul and body.

143. Do those pray well who, at their prayers, think neither of God nor of what they say? Those who, at their prayers think neither of God nor of what they say, do not pray well; but they offend God, if their distractions are willful.

Distraction. A wandering of the mind, idle thoughts.

Willful. That which is consented to.

144. Which is the best of all prayers? The best of all prayers is the ‘Our Father’, or the Lord’s Prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer. This prayer was made by our Lord in answer to the petition of the Apostles, ‘Lord, teach us how to pray’. It was on the occasion of His preaching the ‘Sermon on the Mount’. The prayer is divided into seven parts, the first three of which relate particularly to God, the others to ourselves and to our neighbours.

145. Who made the Lord’s Prayer? Jesus Christ Himself made the Lord’s Prayer.

146. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

’Our Father who art in heaven.’ These words form, as it were, the introduction to the petitions which follow.

147. In the Lord’s Prayer who is called ‘Our Father? In the Lord’s Prayer God is called ‘Our Father’.

148. Why is God called ‘Our Father? God is called ‘Our Father’ because He is the Father of all Christians, whom He has made his children by Holy Baptism.

149. Is God also the Father of all mankind? God is also the Father of all mankind, because He made them all, and loves and preserves them all.

Preserves. Keeps from harm, takes care of us.

150. Why do we say, ‘Our’ Father, and not ‘My’ Father? We say ‘Our’ Father, and not ‘My’ Father, because, being all brethren, we are to pray not for ourselves only, but also for all others.

151. When we say, ‘Hallowed be Thy name’, what do we pray for? When we say, ‘Hallowed be Thy name’, we pray that God may be known, loved, and served by all His creatures.

Hallowed. Made or kept holy; praised, honoured, reverenced.

152. When we say, ‘Thy kingdom come’, what do we pray for? When we say, ‘Thy kingdom come’, we pray that God may come and reign in the hearts of all by His grace in this world, and bring us all hereafter to His heavenly kingdom.

Reign. To have complete power over us, to rule.

153. When we say, ‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’, what do we pray for? When we say, ‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’, we pray that God may enable us, by His grace, to do His will in all things, as the Blessed do in heaven.

154. When we say, ‘Give us this day our daily bread’, what do we pray for? When we say, ‘Give us this day our daily bread’, we pray that God may give us daily all that is necessary for soul and body.

All that is necessary. Whatever we stand in need of—the grace of God and the Holy Communion for our souls; and food and clothing, &c., for our bodies.

155. When we say, ‘Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us’, what do we pray for? When we say, ‘Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us’, we pray that God may forgive us our sins, as we forgive others the injuries they do to us.

Trespasses. Injuries, offences, doing what is wrong.

156. When we say, ‘Lead us not into temptation’, what do we pray for? When we say, ‘Lead us not into temptation’, we pray that God may give us grace not to yield to temptation.

Yield. To give way, to be overcome.

Temptation. Anything that may entice or provoke us to sin.

157. When we say, ‘Deliver us from evil’, what do we pray for? When we say, ‘Deliver us from evil’, we pray that God may free us from all evil, both of soul and body.

Deliver. To liberate or