Chapter 2

Q. 59. Had Jesus Christ more than one Father? A. God the Father, the First Person of the Blessed Trinity, is the only real and true Father of Jesus Christ, as the Blessed Virgin is His true Mother. St. Joseph, whom we also call His father, was only His foster-father or guardian upon earth.

Q. 60. By what names is Our Lord called? A. Our Lord is called by many names, such as Our Saviour, Our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Son of God; Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Messias, Son of David, Lamb of God and others to be found in the litanies. Each name recalls to our mind some benefit received or prophesy fulfilled.

Q. 61. Of what religion was Pontius Pilate? A. Pontius Pilate was a pagan; that is, a worshiper of false gods.

Q. 62. Why do we say "died" instead of "was put to death"? A. We say "died" to show that Our Lord gave up His life willingly; for how could He be put to death against His will, who could always restore His life as He did at His resurrection?

Q. 63. What is death? A. Death in man is caused by the separation of the soul from the body, for Adam was made a living being by the union of his soul and body.

Q. 64. Why do we say of Christ "He was buried"? A. We say that "He was buried" to show that He was really dead.

Q. 65. Did "hell" always mean only that state in which the damned are punished? A. The word "hell" was sometimes used to signify the grave or a low place. In the Apostles' Creed it means Limbo.

Q. 66. Is Limbo the same place as Purgatory? A. Limbo is not the same place as Purgatory, because the souls in Purgatory suffer, while those in Limbo do not.

Q. 67. Who were in Limbo when Our Lord descended into it? A. There were in Limbo when Our Lord descended into it the souls of all those who died the friends of God, but could not enter heaven till the Ascension of Our Lord.

Q. 68. Name some holy persons who died before Christ ascended into heaven. A. Among the holy persons who died before Christ ascended into heaven, we may mention: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, the Prophets, St. Ann, St. John the Baptist, and St. Joseph.

Q. 69. What do we mean by "Judge the living and the dead"? A. By the "living" we mean all those who shall be alive upon the earth at the last day, and by the "dead" those who have died before that time. Or the "living" may also mean those who are in a state of grace; and the "dead" those who are in mortal sin.

Q. 70. How many branches or parts of the Church are there? A. There are three branches or parts of the Church, called the Church Militant, the Church Suffering, and the Church Triumphant.

Q. 71. What do we mean by the "Church Militant"? A. By the "Church Militant" or "fighting Church" we mean all the faithful who are still upon earth struggling for their salvation by warring against their spiritual enemies.

Q. 72. What do we mean by the "Church Suffering"? A. By the "Church Suffering" we mean the faithful in Purgatory, who are being purified from the last stains and consequences of their sins.

Q. 73. What do we mean by the "Church Triumphant"? A. By the "Church Triumphant" we mean all the faithful now in heaven, rejoicing with God that they have defeated their spiritual enemies and attained their salvation.

Q. 74 Explain the "Communion of Saints." A. The "Communion of Saints" means that the members of the three branches of the Church can help one another. We can assist the souls in Purgatory by our prayers and good works, while the Saints in heaven intercede for us.

Q. 75. Does the "Communion of Saints" mean anything else? A. The "Communion of Saints" means also that we all share in the merits of Our Lord and in the superabundant satisfaction of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, as well as in the prayers and good works of the Church and of the faithful.

Q. 76. Have the Saints their bodies in heaven? A. The Saints have not yet their bodies in heaven, as they will have them after the resurrection on the last day. Our Divine Lord and His blessed Mother are the only persons whose bodies are now in heaven.

Q. 77. Are there Saints in heaven whose names we do not know? A. There are many Saints in heaven whose names we do not know, because all who are admitted into heaven are truly Saints.

Q. 78. To whom do we usually give the name of "Saints"? A. We usually apply the name of "Saints" to those only whom the Church has Canonized.

Q. 79. What is the Canonization of a Saint? A. Canonization is a solemn ceremony by which the Church declares that a certain person, now dead, was remarkable for extraordinary holiness while on earth, and is now in heaven worthy of our veneration.

Q. 80. How does the Canonization of a Saint take place? A. In the Canonization of a Saint (1) the accounts of the person's holy life, heroic virtue, and miracles are collected and sent to the Holy See; (2) those accounts are examined by the Holy Father or his cardinals, and, if found to be true and sufficient, (3) the Saint is Canonized or perhaps only beatified.

Q. 81. What is the difference between the honors conferred on a person by beatification and Canonization? A. Beatification limits the honor to be given to the beatified by restricting it to certain places or persons; whereas Canonization is the highest honor and permits all to venerate the Saint everywhere.

Q. 82. Why does the Church Canonize Saints? A. The Church Canonizes Saints (1) to honor them, and (2) to make us certain that they are in heaven, and may, therefore, be invoked in our prayers.

Q. 83. Can the Church err in the Canonization of a Saint? A. The Church cannot err in matters of faith or morals, and the Canonization of a Saint is a matter of faith and morals.

Q. 84. What is the difference between a Saint and an Angel? A. The Saints lived upon the earth in bodies like our own. The Angels never inhabited the earth, though they visit it and remain for a time with us. They have not now and never will have bodies.

Q. 85. Through what means may we obtain the "forgiveness of sins"? A. We may obtain the "forgiveness of sins" especially through the Sacraments of Baptism and Penance.

Q. 86. What do we mean by the "resurrection of the body"? A. By the "resurrection of the body" we mean that the bodies of the dead shall be restored to life, rise again on the last day, and be united to the souls from which they were separated by death.

Q. 87. How is the resurrection possible when the bodies are reduced to ashes and mingled with the soil? A. The resurrection is possible to God, who can do all things, and who, having created the bodies out of nothing in the beginning, can easily collect and put together their scattered parts by an act of His all-powerful will.

Q. 88. What does "life everlasting" mean? A. "Life everlasting" means endless happiness in heaven; as endless misery in hell may be called "everlasting death."

Q. 89. Is the Apostles' Creed an act of faith? A. The Apostles' Creed is an act of faith, because by it we profess our belief in the truths it contains.

THE CONFITEOR.

Q. 90. Say the Confiteor and verses after it. A. I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary, ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore, I beseech blessed Mary, ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me.

May the Almighty God have mercy on me, and forgive me my sins, and bring me to ever-lasting life. Amen.

May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant me pardon, absolution, and remission of all my sins. Amen.

Q. 91. What does "Confiteor" mean? A. "Confiteor" is the first word of this prayer in Latin, and means "I Confess."

Q. 92. How is the Confiteor divided? A. The Confiteor is divided into two parts. In the first part we acknowledge our sins in the presence of God and of His Saints and Angels. In the second part we beg the Saints and Angels to aid us in obtaining forgiveness.

Q. 93. What should we bear in mind in saying any prayer, and especially the Confiteor? A. While saying any prayer, and especially the Confiteor, we should bear in mind that we are in the presence of God, and of His Saints and Angels, who see us and hear us, though we can not see or hear them.

AN ACT OF FAITH.

Q. 94. Say the Act of Faith. A. O my God! I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three Divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; I believe that Thy Divine Son became man, and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, who canst neither deceive nor be deceived.

Q. 95. Give the substance of an Act of Faith. A. The substance of an Act of Faith is: I believe all that God has revealed and the Catholic Church teaches.

Q. 96. Why do we find Acts of Faith of different lengths? A. We find Acts of Faith of different lengths, because some state more fully than others what God has revealed and the Church teaches.

AN ACT OF HOPE.

Q. 97. Say the Act of Hope. A. O my God! relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life ever-lasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

Q. 98. Give the substance of an Act of Hope. A. The substance of an Act of Hope is: I hope for heaven and the means to obtain it.

AN ACT OF LOVE.

Q. 99. Say the Act of Love. A. O my God! I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

Q. 100. Give the substance of an Act of Love. A. The substance of an Act of Love is: I love God above all things for His own sake, and my neighbor as myself for the love of God.

Q. 101. How do we show that we love God above all things? A. We show that we love God above all things by keeping His commandments and by never offending Him for any person or thing.

Q. 102. What does loving your neighbor as yourself mean? A. Loving my neighbor as myself does not mean that I must love him as much as myself; but that I must love him with the same kind of love, that is, I must never do to my neighbor what I would not wish my neighbor to do to me; but, on the contrary, do unto others as I would have others do unto me.

Q. 103. Do an "Act of Love" and an "Act of Charity" mean the same thing? A. An "Act of Love" and "Act of Charity" do mean the same thing, because Charity means love, or it means an act of kindness that comes from love.

Q. 104. How may all persons show Charity to their neighbor? A. All persons may show Charity to their neighbor by never injuring his character and by always speaking well of him.

Q. 105. Are we bound to make Acts of Faith, Hope and Love? A. We are bound from time to time during our lives to make Acts of Faith, Hope and Love; otherwise we risk our salvation.

AN ACT OF CONTRITION.

Q. 106. What does "Contrition" mean? A. "Contrition" means a state of grief or deep sorrow for our sins.

Q. 107. Say the Act of Contrition. A. O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.

Q. 108. Give the substance of an Act of Contrition. A. The substance of an Act of Contrition is: I am sorry for my sins, because they have offended God, and I will never sin again.

Q. 109. Why do we find Acts of Hope, Love, and Contrition of different lengths? A. We find Acts of Hope, Love, and Contrition of different lengths, because some explain more fully than others what we hope for, why we love God and why we are sorry for our sins.

THE BLESSING BEFORE MEALS.

Q. 110. Say the Blessing before Meals. A. Bless us, O Lord! and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

GRACE AFTER MEALS.

Q. 111. Say the Grace after Meals. A. We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits, O Almighty God, who livest and reignest for ever; and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Q. 112. What does "Grace" at meals mean? A. "Grace" at meals means the thanks we offer God for the food we are about to receive or have just taken.

Q. 113. Why should we say "Grace" at meals. A. We should say "Grace" at meals to show our gratitude to God, who has given us all we possess and daily supplies our wants.

Q. 114. Is it wrong to despise or waste our food? A. It is wrong to despise or waste our food, because we thereby slight the goodness of God, who owes us nothing.

Q. 115. Is it a sin to neglect "Grace" at meals? A. It is not a sin to neglect "Grace" at meals, but only a mark of our ingratitude; for if we are to thank God for all His gifts we should do so especially at the time they are given.

THE MANNER IN WHICH A LAY PERSON IS TO BAPTIZE IN CASE OF NECESSITY.

Q. 116. What do you mean here by a "lay person"? A. By a "lay person" I mean here any one who is not a priest.

All such persons and those not dedicated to the service of the Altar, taken together, are called the "laity," as all those who have received sacred orders or who are dedicated to the service of the Altar, taken together, are called the "clergy."

Q. 117. What is meant by "in case of necessity?" A. In "case of necessity" means here that a person not baptized is in danger of death and there is no priest present to administer the Sacrament.

Q. 118. How is Baptism given by a "lay person"? A. Whoever baptizes must:--

Pour common water on the head or face of the person to be baptized, and say while pouring it:

"I baptize thee, in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

N.B.--Any person of either sex who has, reached the use of reason can baptize in case of necessity.

Q. 119. What else is to be observed? A. In baptizing: (1) The water must touch the skin and flow; (2) the same person who pours the water must say the words; (3) parents should not baptize their own children, if there be any other person present who knows how to baptize; (4) a man, if he be present and knows how to administer the Sacrament, should baptize in preference to a woman; (5) the person baptizing must have the intention of doing what the Church does; (6) he must not repeat the baptism after giving it once correctly.

Q. 120. What is this baptism called? A. The baptism given in case of necessity is called private baptism to distinguish it from solemn baptism, which is given in the church with all the ceremonies proper to it.

Q. 121. What do you mean by either sex? A. "Either sex" means man or woman; boy or girl; any person competent to baptize.

Q. 122. When may we say one "has reached the use of reason"? A. We may say one "has reached the use of reason" when he knows the difference between good and bad or right and wrong. Persons acquire this knowledge at about the age of seven years.

CATECHISM.

Q. 123. What is a Catechism? A. A Catechism is a book in the form of questions and answers treating of any subject, especially of religion.

Q. 124. Of what subject does our Catechism treat? A. Our Catechism treats of religion; that is, of the truths we must believe and of the things we must do to serve God.

Q. 125. Why is it important for us to learn the Catechism? A. It is important for us to learn the Catechism because it teaches us how to serve God: and unless we serve God in this world we can not be saved in the next; therefore, our knowledge of the Catechism affects our whole existence.

LESSON FIRST. ON THE END OF MAN.

Q. 126. What do we mean by the "end of man"? A. By the "end of man" we mean the purpose for which he was created: namely, to know, love, and serve God.

Q. 127. How do you know that man was created for God alone? A. I know that man was created for God alone because everything in the world was created for something more perfect than itself: but there is nothing in the world more perfect than man; therefore, he was created for something outside this world, and since he was not created for the Angels, he must have been created for God.

Q. 128. In what respect are all men equal? A. All men are equal in whatever is necessary for their nature and end. They are all composed of a body and soul; they are all created to the image and likeness of God; they are all gifted with understanding and free will; and they have all been created for the same end--God.

Q. 129. Do not men differ in many things? A. Men differ in many things, such as learning, wealth, power, etc.; but these things belong to the world and not man's nature. He came into this world without them and he will leave it without them. Only the consequences of good or evil done in this world will accompany men to the next.

Q. 130. {1} Who made the world? A. God made the world.

Q. 131. What does "world" mean in this question? A. In this question "world" means the universe; that is, the whole creation; all that we now see or may hereafter see.

Q. 132. {2} Who is God? A. God is the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things.

Q. 133. {3} What is man? A. Man is a creature composed of body and soul, and made to the image and likeness of God.

Q. 134. Does "man" in the Catechism mean all human beings? A. "Man" in the Catechism means all human beings, either men or women, boys, girls, or children.

Q. 135. What is a creature? A. A creature is anything created, whether it has life or not; body or no body. Every being, person, or thing except God Himself may be called a creature.

Q. 136. {4} Is this likeness in the body or in the soul? A. This likeness is chiefly in the soul.

Q. 137. {5} How is the soul like to God? A. The soul is like to God because it is a spirit that will never die, and has understanding and free will.

Q. 138. Is every invisible thing a spirit? A. Every spirit is invisible--which means can not be seen; but every invisible thing is not a spirit. The wind is invisible, and it is not a spirit.

Q. 139. Has a spirit any other quality? A. A spirit is also indivisible; that is, it can not be divided into parts, as we divide material things.

Q. 140. What do the words "will never die" mean? A. By the words "will never die" we mean that the soul, when once created, will never cease to exist, whatever be its condition in the next world. Hence we say the soul is immortal or gifted with immortality.

Q. 141. Why then do we say a soul is dead while in a state of mortal sin? A. We say a soul is dead while in a state of mortal sin, because in that state it is as helpless as a dead body, and can merit nothing for itself.

Q. 142. What does our "understanding" mean? A. Our "understanding" means the "gift of reason," by which man is distinguished from all other animals, and by which he is enabled to think and thus acquire knowledge and regulate his actions.

Q. 143. Can we learn all truths by our reason alone? A. We can not learn all truths by our reason alone, for some truths are beyond the power of our reason and must be taught to us by God.

Q. 144. What do we call the truths God teaches us? A. Taken together, we call the truths God teaches us revelation, and we call the manner by which He teaches them also revelation.

Q. 145. What is "Free Will"? A. "Free Will" is that gift of God by which we are enabled to choose between one thing and another; and to do good or evil in spite of reward or punishment.

Q. 146. Have brute animals "understanding" and "free will"? A. Brute animals have not "understanding" and "free will." They have not "understanding" because they never change their habits or better their condition. They have not "free will" because they never show it in their actions.

Q. 147. What gift in animals supplies the place of reason? A. In animals the gift of "instinct" supplies the place of reason in guiding their actions.

Q. 148. What is instinct? A. "Instinct" is a gift by which all animals are impelled to follow the laws and habits that God has given to their nature.

Q. 149. Have men as well as brutes "instinct"? A. Men have "instinct," and they show it when placed in sudden danger, when they have not time to use their reason. A falling man instantly grasps for something to support him.

Q. 150. {6} Why did God make you? A. God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.

Q. 151. Why is it necessary to know God? A. It is necessary to know God because without knowing Him we cannot love Him; and without loving Him we cannot be saved. We should know Him because He is infinitely true; love Him because He is infinitely beautiful; and serve Him because He is infinitely good.

Q. 152. {7} Of which must we take more care, our soul or our body? A. We must take more care of our soul than of our body.

Q. 153. {8} Why must we take more care of our soul than of our body? A. We must take more care of our soul than of our body, because in losing our soul we lose God and everlasting happiness.

Q. 154. {9} What must we do to save our souls? A. To save our souls, we must worship God by faith, hope, and charity; that is, we must believe in Him, hope in Him, and love Him with all our heart.

Q. 155. What does "worship" mean? A. "Worship" means to give divine honor by acts such as the offering of prayer or sacrifice.

Q. 156. {10} How shall we know the things which we are to believe? A. We shall know the things which we are to believe from the Catholic Church, through which God speaks to us.

Q. 157. What do we mean by the "Church, through which God speaks to us"? A. By the "Church, through which God speaks to us," we mean the "teaching Church"; that is, the Pope, Bishops, and priests, whose duty it is to instruct us in the truths and practices of our religion.

Q. 158. {11} Where shall we find the chief truths which the Church teaches? A. We shall find the chief truths which the Church teaches in the Apostles' Creed.

Q. 159. If we shall find only the "chief truths" in the Apostles' Creed, where shall we find the remaining truths? A. We shall find the remaining truths of our Faith in the religious writings and preachings that have been sanctioned by the authority of the Church.

Q. 160. Name some sacred truths not mentioned in the Apostles' Creed. A. In the Apostles' Creed there is no mention of the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, nor of the Infallibility of the Pope, nor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, nor of some other truths that we are bound to believe.

Q. 161. {12} Say the Apostles' Creed. A. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified; died, and was buried. He descended into hell: the third day He arose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty: from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

LESSON SECOND. ON GOD AND HIS PERFECTIONS.

Q. 162. What is a perfection? A. A perfection is any good quality a thing should have. A thing is perfect when it has all the good qualities it should have.

Q. 163. {13} What is God? A. God is a spirit infinitely perfect.