╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ The Baltimore
Catechism ║
║ of Christian
Doctrine ║
║ For The Use
of ║
║ Sunday-School Teachers
and Advanced Classes ║
║ (Also known as Baltimore
Catechism No. 3) ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════╝
by
Rev. Thomas L. Kinkead
These
Catechisms of the Baltimore Series are arranged on a progressive plan. No. 00 gives the Prayers and Acts to be
learned before the study of the Catechisms begins:-No. 0 contains one half the
questions of No. 1 ; No. 1 half the questions of No. 2; No. 2 one-third the
questions of No. 3, and No. 4 (an Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism)
furnishes much additional information with copious explanations and examples.
The same
questions bear the same numbers throughout the series, and their wording is
identical. The different sizes of type
make the Catechisms more suitable to their respective grades, smaller children
usually requiring larger print.
Apart from its
educational advantages, the progressive plan aims at lessening the expense in
providing children with Catechisms, by furnishing just what is necessary for
each grade; it aims also at encouraging the children to learn, by affording
opportunity for promotion from book to book.
These
Catechisms are intended to furnish a complete course of religious instruction,
when, used as follows:
No. 00 for Prayer classes.
No. 0 for Confession classes and certain adults.
No. 1 for First Communion classes.
No. 2 for Confirmation classes.
No. 3 for two years' course for Post-Confirmation
classes.
No. 4 for Teachers and Teachers' Training classes.
Preface To No. 3
I have been
requested by several priests to prepare an abridgment of the "Explanation
of the Baltimore Catechism" that would be suitable as a classbook for
children who have been confirmed or who have completed the study of the
Baltimore Catechism No. 2. The
"Explanation" itself contains more matter than some of these children
can master and it costs a little more than many of them can afford to pay. I have, therefore, selected from the list
given in the back of the "Explanation" a large number of the more
practical and important questions, to which I have added others, with answers,
as full, brief and simple as the matter will permit. These questions and answers are added to
those of the Baltimore Catechism No. 2, but with such distinction in type that
all may see they are not a part of the Catechism prepared by the Council, but
only a development of its meaning.
Whenever
questions on the same subject are repeated in the book their object is to bring
out some new point or to show their connection with the subject-matter there
explained.
AUTHOR.
Catechism of Christian Doctrine
PRAYERS
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 those who trespass against us; and lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
The Angelical Salutation.
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.
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
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.
The Confiteor.
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 everlasting
life. Amen. May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant me
pardon, absolution, and remission of all my sins. Amen.
An Act of Faith.
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.
An Act of Hope.
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 everlasting, through the merits of Jesus
Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
An Act of Love.
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.
An Act of Contrition.
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.
The Blessing before Meals.
Bless us, 0
Lord! and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Grace after Meals.
We give Thee
thanks for all Thy benefits, 0 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.
The Manner in which a Lay Person is to Baptize in Case of
Necessity:
Pour common
water on the head or face of the person to be baptized 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.
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║ THE LESSONS OF THE
CATECHISM ║
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LESSON 1: ON THE END OF MAN
LESSON 2: ON GOD AND HIS PERFECTIONS
LESSON 3: ON THE UNITY AND TRINITY OF GOD
LESSON 4: ON CREATION
LESSON 5: ON OUR FIRST PARENTS AND THEIR FALL
LESSON 6: ON SIN AND ITS KINDS
LESSON 7: ON THE INCARNATION AND REDEMPTION
LESSON 8: ON OUR LORD'S PASSION, DEATH, RESURRECTION,
AND ASCENSION
LESSON 9: ON THE HOLY GHOST AND HIS DESCENT UPON THE
APOSTLES
LESSON 10: ON THE
EFFECTS OF THE REDEMPTION
LESSON 11: ON THE
CHURCH
LESSON 12: ON THE
ATTRIBUTES AND MARKS OF THE CHURCH
LESSON 13: ON THE
SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL
LESSON 14: ON
BAPTISM
LESSON 15: ON
CONFIRMATION
LESSON 16: ON THE
GIFTS AND FRUITS OF THE HOLY GHOST
LESSON 17: ON THE
SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
LESSON 18: ON
CONTRITION
LESSON 19: ON
CONFESSION
LESSON 20: ON THE
MANNER OF MAKING A GOOD CONFESSION
LESSON 21: ON
INDULGENCES
LESSON 22: ON THE
HOLY EUCHARIST
LESSON 23: ON THE
END FOR WHICH THE HOLY EUCHARIST WAS INSTITUTED
LESSON 24: ON THE
SACRIFICE OF THE MASS
LESSON 25: ON
EXTREME UNCTION AND HOLY ORDERS
LESSON 26: ON
MATRIMONY
LESSON 27: ON THE
SACRAMENTALS
LESSON 28: ON
PRAYER
LESSON 29: ON THE
COMMANDMENTS OF GOD
LESSON 30: ON THE
FIRST COMMANDMENT SAINTS
LESSON 31: THE
FIRST COMMANDMENT -- ON THE HONOR AND INVOCATION OF SAINTS
LESSON 32: FROM
THE SECOND TO THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT
LESSON 33: FROM
THE FOURTH TO THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT
LESSON 34: FROM
THE SEVENTH TO THE END OF THE TENTH COMMANDMENT
LESSON 35: ON THE
FIRST AND SECOND COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH
LESSON 36: ON THE
THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH, AND SIXTH COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH AND HEAVEN
LESSON 37: ON THE
LAST JUDGMENT AND THE RESURRECTION, HELL, PURGATORY, AND HEAVEN
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║ LIST OF QUESTIONS ║
╚═════════════════════╝
LESSON FIRST: On
the End of Man.
Q.126. What do we
mean by the "end of man"?
Q.127. How do you
know that man was created for God
alone?
Q.128. In what
respect are all men equal?
Q.129. Do not men
differ in many things?
Q.130. Who made
the world?
Q.131. What does
"world" mean in this question?
Q.132. Who is God?
Q.133. What is
man?
Q.134. Does
"man" in the Catechism mean all human beings?
Q.135. What is a
creature?
Q.136. Is this
likeness in the body or in the soul?
Q.137. How is the
soul like to God?
Q.138. Is every
invisible thing a spirit?
Q.139. Has a
spirit any other quality?
Q.140. What do the
words "will never die" mean?
Q.141. Why then do
we say a soul is dead while in a state of
mortal sin?
Q.142. What does
our "understanding" mean?
Q.143. Can we
learn all truths by our reason alone?
Q.144. What do we
call the truths God teaches us?
Q.145. What is
"Free Will"?
Q.146. Have brute
animals "understanding" and "free will"?
Q.147. What gift
in animals supplies the place of reason?
Q.148. What is
instinct?
Q.149. Have men as
well as brutes "instinct"?
Q.150. Why did God
make you?
Q.151. Why is it
necessary to know God?
Q.152. Of which
must we take more care, our soul or our
body?
Q.153. Why must we
take more care of our soul than of our
body?
Q.154. What must
we do to save our souls?
Q.155. What does
"worship" mean?
Q.156. How shall
we know the things which we are to
believe?
Q.157. What do we
mean by the "Church, through which
God speaks
to us"?
Q.158. Where shall
we find the chief truths which the Church
teaches?
Q.159. If we shall
find only the "chief truths" in the
Apostles'
Creed, where shall we find the remaining
truths?
Q.160. Name some
sacred truths not mentioned in the
Apostles'
Creed.
Q.161. Say the
Apostles' Creed.
LESSON SECOND: On
God and His Perfections
Q.162. What is a
perfection?
Q.163. What is
God?
Q.164. What do we
mean when we say God is "infinitely
perfect"?
Q.165. Had God a
beginning?
Q.166. Where is God?
Q.167. How is God
everywhere?
Q.168. If God is
everywhere, why do we not see Him?
Q.169. Why do we
call God a "pure spirit'?
Q.170. Why can we
not see God with the eyes of our body?
Q.171. Does God
see us?
Q.172. Is it
necessary for God to watch over us?
Q.173. Does God
know all things?
Q.174. Can God do
all things?
Q.175. When is a
thing said to be "impossible"?
Q.176. Is God
just, holy, and merciful?
Q.177. Why must
God be "just" as well as "merciful"?
Q.178. Into what
sins will the forgetfulness of God's justice
lead us?
Q.179. Into what
sins will the forgetfulness of God's mercy
lead us?
LESSON THIRD: On
the Unity and Trinity of God
Q.180. What does
"unity," and what does "trinity" mean?
Q.181. Can we find
an example to fully illustrate the mystery
of the
Blessed Trinity?
Q.182. Is there
but one God?
Q.183. Why can
there be but one God?
Q.184. What does
"supreme" mean?
Q.185. When are
two persons said to be equal?
Q.186. How many persons
are there in God?
Q.187. What do
"divine" and "distinct" mean?
Q.188. Is the
Father God?
Q.189. Is the Son
God?
Q.190. Is the Holy
Ghost God?
Q.191. Do
"first," "second," and "third" with regard to the
persons of
the Blessed Trinity mean that one person
exi