FFC CATECHISM
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[ Introduction ].[ Section 1 ].[ Section 2 ].[ Section 3 ].[ Appendix ]
Section 1:
THE CREED
THE
APOSTLES’CREED
*1. PARENT: Who teaches us God’s truth+?
CHILD:
The Catholic Church
teaches us God’s truth
through parents, priests and
other teachers.
+The truth about God and his plan
that has been
made known to us by God is called
Revelation.
See 185.
PARENT and CHILD are to be
understood
before every question and Answer. This
should remind other teachers using the
catechism that they are delegated to do so by
the child’s parent.
*The asterisk shows the more important
questions. The others need not be studied or
memorized the first time through, or with
younger children, but can be passed over
briefly.
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*2. The most important truths
of the Catholic Church’s teaching
are found in the Apostles’ Creed.
Say the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the Father
almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
His only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived+
By the power of the Holy Spirit
And born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried.
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He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated
at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion++ of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.+++
+See 72 and footnote.
++See 171 and 172.
+++This I.C.E.T. text of the Apostles’
Creed is
international and ecumenical. It was
approved
for use by the Australian Episcopal
Conference,
Page 27
*3. What does the Apostles’ Creed
teach us?
The Apostles’ Creed
teaches us to believe
in the Three Persons of God
and in God the Son become man.+
+See 184 for the four principal
mysteries.
THE
SIGN OF THE CROSS
*4. The Sign of the Cross
is a short creed.
Make the sign of the Cross.+
The child makes the Sign of the
Cross with
the right hand, from forehead to
chest, then
left to right shoulders, saying:
In the name of the
Father
and of the son
and of he Holy Spirit.
Amen
+See picture,
page 100.
*5. What do the words mean:
“In the name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit”?
The words+
“In the name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit”
mean that I believe
that God is Three Persons.
+The spoken words cannot be seen,
a reminder
that God is invisible yet very
near.
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*6. Why do we make
the Cross of Jesus Christ
on our bodies?
We make+ the Cross of Jesus
Christ
on our bodies
because he came on earth
to die for us on the Cross.
+The visible action reminds us that
god became
visible in Jesus Christ. (Preface of
Christmas 1, at
Mass.)
GOD
THE CREATOR+
+In the Creed, the three great works of God
are
linked with the Three Divine Persons, thus:-
GOD THE FATHER, CREATOR
:CREATION
GOD THE SON, SAVIOUR
:REDEMPTION AND SALVATION
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, SANCTIFIER
:SANCTIFICATION
Yet the Three
Persons are only One God. All three
works must
involve all Three Persons, but not in the same way. The emphasis,
if we may call it
that, given to
one Person or another, is called
appropriation.
(See Appendix, page 194.)
Further, when we
say “God”, we often mean God
the Father, the
First Person of the holy Trinity.
This is the
usage of the New Testament, the Creed
and the Liturgy.
Other times, when we say
“God”, we mean
the Divine Nature and all Three
Person of the
Holy trinity. Similarly, Jesus
Christ is called
the Son of God, “God” meaning
the Father, and
he is also called God the Son,
where “God”
means the Divine Nature.
Page 29
Questions 7 to
62 refer to God as the Trinity, even
though in the
Creed much of this is appropriated
to God the
Father.
I BELIEVE INGOD,
THE FATHER ALMIGHTY,
CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.
CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
*7. Who made the universe?
God made the universe.+
+Earth, sun, moon, stars.
*8. How can we prove+ there is a God?
We can prove there is a God
from the things that he made.
+Romans 1: 19-20; Wisdom 13 : 1-9.
*9. Who is God?
God is the Holy one,
the Creator of everything.
THE UNITY AND TRINITY OF GOD
*10. Why is God called the Holy One?
God is called the Holy One
because there is only one God,
a mystery, awesome and wondrous.+
+”Holy” means much more than “good”
“Holy” means
SACRED, hallowed (as in the
Lord’s Prayer),
blessed, glorious. Awe and
Wonder are the
effect on us of “the holy”. Like
the two sides of
a coin, they are always together.
Consider the
apostles at the Transfiguration.
Matthew 17:1-8
(and compare exodus 3:1-6 and 1
Kings 19:1-18),
and the vision of Isaiah in the
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Holy Lord” of
the Mass).
*11. Why is God called the Trinity?
God is called the Trinity
because the Holy One+
is Three Persons:
the Father,
the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
+You alone are
the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord.
You alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
With the Holy Spirit,
In the glory of God the Father.
From the Gloria of the
WORSHIP
*12. What is worship?
Worship is the adoration+ of God
That comes from the creature’s
Awe and wonder before the Holy
One.
+This adoration
consists in the creature’s self-
surrender to the
Creator. Adoration includes
knowing and
loving, believing and hoping, seeing
and enjoying.
For prayer of adoration, see 93.
The creatures
that worship are angels and men.
See also 29-30.
Because we have
bodies, we also make sacrifice,
which is the
prayer of self-surrender expressed in
the action of
offering a gift. See 126.
In fact, bodily
gestures of surrender are used in
prayer and
sacrifice: kneeling, genuflecting, hands
held up to make
the letter Y (the shape of the Man
on the Cross).
Consider the following:-
Page 31
Abraham: “I am
but dust and ashes”. Genesis
listening”, 1
Samuel 3:10; David: “I will not offer
to the Lord my
god a sacrifice that cost me
nothing”, 2
Samuel 24-24; Our Lady: “Behold,
the handmaid of
the Lord”. Luke
worship of
Christ by the Wise Men, Matthew 2:11,
and by the
Apostles, Matthew 28:17; Our Lord in
his Agony: “Thy
will be done!”, Luke 22-42;
Thomas: “My Lord
and my God!”, John 20-28;
Stephen: “Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit”, Acts
Awe and wonder
are the Seventh Gift of the Holy
Spirit – see
245, that express the creature’s
awareness of the
Holy One – see 10. Awe and
Wonder are that
“fear of the Lord” so frequently
praised in the
Scriptures, especially the Psalms.
*13. How do we worship God?
We worship God
by prayer, sacrifice
and a holy life.+
+A holy life
includes developing our personal
talents and the
potential of the world we live in.
GOD MADE US TO WORSHIP HIM
*14. What did God create?
God created us,
the angels and the entire
universe:
everything that exists outside
himself.
*15. Why did God create us?
God created us
to know, love and serve+ him
here on earth
and to see and enjoy him
for ever in Heaven.++ Page 32
+Serve God:
includes love of neighbour.
++”You have made
us for yourself, O God, and
our hearts are
restless, until they rest in you.” St.
Augustine,
354-430 A.D. “Eye has not seen, nor
has ear heard,
nor has it entered the mind of man
even to imagine
the things that God has prepared
for those that
love him”. 1 Corinthians 2-9
*16.Why did God create our earth?
God created our earth
for us to use and enjoy.+
+Genesis 1:28-30;
*17. Why did God create the universe?
God created the universe
to share his goodness
and to make known
his power+ and glory.
+See 21 and Baruch 3:34-35
THE FATHER ALMIGHTY
*18. Why do we call God ‘Father’?
We call god ‘Father’+
because he gives us life
and takes care of us.
+Also, because Jesus Christ taught
us to, see 88.
*19. Is God good?
God is perfectly good+
and the loving Lord
of human history.
+Therefore God can do no evil, but
this is not a
limitation on the Supreme Lord of
all, see 22.
Page 33
*20. Does God watch over us lovingly?
God watches over us lovingly
and knows even our most secret
thoughts and actions.+
+Matthew 6:4, 6, 18; Hebrews
4:13.
*21. Why do we call God ‘Almighty”?
We call God ‘Almighty’
because he created everything
from nothing.
*22. Is God the Lord of all?
God is the Supreme Lord of all.
He is everywhere, knows
everything
and is without beginning or end.+
+That is, everlasting or eternal,
and he can never
die. See Psalms 89 and 138.
*23. What must everyone
believe about God?
Everyone+ must believe in God the
Creator
and that God will be their Judge.
+Hebrews 11:6.
*24. What are other names for God?
Other names for God are:-
the Creator, the Father,
the Almighty, the Lord,
the Holy One, the Holy Trinity,
the Most High,
and Yahweh.+
+Yahweh means “I
am who I am”. This
mysterious name
was revealed to Moses at the
Burning Bush,
where he experienced wonder and
awe in God’s
Presence. See Exodus 3:1-14.
Page 34
SPIRIT
*25. What is a spirit?
A spirit is
a living and invisible being.
*26. What kind of life
does a spirit have?
A spirit has a personal life,
knowing, choosing and loving.
A spirit is immortal.+
+Immortal means it cannot die and
that it lives for ever.
*27. Is God a spirit?
God is the Supreme+ Spirit.++
+Highest.
++John 4:24.
*28. Besides God,
what other spirit are there?
Beside God, other spirits are
angels, human souls and devils.+
+Devils are the angels who sinned,
see 33-35.
ANGELS
*29. What are angels+?
Angels are spirit creature of
God.
+See Preface of Eucharistic Prayer
No.4.
*30. Why did god
create the angels?
God created the angels
to worship+ him in Heaven.
+See 12, and footnote.
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*31. What do our Guardian angels do?
Our Guardian Angels+
watch over us, help us do good
and protect us from the Devil
and all evil.
+See “Heart Speaks to heart”, No.
18 also
Matthew 18-10.
HEAVEN
*32.
What is Heaven?
Heaven
is where
the angels and saints+
enjoy the greatest happiness
of seeing God face to face++
in all his glory for ever.
+All who die in the state of grace,
see 141, 171
and 172
++Intimacy of friendship: see
Exodus 33:11 and
I Corinthians 13:12.
GOOD AND BAD ANGELS
*33. Are all angels in Heaven?
The angels who worship+ God
are in Heaven,
but the angels
who refused to worship God
are in Hell.++
+See 12 and footnote.
++2 Peter 2:4
Page 36
HELL
*34. what is Hell?
Hell is where
the Devil and his angels
and all who die in mortal sin+
suffer in the greatest pain
the loss of God for ever.
+See 203 and 204. On punishment,
see 208 and
footnote.
THE DEVIL
*35. Who is the Devil?
The Devil is an angel
who was called Lucifer.
He rebelled against God
out of pride
and became Satan+ in Hell.
+See Luke 10:18.
The Devil, as well as being called
Lucifer and
Satan, is also called the evil One (at
the end of the
Lord’s Prayer), the father of Lies,
the Prince of this
World, the Prince of Darkness,
His Satanic
Majesty, the Dark Lord, The Power
of Terror and of
Hate, and a Murderer from the
beginning.
MAN
*36. What is man?
Man is a creature of God
with a body and soul.
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THE SOUL
*37. How do we know we have souls?
We know we have souls
because we are aware
of our understanding+ and free
will
and of the power we have
over our bodies.
+See Appendix, page 195.
*38. How are our souls
made in God’s likeness?
Our souls are made in God’s
likeness
in that they are spirits
and directly created by God.+
+See 25 and 26.
Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7.
“You formed man
in your own likeness
and set him over
the whole world
to serve you,
his creator,
and to rule over
all creatures.”
Eucharistic
Prayer No. 4.
*39. How do we differ from angels?
We differ from angels
in that they do not have bodies
and do not live in a world
of space and time.
*40. How do we differ from animals?
We differ from animals+
in that they do not have
immortal souls, understanding
or free will.
+See 368.
Page 38
ADAM AND EVE
*41. Who were the first people
on earth?
The first people on earth
were Adam and Eve.+
+See Appendix, page 197.
*42. What did God
give Adam and Eve?
God gave Adam and Eve
their human life,+
sanctifying grace++
and special privileges.+++
+Natural life,
both body and soul.
++Supernatural
life.
+++Preternatural
gifts (beyond what is “natural”
but not
supernatural).
SANCTIFYING GRACE
*43. What is sanctifying grace?
Sanctifying grace+
is the Holy Spirit’s gift to our
souls.
By it, we really share
in god’s life,++ goodness and
holiness.+++
+Grace means a
gift. Sanctifying grace means a
“making-holy”
gift. One of the best starting
points to
explain grace is the “Hail, Mary” (see
75), using the
words “full of grace”.
++See 136 and 2
Peter 1:4.
+++By God’s
goodness, we are made righteous
(“justification”).
By God’s holiness, we are made
holy
(“sanctification”). See 1 Corinthians 6:11.
Page 39
*44. What does sanctifying grace do to
us?
Sanctifying grace makes us
adopted children+ of the Father
and so destines++ us for Heaven.
+Children:
childlike, not childish. See Matthew
18:3-4 for
stress on childlikeness
Hymn on
Sanctifying Grace
(music available
on request, or any tune to
Common Metre
8686):
With all my
heart I thank you, Lord,
For sanctifying
grace,
Because this
gift makes me your child,
And I shall see
your face.
It’s only right
that I should pray
And offer all I
do,
To show how much
I love this gift
Which makes my
soul like you.
++Destines us:
equips us and directs us
for our
destination. See 221.
*45. Who dwells in our souls
by sanctifying grace?
By sanctifying grace,
the Holy Spirit dwells+ in our
souls,
with the Father and the Son.
+This is called
the “indwelling” of the Holy spirit,
and, as a result, the indwelling of the Holy
trinity. See
John 14:15-16, 23. See 107.
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THE SPECIAL PRIVILEGES
*46. What were the special privileges
given to Adam and Eve?
The special privileges
given to Adam and Eve
were self-control,
clear knowledge
and freedom from death+ and
sickness.
+Immortality of the body.
GOD’S PLAN
*47. What did God intend
for Adam and Eve?
God intended that Adam and Eve
be holy and happy on earth
and then be taken
body and soul into Heaven.
THE FALL
*48. How did God
test Adam and Eve?
God tested Adam and Eve
by telling them not to eat
the forbidden fruit
and that they would die+
if they did eat it.
+Both bodily and spiritually. Read
Genesis 2:9,
16-17 and all chapter 3.
*49. Why did God
test Adam and Eve?
God tested Adam and Eve
so they could prove
their love by obedience. Page 41
*50. What did Adam and Eve do?
Adam and Eve disobeyed God
by eating the forbidden fruit.
*51. Who tempted Adam and Eve?
Satan tempted Adam and Eve
By a lie, because of his envy.+
+Envy is
something like jealousy, but mixed with
hatred. In
ordinary talk “envy” is sometimes used
for trivial
matters.
ORIGINAL SIN
*52. What do we call the sin
of Adam and Eve?
We call the sin of Adam and Eve
Original+ Sin:
it was disobedience because of
pride.
+”Original”
because it was the first human sin
and the origin
of all human sins. For sin, see
201-210.
*53. What
did Adam and Eve
lose by their sin?
By their sin, Adam and
Eve
lost sanctifying
grace
and the special
privileges.
They deserved Hell,
if they did not
repent.+
+See 60.
Page 42
*54. What
does Original Sin mean for us?
Original Sin+ means
that
we are born++
without sanctifying grace,
without the special
privileges
and in the Devil’s
power.+++
+Adam alone, not Eve, transmitted the effects of
Original Sin to us, because Adam alone was the
appointed head of the whole human race. Baptism
restores grace (225), but the special privileges have
not been restored.
++Strictly speaking, conceived, See 57, footnote.
+++See 110.
THE PROMISE OF A SAVIOUR
*55. What
did God promise
after the Original Sin?
After the Original
Sin,
God promised to
send a Saviour.+
+See 66, 106-108.
“Even when he disobeyed you
and lost your friendship
you did not abandon him
to the power of death,
but helped all men to seek and find you.”
Eucharistic Prayer No. 4.
*56. What
would have happened
to us without a Saviour?
Without a saviour,
the Gates of
heaven+
would have been
kept shut against us,
because of Original
Sin.
+See 134 and 173.
Page 43
*57. Why was
not the Saviour
“born in original sin”
like us?
The Saviour+ was
not
“born++ in original
sin” like us
because he is God
the Son
in whom there is no
sin.
+”A man like us in all things but sin”, Eucharistic
Prayer No. 4, and Hebrews
++Strictly speaking, we are “conceived” in original
sin; see 54, 58 and 83 footnotes.
*58. What is
the Immaculate Conception?
The Immaculate
Conception+ is the
preservation of the
Mother of the Saviour
from Original Sin
by anticipation of
his saving work++.
+See 76.
++See 108-128 footnote.
THE OLD TESTAMENT
*59. How did
God prepare the world
for the coming of the
Saviour?
God prepared the
world
for the coming of
the Saviour
through his
covenant+ with Abraham
and the
+An agreement (“treaty”, “alliance”) that God
would save them if they would follow God
faithfully. See 61, 132, 232, 266, 310, footnote,331
and 404. See Appendix, page 198.
*60. How
could people save their souls
before the Saviour came?
Before the Saviour
came,
Page 44
people could save
their souls+
by doing God’s Will
for them:
praying, offering
sacrifices
and keeping the Commandments.
+But only because of what the Saviour would do:
he descended to the abode of the dead (119) and
he opened the gates of Heaven (134).
*61. What
does the Old Testament
show us?
The Old testament
shows us
God’s great love
and his desire to
enter into a covenant+
of friendship with
fallen man.
+”Again and again
you offered a covenant to man,
and through the prophets
taught him to hope for salvation.”
Eucharistic Prayer No. 4. See 59 footnotes.
*62. What
Old testament texts
are in frequent use by us?
Old Testament texts
in frequent use by
us
are the Ten
Commandments of Moses
and the Psalm
Prayers of David.+
+We use the Commandments to examine our
consciences, and the Psalms have become the
Church’s meditation prayers because our Saviour
Made them his own. See “Heart Speaks to
Heart”. No.47, and the selection of Psalms in its
Index.
Page 45
GOD THE SAVIOUR
THE INCARNATION:
THE SAVIOUR’S COMING
I
BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST,
HIS
ONLY SON, OUR LORD.
HE WAS
CONCEIVED BY THE POWER
OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT
AND
BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY.
JESUS CHRIST
*63. How
much did God love the world?
“God loved the
world+ so much
that he gave his
only Son
so that whoever
believes in him
might not perish
but have
everlasting life.” ++
+The world of sinful human beings.
++John 3:16
“Father, you so loved the world
that in the fullness of time
you sent your only Son to be our
Saviour.
He was conceived
through the power of the Holy
Spirit,
and born of the Virgin Mary,
a man like us in all things but sin.”
Eucharistic Prayer No. 4.
*64. Who is
Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is God
the Son
who became man.
He is true God and
true man.+
Page 46
+John 1:1-18, where “The word” means god the
Son. For the Divinity of Christ, see Matthew
28:18-20; Mark 14:61-64; Luke 10:21-22; John
2:6; Colossians 1:15-19; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 1:3.
*65. Who is
God the Son+?
God the Son is
the Second Person
of the Holy Trinity.
+When we call him God the Son, “God” means
the Divine Nature; when we call him the Son of
God, “God” means the Father. See the Nicene
Creed at Mass, in “Heart Speaks to Heart”. No.107.
CHRISTMAS
*66. What
does the name ‘Jesus’ means?
The name ‘Jesus
means Saviour.+
+See 106-108. Jesus Saviour is the basis of the
short creed represented by the fish symbol. The
Greek word for fish is “i-ch-th-u-s”, and in Greek
these letters stand for JESUS CHRIST IS GOD’S
SON, THE SAVIOUR. An even shorter creed is
his title in the Apostles’ Creed, OUR LORD. This
can only be said by a believer! Note its use in the
Liturgy. It is a very appropriate way to refer to
him in ordinary conversation. When the Holy
Name of Jesus is used, we bow our heads –
Philippians 2:10
Page 47
*67. What
does the title “Christ” mean?
The title “Christ”
means
The Anointed+ of
God.
+The Hebrew word is “Messiah”, See
241.
*68. When
was God the Son born as man?
God the Son was
born as man
on the first
Christmas Day.+
+Which we keep on 25th December. See the
readings for the various Masses of Christmas Day.
See Matthew 1 and 2; Luke 1 and 2.
*69. Where
was Jesus Christ born?
Jesus Christ was
born
in a stable at
*70. Who are
the mother and father
of Jesus Christ?
The Mother of Jesus
Christ
is the Blessed
Virgin Mary+
but being Son of
God++
he had no human
father +++.
+We call her “Our Lady”.
++This is the Mystery of the Incarnation, see 71,
104. For
footnote.
THE INCARNATION
*71. What
does the Incarnation mean?
The Incarnation
means
That God and son
became man.
Page 48
*72. What is
the miracle
of the Incarnation?
The miracle+ of the
Incarnation
is that God the Son
was “conceived++
by the power of the
Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin
Mary”.
+The miracle of not having a human father was
fitting for the mystery of the Incarnation of God
the Son as man. See 70, 184, 185.
++”Conceived”: the baby Jesus began to grow in
Mary’s womb without there being any human
father. Mary is both Virgin and Mother. See 70,
77, 78 and 104.
*73. When
did the Incarnation
take place?
The Incarnation
took place when
“the angel of the
Lord
declared+ unto Mary
and she conceived
of the Holy
Spirit”.
+Hence the name of this day is the Annunciation
of the Lord, which we keep nine months before
Christmas on 25th March. It is also called
Ladyday. The angel was Gabriel, an archangel.
The text is Luke 1:28 and Matthew 1:20. See
“Heart speaks to Heart”. No. 178, for “The
Angelus”.
*74. Where did
the Incarnation take place?
The Incarnation
took place
at
the home of Mary’s
parents.+
+Their names are not in the Scriptures, but the
tradition is that they were called Joachim and
Anne.
Page 49
*75. Say the
“Hail, Mary”.+
Hail, Mary, full of
grace,
the Lord is with
you.
Blessed are you
among women,
and blessed is the
fruit of your womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother
of God,
pray for us sinners
now,
and at the hour of
our death. Amen.
+The “Hail, Mary” should be prayed often
through the day. It is also important for many
points of doctrine. It is called the Angelic
Salutation, because the first part is the Angel’s
Greeting. The second part is added by the Church.
*76. Was the
soul of Mary
always “full of grace”?
The soul of Mary
was always “full of
grace”
by the grace of her
Immaculate Conception+
and her
sinlessness.
+See 58. Mary also “grew in grace”: at each stage
of her vocation she co-operated with the grace that
God offered her, so as always to be as “full of
grace” as it was possible for her to be.
*77. Who was
of the holy family:
the husband of Mary
and the foster
father
of Jesus Christ.
+
Church and patron of the dying. See “Heart
Speaks to heart”. No. 183. Page 50
*78. What
other children
did the Blessed Virgin
Mary have?
The Blessed Virgin
Mary
had no other
children+ besides Jesus Christ
but she has become
a spiritual mother
to us all.++
+The meaning of John 19:26-27. She is “the ever-
virgin mother of Jesus Christ our Lord and God”
(Eucharistic Prayer No. 1).
++See 137 and 155. Gospel references to brothers
and sisters mean relatives, or even simply friends,
as in our own usage of the word “brethren”.
Compare Acts 1 verse 14 and 16.
THE PUBLIC LIFE:
THE SAVIOUR’S TEACHING
THE PUBLIC LIFE
*79. What
did Jesus Christ do
during his Public Life?
During his Public
Life,
Jesus Christ taught
the people,
worked miracles
and trained his
Apostles.
*80. How old
was Jesus Christ
when he began his Public
Life?
Jesus Christ was
about
thirty years old
when he began his
Public Life.
Page 51
*81. How
long did the Public Life
of Jesus Christ last?
The Public Life of
Jesus Christ
lasted about three
years.
*82. Where
did Jesus Christ
live and work
during his Public Life?
During his Public
Life,
Jesus Christ lived
and worked
in
that is, in
+Which we call the
*83. How did
the Public Life
of Jesus Christ begin?
The Public Life of
Jesus Christ
began with John the
Baptist
as his herald.+
+Forerunner, precursor. He was sanctified in his
mother’s womb (see Luke
“He baptized Christ, the giver of baptism,
in waters made holy by the one who was
baptized.” Preface of John the Baptist.
THE BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION
*84. what
does the ‘baptism’+
of Jesus Christ show us?
The ‘baptism’ of
Jesus Christ shows us
that he is the Son
of God++
sent on a mission from
his father.
+Jesus did not receive the Sacrament of Baptism,
but he was teaching us about it: his mission is to
unite us with the Three Divine Persons through the
Page 52
Sacrament of Baptism and the other Sacraments.
See Matthew 3:13-`7; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22
and John
++the early Christians saw his ‘baptism’ as a
fulfillment of the messianic prophecy in Psalm 2.
*85. What
does the Temptation
of Jesus Christ teach us?
The Temptation of Jesus
Christ
teaches us that we
too can defeat+
the Devil’s
scheming for our souls.
+By putting God first, not our own desires. See
Gospels for the First Sunday of Lent: Matthew
4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13 and Luke 4:1-13.
TEACHING
*86. What
did Jesus Christ
teach the people?
Jesus Christ
taught+ the people
about God
and the
+”No man ever spoke like this man!” John 7:46.
++’The Kingdom of heaven” in St. Matthew’s
Gospel.
TEACHING ON GOD
*87. What
did Jesus Christ
teach the people about
God?
Jesus Christ taught
the people
that God was his
Father and ours,
and that he and his
father
were one God.+
+Only gradually did he reveal the truth about the
Trinity. Matthew 28:19; Luke 10:21-22; John 5:18;
Page 53
TEACHING ON PRAYER TO GOD
*88. Say the
Lord’s+ Prayer.
Our Father in
heaven
holy
++ be your Name,
your
kingdom come,
your
will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our
daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against
us.
Do not bring us to
the test
but deliver us from evil. Amen.+++
+The Lord is Jesus Christ.
++See 10 footnote.
+++See 222. The Amen is omitted when another
prayer joined on, as at
6:5-15 and Luke 11:1-13.
*89. What is
prayer+?
Prayer is the
raising
of our minds and
hearts to God.
+See also 12-13; 192-193; 210; 229 and 279. For a
list of prayers to be memorized, see the Appendix,
page 209.
*90. When
should we pray to God?
We should pray to
God often,
especially morning and
night
and at times of
special need.
Page 54
*91. How can
we pray always?
We can pray always
by making a Morning
Offering+
of all the prayers,
works
joys and sufferings
of the day.
+Make sure you know and use one: see “Heart
Speaks to Heart”, Nos. 2, 8, 11-13. Also Luke
18:1.
*92. Why
should we pray to God?
We should pray to
God
to adore+ and thank
him,
to ask for all our
needs
and to be sorry for
our sins.
+We express out adoration in praise: “we praise
you for your glory” (Gloria of the Mass). See 193
for Faith, Hope and Charity. See 261 for
*93. Why
should we adore God?
We should adore God
because it is what
we owe
to our infinitely
good and merciful
Creator, Saviour
and Sanctifier.
*94. Why
should we thank God?
We should thank God
because we are his
children,
receiving all that
is good
from him.
Page 55
*95. Why
should we ask God
for all our needs of body
and soul?
We should ask God
for all our needs
of body and soul
because of our
total dependence
on his
*96. Does
God always answer
our prayers?
God always answers
our prayers.
Sometimes he makes
us wait
or gives us
something better
or says “no”.
*97. Why
should we tell God
we are sorry?
We should tell God
we are sorry+
because we have
offended him
by our sins
which he alone can
forgive.
+See 207, 209, 279 and 280.
TEACHING ON THE
*98. What
did Jesus Christ teach
about the
Jesus Christ taught
that the
is God’s great plan
to people Heaven
through a visible
Church++ on earth
and God’s
enthronement+++ in our hearts.
+”An eternal and universal kingdom:
a kingdom of truth and life,
Page 56
a kingdom of holiness and grace,
a kingdom of justice, love, and peace.”
Preface of Christ the King.
See 152, 153, 158, 169 and 172.
++The visible Church is taught in the Parables of
the Kingdom in Matthew 13. See 150.
+++See Luke 17:20.
*99. What is
the Law
of the
The Law of the
is the law of Love.
*100. Say the
Law of Love.
“You shall love the
Lord your God
with all your
heart, soul,
mind and strength,
and your neighbour
as yourself.”+
+Luke 10:27: the heart means personal love, soul
(life) means even unto martyrdom, mind means
the homage of our reason, and strength means
using our talents and possessions. See the rest of
the chapter for the parable of the Good
Samaritan. See 189 and 315A and footnotes.
MIRACLES
*101. Why did
Jesus Christ
work miracles?
Jesus Christ worked
miracles
as part of his
teaching
and to show he was
God-with-us.+
+The meaning of his name Emmanuel,
Matthew
Page 57
*102. What
are miracles?
Miracles are
marvelous events
beyond the laws+ of
nature
that only the
Creator can perform.
+When God works miracles, he sets aside the
scientific laws that he gave the universe. It is not
unscientific to believe in miracles: in fact, many
modern scientists do. God often works his miracles
through angels and chosen men.
*103. What
does god use miracles for?
God uses miracles
to guarantee+
his spokesman’s
message
or his saint’s
holiness.
+Miracles are like God’s signature to his message.
Even the miracles of healing, whose message is
God’s mercy, spiritual healing and a foretaste of
Heavenly happiness, are a guarantee of the
Spokesman’s message. e.g., Matthew 9:2-8.
*104. What
are the two great miracles
about Jesus Christ
himself?
The two great
miracles
about Jesus Christ
himself
are his Conception
by a Virgin+
and his bodily
Resurrection.++
+See 72.
++See 122.
THE APOSTLES
*105. What
did Jesus Christ
prepare his twelve
Apostles to be?
Jesus Christ
prepared
his twelve+
Apostles
to be spiritual
fathers
to the new People
of God.
Pages 58
+Matthew 10:1, 7 and 8. The twelve sons of Jacob
(
fathers of the first People of God. The new
spiritual fatherhood of the Apostles is the Catholic
priesthood of teaching, sanctifying and spiritual
care. See 159 and 160.
THE REDEMPTION:
THE SAVIOUR’S SACRIFICE
HE SUFFERED
UNDER
PONTIUS PILATE,
WAS
CRUCIFIED, DIED,
AND WAS
BURIED.
HE DESCENDED TO THE DEAD.
ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN.
HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN,
AND IS
SEATED
AT THE RIGHT
HAND
OF THE
FATHER.
HE WILL COME AGAIN TO JUDGE
THE LIVING
AND THE DEAD.
PART 1: THE PURPOSE
OF THE
INCARNATION
*106. Why did
God the Son become man?
God the Son became
man
to be our Saviour.+
+Timothy 1:15. See 55, 66, 107-108.
Page 59
*107. What
does our Saviour do?
Our Saviour makes
us his friends+,
adopted children of
his Father
and temples of the
Holy Spirit.
+See 61 and 187. This answer is another way of
describing sanctifying grace: see 43-45 and 173
A.C. “Friends”, John 15:14-15; “Children”
Galations 4:4-7; “
Compare 152 on the Church.
*108. From
what does Jesus Christ
save us?
Jesus Christ saves
us
from all our sins,
original+ and
personal,++
and their
punishment.+++
+See 54.
++See 202.
+++See 144, 208, 225 and 283.
PART 2: THE EVENTS
OF REDEMPTION
THE REDEEMER
*109. In what
words do we acclaim
our Redeemer at Mass?
We acclaim our
Redeemer at Mass
saying “Blessed is
he
who comes in the
name of the Lord.”+
+In the Sanctus. See Mark 11:9. Here,”Lord”
means God the
Father.
Page 60
*110. Why is Jesus Christ
called our Redeemer+?
Jesus Christ is called our
Redeemer
because he restored us
to the dominion of God
when we were in the Devil’s
power.
+See 1 John 3:8.
“Redeemer” : “one who buys
back”, but the
“payment” was not made to the
Devil but as an
offering to God. See the hymn:
“Hail, Redeemer,
King divine,
Priest and Lamb,
the throne is thine….”
“In fulfillment
of your will
he gave himself
up to death;
but by rising
from the dead,
he destroyed
death and restored life.”
Eucharistic
Prayer No. 4.
*111. What were the chief events
in the work of our Redemption?
The chief events
in the work of our Redemption
were the Last Supper, the
Crucifixion,
the Resurrection and the
Ascension.+
+Redemption was
shared with us through
Pentecost and
the work of the Holy Spirit. See 133
And 147.
THE LAST SUPPER
*112. When was Jesus Christ’s Last
Supper?
Jesus Christ’s Last Supper
was on Holy Thursday,
the night he was betrayed
by Judas Iscariot.
Page 61
*113. Where was the Last Supper?
The Last Supper
was in an upper room
in
*114. What was the Last Supper?
The Last Supper
was the Passover Sacrifice and
Meal
at which Jesus Christ gave us the
first
+See Matthew
26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke
22:1-23; 1
Corinthians 11:17-34. See 247-269.
THE CRUCIFIXION ON GOOD FRIDAY
*115. What was the Crucifixion?
The Crucifixion was the way
that Jesus Christ was put to
death,
nailed to the cross.+
+It is important
to have a crucifix in the living
room and
bedrooms and to wear one on a chain
around the neck
in preference to non-religious
emblems or pagan
ones.
*116. Where was the Crucifixion?
The Crucifixion was
on the hill of Calvary
outside
*117. When was the Crucifixion?
The Crucifixion was
on Good Friday,
when Jesus Christ
“suffered under Pontius Pilate”,
the Roman Governor.
Page 62
*118. Why is Good Friday called “good’?
Good Friday is called ‘good’
because Jesus Christ
made his sufferings+
at the hands of evil men
into an offering.
+His sufferings
are called the Passion. On Passion
Sunday (when
Mass begins with the blessing and
Procession of
the Palms) and on Good Friday, the
main reading is
the Passion: Matthew 26 and 27;
Mark 14 and 15;
Luke 22 and 23; John 18 and 19.
The Stations of
the Cross are the pictures around
The walls of the
Church which help us to
Remember and
love our Lord in his sufferings for us.
HE DESCENDED TO THE DEAD
*119. Why did Jesus Christ
descend to the dead?
Jesus Christ descended to the
dead
to be their Saviour too.+
+See 60. See 1 Peter 3:19.
THE RESURRECTION ON EASTER SUNDAY
*120. Did Jesus Christ really rise
from the dead?
Jesus Christ really rose
from the dead:
the stone was rolled back
and the tomb was empty;
the Apostles and holy women
saw him, spoke with him,
touched him and ate with him.
Page 63
*121. When did Jesus Christ
rise from the dead?
Jesus Christ rose from the dead
on the third day,
Easter Sunday.
*122. What does the miracle+
of the Resurrection
of Jesus Christ prove?
The miracle of the Resurrection
of Jesus Christ proves
that his claim to be God is true.
+See the
Sunday and
Easter time, especially the Gospels.
See Matthew 28;
Mark 16; Luke 24; John 21 and
22; 1
Corinthians 15.
THE ASCENSION
*123. What happened
at the Ascension?
At the Ascension, Jesus Christ
entered heaven
in his glorified body and soul,
forty days after his
Resurrection.+
+See Acts 1:1-11, also Mark 16:19
and Luke
24:50-51.
*124. What is meant by
“Seated at the right hand of the Father”?
“Seated at the right hand of the
Father”
means that Jesus Christ shares
the kingdom, the power and the
glory
of God the Father.
Page 64
PART 3: THE MEANING OF THE
EVENTS OF REDEMPTION
THE SAVIOUR’S SACRIFICE
*125. How did Jesus Christ save us?
Jesus Christ saved us
by his Sacrifice.
*126. What is sacrifice?
A sacrifice is an offering
of a gift+ to God by a priest
on behalf of worshippers.++
+Gift: see 130 footnote.
++See 12 and footnote.
*127. What is the Sacrifice
of Jesus Christ?
The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ
is his offering of himself to his
Father,
an offering accepted by his
Father.+
+Pope John Paul
II empnasises this acceptance in
his “Redeemer of
Man”, No. 20, and his “On the
Mystery and
Worship of the Holy Eucharist”’
Nos. 3 and 8.
See Philippians 2:8-9.
The Death and
Resurrection are two scenes in one
great act that
we call the Paschal Mystery or
Paschal Sacrifice
(see the Easter Prefaces of the Mass).
*128. For whom did Jesus Christ
offer his Sacrifice?
Jesus Christ offered his
Sacrifice
for us sinners,
that is, for all mankind.+
Page 65
+For our Lady,
the results of his Sacrifice was
anticipated to
prevent her having Original Sin. See
58, 76 and
footnote on 260.
THE SACRIFICE
IN ITS LAST SUPPER FORM
*129. What did Jesus Christ offer
at the Last Supper?
At the Last Supper, Jesus Christ
offered his Body and Blood
under the appearances
of bread and wine.+
+For the Mass, see 247-269.
THE CRUCIFIXION –
THE OFFERING OF THE SACRIFICE
*130. What did Jesus Christ offer
at his Crucifixion?
At his Crucifixion, Jesus Christ
offered his sufferings, his
obedience
and his life as a sacrificial
victim.+
+i.e., the same
Body and Blood as in 129 – it is
the same
Sacrifice, see 250, and 266 footnotes. A
living gift that
loses its life in the offering is called
a victim: see
“Heart Speaks Heart”, No. 76.
THE
RESURRECTION –
THE
COMPLETION OF THE OFFERING
OF THE
SACRIFICE
*131.
How was Jesus
Christ’s offering completed?
Jesus
Christ’s offering
was
completed
by
his Father’s acceptance of it
shown
by his Resurrection from the dead.
Page 66
THE NEW AND EVERLASTING
COVENANT
*132. By his Sacrifice,
what covenant+
did Jesus Christ make?
By his Sacrifice,
Jesus Christ made
“the new and everlasting
covenant”++
between his Father
and all mankind.
+See covenant in
59, 61, 232, 310 footnote and 404.
++Covenant or
testament. These words are part of
the consecration
of the wine at Mass, and should
be compared with
Exodus 24:8. A covenant, or
treaty or
alliance, is made between parties to
reconcile them.
The maker of a covenant is called
a mediator:
“There is only one God and one
mediator between
God and men, the man Christ
Jesus”, 1
Timothy 2:5. Christ’s Testament is the
promise of
salvation, and the gifts that make it
possible.
*133. By his Sacrifice,
what did Jesus Christ win
for all mankind?
By his Sacrifice, Jesus Christ
won+ for all mankind
the gift of the Holy Spirit.++
+”Won”: as a
prize, that is, merited or earned.
++See 147, 198
and 220. It is the work of the Holy
Spirit to apply
to us Christ’s work of Redemption.
Hence the
grouping with the Holy Spirit in the
Creed of the
items in 145-222. See the Appendix,
pages 194-195.
Page 67
*134. By his Sacrifice,
what did Jesus Christ achieve
for all mankind:?
By his sacrifice, Jesus Christ
opened+ the Gates of Heaven
for all mankind.
+This is called
the Atonement, “at-one-ment”,
making mankind “at
one” with god. See 56 and 173.
*135. By his Sacrifice,
what did Jesus Christ give
his Father?
By his Sacrifice, Jesus Christ
gave his Father
all glory and honour+
on behalf of all mankind.
+”Through him, with him, in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours,
almighty Father, for ever and ever.”
Doxology of the Eucharistic Prayers at
Also 12, 126, 261. Also John 12:24-28;
17:1-5.
THE ASCENSION –
PRIEST IN HEAVEN
*136. What does Jesus Christ
do for us in heaven?
In Heaven, Jesus Christ
is for ever our Priest and
Sacrifice
and “claims for us
a share in his divine life.”+
+Preface of
ascension II. See 2 Peter 1:4; also
Hebrews 8:1-4;
revelation 5:6, 12. See 43-45.
Page 68
THE ASSUMPTION
*137. What happened at the Assumption?
At the Assumption, after her
death+,
the Blessed Virgin Mary
was taken to Heaven, body and
soul,
to be for ever our Queen and
Mother.++
+The common
tradition in the Church is that our
Lady died, and
then her body was taken incorrupt
into Heaven. In
heaven, her body and soul are
united and
glorified in a complete sharing in her
Son’s
resurrection and Ascension:
“to be the
beginning and the pattern,
of the Church in its perfection,
and a sign of
hope and comfort
for your people on their pilgrim way.”
(Preface
of the Assumption)
++ See 78 and
155. The Assumption completes the
privilege of the
Immaculate Conception, just as
for ourselves
glory completes grace. See footnote
on 260. See Revelation
12:1. It is most important
to pray our
Lady’s Rosary.
Page 69
DEATH, JUDGEMENT,
HEAVEN AND HELL.
*138. When will Jesus Christ
come again?
Jesus Christ will come again
on the Last Day.+
+See 217 – 221.
*139. When will Jesus Christ
make his judgement on us?
Jesus Christ will make
his Particular Judgement
on each of us at death
and his general Judgement+
on all publicly on the Last Day.
+See Matthew 25:31 – 46.
*140. What are the four Last things?
The four Last Things
are Death, Judgement,
Heaven and Hell.+
+”Death, than
which nothing is more certain.
Judgement, than
which nothing is more strict.
Heaven, than
which nothing is more delightful.
Hell, than which
nothing is more terrible.” Words
well-loved by
Pope XXIII.
*141. What is “a good death”?
“A good death” is death
in the state of grace.+
Page 70
+State
of grace the condition of a soul with
sanctifying
grace – see 173A.C. A Christian
should
view death as our Lord did. “Jesus knew
that
the hour had come for him to pass from this
would
to the Father ….”. John 13:1. See “Heart
Speaks
to Heart”, No. 133.
*142. Who will go to Heaven?
Those spiritually alive by grace
will go to Heaven.+
+See 173.
*142A.+ What is Heaven?
Heaven is where
the angels and saints++
enjoy the greatest happiness
of seeing God face to face+++
in all his glory for ever.
+Repeating
32.
++
All who die in the state of grace: See 171-172.
+++Intimacy
of friendship: see Exodus 33:11 and
Luke
16:22; 1 Corinthians 13:12. Heaven is often
Compared
to a banquet: Luke 13:29. Heaven is
brought
to mind in every Mass in the Eucharistic
Prayers,
and in the Liturgy for All Saints’ Day,
1st
November. See footnote on 15.
*143. Who will go to Hell?
Those spiritually dead
in mortal sin+ will go to Hell.
+See 203-204.
Page 71
*143A. +What is Hell?
Hell is where
the Devil and his angels
and all who die in mortal sin
suffer in the greatest pain++
the loss of God for ever.
+Repeating 34.
++ Hell is often
compared to fire: Matthew 25-41
and Luke 16-24:
See 208 and footnote.
*144. What is Purgatory?
Purgatory is where those who die
in grace
but are not perfect in charity+
are purged++ of their sin and its
effects
and prepared for Heaven.
+Matthew 5:48; 1
Corinthians 13:1-13; Hebrews
++Souls in
Purgatory are purified by penance that
they should have
done on earth: 1 Corinthians
3:10-17. We
should offer prayers and Masses for
the souls in
Purgatory – a spiritual work of
mercy. See the
prayers for the dead in all the
Eucharistic
Prayers, and the Liturgy for All Souls’
Day on 2nd
November. See 283 for Indulgences.
See 172 for
Communion of Saints. See 208 and
footnote for
punishment. See 286 and footnote for
Anointing of the
Sick. See “Heart Speaks to
Heart”, Nos.
34,133 and 136.
Page 72
GOD
THE SANCTIFIER
I
BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT,
THE
THE
COMMUNION OF SAINTS,
THE
FORGIVENESS OF SINS,
THE
RESURRECTION OF THE BODY,
AND
THE LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN.
THE
HOLY SPIRIT
PENTECOST
*145. What happened at Pentecost?
At Pentecost,
the Apostles and other disciples+
were “filled with the Holy
Spirit.”++
+Including our
Lady: Acts
++Acts 2:1-4.
The Hebrew word for “spirit” also
means wind and
breath: compare the Pentecostal
wind to our
Lord’s breathing on the Apostles,
John 20:22.
These two stages in the giving of the
Holy Spirit have
been compared to Baptism and
Confirmation –
see 242. They took place in the
Same upper room
as the Last Supper – see 113.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
*146. Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is God,
the Third Person of the Holy
Trinity,
“who proceeds from the Father and
the
Son.”+
+Nicene Creed at
mass. God the Father has a
special Son who
is also God. Their love for each
other is so
great that it is a Third Person, the Holy
Spirit.
Page 73
*147. Who sends the Holy Spirit?
The Father and the Son
send the Holy Spirit.
He is the Gift of the Father
won+ for us by the Son’s
Sacrifice.
+See 133. See
John 14:26.
“That we might
live
no longer for
ourselves but for him,
he sent the Holy
Spirit from you, Father,
as his first
gift to those who believe,
to complete his
work on earth
and bring us the
fullness of grace.”
Eucharistic Prayer No. 4.
*148. What does the Holy Spirit do?
The Holy Spirit sanctifies+
mankind.
+He is called
the Sanctifier, “the One who makes
holy” (see
173A). In the Creed, all the items listed
with the Holy
Spirit under the third “I believe”
are the work of
the Sanctifier. Also, everything
true that is
said and everything good that is done,
no matter by
whom, is the work of the Holy Spirit
by actual graces
(174).
*149. What are other names
for the Holy Spirit?
Other names for the Holy Spirit
are the Sanctifier, the
Paraclete,+
the Gift of the father, the
Spirit of God,
the Spirit of the Lord, the
Spirit of Christ
and the Spirit.
+Paraclete is
translated as helper and Guide (in
245), also as
Comforter, Advocate, Counsellor.
See “Heart
Speaks to Heart”, No. 68.
Page 74
THE
HOLY CATHOLIC
CHURCH
THE CHURCH
*150. What is the Holy Catholic Church?
The Holy Catholic Church
is the visible community+
of the baptized followers++
of Jesus Christ,
founded by him.
+Made visible by
links with the Pope and the
bishops in union
with him; see 159,161; and by
the sacraments
and Mass,165-170. The English
word “church”
means “the Lords”, that is, the
Lord’s community
assembled in his name. The
sacred place
where the Church assembles is named
“a church”
because that is where the visible
community
carries out its most important
function,
worship, “the summit and source of its
every activity”.
See “Heart Speaks to Heart”. No.
169.
“Father, you are
holy indeed,
and all creation
rightly gives you praise.
All life, all
holiness comes from you
through your
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
by the working
of the Holy Spirit.
From age to age
you gather a people to yourself,
So that from
east to west
A perfect
offering may be made
To the glory of
your name.”
Eucharistic Prayer No. 3.
++See 231.
Page 75
*151. Are the Separated Brethren+
members of the Catholic Church?
The Separated Brethren
are incomplete members
of the Catholic Church
since they lack full union with
her.
+Baptised
non-Catholic Christians. See footnotes
on 223, 238, 248
and 288 about their conversion to
full membership
of the Catholic church before
receiving the other
sacraments.
*152.
What are other names
For the Church?
Other names for the Church
are the People of God+,
the
God’s family on earth and in
Heaven,
the Mystical Body of Christ,+++
the Bride of Christ++++
and the
+See 105, 156
and 168.
++See 98, 153,
158, 169 and 172.
+++See 167, 200
and footnote.
++++See 198.
*153. What does the Church do?
The Church build
the
by worship,
by sanctifying her members++
and by converting mankind.+++
+See 98, 152,
158, 169 and 172.
++This includes
social obligations.
Page 76
+++”I urge that
prayers…..be made for all men
…..This is good
and pleasing in the sight of God
our Saviour, who
desires all men to be saved and
to come to the
knowledge of the truth”, I
Timothy 2:1-4.
See also Matthew 28:18-20; Mark
16:15-16.
*154. Who is the Head of the Church?
Jesus Christ is the Head of the
Church.+
+See 167.
*155. On which mother
is the Church modeled?
The Church is modeled
on mother Mary, ever-virgin,
who is the Second Eve+
and the Mother of all who live++
by grace.
+Jesus Christ is
the Second Adam, see Romans
++See 78, 137
and Genesis 3:20.
THE LAITY
*156. Who are the laity+?
The laity are
the baptized members of God’s
People
who are not priests or
religious.++
+The word
“laity” means people: “for you are a
chosen race, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation,
God’s own people
…”, 1 Peter 2:9. See 233-237.
++See 164.
Page 77
*157. What is the Lay Apostolate+?
The Lay Apostolate
is Jesus Christ’s mission
for the laity++:-
in the family, at work
and in the world.
+See 242 and
footnote and Appendix, page 200.
++”Let your
light shine before men that they may
see your good
works and glorify your Father who
is in Heaven.”
Matthew 5:16.
“What is most
necessary at the present time is to
have in each
parish a group of the laity who are at
the same time
virtuous, enlightened, determined
and really
apostolic.”
Pope St. Pius X
(1835 – 1914 A.D.).
*158. How are the laity
like Jesus Christ
the Priest, Teacher and King?
The laity are like Jesus Christ
the Priest, Teacher and King:-
they share in his Sacrifice+,
proclaim his Gospel
and build his Kingdom.++
+See 231 and footnote, 263 and 266.
++See 98, 152, 153, 169 and 172.
THE SACRED MINISTRY
*159. Who “activates”+ the laity
in their apostolate?
The Bishops,
successors of the Apostles,
Page 78
and their priest and deacon
helpers,
“activate” the laity
in their apostolate.
+”Activates”
includes information, inspiration,
grace by
Sacraments, worship at Mass, leadership,
example,
compassion, pastoral care, etc.
“/activates”:
see final footnote of 291.
*160. How are Bishops and priests
like Jesus Christ the Teacher,+
Priest and King?
The Bishops and priests
are like Jesus Christ
the Teacher, Priest and King:-
they teach in his name,
offer sacrifice in his Person
and care for his people.
+Contrast with
the triple likeness to Christ for the
laity, 158: the
first work for the ordained priest is
to teach and
preach. His highest work is to act in
the Person of
Christ at the altar when he
celebrates Mass.
See 262, 291 and 293. Also
footnote on 105.
THE POPE
*161. Who is the head
of the Church on earth?
The Pope is the head
of the Church on earth.
He is Vicar+ of Christ,
successor of St. Peter
and Bishop of
Page 79
+Representative,
see 154. See Matthew 16:15-19:
“You are Peter,
and on this rock I will build my
Church and the
gates of Hell will not prevail
against it.”
Also Luke 22:31-32 (note the singulars
and plurals),
and John 21:15-19: “Feed my lambs,
feed my sheep.”
*162. What authority has the Pope?
The Pope has supreme authority
in the Church
over doctrine and discipline+,
with the other Bishops
and over the other Bishops.++
+Doctrine is
Christ’s teaching, discipline is Church
law and order.
++The Pope and
the other Bishops are related as
St. Peter and
the other Apostles. Compare
Matthew 16:18-19
with
*163. What special gift has the Pope?
The Pope has the special gift
of infallibility+
when, as Supreme Pastor,
he defines a doctrine of faith or
morals
that binds++ the Church for ever.
+Infallibility
means that the Pope teaches without
error. It does
not mean that he himself is without
sin
++He binds when
he speaks “ex cathedra”. That is,
“from the chair”
(on St. Peter) as the one having
the teaching
authority of St. Peter. See 170.
Page 80
RELIGIOUS
*164. What are Religious?
Religious are nuns, brothers
and non-diocesan+ priests
who consecrate their lives
to Jesus Christ
in a community life by vows
of chastity, obedience and
poverty.
+Diocesan
priests are the co-operators of a Bishop:
in the Western
church they are bound by law to
chastity, they promise
obedience to their bishop
and his
successors, and they own their own
property. They
do not usually live in community.
CHRIST ACTS IN HIS CHURCH
CHRIST ACTS THROUGH HIS CHURCH
*165. what visible marks
has Jesus Christ given his Church?
Jesus Christ has given his Church
four visible marks:
the church is one, holy,
catholic and apostolic.+
+See Nicene Creed at
*166. How does Jesus Christ act
in and through his one, holy,
catholic and apostolic Church?
Jesus Christ acts
in and through his one, holy,
catholic and apostolic Church
as Head, Priest, King and
Teacher,
respectively.
Page 81
*167. Why is the Church ONE body+?
The Church is ONE body
because Jesus Christ is
Head of the body.
He unites each member with
himself
in the Sacraments,
and he unites all in one faith++
through his Vicar.
+See 152, 200,
266. 1 Corinthians 1227; Ephesians
++See Ephesians
4:4-5. The Church cannot err in
matters of faith
or morals.
*168. Why is the Church a HOLY people?
The Church is a HOLY people
Because Jesus Christ is Priest.
He makes sinners holy+
by the seven Sacraments.
+Some have been
declared (“canonized”) saints in
Heaven by the
Church, and all have been given
sanctifying
grace, at least when they were baptized.
See 171. See use
of “saints” in Ephesians 1:1 etc.
*169. Why is the Church CATHOLIC+?
The Church is CATHOLIC or
universal
because Jesus Christ is King.
He calls all mankind
Of every age and nation
To belong to his
Kingdom-Church.++
+The Church is also
called Roman Catholic
because the
Bishop of Roman is the head of the
church on earth.
++See 98, 152,
153, 158 and 172.
Page 82
*170. Why is the Church APOSTOLIC?
The Church is APOSTOLIC
because Jesus Christ is Teacher.
He taught the Apostles
and gave them and their
successors
the power to hand on his teaching
without any error.+
+This is the
infallibility of the Church, of which
the
infallibility of the Pope is a special case – see
163, 183 and
Matthew 18:18; 28:16-20; Luke
THE
COMMUNION OF
SAINTS
THE CHURCH – THE COMMUNION OF
SAINTS
*171. Why is the Church called
the Communion of Saints?
The Church is called
the Communion of Saints
because its members are “holy
ones”+
united by the Holy Spirit
and by holy things,
like Sacraments++
and each other’s good works.
+In the New
Testament, “saints” means the
members of the
Church, made holy and pleasing
to God by
sanctifying grace. See 168 and footnote.
++ especially
Holy Communion, 266 (1).
Page 83
*172. Who is included in
the Communion of Saints?
The Communion of Saints
includes all in God’s Kingdom+:
the Church on earth,
in Purgatory and in Heaven.++
+See 98, 152,
153, 158 and 169.
++The Church on
earth, in Purgatory and in
Heaven is called
the Church Militant, the Church
Expectant (and Suffering)
and the Church
Triumphant,
respectively.
SANCTIFYING GRACE
*173. What gift of the Holy spirit
is absolutely necessary+
to enter Heaven?
Sanctifying grace
is the gift of the Holy Spirit
that is absolutely necessary
to enter Heaven.
+See 56, 133, 134
and 227 –229.
*173A. +What is sanctifying grace?
Sanctifying grace
is the Holy Spirit’s++ gift to
our souls.
By it, we really share
In God’s life, goodness and
holiness.
+See 43 and
footnotes.
++This is why
the Holy Spirit is called the
Sanctifier, and
those sanctified are called saints, at
least in the
simplest sense that they have been
made holy and
pleasing to God. See 1 Corinthians
Page 84
*173B. +What does sanctifying grace do to
us?
Sanctifying grace makes us
adopted children of the Father
and so destines us for Heaven.
+See 44 and footnotes, particularly
the Hymn on
Sanctifying Grace.
*173C. +Who dwells in our souls
by sanctifying grace?
By sanctifying grace,
the Holy Spirit dwells in our
souls,
with the Father and the Son.
+See 45 and footnote.
*174. What are actual graces?
Actual graces are helps
from the Holy Spirit
to do good acts.+
They prepare for sanctifying
grace
or its increase.
+See last sentence of footnote on
148.
*175. What are the chief means
of gaining grace?
The chief means of gaining grace
are prayer, all the Sacraments
and especially the Mass,
and good works.
VIRTUES
*176. What are virtues?
Virtues are good habits.
Pages 85
*177. What are natural virtues?
Natural virtues are virtues
gained by the repetition of good
actions.+
+These are the
virtues usually described in a
person’s
character reference.
*178. What are supernatural virtues?
Supernatural virtues are virtues
that God gives with sanctifying
grace.
They are theological and moral
virtues.
THEOLOGICAL VIRTURES
*179. What are the Theological+
Virtues?
The Theological Virtues
are Faith, Hope and charity.
+Theological
means “about God”. These virtues
are sometimes
called Divine Virtues, but “divine”
can also mean
the property of being God (see 265
footnote) and
Divine Virtues would include the
Moral Virtues as
well (see 190). See 1 Corinthians
13:13 and “Heart
Speaks to Heart, Nos, 39-41 and
No. 167 for the
Hymn “Firmly I believe and truly”/
*180. Why are they called Theological
Virtues?
They are called Theological
Virtues because
(1) God gives them with grace+,
(2)
they
are directed towards God
and (3) God is their motive.
+If grace is
lost, so is charity, but faith and hope
can remain without
grace. See 204 and 230.
Page 86
FAITH: BELIEVING WHAT GOD SAYS
*181. What is Faith?
Faith is the power to “say yes”+
to God
by believing what he says to us
through his Son and the Church.
+”Say yes” means
to give God free obedience.
The inner cure
of faith is believing that God has
spoken through his Son and the Church. “Faith
comes by
hearing”: see Roman 10:14-17. The
Holy Spirit uses
messengers who appear credible to
us, but the
actual power to believe is his direct gift
by the grace of
Baptism. For sins against Faith,
see 330 and 331
*182. Why should we believe
what God says?
We should believe
what God says
because God can neither deceive
nor be deceived.
*183. How do we know what God has said?
We know what God has said
through the Church’s+ teaching,
tradition and Scriptures.
+”The family of
God, the Church of the living
God. The pillar
and foundation of the truth.”
1 Timothy 3:15.
tradition is what has been handed
down from the
Apostles: 1 Corinthians 11:23;
Galatians 1:8. 2
Thessalonians 2:15 mentions both
spoken and
written traditions. Scripture is written
tradition
inspired by the Holy Spirit so that God is
its author,
through the human author. See 2
Timothy 3:16.
See 170.
Page 87
FAITH IN MYSTERIES
*184. What are the four principal
teachings
of the Church+?
The four principal teachings of
the Church
are the Mysteries of:-
(1) God’s Unity and Trinity,
(2) Jesus Christ’s Incarnation,
Death
and resurrection,
(3) the mission of the Holy Spirit
and (4) the Church, especially our
Lady.
+The General
Catechetical Directory, No. 43, lists
these four basic
mysteries at the top of the
hierarchy of
truths in the messages of salvation. See
3, 10, 11, 71,
148, 150. See Luke 10:21-22;
Romans 8:14-15;
1Corinthians 12:3; also “Heart
Speaks to
Heart”, No. 167, all verses.
*185. What are mysteries of religion?
Mysteries of religion
are sacred realities+ and
events++
beyond the reach of reason
but made known+++ to us in
Christ.++++
+the Trinity,
the Church, the Eucharist etc.
++the Incarnation
and Resurrection, the work of
the Holy Spirit,
hence “the mysteries” of the Rosary.
+++”Made known”,
that is, revealed: the literal
meaning of revelations
is drawing back a veil. The
truths about the
realities and events are the
revealed truths.
See 1.
++++”The mystery
which was hidden…….is
Christ!” :
Colossions 1:26-27; also Ephesians
1:9-10; 3:4-9.
*186. Why did God reveal his mysteries
to us?
Page 88
God revealed his mysteries to us
so that knowing him more fully
we could worship+ him with our
minds
as well as our hearts.
+See 12 and
footnote. See Romans 11:33-36 and
12:1-2 and St.
Thomas’ “My Lord and my God”,
John 20:28. See
“mind” in 100.
*187. What did Jesus Christ say
when he revealed his mysteries
to the Apostles?
Jesus Christ said:
“I am longer call you servants
but friends,
because all that I have heard
from my Father
I have made known to you.”+
+John 15:15. See 61, 107 and
footnote.
HOPE: HEAVEN
*188. What is Hope?
Hope+ is the power to trust God
saving us,
to bring us to Heaven,
through his Son and the Church.
+For sins against Hope, see
332-334.
CHARITY: THE TWOFOLD LOVE
*189. What is Charity?
Charity is the power
to love God above all else
for his own sake,
and our neighbour as ourselves
for love of God.+
Page 89
+See 1
Corinthians 13:1-13. See 100 and 315A.
In this
Catechism, charity and love usually mean
the same
Christian virtue. The word “charity” is
preferred,
however, to emphasise that power to
love which is
always part of God’s gift of grace.
For the exercise
of this power, the activity, we use
“love”.
MORAL VIRTUES
*190. What are the chief moral+
virtues?
The chief moral virtues
are prudence, justice,
fortitude and temperance.
+They are also
called cardinal virtues, because all
the other
natural virtues depend on them. By
grace, they are
made supernatural virtues, as grace
builds on
nature. Look them up in a dictionary.
GOOD WORKS
*191. What are good works?
Good works+ are the actions
that result+ from grace and the
virtues.
+Good works are
called “fruits” – see the
parable of the
Vineyard. John 15:1-11. The good
works result
from grace and, in turn, gain further
grace – see 175
and 325. The Seven Corporal
Works of Mercy
and the Seven Spiritual Works of
Mercy are
particularly practical good works for
Everyone – see
“Heart Speaks to Heart”. Nos.
94-95. The
Fruits of the Holy Spirit are highly
perfected good
works – see “Heart Speaks to
Heart”. No. 103.
Page 90
PLAYER+
192. Which prayers bring
sanctifying grace to the soul?
Prayer that bring
sanctifying grace to the soul
are Baptism of Desire++
and Perfect Contrition.+++
+The main
treatment on prayer: 88-89, also 210.
++See 228 and
229.
+++See 279, 280
and footnotes.
*193. Which prayers
increase sanctifying grace?
All prayers increase sanctifying
grace,
especially acts of Faith, Hope
and Charity,
and petitions for particular
needs.
THE SACRAMENTS
*194. What are Sacraments+?
Sacraments are
the Church’s special words and
actions++
which Jesus Christ instituted
to give us sanctifying grace.
+This section
treats the Sacraments in a general
way. See Section
2, SACRAMENTS, for the
details of each.
++ The words and
actions together make a SIGN.
Like ordinary
signs, they “say” something to us;
unlike ordinary
signs, they “do” something as
well: “they do
what they say’: they give the grace
that Jesus
Christ instituted them to give.
*195. How many Sacraments are there?
There are Seven Sacraments.
Page 91
*196. Name the Seven Sacraments.
The Seven Sacraments are:
Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist;
Penance, Anointing of the Sick;
Holy Orders and Marriage.+
+The actions
(see 194) for each of these seven
sacraments are
pouring water, anointing with
chrism, the
priest taking the bread and wine to
consecrate them
the penitent making a sorrowful
confession of
sins, anointing with oil of the sick,
laying on of
hands, exchange of consents about
being husband
and wife.
*197. What intention+ must we have
to receive the Sacraments worthily?
To receive the Sacraments
worthily
we must have the intention
of pleasing God.
+Attitude of
mind. See 267 (2) and footnote. For
Confirmation,
Communion, Holy Orders and
Marriage we must
also he in the state of grace –
See footnotes on
239, 267 (1), 298 and 329.
*198. Why did Jesus Christ
institute the Sacraments?
Jesus Christ instituted the
Sacraments
to give each of us individually
the grace that his Death and
Resurrection
won for all mankind.+
+See 133. St.
Leo the Great (died 461 A.D,) said:
“What Christ did
on earth, he now continues
through the
Sacraments of his Church.”
Page 92
*199. Why does Jesus Christ
use words and actions
to give us grace?
Jesus Christ uses words and
actions
to give us grace
because such bodily signs
suit our human nature.+
+One human soul
reaches another through the five
senses of the
body. God condescends to do
likewise, using
our bodies to give us himself. Our
lord used
miracles in this way too. See also 12
and footnote.
259, 260.
*200. List four things
that Sacraments do.
Sacraments
(1) sanctify us,
(2) build up the body of Christ+,
(3) and give worship to God.
(4) Because they are signs,
They also teach us.
+The body of
Christ is the Church: see 152, 167
and 266(1). The
whole Church is sanctified by the
Sacraments
received by individual members of the
Body, just as the
healthy parts of the human body
Support the
health of the whole.
Page 93
THE
FORGIVENESS OF SINS
SIN
*201. What is sin?
Sin is an offence against God,
original+ or personal.
+See 48-54.
*202. What is personal sin?
Personal sin is any willful
thought, word, deed or omission
against God and his Law.+
+Both the Law of
Love (see 100) and the Ten
Commandments
(see Section 3), and the law
“written on
human hearts” (Romans 2:15).
Omission: “in
what I have failed to do”,
(I confess at
Mass).
MORTAL SIN
*203. What is mortal+ sin?
Mortal sin is the breaking of
God’s Law
in a grave matter++,
knowingly and willfully.
+Mortal means
deadly: the soul continues to live
as a spirit, but
without its true life, sanctifying
grace, (see
43-45). Satan was a “Murderer from
the beginning”’
John 8:44. Examples of mortal
sin: 1
Corinthians 6:9-10. Note the three conditions
for a mortal
sin: (1) a serious matter, (2) full
knowledge, and
(3) full consent of the will. If this
is not clear,
ask a priest in Confession.
++a grave matter
is one so serious as to break off
the friendship
with God.
Page 94
*204. What does mortal sin
do to us?
Mortal sin destroys
our friendship+ with God
and thus makes us deserve Hell.
+That is, drives
sanctifying grace from the soul
and makes us
enemies of God. It destroys charity,
even if faith
and hope remain. See 180 and 230.
VENIAL SIN
*205. What is venial sin?
Venial sin is the breaking of
God’s Law
in a less serious or lighter
matter.
+Venial means
“pardonable”. This sin is more
easily forgiven
(see 209 and footnote). See James
3:2
*206. What does venial sin do to us?
Venial sin weakens+
our friendship with God
and thus makes us deserve
Purgatory.
+Lessens our love.
FORGIVENESS
*207. What is
the forgiveness of sins?
The forgiveness of sins
is God’s pardon of sinners
as though the sins
had never been committed.+
+See Luke 15:11-32.
Page 95
*208. Does God’s forgiveness
take away punishment?
God’s forgiveness takes away
eternal punishment in hell+
but does not always take away
punishment in this life++
or in Purgatory.
+God does not
send unrepentant sinners to Hell:
rather, he lets
then send themselves there. God
insists on us
accepting our freedom and on our
taking responsibility
for our actions.
++Punishment in
this life and in Purgatory is
called temporal
punishment. It is penance imposed
by God himself
to make up for our sins and to
help our
healing. See 225 and footnote on
Baptism 283 on
Indulgences, 144 on Purgatory,
and 286 on
Anointing of the Sick.
*209. In which Sacraments
are sins forgiven?
Sins are forgiven principally
in the Sacraments of
Baptism and Penance.+
+Holy Communion
can forgive venial sins and the
Anointing of the
Sick can forgive mortal sins.
*210. Which prayers
bring God’s forgiveness
to the soul?
The prayers that bring
God’s forgiveness+ to the soul
and Baptism of Desire
and Perfect Contrition.
Page 96
+The prayers
that bring forgiveness are, of course,
the same as those
that bring sanctifying grace,
since grace
drives out sin in those who are sorry.
See 192,
228-229, 279, 280 and footnotes.
TEMPTATION
*211. What is a temptation?
A temptation is an attraction+
here and now to some sin,
or a false ides++
that some evil act would be good.
+e.g., Luke
15:13, 30; John 12:6
++”Nothing is
chosen except under the appearance
of seeming good”
e.g., Genesis 3:6: Matthew
26:69-75.
*212. Why is it hard
for us to be good?
It is hard for us to be good
because of our fallen nature,+
had companions and the Devil.
+Baptism does
not restore the special privileges
described in 46.
Hence the Christian life includes
an internal
struggle with evil. See Romans 7:15,
19, 21-25. On
had companions, see 1 Corinthians
5:9-11; 14:33.
On the Devil, see 1 Peter 5:8-9.
*213. Why does God let us be tempted?
God lets us be tempted
to test+ and strengthen our love
and so we can share++ in the
victory
of Jesus Christ over Satan.
+Compare 49. See
1 Peter 1:6-7.
++ See 260, 282
and 326.
Page97
OCCASIONS OF SIN
*214. What is an occasion of sin+?
An occasion of sin
is any person, place
or circumstance
that is a temptation for us.
+See “Heart Speaks to Heart”,
penitent’s prayer,
No. 100 (4) and No. 156.
*215. Why are we obliged
to avoid occasions of sin?
We are obliged to avoid occasions
of sin
because willfully to enter a
danger+ of sin
is itself a sin.
+There could be
extreme circumstances where the
danger might be
a justifiable risk, but no
circumstances
would ever justify sin itself.
THE
RESURRECTION OF
THE
BODY AND THE LIFE
EVERLASTING
*216. Why do we have to die?
We have to die because death
is a result of original sin
not removed by Baptism.+
+See 46, 48 and
54 and footnote. But suffering can
become an
offering, see 118, and a motive for
penance: the
giving of the ashes at the beginning
of Lent:
“Remember, man, you are dust and to
dust you will
return” (from genesis: 3:19).
Page 98
*217. Will our bodies
rise again on the Last Day+?
Our bodies will rise again
on the Last Day
because Jesus Christ will share
his Resurrection with us
completely.
+Death,
Judgement, Heaven and Hell are treated
in 138-144. See
Ezekiel 37:1-14, 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
*218. How can dead bodies rise again?
Dead Bodies can rise again
only by a miracle
of God’s creating power.
*219. What will our risen bodies be
like?
Our risen bodies will be
our present bodies perfected and
glorified
and made completely subject
to our grace-filled souls.+
+1 Corinthians 15:35-57.
*220. How does Jesus Christ share
his Resurrection with us now?
Jesus Christ shares
his Resurrection with us now
by his grace in our souls.+
+See 133.
*221. What does grace lead to?
Grace leads to the glory of
Heaven
For both body and soul for ever.+
+See 134. “God’s glory is in living
men and full
Page 99
Life for men is
in the vision of God.” St. Irenaeus,
130-200 A.D.
*221. Why did God create us?
God created us
to know, love and serve him
here on earth
and to see and enjoy him
for ever in Heaven.
+Repeating 15.
“Eye has not seen, nor has ear
heard, nor has
it entered the mind of man even to
imagine the
things that God has prepared for those
that love him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9.
AMEN
*222. What does “Amen” mean?
“Amen” at the end of the Creed+
means “it is the truth”
and at the end of a Prayer++
means “may it come true”.
+And at Holy
Communion in response to “The
Body of Christ”.
++See 88
footnote.
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