THE CATECHISM EXPLAINED

AN EXHAUSTIVE EXPOSITION OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE

TO THE PRESENT STATE OF SOCIETY AND THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.

A PRACTICAL MANUAL
FOR THE USE OF THE PREACHER, THE CATECHIST, THE TEACHER, AND THE FAMILY.
MADE ATTRACTIVE AND INTERESTING BY
ILLUSTRATIONS, COMPARISONS, AND QUOTATIONS
FROM THE
SCRIPTURES, THE FATHERS, AND OTHER WRITERS.

FROM THE ORIGINAL, OF
REV. FRANCIS SPIRAGO,
Professor of Theology.

• Preface
• Devotions
• General Survey of the Faith
• Introduction to the Catholic Faith
  • I. FOR WHAT END ARE WE ON THIS EARTH?
  • II. HOW ARE WE TO ATTAIN TO ETERNAL HAPPINESS?
  • III. CAN WE ATTAIN PERFECT HAPPINESS ON EARTH?
• Part I. Faith
  • I. THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
  • II. DIVINE REVELATION
  • III. THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL
  • IV. HOLY SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION
  • V. THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
  • VI. THE MOTIVES OF FAITH
  • VII. ON THE ABSENCE AND LOSS OF FAITH
  • VIII. ON THE DUTY OF CONFESSING OUR FAITH
  • IX. THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
  • X. THE APOSTLES CREED
    • FIRST ARTICLE OF THE CREED: “I BELIEVE IN GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY.”
      • 1. THE EXISTENCE OF A SUPREME BEING
      • 2. THE DIVINE ESSENCE
      • 3. THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES
      • 4. THE BLESSED TRINITY
      • 5. HISTORY OF CREATION
      • 6. DIVINE PROVIDENCE
      • 7. THE CHRISTIAN UNDER SUFFERING
      • 8. THE ANGELS
      • 9. MAN
      • 10. THE SOUL OF MAN
      • 11. THE SUPERNATURAL ENDOWMENTS OF MAN
      • 12. ORIGINAL SIN
    • SECOND TO SEVENTH ARTICLE OF THE CREED: JESUS CHRIST
      • 1. THE REDEMPTION
      • 2. THE PROMISE OF THE REDEEMER
      • 3. PREPARATION OF MANKIND FOR THE REDEEMER
      • 4. THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE REDEEMER
      • 5. JESUS OF NAZARETH IS THE REDEEMER OR CHRIST
      • 6. THE LIFE OF CHRIST
        • The Childhood of Christ
        • The Public Life of Christ
        • The Sufferings of Christ
        • The Exaltation of Christ
      • 7. THE PERSON OF THE REDEEMER
        • The Incarnation of the Son of God
        • What Truths follow from the Mystery of the Redemption?
        • Jesus Christ is the Son of God
        • Jesus Christ is God Himself
        • Jesus Christ is Our Lord
    • EIGHTH ARTICLE OF THE CREED: THE HOLY GHOST
      • 1. THE GRACE OF THE HOLY GHOST IS NECESSARY TO US
      • 2. ACTION OF THE HOLY GHOST
        • Actual Grace
        • Sanctifying Grace
        • The Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost and the Extraordinary Graces
        • The Holy Ghost as Guide of the Church
      • 3. APPARITIONS OF THE HOLY GHOST
    • NINTH ARTICLE OF THE CREED: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
      • 1. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND ITS INSTITUTION
      • 2. THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
      • 3. BISHOPS, PRIESTS, THE FAITHFUL
      • 4. FOUNDATION AND SPREAD OF THE CHURCH
      • 5. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS INDESTRUCTIBLE AND INFALLIBLE
        • Indestructibility of the Church
        • The Infallibility of the Church
      • 6. THE HIERARCHY OF THE CHURCH
      • 7. NOTES OF THE TRUE CHURCH
      • 8. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ALONE GIVES SALVATION
      • 9. THE RELATIONS BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE
      • 10. THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
    • TENTH ARTICLE OF THE CREED: THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS
    • ELEVENTH AND TWELFTH ARTICLES OF THE CREED: THE LAST THINGS
      • 1. DEATH
      • 2. THE PARTICULAR JUDGMENT
      • 3. HEAVEN
      • 4. HELL
      • 5. PURGATORY
      • 6. THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY
      • 7. THE GENERAL JUDGMENT
  • CHRISTIAN HOPE
    • 1. THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIAN HOPE
    • 2. THE ADVANTAGE OF CHRISTIAN HOPE
    • 3. THE OBJECT OF CHRISTIAN HOPE
• Part II. The Commandments, Vice and Virtue, Perfection
  • A. THE COMMANDMENTS
    • I. WHAT COMMANDMENTS (OR LAWS) HAS GOD GIVEN US?
    • II. THE TWO COMMANDMENTS OF CHARITY
    • III. THE PRECEPT OF THE LOVE OF GOD
    • IV. THE LOVE OF THE WORLD IS OPPOSED TO THE LOVE OF GOD
    • V. THE COMMANDMENT OF CHARITY TOWARDS OUR NEIGHBOR
    • VI. LACK OF CHARITY TO ONE’S NEIGHBOR
    • VII. LOVE OF ONE’S FRIENDS
    • VIII. THE COMMANDMENT TO LOVE OUR ENEMY
    • IX. THE LOVE OF ONE’S SELF
    • X. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD
      • THE FIRST COMMANDMENT OF GOD
        • 1. THE ADORATION OR WORSHIP OF GOD
        • 2. IDOLATRY OR THE WORSHIP OF FALSE GODS
        • 3. FOOLISH OR PERVERTED WORSHIP
        • Sins Against the First Commandment
        • 4. THE VENERATION OF SAINTS
        • 5. THE VENERATION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
        • 6. THE VENERATION OF IMAGES OF THE SAINTS
        • 7. THE VENERATION OF RELICS
        • 8. THE EXTRAORDINARY WORSHIP OF GOD
          • The Oath
          • The Vow (Solemn Promise)
      • THE SECOND COMMANDMENT OF GOD
      • THE THIRD COMMANDMENT OF GOD
        • 1. THE PRECEPT TO SANCTIFY SUNDAYS AND HOLYDAYS
        • Sins Against the Third Commandment
        • Motives for the Sanctification of Sunday
        • 2. THE PRECEPT OF LABOR
        • Sins against the Precept of Labor
        • The Relaxations Permitted to the Christian
        • THE SIX COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH
          • 1. THE FIRST COMMANDMENT OF THE CHURCH: THE OBSERVANCE OF SUNDAYS AND HOLYDAYS
          • 2. THE SECOND COMMANDMENT OF THE CHURCH
          • 3. THE THIRD AND FOURTH COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH
          • 4. THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT OF THE CHURCH
          • 5. THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT OF THE CHURCH
      • THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT OF GOD
        • 1. OUR DUTY TOWARDS OUR PARENTS
        • Transgressions of the Fourth Commandment
        • 2. OUR DUTY TOWARDS THOSE IN AUTHORITY
        • 3. THE DUTIES OF THOSE WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY
      • THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT OF GOD
        • 1. OUR DUTY IN RESPECT TO OUR OWN LIFE
        • 2. OUR DUTY IN REGARD TO THE LIFE OF OUR NEIGHBOR
        • 3. OUR CONDUCT IN REGARD TO THE LOWER ANIMALS
      • THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT OF GOD
      • THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT OF GOD
        • 1. THE RIGHT OF POSSESSION
        • Sins against the Seventh Commandment
        • 2. RESTITUTION OR SATISFACTION
      • THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT OF GOD
        • 1. THE PROHIBITION AGAINST INJURING OUR NEIGHBOR IN HIS HONOR
        • What are the Reasons which should Deter us from Injuring our Neighbor’s Good Name?
        • 2. THE COMMAND AGAINST UNTRUTHFULNESS
        • What are the Reasons that should make us Refrain from Untruthfulness?
        • 3. THE MEANS OF PREVENTING SINS OF THE TONGUE
      • THE NINTH COMMANDMENT OF GOD
      • THE TENTH COMMANDMENT OF GOD
    • XI. THE WORKS OF MERCY
      • 1. THE VALUE OF EARTHLY GOODS AND THE USE TO BE MADE OF THEM
      • 2. THE PRECEPT TO PERFORM WORKS OF MERCY
      • 3. THE SEVERAL WORKS OF MERCY
        • The Corporal Works of Mercy
        • The Spiritual Works of Mercy
      • 4. IN WHAT SPIRIT SHOULD THE WORKS OF MERCY BE PERFORMED?
      • 5. OF WHAT BENEFIT ARE THE WORKS OF MERCY TO US?
    • XII. THE DUTY OF GRATITUDE
    • XIII. THE POVERTY OF THE CHRISTIAN
  • B. GOOD WORKS, VIRTUE, SIN, VICE
    • I. GOOD WORKS
    • II. VIRTUE
      • The Different Kinds of Christian Virtue
    • III. SIN
      • THE DEVELOPMENT OF SIN
      • THE KINDS OF SIN
      • THE COMPARATIVE MAGNITUDE OF SIN
      • THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
      • THE CONSEQUENCES OF VENIAL SIN
    • IV. VICE
    • V. THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN
    • VI. TEMPTATION
    • VII. OCCASIONS OF SIN
    • VIII. THE SEVEN PRINCIPAL VIRTUES AND THE SEVEN PRINCIPAL VICES
      • 1. HUMILITY
      • 2. THE OPPOSITE OF HUMILITY: PRIDE
      • 3. OBEDIENCE
      • 4. DISOBEDIENCE
      • 5. PATIENCE, MEEKNESS, PEACEABLENESS
        • PATIENCE
        • MEEKNESS
        • PEACEABLENESS
      • 6. THE OPPOSITE OF MEEKNESS: WRATH
      • 7. LIBERALITY
      • 8. THE OPPOSITE OF LIBERALITY: AVARICE
      • 9. TEMPERANCE IN EATING AND DRINKING
      • 10. INTEMPERANCE IN EATING AND DRINKING
      • 11. CHASTITY
      • 12. UNCHASTITY
      • 13. ZEAL IN WHAT IS GOOD
      • 14. THE OPPOSITE OF ZEAL: SLOTH
  • C. CHRISTIAN PERFECTION
    • I. THE ASPIRATION AFTER CHRISTIAN PERFECTION
    • II. GENERAL MEANS FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF PERFECTION
    • III. SPECIAL MEANS FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF PERFECTION
    • IV. THE EIGHT BEATITUDES
• PART III. The Means of Grace
  • I. THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS
    • 1. ON SACRIFICE IN GENERAL
    • 2. THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST UPON THE CROSS
    • 3. THE INSTITUTION, NATURE, AND PRINCIPAL PARTS OF THE MASS
      • 1. The Son of God offered a sacrifice at the Last Supper, because He gave His body and blood to be offered up, in order to reconcile His heavenly Father with man
      • 2. We call the sacrifice instituted by Our Lord at the Last Supper holy Mass, or the sacrifice of the Mass
      • 3. What takes place in the sacrifice of the Mass
      • 4. There are three distinct parts in the sacrifice of the Mass: the offertory, the consecration, and the communion
    • 4. THE CEREMONIAL OF THE MASS
    • 5. THE RELATION WHICH THE MASS BEARS TO THE SACRIFICE OF THE CROSS
    • 6. THE PROFIT TO BE DERIVED FROM THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS
    • 7. THE CELEBRATION OF HOLY MASS
    • 8. THE VALUE OF THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
    • 9. DEVOTION AT HOLY MASS
    • 10. THE OBLIGATION OF HEARING MASS
    • 11. THE TIME WHEN MASS IS TO BE CELEBRATED
    • 12. THE PLACE WHERE MASS IS TO BE CELEBRATED
    • 13. THE VESTMENTS AND SACRED VESSELS USED AT MASS
    • 14. THE COLORS OF THE VESTMENTS
    • 15. THE LANGUAGE OF THE MASS
    • 16. SINGING AT MASS
    • 17. HEARING THE WORD OF GOD
  • II. THE SACRAMENTS
    • 1. BAPTISM
    • 2. CONFIRMATION
    • 3. THE HOLY EUCHARIST
      • Institution and Nature of the Holy Eucharist
      • The Necessity of Holy Communion
      • The Effects of Holy Communion
      • Preparation for Holy Communion
      • Behavior after Receiving Holy Communion
      • Spiritual Communion
    • 4. THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
      • The Nature and the Necessity of Penance
      • The Confessor.
      • The Effects of Penance
      • The Worthy Reception of the Sacrament of Penance.
      • General Confession
      • Confession a Divine Institution
      • The Advantages of Confession
      • The Sin of Relapse
      • INDULGENCES
    • 5. EXTREME UNCTION
    • 6. HOLY ORDERS
    • 7. MATRIMONY
      • The Institution and Nature of Matrimony
      • The Characteristics of Matrimony
      • The Graces Conferred in Matrimony
      • Impediments to Matrimony
      • The Celebration of Matrimony
      • The Duties of the Married
      • Mixed Marriages
      • The Unmarried State
  • III. THE SACRAMENTALS
  • IV. PRAYER
    • 1. THE NATURE OF PRAYER
    • 2. THE UTILITY AND NECESSITY OF PRAYER
    • 3. HOW OUGHT WE TO PRAY?
    • 4. WHEN OUGHT WE TO PRAY?
    • 5. WHERE OUGHT WE TO PRAY?
    • 6. FOR WHAT OUGHT WE TO PRAY?
    • 7. MEDITATION.
    • THE MOST IMPORTANT PRAYERS
      • THE OUR FATHER
      • THE AVE MARIA
      • THE ANGELUS
      • THE ROSARY
      • THE LITANY OF LORETTO AND THE SALVE REGINA
    • THE PRINCIPAL DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES
      • PROCESSIONS
      • CHRISTIAN BURIAL
      • PILGRIMAGES
      • THE WAY OF THE CROSS
      • EXPOSITION OF THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT
      • MISSIONS AND RETREATS
      • CATHOLIC CONGRESSES AND PASSION PLAYS
      • RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS
      • THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS
      • THE MORE WIDESPREAD CONFRATERNITIES
      • THE APOSTLESHIP OF PRAYER
      • CHARITABLE SOCIETIES

 

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