A Catechism of Christian Doctrine. Anonymous

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, O 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, O Almighty God, who livest and reignest for ever; and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

      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 and say while pouring it:

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

       Holy Ghost."

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

CATECHISM

       Table of Contents

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

       Table of Contents

      Q. 1. Say the Lord's Prayer. A. 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.

      Q. 2. Who made the Lord's Prayer? A. Our Lord Himself made the Lord's Prayer for the use of His disciples and of all the faithful.

      Q. 3. Why is the "Our Father" the most excellent of all Prayers?

       A. The "Our Father" is the most excellent of all prayers because Our

       Lord Himself made it and because its petitions ask for all we can need

       for soul or body.

      Q. 4. How is the Lord's Prayer divided? A. The Lord's Prayer is divided into seven requests or petitions. Three of these petitions refer to God's honor and glory, and the remaining four to our corporeal or spiritual wants.

      Q. 5. Whom do we address as "Our Father" when we say the Lord's Prayer?

       A. When we say "Our Father" in the Lord's Prayer we address Almighty

       God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost united in the adorable Trinity.

      Q. 6. Why do we say "our" and not "my" Father? A. We say "our" and not "my" Father to remind us that through our creation and redemption, we are all members of the great human family of which God is the Father; and that we should pray for and help one another.

      Q. 7. Why do we call God Father? A. We call God Father because He does for us what a good father should do for his children. He gives us our existence; He protects us; He provides for us and teaches us; and because the name of "Father" fills us with love and reverence for him, and with confidence in Him.

      Q. 8. Why do we say "Who art in heaven" if God be everywhere? A. We say "who art in heaven" to put us in mind (1) that heaven is our true home for which we were created; (2) that in heaven we shall see God face to face as He is; (3) that heaven is the place where God will be for all eternity, with the blessed.

      Q. 9. What does "Hallowed be Thy Name" mean? A. Hallowed means set apart for a holy or sacred use, and thus comes to mean treated or praised as holy or sacred. "Thy name" means God Himself and all relating to Him, and by this petition we ask that God may be known, loved and served by all.

      Q. 10. What do we ask for in the petition: "Thy kingdom come"? A. In the petition "Thy kingdom come" we ask (1) that God may reign in the souls of all men by His grace, so that they may attain eternal salvation; (2) that the true Church—Christ's kingdom—may spread upon earth till all men embrace the true religion.

      Q. 11. Who do God's Will in heaven? A. In heaven the Angels and Saints do God's Will perfectly. They never disobey, or even wish to disobey Him. In the petition, "Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven," we pray that all God's creatures may imitate the Angels and Saints in heaven by never offending Him.

      Q. 12. What do we ask for by "our daily bread"? A. In the petition for "our daily bread" we ask not merely for bread, but for all that we need for the good of our body or soul.

      Q. 13. Why do we say "daily"? A. We say "daily" to teach us that we are not to be avaricious but only prudent in providing for our wants; and that we are to have great confidence in the providence of God.

      Q. 14. What do "trespasses" mean? A. "Trespasses" mean here injuries done or offenses given to another, and when God is the person offended, "trespasses" mean sins.

      Q. 15. What do you mean by "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us"? A. In this petition we declare to God that we have forgiven all who have injured or offended us, and ask Him to reward us by pardoning our sins.

      Q. 16. When may we be said to forgive those who trespass against us? A. We may be said to forgive our enemies when we act, and, as far as possible, feel toward them as if they had never injured us.

      Q. 17. What is temptation? A. A temptation is anything that incites, provokes, or urges us to offend God.

      Q. 18. What is the best means of overcoming temptation? A. The best means of overcoming temptation is to resist its very beginning, by turning our attention from it; by praying for help to resist it; and by doing the opposite of what we are tempted to do.

      Q. 19. Does God tempt us to sin? A. God does not tempt us to sin; but He permits us to be tempted to try our fidelity or punish our pride; and to give us an opportunity of meriting rewards for ourselves by overcoming the temptations.

      Q. 20. Can we always resist temptation? A. We can always resist temptation if we wish, for God always gives us sufficient grace and never permits us to be tempted above our strength.

      Q. 21. Is it a sin to be tempted? A. It is not a sin to be tempted, because we cannot prevent it. It is sinful only to consent or yield to