Anonymous - The Penny Catechism: A Catechism of Christian Doctrine

The Penny Catechism
or
A Catechism of Christian Doctrine

SUMMARY OF THE
CATECHISM OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

(a) The Virtues and contrary Vices.

(b) The Christians Rule of Life.

(c) The Christians Daily Exercise.

The Spiritual House of the Soul, says St. Augustine (20 Sermo in verb. sap.), is built up in time and solemnly dedicated in eternity. Faith is the foundation, Hope the walls, Charity the roof, or covering. The Sacraments are the great means of grace, or the chief instruments required for the building. The Virtues, the Christians Rule of Life, and the Daily Exercise, may be likened to the adornment and furniture of the House.

Imprimatur
John Cardinal Heenan
Archbishop of Westminster
July 18, 1971

This American edition was originally published in 1973 by Marian Publications, South Bend, Indiana.

Copyright 1973 by Marian Publications.

Copyright 1982 by TAN Books, an Imprint of Saint Benedict Press, LLC

ISBN: 978-0-89555-752-0

TAN Books

Charlotte, North Carolina

www.TANBooks.com

2012

A CATECHISM OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

FAITH

Chapter I

1. Who made you? God made me.

2. Why did God make you? God made me to know Him, love Him and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.

3. To whose image and likeness did God make you? God made me to His own image and likeness.

4. Is this likeness to God in your body, or in your soul? This likeness to God is chiefly in my soul.

5. How is your soul like to God? My soul is like to God because it is a spirit, and is immortal.

6. What do you mean when you say that your soul is immortal? When I say my soul is immortal, I mean that my soul can never die.

7. Of which must you take most care, of your body or of your soul? I must take most care of my soul; for Christ has said, What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? (Matt. 16:26).

8. What must you do to save your soul? To save my soul I must worship God by Faith, Hope, and Charity; that is, I must believe in Him, I must hope in Him, and I must love Him with my whole heart.

Chapter II

9. What is faith? Faith is a supernatural gift of God, which enables us to believe without doubting whatever God has revealed.

10. Why must you believe whatever God has revealed? I must believe whatever God has revealed because God is the very truth, and can neither deceive nor be deceived.

11. How are you to know what God has revealed? I am to know what God has revealed by the testimony, teaching, and authority of the Catholic Church.

12. Who gave the Catholic Church divine authority to teach? Jesus Christ gave the Catholic Church divine authority to teach, when He said, Go ye and teach all nations. (Matt. 28:19).

13. What are the chief things which God has revealed? The chief things which God has revealed are contained in the Apostles Creed.

14. Say 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 rose 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 life everlasting. Amen.

15. How is the Apostles Creed divided? The Apostles Creed is divided into twelve parts or articles.

FIRST ARTICLE OF THE CREED

16. What is the first article of the Creed? The first article of the Creed is, I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

17. What is God? God is the supreme Spirit, who alone exists of Himself, and is infinite in all perfections.

18. Why is God called Almighty? God is called Almighty because He can do all things: With God all things are possible. (Matt. 19: 26).

19. Why is God called Creator of heaven and earth? God is called Creator of heaven and earth because He made heaven and earth, and all things, out of nothing, by His word.

20. Had God any beginning? God had no beginning: He always was, He is, and He always will be.

21. Where is God? God is everywhere.

22. Does God know and see all things? God knows and sees all things, even our most secret thoughts.

23. Has God any body? God has no body; He is a spirit.

24. Is there only one God? There is only one God.

25. Are there three Persons in God? There are three Persons in God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

26. Are these three Persons three Gods? These three Persons are not three Gods: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are all one and the same God.

27. What is the mystery of the three Persons in one God called? The mystery of the three Persons in one God is called the mystery of the Blessed Trinity.

28. What do you mean by a mystery? By a mystery I mean a truth which is above reason, but revealed by God.

29. Is there any likeness to the Blessed Trinity in your soul? There is this likeness to the Blessed Trinity in my soul: that as in one God there are three Persons, so in my one soul there are three powers.

30. Which are the three powers of your soul? The three powers of my soul are my memory, my understanding, and my will.

THE SECOND ARTICLE

31. What is the second article of the Creed? The second article of the Creed is, And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.

32. Who is Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is God the Son, made man for us.

33. Is Jesus Christ truly God? Jesus Christ is truly God.

34. Why is Jesus Christ truly God? Jesus Christ is truly God because He has one and the same nature with God the Father.

35. Was Jesus Christ always God? Jesus Christ was always God, born of the Father from all eternity.

36. Which Person of the Blessed Trinity is Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.

37. Is Jesus Christ truly man? Jesus Christ is truly man.

38. Why is Jesus Christ truly man? Jesus Christ is truly man because He has the nature of man, having a body and soul like ours.

39. Was Jesus Christ always man?