Official Catechism
Preliminary Instruction:
Q. What is a catechism?
A. A Catechism is an instruction in the faith, to be taught to all Christians, to enable them to please God, and save their own souls.
Q. What is the meaning of the word catechism?
A. It is a Greek word, signifying instruction, or oral teaching; and has been used ever since the Apostles' times to denote that primary instruction in the Orthodox faith, which is needful for every Christian. Luke 1:4; Acts 18:25
Q. What is necessary in order to please God, and save one's own soul?
A. In the first place the knowledge of the true God, and right faith in Him; in the second place, a life according to faith and good works.
Q. Why is faith necessary in the first place?
A. Because, as the word of God testifies, Without faith it is impossible to please God. Heb. 11:6
Q. Why must a life according to faith, and good works, be inseparable from this faith?
A. Because as the word of God testifies, faith without works is dead. James 2:20
Q. What is faith?
A. According to the definition of St. Paul, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb. 11:1 That is, a trust in the unseen, as though it were seen, in that which is hoped and waited for, as if it were present.
Q. What is the difference between knowledge and faith?
A. Knowledge has for its object things visible and comprehensible; faith, things which are invisible and even incomprehensible. Knowledge is founded on experience, on examination of its object; but faith on belief of testimony to truth. Knowledge belongs properly to the intellect, although it may also act on the heart; faith belongs principally to the heart, although it is imparted through the intellect.
Q. Why is faith and knowledge only necessary in religious instruction?
A. Because the chief object of this instruction is God invisible and incomprehensible, and the wisdom of God hidden in a mystery; consequently, many parts of this learning cannot be embraced by knowledge, but may be received by faith.
Faith, says St. Cyril of Jerusalem, is the eye which enlighteneth every man's conscience; it giveth man knowledge. For as the prophet says, If ye will not believe, ye shall not understand. Isaiah 7:9, Cyr. Cat. V
Q. What is the source of the Catholic Faith?
A. Divine Revelation.
Q. What is meant by the words Divine Revelation?
A. That which God Himself has revealed to men, in order that they might rightly and savingly believe in Him, and worthily honor Him.
Q. Has God given such a revelation to all men?
A. He has given it for all, as being necessary for all alike, and capable of bringing salvation to all: but since not all men are capable of receiving a revelation immediately from God, He has employed special persons as heralds of His revelation, to deliver it to all who are desirous of receiving it.
Q. Who were some of the men who received Divine Revelation?
A. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and other Prophets, received and preached the beginnings of divine revelation; but it was the Incarnate Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who brought it to earth in its fullness and perfection, and spread it over all the world by His disciples and Apostles.
The Apostle Paul says in the beginning of his Epistle to the Hebrews: God, who at sundry times, and in diverse manners, spoke in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son; Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the Worlds. I Cor. 11:7; John 1:8; Mat. 11:27
Q. Can man then have some knowledge of God without a special revelation from Him?
A. Man may have some knowledge of God by contemplation of those things He has created; but this knowledge is imperfect and insufficient, and can serve only as a preparation for faith, or as a help towards the knowledge of God from His revelation. Rom. 1:20; Acts 27:26-2
On Holy Tradition and Holy Scripture:
Q. How is Divine Revelation spread among men, and preserved in the true Church?
A. By two channels: Holy Tradition and Holy Scripture.
Q. What is meant by the name of Holy Tradition?
A. By the name Holy Tradition is meant the doctrine of faith, the law of God, and the sacraments, has handed down by the true believers and worshippers of God by word and example from one to another, and from generation to generation.
Q. What is the repository of Holy Tradition?
A. All true believers united by holy tradition of the faith, collectively and successively, by the will of God, compose the Church; and She is the sure repository of holy Tradition, or as St. Paul expresses it, The Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. I Tim. 3:15
Q. What is that which you call Holy Scripture?
A. Certain books written by the Spirit of God, through men sanctified by God, called Prophets and Apostles. Theses books are commonly termed the Bible.
Q. What does the word Bible mean?
A. It is Greek, and means The Books. The name signifies that the sacred books deserve attention before all others.
Q. Which is the more ancient, Holy Tradition, or Holy Scripture?
A. The most ancient and original instrument for spreading Divine Revelation is Holy Tradition. From Adam to Moses there were no sacred books. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself delivered His Divine doctrine and ordinances to His disciples by word and example, but not the writing. The same method was followed by the Apostles also at first, when they spread abroad the faith and established the Church of Christ. The necessity of tradition is further evident from this, that books can be available only to a small part of mankind, but tradition to all.
Q. Why then was Holy Scripture given?
A. To this end, that Divine Revelation might be preserved more exactly and unchangeably. In Holy Scripture we read the words of the Prophets and Apostles precisely as if we were living with them and listening to them, although the latest of the sacred books were written a thousand and some hundred years before our time.
Q. Must we follow Holy Tradition, even when we possess Holy Scripture?
A. We must follow that tradition which agrees with the Divine Revelation and with Holy Scripture, as is taught is by Holy Scripture itself. The Apostle Paul writes: Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or our epistle. II Thess. 2:15
Q. Why is Tradition necessary even now?
A. As a guide to the right understanding of Holy Scripture, and for the right ministration of the Sacraments.
On Holy Scripture in particular:
Q. When were the sacred books written?
A. At different times; some before the birth of Christ, others after.
Q. Have not these two divisions of the sacred books each their own names?
A. They have. Those written before the birth of Christ are called the books of the Old Testament; while those written after are called books of the New Testament.
Q. What are the Old and New testaments?
A. In other words: the old and new agreements of God with men.
Q. Of what does the Old Testament consist?
A. That God promised men a Divine Savior, and prepared them to receive Him.
Q. How did God prepare men to receive the Savior?
A. Through gradual revelations, by prophecies and types.
Q. Of what does the New Testament consist?
A. That God has actually given men a Divine Savior, His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
Q. How many books of the Old Testament are there?
A. Forty-seven.
Q. Is there any division of the books of the Old Testament by which you can give a more distinct account of their contents?
A. They may be divided into the four following classes:
1. Books of the Law, which form the basis of the Old Testament.
2. Historical books, which contain principally the history of religion.
3. Doctrinal, which contain the doctrine of religion.
4. Prophetical, which contain prophecies, or predictions of things future, especially of Jesus Christ.
Q. Which are the books of the Law?
A. The five books written by Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Jesus Christ Himself, gives to these books the general name of the Law of Moses. Luke 24:44
Q. What in particular is contained in the book of Genesis?
A. The account of the creation of the world and of man, and afterwards the history and ordinances of religion in the first ages of mankind.
Q. What is contained in the other four books of Moses?
A. The history of religion in the time of the Prophet Moses, and the Law given through him from God.
Q. Which are the historical books of the Old Testament?
A. The Books of Joshua, the son of Nun, Judges, Ruth, Kings, Chronicles, the books of Esdras, and the books of Nehemiah, Ester, Tobias, Judith, and Maccabees.
Q. Which are doctrinal?
A. The book of Job, The psalms, the books of Solomon.
Q. What should we remark in particular of the book of psalms?
A. This book, together with the doctrine of religion, contains also allusions to its history, and many prophecies of our Savior Christ. It is a perfect manual of prayer and praise, and on this account is in continual use in the Divine service of the Church.
Q. Which books are prophetical?
A. Those of the Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, the twelve others plus Baruch.
Q. How many books of the New Testament are there?
A. Twenty-seven.
Q. Are there among these any which answer to the books of the Law, or form the basis of the New Testament?
A. Yes. The Gospel, which consist of the four books of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Q. What does the word Gospel mean?
A. It is the same word as the Greek word Evangely, and means good and joyful news.
Q. Of what have we good news in the books called the Gospel?
A. Of the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, of His advent and life on earth, of His miracles and saving doctrine, and finally, of His death upon the cross, His glorious resurrection, and Ascension into heaven.
Q. Why are these books called the Gospel?
A. They are called Gospel because man can have no better nor more joyful news than these, of a Divine Savior and everlasting salvation. For the same cause, whenever the Gospel is read in the Church, it is prefaced and accompanied by joyful exclamation: Glory be to Thee, O Lord. Glory be to Thee.
Q. Are any of the books of the New Testament historical?
A. Yes. One; the book of the Acts of the Holy Apostles.
Q. Of what does it give an account?
A. Of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, and the extension through them of Christ's Church.
Q. What is an Apostle?
A. The word means a messenger. It is the name given to those disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom He sent to preach the Gospel.
Q. Which books of the New Testament are doctrinal?
A. The seven General Epistles; namely, one of the Apostle James, two of Peter, three of John, and one of Jude; and fourteen Epistles of the Apostle Paul: namely, one to the Romans, two to the Corinthians, one to the Galatians, one to the Ephesians, one to the Philippians, one to the Collossians, two to the Thessalonians, two to Timothy, one to Titus, one to Philemon, and one to the Hebrews.
Q. Are there also among the books of the New Testament any prophetical?
A. Such is the book of the Apocalypse, which means Revelation.
Q. What are the contents of this book?
A. A mystical representation of the future destinies of the Christian Church, and of the whole world.
Q. What rules must we observe in reading Holy Scripture?
A. First, we must read it devoutly, as the Word of God, and with prayer to understand it right; secondly, we must read it with a pure desire of instruction in faith, and incitement to good works; thirdly, we must take and understand it in such sense as agrees with interpretation of the Church and the holy fathers.
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