Basic Catechism Level-II

Complied from Summa Theologica (1275) [ST], Catechism of the Council of Trent (1566) [RC], Code of Canon Law (1983) [CIC], Catechism of the Catholic Church (1997) [CCC]

The Sacraments (CCC 1210)
What is a Sacrament? Sacrament is a visible sign, it is signifying the gift of God’s grace, is given by Jesus Christ.

There are seven sacraments:
1) Baptism; 2) Confirmation; 3) The Eucharist; 4) Penance, 5) The Anointing of the Sick; 6) Holy Orders; 7) Matrimony.

Which are the sacraments that can be received only once? The sacraments that can be received only once are. Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.
What is a sacrament? An outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.

Do the sacraments give sanctifying grace? Yes. The sacraments do give sanctifying grace.

Does each of the sacraments also give a special grace? Yes. Each of the sacraments also gives a special grace, called sacramental grace, which helps one to carry out the particular purpose of that sacrament.

Do the sacraments always give grace? The sacraments always give grace if we receive them with the right dispositions.

What sin does one commit who knowingly receives a sacrament of the living in mortal sin? He who knowingly receives a sacrament of the living in mortal sin commits a mortal sin of sacrilege, because he treats a sacred thing with grave irreverence.

Which are the sacraments that can be received only once? The sacraments that can be received only once are Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.

Why can Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders be received only once? Because they imprint on the soul a spiritual mark, called a character, which lasts forever.

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THE HOLY SPIRIT AND GRACE

Who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is God and the third Person of the Blessed Trinity.

From whom does the Holy Spirit proceed? The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.

Is the Holy Spirit equal to the Father and the Son? Yes. The Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son, because He is God.

What does the Holy Spirit do for the salvation of mankind? The Holy Spirit dwells in the Church as the source of its life and sanctifies souls through the gift of grace.

What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit? Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Trustfulness, Modesty, Self-control, and Chastity.

Where are they mentioned in the Bible? You can find them in the Bible in Galatians 5,22-23a: “Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.

What purpose do these gifts serve? The gifts of the Holy Ghost serve to establish us in Faith, Hope and Charity, and to render us prompt in the exercise of those acts of virtue necessary towards attaining the perfection of a Christian life.

What is Wisdom? Wisdom is a gift by which the mind is lifted up from earthly and transitory things, enabling us to contemplate things eternal, that is to say, God Himself, the eternal truth, and to relish and love Him, in which consists all our good.

What is Understanding? Understanding is a gift which facilitates, as far as this is possible to mortal man, the understanding of the truths of faith and of the mysteries of God, which we are unable to know by the natural light of the intellect.

What is Counsel? Counsel is a gift by which, amidst the doubts and uncertainties of human life, we are enabled to recognize those things that redound more to God’s glory, to our own salvation, and to that of our neighbor. It might also be called Right Judgment.

What is Fortitude? Fortitude is a gift which inspires us with valor and courage to observe faithfully the holy law of God and of the Church, by conquering all obstacles and all the assaults of our enemies. It might also be called Courage.

What is Knowledge? Knowledge is a gift enabling us to estimate created things at their proper worth, and to learn how to use them rightly and to direct them to our last end, which is God.

What is Piety? Piety is a gift enabling us to venerate and love God and His Saints, and to preserve a pious and benevolent mind towards our neighbor for the love of God. It might also be called Reverence.

What is the Fear of the Lord? The Fear of the Lord is a gift which makes us respect God and fear to offend His Divine Majesty, and which detaches us from evil while inciting us to good. [SPX] It might also be called Awe and Wonder.

Where are they mentioned in the Bible? “ 1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11,1-2). “ 1 Therefore we must pay the closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his own will” (Hebrews 2,1-4).

What is the difference between the fruits of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Like any fruits, these give evidence that a healthy life is being lived. Trees that bear fruit are healthy trees. Souls that manifest the fruits of the Holy Spirit are healthy souls. It would be difficult to say that we allow the Holy Spirit to be active in our life if we don’t have all these fruits. Like any other gift, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given freely, in the manner and amount chosen by the giver and accepted by the recipient. These gifts are given in a way that might even be out of sync with the life we are living. They may very well be given for the sake of the salvation of others. Whereas the gifts of the Holy Spirit are stable dispositions of the soul, or virtues, fruits of the Holy Spirit are not habits, or permanent qualities. Fruits of the Holy Spirit are acts or individual instances of a work of the Holy Spirit.

What is grace? Grace is a supernatural gift of God bestowed on us through the merits of Jesus Christ for our salvation.

How many kinds of grace are there? There are two kinds: sanctifying grace and actual grace.

What is sanctifying grace? Sanctifying grace is that grace which confers on our souls a new life, that is, a sharing in the life of God Himself.

What are the chief effects of sanctifying grace? The chief effects of sanctifying grace are: first, it makes us holy and pleasing to God; second, it makes us adopted children of God; third, it makes us temples of the Holy Spirit; fourth, it gives us the right to heaven.

What is actual grace? It is a supernatural help of God which enlightens our mind and strengthens our will to do good and to avoid evil.

Can we resist the grace of God? Yes. We can resist the grace of God, for our will is free, and God does not force us to accept His grace.

Why is sanctifying grace necessary for salvation? Sanctifying grace is necessary for salvation because it is the supernatural life, which alone enables us to attain the supernatural happiness of heaven.

Is actual grace necessary for all who have the use of reason? Actual grace is necessary for all who have attained the use of reason, because without it we cannot long resist the power of temptation or perform other actions which merit a reward in heaven.

What are the principal ways of obtaining grace? The principal ways of obtaining grace are prayer and the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist.

How can we make our most ordinary actions merit a heavenly reward? We can make our most ordinary actions merit a heavenly reward by doing them for the love of God and by keeping ourselves in the state of grace.

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CONFIRMATION

What is Confirmation? Confirmation is the sacrament through which the Holy Spirit comes to us in a special way and enables us to profess our faith as strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ.

Who is the usual minister of Confirmation? The bishop is the usual minister of Confirmation. In danger of death any priest can give Confirmation.

What does the bishop do when he gives Confirmation? The bishop extends his hands over those who are to be confirmed, prays that they may receive the Holy Spirit, and, while laying his hand on the head of each person, anoints the forehead with holy chrism in the form of a cross.

What does the bishop say in anointing the person he confirms? In the traditional form of the Sacrament, as the bishop anoints the person to be confirmed, the bishop says: “I sign you with the sign of the cross and I confirm you with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” In the ordinary form of the Sacrament, the bishop says “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”.

What is holy chrism? Holy chrism is a mixture of olive oil and balm, consecrated by the bishop on Holy Thursday.

What Sacraments use holy chrism? The Sacraments that can be received only once: Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders.

What does the anointing of the forehead with chrism in the form of a cross signify? By this anointing the confirmand receives the “mark,” the seal of the Holy Spirit. A seal is a symbol of a person, a sign of personal authority, or ownership of an object. Hence soldiers were marked with their leader’s seal and slaves with their master’s. A seal authenticates a juridical act or document and occasionally makes it secret. The anointing of the forehead with chrism in the form of a cross signifies that the Catholic who is confirmed must always be ready to profess his faith openly and to practice it fearlessly.

What are the effects of Confirmation? Confirmation increases sanctifying grace, gives its special sacramental grace, and imprints a lasting character on the soul.

What is the character of Confirmation? The character of Confirmation is a spiritual and indelible sign which marks the Christian as a soldier in the army of Christ. This character perfects the common priesthood of the faithful, received in Baptism, and “the confirmed person receives the power to profess faith in Christ publicly and as it were officially (quasi Ex officio)”

What is necessary to receive Confirmation properly? A candidate for Confirmation who has attained the age of reason must profess the faith, be in the state of grace, know well the chief truths and duties of our religion, have the intention of receiving the sacrament, and be prepared to assume the role of disciple and witness to Christ.

What are the precepts of the Church? 1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor; 2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year; 3. You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season; 4. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church; 5. You shall help provide for the needs of the Church.

What will you be allowed to do once you are confirmed and of sufficient age? Be a god parent, be a Confirmation sponsor, enter religious life, get married, be ordained.

What do these all have in common? What they have in common is that they are all public commitments to share in the responsibility for the salvation of another person.

Who can administer Baptism? The priest is the usual minister of Baptism, but if there is danger that someone will die without Baptism, anyone else may and should baptize.

How would you give Baptism? I would give Baptism by pouring ordinary water on the forehead of the person to be baptized, saying while pouring it: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

If someone asks you a question about the Faith and you don’t know the answer, what should you say? “I don’t know but I will find out.”

Will you ever know everything about the Faith? No, not until the beatific vision in heaven. Should you ever stop learning about the Faith? No!

Why should all Catholics be confirmed? All Catholics should be confirmed in order to be strengthened against the dangers to salvation and to be prepared better to defend their Catholic faith.

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SIN

What is actual sin? Actual sin is any willful thought, desire, word, action, or omission forbidden by the law of God.

How many kinds of actual sin are there? There are two kinds: mortal sin and venial sin.

What is mortal sin? Mortal sin is a grievous offense against the law of God.

Why is this sin called mortal? This sin is called mortal, or deadly, because it deprives the sinner of sanctifying grace, the supernatural life of the soul, makes the soul an enemy of God, takes away the merit of all its good actions, deprives it of the right to everlasting happiness in heaven, and makes it deserving of everlasting punishment in hell.

What three things are necessary to make a sin mortal? To make a sin mortal these three things are needed: first, the thought, desire, word, action, or omission must be seriously wrong or considered seriously wrong; second, the sinner, must be mindful of the serious wrong; third, the sinner must fully consent to it.

What is venial sin? Venial sin is a less serious offense against the law of God, which does not deprive the soul of sanctifying grace, and which can be pardoned even without sacramental confession.

How can a sin be venial? A sin can be venial in two ways: first, when the evil done is not seriously wrong; second, when the evil done is seriously wrong, but the sinner sincerely believes it is only slightly wrong, or does not give full consent to it.

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CONFESSION

Prayer Before Confession: Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind that I may clearly know my sins. Move my heart that I may be sincerely sorry for them, honestly confess them and firmly resolve to live in relationship with You, my God. Spirit of Wisdom, grant me to see the malice of sin and my ingratitude toward You, the all-loving God. Spirit of Fortitude, help me to make whatever sacrifice is needed to avoid sin in the future. Amen.

Examination of Conscience — for teenagers)

You shall have no other gods besides the Lord your God.
Do I love God above all things?
Is He number one in my life or do I put myself before God?
Have money and pleasure become more important to me than the God who created me for Himself?
Do I pray often?

Have I neglected my friendship with God by neglecting prayer?

Have I been involved with occult or superstitious practices, i.e., fortune telling?
Have I ever received Holy Communion in the state of mortal sin?
Have I told a lie in confession or deliberately withheld confessing a mortal sin?

You shall not take the Lord your God’s name in vain.

Have I ever committed perjury, that is, lied under oath in a court of law?
Have I ever lied after “swearing to God” that I am telling the truth?
Have I ever used God’s name uselessly or in anger?

Keep the Sabbath day holy.

Have I missed Mass on a Sunday or on a Holy Day of Obligation through my own fault? (Saturday evening through Sunday)?
Was I inattentive at Mass?
Did I arrive at Mass late?
Did I leave Mass early?

Honor your father and your mother so that you may live long and flourish.

Do I disobey my parents?
Do I fail to respect them?
Do I swear at them?
Am I ashamed of them?
Do I let them know I love them?
Do I lie to them?
Do I steal from them?
Am I obeying and honoring those in place of my parents, such as teachers and principals?
Do I skip class?
Do I lie to my teachers?
Do I swear at them?

You shall not kill.

Am I killing myself by taking illegal drugs or substances?
Abusing alcohol?
Have I had an abortion?
Have I ever counselled anyone to have an abortion?
Have I used abortifacient contraceptives or encouraged anyone to do so?
Did I participate in or approve of euthanasia or “mercy-killing”?
Have I murdered anyone’s reputation by deliberately spreading rumors or keeping rumors alive by passing them on?
Was I impatient, angry, envious, unkind, proud, jealous, revengeful, hateful toward others or lazy?
Hold a grudge?
Refuse to forgive another?
Have I cursed anyone?

You shall not commit adultery.

Did I perform impure acts by myself (masturbation) or with another (adultery, fornication or sodomy)?
• Have I ever watched pornography either on the Internet or through some other media?
Have I ever freely and deliberately entertained impure thoughts?
Did I dress immodestly or provocatively?
Did I use impure or suggestive words?
Did I tell impure stories or listen to them?

You shall not steal.

Do I steal from my parents?
Do I steal from friends?
Have I ever stolen from a stranger?
Have I stolen any property from a store?
In other words, have I ever taken what rightfully belongs to another?
Did I steal, cheat, help or encourage others to steal, cheat, or keep stolen goods?
Have I made restitution for stolen goods?
I gamble excessively?
Do I seek to share what I have with the poor and needy?

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Am I a liar?
Am I guilty of detraction, that is, making known the faults of others?
Am I guilty of slander, that is, spreading lies about someone?
Do I gossip about others?
Do I reveal information that should be confidential?
Am I “two-faced”, that is, have I been a certain kind of person to some people, but a completely different kind of person to others?

You shall not envy your neighbor’s wife and goods.

Am I envious of others?
Do I wish that others be deprived of the goods or talents that are theirs?
Am I jealous of others?
Do I harbor unforgiveness and grudges against others?
Am I a resentful person?
Do I put down others?
Did I eat meat knowingly on the Fridays during Lent or on Ash Wednesday?
Did I fast as required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday?
Did I fail to contribute to the support of the Church?

How to go to Confession 1. The priest will greet you. 2. Then you say: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.” You then say how long it has been since your last Confession. You tells the priest your sins and briefly answers any relevant questions. 4. The priest may give you some advice and will assign you a penance. 5. You will next pray the Act of Contrition (see prayer below). 6. The priest then gives you absolution. * If you have any difficulty, ask the priest to help you out. He will be happy to do so.

Act of Contrition: My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against You whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with Your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In His name, my God, have mercy. Or: Lord Jesus, Son of God have mercy on me, a sinner. Prayer After Confession Remember to thank God for the grace of a good confession. Pray for the priest who has heard your confession. (Remember to do the penance given to you in Confession.)

Optional prayer:
Almighty and Merciful God, Whose mercy is boundless and everlasting and of Whose goodness the riches are infinite, I thank You because You have so graciously pardoned all my sins and restored Your Heavenly favor. I am awed by Your divine compassion and the incomprehensible love of Your Son, who has given me so gentle and powerful a remedy for sins. In union with the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and all in Heaven, I proclaim Your merciful praises. Amen.

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