The penny catechism!
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 for ever 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 more care, of your body or of your soul?
I must take more care of my soul; for Christ has said, 'What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and suffers 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.
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 therefore, make disciples of all the 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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary;
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven; is seated 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 Spirit;
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 perfection.
18. Why is God called Almighty?
God is called 'Almighty' because he can do all things; 'For God everything is 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. Had 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 Spirit.
26. Are these three Persons three Gods?
These three Persons are not three Gods: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit 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 of the Creed
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?
Jesus Christ was not always man. He has been man only from the time of his Incarnation.
40. What do you mean by the Incarnation?
I mean by the Incarnation that God the Son took to himself the nature of man: 'the Word was made Flesh'. (John 1:14)
41. How many natures are there in Jesus Christ?
There are two natures in Jesus Christ, the nature of God and the nature of man.
42. Is there only one Person in Jesus Christ?
There is only one Person in Jesus Christ, which is the Person of God the Son.
43. Why was God the Son made man?
God the Son was made man to redeem us from sin and hell, and to teach us the way to heaven.
44. What does the holy name Jesus mean?
The holy name Jesus means Saviour. (Matt. 1:21)
45. What does the name Christ mean?
The name Christ means Anointed.
46. Where is Jesus Christ?
As God, Jesus Christ is everywhere. As God made man, he is in heaven, and in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.
The Third Article of the Creed
47. What is the third article of the Creed?
The third article of the Creed is, 'who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary'.
48. What does the third article mean?
The third article means that God the Son took a Body and Soul like ours, in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
49. Had Jesus Christ any father on earth?
Jesus Christ had no father on earth: St Joseph was only his guardian or foster-father.
50. Where was our Saviour born?
Our Saviour was born in a stable at Bethlehem.
51. On what day was our Saviour born?
Our Saviour was born on Christmas Day.
The Fourth Article of the Creed
52. What is the fourth article of the Creed?
The fourth article of the Creed is, 'suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried'.
53. What were the chief sufferings of Christ?
The chief sufferings of Christ were: first, his agony, and his sweat of blood in the Garden; secondly, his being scourged at the pillar, and crowned with thorns; and thirdly his carrying his cross, his crucifixion, and his death between two thieves.
54. What are the chief sufferings of our Lord called?
The chief sufferings of our Lord are called the Passion of Jesus Christ.
55. Why did our Saviour suffer?
Our Saviour suffered to atone for our sins, and to purchase for us eternal life.
56. Why is Jesus Christ called our Redeemer?
Jesus Christ is called our Redeemer because his precious blood is the price by which we were ransomed.
57. On what day did our Saviour die?
Our Saviour died on Good Friday.
58. Where did our Saviour die?
Our Saviour died on Mount Calvary.
59. Why do we make the sign of the cross?
We make the sign of the cross - first, to put us in mind of the Blessed Trinity; and secondly to remind us that God the Son died for us on the Cross.
60. In making the sign of the cross how are we reminded of the Blessed Trinity?
In making the sign of the cross we are reminded of the
Blessed Trinity by the words, 'In the name of the Father, 1
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit'.
61. In making the sign of the cross how are we reminded that Christ died for us on the Cross?
In making the sign of the cross we are reminded that Christ died for us on the Cross by the very form of the cross which we make upon ourselves.
The Fifth Article of the Creed
62. What is the fifth article of the Creed?
The fifth article of the Creed is, 'he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead'.
63. What do you mean by the words, 'he descended into hell'?
By the words 'he descended into hell' I mean that, as soon as Christ was dead, his blessed Soul went down into that part of hell called Limbo.
64. What do you mean by Limbo?
By Limbo I mean a place of rest, where the souls of the just who died before Christ were detained.
65. Why were the souls of the just detained in Limbo?
The souls of the just were detained in Limbo because they could not go up to the kingdom of heaven till Christ had opened it for them.
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 for ever 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 more care, of your body or of your soul?
I must take more care of my soul; for Christ has said, 'What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and suffers 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.
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 therefore, make disciples of all the 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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary;
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven; is seated 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 Spirit;
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 perfection.
18. Why is God called Almighty?
God is called 'Almighty' because he can do all things; 'For God everything is 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. Had 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 Spirit.
26. Are these three Persons three Gods?
These three Persons are not three Gods: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit 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 of the Creed
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?
Jesus Christ was not always man. He has been man only from the time of his Incarnation.
40. What do you mean by the Incarnation?
I mean by the Incarnation that God the Son took to himself the nature of man: 'the Word was made Flesh'. (John 1:14)
41. How many natures are there in Jesus Christ?
There are two natures in Jesus Christ, the nature of God and the nature of man.
42. Is there only one Person in Jesus Christ?
There is only one Person in Jesus Christ, which is the Person of God the Son.
43. Why was God the Son made man?
God the Son was made man to redeem us from sin and hell, and to teach us the way to heaven.
44. What does the holy name Jesus mean?
The holy name Jesus means Saviour. (Matt. 1:21)
45. What does the name Christ mean?
The name Christ means Anointed.
46. Where is Jesus Christ?
As God, Jesus Christ is everywhere. As God made man, he is in heaven, and in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.
The Third Article of the Creed
47. What is the third article of the Creed?
The third article of the Creed is, 'who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary'.
48. What does the third article mean?
The third article means that God the Son took a Body and Soul like ours, in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
49. Had Jesus Christ any father on earth?
Jesus Christ had no father on earth: St Joseph was only his guardian or foster-father.
50. Where was our Saviour born?
Our Saviour was born in a stable at Bethlehem.
51. On what day was our Saviour born?
Our Saviour was born on Christmas Day.
The Fourth Article of the Creed
52. What is the fourth article of the Creed?
The fourth article of the Creed is, 'suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried'.
53. What were the chief sufferings of Christ?
The chief sufferings of Christ were: first, his agony, and his sweat of blood in the Garden; secondly, his being scourged at the pillar, and crowned with thorns; and thirdly his carrying his cross, his crucifixion, and his death between two thieves.
54. What are the chief sufferings of our Lord called?
The chief sufferings of our Lord are called the Passion of Jesus Christ.
55. Why did our Saviour suffer?
Our Saviour suffered to atone for our sins, and to purchase for us eternal life.
56. Why is Jesus Christ called our Redeemer?
Jesus Christ is called our Redeemer because his precious blood is the price by which we were ransomed.
57. On what day did our Saviour die?
Our Saviour died on Good Friday.
58. Where did our Saviour die?
Our Saviour died on Mount Calvary.
59. Why do we make the sign of the cross?
We make the sign of the cross - first, to put us in mind of the Blessed Trinity; and secondly to remind us that God the Son died for us on the Cross.
60. In making the sign of the cross how are we reminded of the Blessed Trinity?
In making the sign of the cross we are reminded of the
Blessed Trinity by the words, 'In the name of the Father, 1
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit'.
61. In making the sign of the cross how are we reminded that Christ died for us on the Cross?
In making the sign of the cross we are reminded that Christ died for us on the Cross by the very form of the cross which we make upon ourselves.
The Fifth Article of the Creed
62. What is the fifth article of the Creed?
The fifth article of the Creed is, 'he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead'.
63. What do you mean by the words, 'he descended into hell'?
By the words 'he descended into hell' I mean that, as soon as Christ was dead, his blessed Soul went down into that part of hell called Limbo.
64. What do you mean by Limbo?
By Limbo I mean a place of rest, where the souls of the just who died before Christ were detained.
65. Why were the souls of the just detained in Limbo?
The souls of the just were detained in Limbo because they could not go up to the kingdom of heaven till Christ had opened it for them.