Baltimore Catechism Volume Ii Part 3

LESSON SEVENTH ON THE INCARNATION AND REDEMPTION

60. Q. Did G.o.d abandon man after he fell into sin?

A. G.o.d did not abandon man after he fell into sin, but promised him a Redeemer, who was to satisfy for man's sin and reopen to him the gates of heaven.

61. Q. Who is the Redeemer?

A. Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of mankind.

62. Q. What do you believe of Jesus Christ?

A. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of G.o.d, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity, true G.o.d and true man.

63. Q. Why is Jesus Christ true G.o.d?

A. Jesus Christ is true G.o.d because He is the true and only Son of G.o.d the Father.

64. Q. Why is Jesus Christ true man?

A. Jesus Christ is true man because He is the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary and has a body and soul like ours.

65. Q. How many natures are there in Jesus Christ?

A. In Jesus Christ there are two natures, the nature of G.o.d and the nature of man.

66. Q. Is Jesus Christ more than one person?

A. No, Jesus Christ is but one Divine Person.

67. Q. Was Jesus Christ always G.o.d?

A. Jesus Christ was always G.o.d, as He is the second Person of the Blessed Trinity, equal to His Father from all eternity.

68. Q. Was Jesus Christ always man?

A. Jesus Christ was not always man, but became man at the time of His Incarnation.

69. Q. What do you mean by the Incarnation?

A. By the Incarnation I mean that the Son of G.o.d was made man.

70. Q. How was the Son of G.o.d made man?

A. The Son of G.o.d was conceived and made man by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

71. Q. Is the Blessed Virgin Mary truly the Mother of G.o.d?

A. The Blessed Virgin Mary is truly the Mother of G.o.d, because the same Divine Person who is the Son of G.o.d is also the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

72. Q. Did the Son of G.o.d become man immediately after the sin of our first parents?

A. The Son of G.o.d did not become man immediately after the sin of our first parents, but was promised to them as a Redeemer.

73. Q. How could they be saved who lived before the Son of G.o.d became man?

A. They who lived before the Son of G.o.d became man could be saved by believing in a Redeemer to come, and by keeping the commandments.

74. Q. On what day was the Son of G.o.d conceived and made man?

A. The Son of G.o.d was conceived and made man on Annunciation day--the day on which the Angel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she was to be the Mother of G.o.d.

75. Q. On what day was Christ born?

A. Christ was born on Christmas day in a stable at Bethlehem, over nineteen hundred years ago.

76. Q. How long did Christ live on earth?

A. Christ lived on earth about thirty-three years, and led a most holy life in poverty and suffering.

77. Q. Why did Christ live so long on earth?

A. Christ lived so long on earth to show us the way to heaven by His teachings and example.

LESSON EIGHTH ON OUR LORD'S Pa.s.sION, DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION

78. Q. What did Jesus Christ suffer?

A. Jesus Christ suffered a b.l.o.o.d.y sweat, a cruel scourging, was crowned with thorns, and was crucified.

79. Q. On what day did Christ die?

A. Christ died on Good Friday.

80. Q. Why do you call that day "good" on which Christ died so sorrowful a death?

A. We call that day "good" on which Christ died because by His death He showed His great love for man, and purchased for him every blessing.

81. Q. Where did Christ die?

A. Christ died on Mount Calvary.

82. Q. How did Christ die?

A. Christ was nailed to the Cross and died on it between two thieves.

83. Q. Why did Christ suffer and die?

A. Christ suffered and died for our sins.

84. Q. What lessons do we learn from the sufferings and death of Christ?

A. From the sufferings and death of Christ we learn the great evil of sin, the hatred G.o.d bears to it, and the necessity of satisfying for it.

85. Q. Where did Christ's soul go after His death?

A. After Christ's death His soul descended into h.e.l.l.

86. Q. Did Christ's soul descend into the h.e.l.l of the d.a.m.ned?

A. The h.e.l.l into which Christ's soul descended was not the h.e.l.l of the d.a.m.ned, but a place or state of rest called Limbo, where the souls of the just were waiting for Him.

87. Q. Why did Christ descend into Limbo?

A. Christ descended into Limbo to preach to the souls who were in prison--that is, to announce to them the joyful tidings of their redemption.

88. Q. Where was Christ's body while His soul was in Limbo?

A. While Christ's soul was in Limbo His body was in the holy sepulchre.

89. Q. On what day did Christ rise from the dead?

A. Christ rose from the dead, glorious and immortal, on Easter Sunday, the third day after His death.

90. Q. How long did Christ stay on earth after His resurrection?