Baltimore Catechism Volume I Part 2

45. Q. What evil befell us through the disobedience of our first parents?

A. Through the disobedience of our first parents we all inherit their sin and punishment, as we should have shared in their happiness if they had remained faithful.

47. Q. What is the sin called which we inherit from our first parents?

A. The sin which we inherit from our first parents is called original sin.

50. Q. Was any one ever preserved from original sin?

A. The Blessed Virgin Mary, through the merits of her Divine Son, was preserved free from the guilt of original sin, and this privilege is called her Immaculate Conception.

LESSON FIFTH ON SIN AND ITS KINDS

51. Q. Is original sin the only kind of sin?

A. Original sin is not the only kind of sin; there is another kind of sin, which we commit ourselves, called actual sin.

52. Q. What is actual sin?

A. Actual sin is any wilful thought, word, deed or omission contrary to the law of G.o.d.

53. Q. How many kinds of actual sin are there?

A. There are two kinds of actual sin--mortal and venial.

54. Q. What is mortal sin?

A. Mortal sin is a grievous offense against the law of G.o.d.

57. Q. What is venial sin?

A. Venial sin is a slight offense against the law of G.o.d in matters of less importance; or in matters of great importance it is an offense committed without sufficient reflection or full consent of the will.

59. Q. Which are the chief sources of sin?

A. The chief sources of sin are seven: Pride, Covetousness, l.u.s.t, Anger, Gluttony, Envy, and Sloth; and they are commonly called capital sins.

LESSON SIXTH 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.

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.

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.

LESSON SEVENTH 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.

83. Q. Why did Christ suffer and die?

A. Christ suffered and died for our sins.

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.

91. Q. After Christ had remained forty days on earth, whither did He go?

A. After forty days Christ ascended into heaven, and the day on which He ascended into heaven is called Ascension day.

LESSON EIGHTH ON THE HOLY GHOST AND HIS DESCENT UPON THE APOSTLES

94. Q. Who is the Holy Ghost?

A. The Holy Ghost is the third Person of the Blessed Trinity.

97. Q. On what day did the Holy Ghost come down upon the Apostles?

A. The Holy Ghost came down upon the Apostles ten days after the Ascension of our Lord; and the day on which He came down upon the Apostles is called Whitsunday, or Pentecost.

99. Q. Who sent the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles?

A. Our Lord Jesus Christ sent the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles.

100. Q. Why did Christ send the Holy Ghost?

A. Christ sent the Holy Ghost to sanctify His Church, to enlighten and strengthen the Apostles, and to enable them to preach the Gospel.

LESSON NINTH ON THE EFFECTS OF THE REDEMPTION