Baltimore Catechism Volume Iii Part 8

Q. 195. What do we mean by the "nature" and "substance" of a thing?

A. By the "nature" of a thing we mean the combination of all the qualities that make the thing what it is. By the "substance" of a thing we mean the part that never changes, and which cannot be changed without destroying the nature of the thing.

Q. 196. {30} Can we fully understand how the three Divine Persons are one and the same G.o.d?

A. We cannot fully understand how the three Divine Persons are one and the same G.o.d, because this is a mystery.

Q. 197. {31} What is a mystery?

A. A mystery is a truth which we cannot fully understand.

Q. 198. Is every truth which we cannot understand a mystery?

A. Every truth which we cannot understand is not a mystery; but every revealed truth which no one can understand is a mystery.

Q. 199. Should we believe truths which we cannot understand?

A. We should and often do believe truths which we cannot understand when we have proof of their existence.

Q. 200. Give an example of truths which all believe, though many do not understand them.

A. All believe that the earth is round and moving, though many do not understand it. All believe that a seed planted in the ground will produce a flower or tree often with more than a thousand other seeds equal to itself, though many cannot understand how this is done.

Q. 201. Why must a divine religion have mysteries?

A. A divine religion must have mysteries because it must have supernatural truths and G.o.d Himself must teach them. A religion that has only natural truths, such as man can know by reason alone, fully understand and teach, is only a human religion.

Q. 202. Why does G.o.d require us to believe mysteries?

A. G.o.d requires us to believe mysteries that we may submit our understanding to Him.

Q. 203. By what form of prayer do we praise the Holy Trinity?

A. We praise the Holy Trinity by a form of prayer called the Doxology, which has come down to us almost from the time of the Apostles.

Q. 204. Say the Doxology.

A. The Doxology is: "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen."

Q. 205. Is there any other form of the Doxology?

A. There is another form of the Doxology, which is said in the celebration of the Ma.s.s. It is called the "Gloria in excelsis" or "Glory be to G.o.d on high," &c., the words sung by the Angels at the birth of Our Lord.

LESSON FOURTH.

ON CREATION.

Q. 206. What is the difference between making and creating?

A. "Making" means bringing forth or forming out of some material already existing, as workmen do. "Creating" means bringing forth out of nothing, as G.o.d alone can do.

Q. 207. Has everything that exists been created?

A. Everything that exists except G.o.d Himself has been created.

Q. 208. {32} Who created heaven and earth, and all things?

A. G.o.d created heaven and earth, and all things.

Q. 209. From what do we learn that G.o.d created heaven and earth and all things?

A. We learn that G.o.d created heaven and earth and all things from the Bible or Holy Scripture, in which the account of the Creation is given.

Q. 210. Why did G.o.d create all things?

A. G.o.d created all things for His own glory and for their or our good.

Q. 211. Did G.o.d leave all things to themselves after He had created them?

A. G.o.d did not leave all things to themselves after He had created them; He continues to preserve and govern them.

Q. 212. What do we call the care by which G.o.d preserves and governs the world and all it contains?

A. We call the care by which G.o.d preserves and governs the world and all it contains His providence.

Q. 213. {33} How did G.o.d create heaven and earth?

A. G.o.d created heaven and earth from nothing by His word only; that is, by a single act of His all-powerful will.

Q. 214. {34} Which are the chief creatures of G.o.d?

A. The chief creatures of G.o.d are angels and men.

Q. 215. How may G.o.d's creatures on earth be divided?

A. G.o.d's creatures on earth may be divided into four cla.s.ses: (1) Things that exist, as air; (2) Things that exist, grow and live, as plants and trees; (3) Things that exist, grow, live and feel, as animals; (4) Things that exist, grow, live, feel and understand, as man.

Q. 216. {35} What are angels?

A. Angels are pure spirits without a body, created to adore and enjoy G.o.d in heaven.

Q. 217. If Angels have no bodies, how could they appear?

A. Angels could appear by taking bodies to render themselves visible for a time; just as the Holy Ghost took the form of a dove and the devil took the form of a serpent.

Q. 218. Name some persons to whom Angels appeared.

A. Angels appeared to the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph; also to Abraham, Lot, Jacob, Tobias and others.

Q. 219. {36} Were the angels created for any other purpose?

A. The angels were also created to a.s.sist before the throne of G.o.d and to minister unto Him; they have often been sent as messengers from G.o.d to man; and are also appointed our guardians.

Q. 220. Are all the Angels equal in dignity?

A. All the Angels are not equal in dignity. There are nine choirs or cla.s.ses mentioned in the Holy Scripture. The highest are called Seraphim and the lowest simply Angels. The Archangels are one cla.s.s higher than ordinary Angels.

Q. 221. Mention some Archangels and tell what they did.

A. The Archangel Michael drove Satan out of heaven; the Archangel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin that she was to become the Mother of G.o.d. The Archangel Raphael guided and protected Tobias.

Q. 222. Were Angels ever sent to punish men?

A. Angels were sometimes sent to punish men. An Angel killed 185,000 men in the army of a wicked king who had blasphemed G.o.d; an Angel also slew the first-born in the families of the Egyptians who had persecuted G.o.d's people.

Q. 223. What do our guardian Angels do for us?

A. Our guardian Angels pray for us, protect and guide us, and offer our prayers, good works and desires to G.o.d.

Q. 224. How do we know that Angels offer our prayers and good works to G.o.d?

A. We know that Angels offer our prayers and good works to G.o.d because it is so stated in Holy Scripture, and Holy Scripture is the Word of G.o.d.

Q. 225. Why did G.o.d appoint guardian Angels if He watches over us Himself?

A. G.o.d appointed guardian Angels to secure for us their help and prayers, and also to show His great love for us in giving us these special servants and faithful friends.

Q. 226. {37} Were the angels, as G.o.d created them, good and happy?