Catechism: Section One

Chapter One: On the Existence of God Almighty

1. Who created this world?
   Almighty God.
2. What proofs have we of the existence of God?
   The proofs of the existence of Almighty God are to be found in the Holy Bible and in our intelligence with which we are naturally enlightened. Nature around us leads us to infer the existence of an omniscient Creator, who is Almighty God.
3. What is God?
   God is a spirit, pure and unmixed, Who was from eternity, complete, self-existence and the prime cause of all existent things
4. What does this statement mean?
   This statement means that Almighty God exists, is invisible, is not dependent on the senses, is free of all material things and their attributes had no beginning and has no end forever.
5. Can man comprehend this?
   We cannot comprehend God in His essence and true nature; we can only understand Him by reason of His being, His attributes and His works
6. What are the attributes of Almighty God?
   They are: He is one, from all eternity and to all eternity, lives by His own power alone, is almighty, omnipresent, omniscient, all-wise, holy, just, merciful, self-sufficient and great in goodness and love.

Chapter Two: On the Holy Trinity, and the Oneness of God

1. What is the Trinity and Oneness of God?
   We mean by this that God on high is one God, subsisting in three separate persons called the Father, the Son and the HOly Spirit.
2. Is each one of the three persons God?
   Yes, and they are all equal in their Godhead.
3. Are not the three persons three Gods?
   No, they are one God for they are of one essence, one Godhead, one nature, have one will, one work, and one Lordship
4. What are the separate aspects of the three Persons?
   The special aspect of the First Person is His Priesthood; that of the Second Person His Sonship and that of the Third Person His Procession. It is thus that we distinguish among the Three Persons.

1. What is Creation?
   By creation we mean that all things that are were brought into being by the Divine Power from nothing
2. In how many days God create the world?
   In six days.
3. What did God create on the First Day?
   On the FIrst Day, the heavens adn earth were created, still engulfed by the waters. Light was a lso created on the First DAy and a division made between light and darkness.
4. What was created on the Second Day?
   On the Second Day, the firmament was created. That is the visible heavens.
5. What did God make on the Third Day?
   On the Third Day, God gathered the waters into one place and cuased the earth to appear clothed with grass and trees.
6. What did God make on the Fourth Day?
   God created the sun, the moon and the stars on the Fourth Day.
7. What did God create on the Fifth Day?
   On the Fifth Day, God made the fish, the reptiles and the creatures of the sea.
8. What did God do on the Sixth Day?
   On the Sixth Day, God commanded the earth and it brought forth animals, cattle, beasts and creeping things. After this, He created Man.
9. What did God do when He had finished His Work of creation?
   Gpd rested from His work on the Seventh Day
10. Why did God create the heavens and earth and all that are in them?
    He created them for His Glory and our happiness.

1. Who are the Angels?
   The angels are spiritual elements, intelligent, and perfect, whom God created for his glory and service.
2. What is the nature of angels?
   Angels are not subject in any way to the limitations of corporeal matter or human imperfection, and are superior to mankind in their knowledge, understanding, purity and power.
3. What function do the angels perform?
   Their work is to praise God, to announce to mankind the will of God, to watch over men and to lead them in the path of good. Every believer has his own angel, called his "guardian angel".
4. How many ranks of angels are there?
   There are nine: namely, angels and archangels, principalities, powers, thrones, celestial virtues, the many-eyed cherubim and the six-winged seraphim.

1. Who are the evil spirits?
   Evil spirits or devils are an order of angels who rebelled against their Creator through pride, and who fell with their leader to the lowest depths of hell.
2. How are the evil spirits employed?
   Evil spirits make dire warfare against humanity harmfully seducing mankind by all kinds of temptation to sin.
3. Can an evil spirit force a man to commit sin?
   No, it can never do this, but only craftily deceive him.
4. Do we have a sign by which we can cast out evil spirits?
   Yes, we have the sign of the holy Cross.

1. What is man?
   Man is a corporeal creature endowed with an intelligent soul in a body formed from the dust of the earth.
2. What is man's soul?
   Man's soul is his intangible, self-consistent, spiritual and essential being, knowledge and life. It is immortal, that is, as all other spiritual beings, not subject to death.
3. What is man's body?
   Man's body consists of tangible matter, composed of seceral elements. It is subject to death and decay like other bodies.
4. Who was the first man?
   The first man was Adam, and the first woman was Eve, the father and mother of the human race.
5. Where did God place our first parents?
   God made them dwell in the paradise of Eden, and gave them authority over all other creatures on earth.
6. In what estate was man created?
   Man was created righteous, holy, eternal, complete in knowledge, free and able to distinguish between good and evil.
7. Did man remain in this estate?
   No, he fell from his high estate by eating of the forbidden tree, thus disobeying the divine command and bring upon himself divine punishment.
8. How did God punish our first parents?
   God condemned them to death and cast them out of Paradise into the sorrows of the earth, withdrawing His grace from them. They fell prey to ignorance and the lust of sin, and came under bondage to Satan, taking with them in their fall the whole human family.
9. Did God abandon man?
   No, He showed mercy on him and promised him a Savior that would come.

1. What is The Mystery of the Incarnation?
   The Mystery of the Incarnation is that the only Son of God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, took upon Himself a body and became man.
2. How was this mystery achieved?
   When the time came for the Savior to appear, God send the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary to announce to her that she was to be with child by the Holy Spirit, at which time the with child by the Holy Spirit, at which time the Holy Spirit came upon her and cleansed her of all natural impurity, filling her with His grace. Then the Only Son of God came down and entered her immaculate womb, and took upon Himselff a body through her, thus becoming a perfect man with a perfect soul. After nine months, He was born of her and her virginity was maninained contrary to the laws of nature.
3. By what name do we call God Incarnate?
   His name is our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. What do we believe concerning the Lord Jesus Christ?
   We believe that His true Godhead and His true Manhood were in Him essentially united, He being one Lord and one Son, and that after the union took place in Him He Had but one united nature, is one Person, has one will and one action.
5. What distinguished this union?
   It is specially marked by being a natural and personal union, free of all separateness, intermixture, confusion, mingling, change and transformation.
6. How many births did Christ have?
   Christ had two births: a birth from eternity from the eternal Father and a temporal birth in the flesh birth in the flesh from the Virgin.
7. Where was Christ born in the body?
   He was born in the town of Bethlehem.
8. Is the Virgin called the Mother of God?
   Yes, she is called the Mother of God because she gave birth to Christ, God truly incarnate.
9. Did the Virgin maintain her virginity after her delivery?
   Yes.

1. When did Christ begin His work?
   When He reached the age of thirty He was baptized by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. He then withdrew into the wilderness and fasted forty days and forty nights, overcoming Satan, who tried to have Him commit gluttony, pride and avarice.
2. What did Christ do following that?
   He showed Himself to the world, chossing twelve apostles and seventy-two preachers, and began to proclaim the Gospel, teaching men the way of perfection, and performing wondrous miracles.
3. What obstacles did He meet in His preaching?
   The Chief Priests of the Jews and the Scribes and Pharisees opposed Him because He rebuked their evil way of life. They plotted to put Him to death. After He had eaten the Last Supper, and had given the New Covenant to His Apostles, He was delivered into their hands by the treachery of Judas Iscariot. They passed false judgment upon Him. Then they took Him out to Mount Golgotha, where they crucified Him between two thieves. Thus He tasted death by His own will, and committed His spirit into the hands of His heavenly Father.
4. When did Christ give usthe New Covenant?
   He gave us the New Covenant on the night of His Passion, that is, at supper on the Thursday of Holy week.

1. When did Christ die?
   Christ died at the ninth hour on Good Friday.
2. How did CHrist die?
   The death of CHrist was the separation of His Body, but His deity did not anytime leave either His body or His soul .
3. What benefit did CHrist confer upon us by His death for us?
   By His death for us, CHrist conferred upon us salvation from eternal death and reconciliation with his Heavenly Father.
4. Did miracles take place at the time of Christ's death?
   Yes, the sun was darkened and the veil of the Temple was torn in two; the rocks were shattered ad the graves opened and the bodies of many saints were raised to life.
5. Where was the body of Christ buried?
   It was buried in a new tomb cut out of the rock, and guards were placed around.
6. Where did the soul of Christ go after His death?
   The soul of Christ went down into Sheol and set free the souls of the righteous who had died, trusting in Him, carrying them to Paradise.
7. In what manner did Christ rise?
   His soul united with His body and He rose from the tomb alive and glorious. This took place at dawn on Easter Sunday.
8. How did Christ set a seal on His work of salvation?
   After His Resuurection, Christ visited with His disciples for forty days. He then took them to the Mount of Olives and blessed them, and sent them out to preach the Gospel throughout the whole world. He also promised them to establish His Church after assuring them that the Holy Spirit would be sent to them. He then ascended into heaven, where He is now seated in glory at the right of His Heavenly FAther to make intercession for us.
9. On what day did Christ ascend ino heaven?
   He ascended on Thursday, now called Ascension Thuesday.

1. Who is the Holy Spirit
   The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, the Spirit of Truth, proceeding from the Father.
2. Is this procession a thing peculiar to the Holy Spirit?
   Yes, this procession is peculiar to the Holy Spirit and of His essential being, for by it He is distinguished from the Father and the Son.
3. What is the authority of the Holy Spirit?
   His authority consists in his being equal with the Father and the Son in His being, essence, power, authority and will.
4. Did the Holy Spirit appear in a visible, tangible form?
   Yes, He appeared in the likeness of a dove at the time of Christ's Baptism and in the shape of tongues of fire when He came upon the apostles and bestowed His gifts upon them.
5. How many gifts of the Holy Spirit are there, and what are they?
   They are seven, namely, wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, godliness and the fear of the Lord.
6. In what does the operation of these gifts appear?
   These gifts guide the Christian in the way of perfection, establish him in faith and grace and adorn him with virtues.
7. How may we acquire these gifts?
   We acquire these gifts when we cleanse our hearts by faith, repentance, worship and good works; in particular when we partake of the Holy Communion.