Course 2, Chapter 4: Public Life of our Lord — First year

1. What do you understand by the public life of Christ?

By the public life of Christ, we understand the time during which he preached his doctrine in Judea. It was about three years.

2. How did Christ commence his public life?

He commenced his public life by receiving baptism at the hands of John the Baptist. This was not the sacrament of baptism, but only a symbol of penance, which the Precursor gave to those who repented, and who prepared for the reception of the Messiah.

3. What happened at the moment of Christ's baptism?

At the moment of his baptism, the Holy Ghost, in the form of a dove, descended upon him, and there was heard a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in ichom I am well pleased.

4. What did Christ do afterwards?

Having received the baptism of John, which was a public profession of penance, he was pleased to practice it himself in all its rigor. He went into the desert and there spent forty days and forty nights without

taking any food, and permitted himself to be tempted by the devil.

5. Why did he permit himself to be tempted by the devil?

Christ permitted himself to be tempted by the devil, in order to conquer him, and teach us the way to overcome temptations.

6. Where did Christ go on retiring from the desert?

On retiring from the desert, he returned to the banks of the Jordan, where his first disciples were called. They were Andrew, and Simon Peter his brother, and Philip, all three of the city of Bethsaida. He repaired with them to Cana in Galilee.

7. What miracle did our Lord perform in that city?

On his arrival in the city of Cana, he was invited to a wedding, together with the Blessed Virgin and his disciples. At the instance of his blessed mother, he changed water into wine, teaching us there by that the Blessed Virgin is all-powerful with him, and that he is not unmindful of our temporary wants.

8. What further was the effect of this miracle?

This miracle had the further effect to strengthen the faith of our Lord's disciples, and to attach others to him. James and John particularly, the sons of Zcbedee, both fishermen by profession, followed the Saviour to Jerusalem, whither he went to celebrate the feast of the Passover.

9. What did he do at Jerusalem?

He repaired to the templt:, from which he drove the sellers.

10. In what manner?

He made a scourge, and overturning their tables, said to them, My house is a ho-se of prayer, and yan have made it a den of thieves. No one dared to oppose him, so deeply were the profaners impressed with;\ sense of his divinity. St. Jerome considers this act one of the greatest miracles the Snviour had worked.

144 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.