Course 2, Chapter 51: Perpetuation of our union with the new Adam. — The Church

1. What did our Lord do before ascending into heaven?

.1 . Before ascending into heaven, our Lord thoroughly instructed his apostles in the truths of religion, the continuance of which on earth to the end of the world he guaranteed, by founding a church for which his first act was to appoint a head.

2. Which of the apostles did our Lord choose for the head of the church?

Our Lord chose St. Peter as the head of the church. Before conferring on him this honor, he exacted a pledge from him.

3. What?

A pledge of his love. He asked of him three times, if he loved him more than the others did; that is, if he was ready to sacrifice himself for the salvation of his flock. St. Peter replied to him: Yes, Lord, thou knowest that I lone thee. Then our Lord said to him, Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.

Q What is the meaning of these words?

A . By the words lambs are understood the faithful; and by the word sheep all the pastors of the church. St. Peter was elevated above the apostles. The sovereign pontiffs, successors of St. Peter, are above the bishops, and have full power to teach and govern all the church.

4. What power did our Lord give to the other apostles?

Our Lord associated the other apostles in the government of the church, and gave thorn power to teach, baptize and forgive sins. lie had already given them power to consecrate his body and blood.

5. What is meant bv the teachin^ of Christ?

CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

A . By the teaching church are meant the first pastors, St. Peter and "the apostles, the pope and the bishops, their successors. They alone are the judges of faith, and are clothed with the power to make all laws necessary for the good of the faithful.

6. What are the principal taws or commandments of the church?

They are chiefly six: 1st, to hear mass and rest from servile works on Sundays and holy days of obligation; 2d, to keep fast in lent, the ember days, the Fridays in advent, and eves of certain festivals; to abstain from flesh on Fridays and other appointed days of abstinence; 3d, to confess our sins to our pastor or other priest duly authorized at least once a year; 4th, to receive the blessed sacrament at Easter or thereabout; 5th, to pay tithes to our pastors, and, Gth, not to marry within certain degrees of kindred; nor privately without witnesses; nor to solemnize marriage at certain prohibited times.*

7. Explain the third commandment of the church?

'A. In establishing the sacrament of penance, our Lord has obliged us to confess; our necessities make it a duty to frequent the confessional. But in order to guard us against our own negligence, the church has fixed a time beyond which we must not defer our confession.

8. Is it sufficient to confess once a year?

To avoid excommunication, it is sufficient to confess once a year: but to profit by the sacraments and lead a stainless life, it is not sufficient.

9. Explain the 4th?

In instituting the Eucharist, our Lord has obliged us to communicate, for he said: Unless you eat the jleli of the Son of Man, and drink his blood you shall not have life in you. And to put a barrier to our too great neglect, the church has commanded us under pain of mortal sin, to receive communion at least once a year, at Easter. She says, 'at least once a year, to

show that she desires us to receive oftener. (The other commandments of the church are explained elsewhere )

10. What do you remark on the commandments of the church?

I remark on the commandments of the church; 1st, that they are a proof of the great wisdom of the church and of her tender solicitude for her children; 2d, they are very advantageous to society, because they help us to keep the commandments of God, and oblige us every year to begin a new life; 3d, they are very advantageous to each of us, because they oblige us to mortify our passions and quit the state of sin.

11. Is the church teaching infallible?

Yes, she is infallible, that is, she can neither be deceived herself, nor deceive us, whilst she is teaching us the truths of religion.

12. How do you prove it?

It is proved specially by the words of our Lord, who has promised to be with the church all days, even to the end of the world, and to teach her all truth.

13. With what sentiments should the infallibility of the church inspire us?

The infallibility of the church ought to inspire us with: 1st, great confidence, since in hearing the church we are sure that we cannot be deceived; 2d, great gratitude, which should make us thank God for having given infallibility to the church; 3d, great docility, we should obey the church as our Lord himself.

24G CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.