The Catechism of the Council of Trent - Saints' Books

[Pages:346]The Catechism of the Council of Trent

or (The Catechism for Parish Priests)

The Catholic Primer

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The Catholic Primer:

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Council of Trent

Catechism for Parish Priests

The work presented here is variously known as The Catechism of the Council of Trent, the Roman Catechism, or the Catechism of Pius V.

This translation used as its basis the Manutian text as reflected in the Maredsous edition of 1902, the fourth Roman edition of 1907 and the Turin edition of 1914. The purpose in the present version has been to reproduce the sense of the original as exactly as possible in clear, dignified, modern English.

The translation and preface by John A. McHugh, O.P. and Charles J. Callan, O.P. (circa 1923)

PREFACE............................................................................................................................................. 25 ORIGIN OF THE ROMAN CATECHISM .......................................................................................... 25 AUTHORITY AND EXCELLENCE OF THE ROMAN CATECHISM ............................................... 26

CATECHISM OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT FOR PARISH PRIESTS.............................................. 29

INTRODUCTORY................................................................................................................................. 29 The Necessity Of Religious Instruction ......................................................................................... 29 Need of an Authoritative Catholic Catechism................................................................................ 29 The Nature of this Work ................................................................................................................ 30 The Ends of Religious Instruction.................................................................................................. 30 Knowledge Of Christ ..................................................................................................................... 31 Observance Of The Commandments ........................................................................................... 31 Love Of God .................................................................................................................................. 31 The Means Required for Religious Instruction .............................................................................. 31 Instruction Should Be Accommodated To The Capacity Of The Hearer ...................................... 32 Zeal................................................................................................................................................ 32 Study Of The Word Of God ........................................................................................................... 32 Division of this Catechism ............................................................................................................. 32 How This Work Is To Be Used ...................................................................................................... 33

PART I : THE CREED.......................................................................................................................... 33 Faith .................................................................................................................................................. 33 Necessity Of Faith............................................................................................................................. 33 Unity Of Faith .................................................................................................................................... 33 The Creed ......................................................................................................................................... 34 Division Of The Creed....................................................................................................................... 34

ARTICLE I : "I BELIEVE IN GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH" ............................................................................................................................................ 34

Meaning Of This Article ................................................................................................................. 34 "I Believe" ...................................................................................................................................... 35 Faith Excludes Doubt .................................................................................................................... 35 Faith Excludes Curiosity................................................................................................................ 35

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Faith Requires Open Profession ................................................................................................... 35 "In God" ......................................................................................................................................... 36 Knowledge Of God More Easily Obtained Through Faith Than Through Reason........................ 36 Knowledge Of God Obtained Through Faith Is Clearer ................................................................ 36 Knowledge Of God Obtained Through Faith Is More Certain ....................................................... 36 Knowledge Of God Obtained Through Faith Is More Ample And Exalted.................................... 37 The Unity Of Nature In God........................................................................................................... 37 The Trinity Of Persons In God....................................................................................................... 37 "The Father" .................................................................................................................................. 38 God Is Called Father Because He Is Creator And Ruler .............................................................. 38 God Is Called Father Because He Adopts Christians Through Grace.......................................... 38 The Name Father Also Discloses The Plurality Of Persons In God.............................................. 38 The Doctrine Of The Trinity ........................................................................................................... 38 Practical Admonitions Concerning The Mystery Of The Trinity .................................................... 39 "Almighty" ...................................................................................................................................... 39 Meaning Of The Term Almighty" ................................................................................................... 39 Why Omnipotence Alone Is Mentioned In The: Creed.................................................................. 40 Advantages Of Faith In God's Omnipotence................................................................................. 40 Not Three Almighties But One Almighty........................................................................................ 41 "Creator" ........................................................................................................................................ 41 "Of Heaven and Earth" .................................................................................................................. 41 Creation Of The World Of Spirits................................................................................................... 41 Formation Of The Universe ........................................................................................................... 42 Production Of Man ........................................................................................................................ 42 "Of all Things Visible and Invisible" ............................................................................................... 42 God Preserves, Rules And Moves All Created Things ................................................................. 42 Creation Is The Work Of The Three Persons................................................................................ 43

ARTICLE II : "AND IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD"........................................ 43 Advantages Of Faith In This Article............................................................................................... 43 Necessity Of Faith In This Article .................................................................................................. 44 "Jesus"........................................................................................................................................... 44 "Christ"........................................................................................................................................... 45 "His Only Son" ...............................................................................................................................46 "Our Lord"...................................................................................................................................... 46 Duties Owed To Christ Our Lord ................................................................................................... 47

ARTICLE III : "WHO WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY GHOST, BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY" .......................................................................................................................................................... 47

Importance Of This Article............................................................................................................. 48 First Part of this Article: "Who was Conceived,'................................................................................ 48

"By the Holy Ghost" ....................................................................................................................... 48 In The Incarnation Some Things Were Natural, Others Supernatural .......................................... 49 How To Profit By The Mystery Of The Incarnation........................................................................ 49 Second Part Of This Article: "Born Of The Virgin Mary" ............................................................... 50 The Nativity Of Christ Transcends The Order Of Nature .............................................................. 50 Christ Compared to Adam" Mary to Eve ....................................................................................... 50 Types and Prophecies of the Conception and Nativity ................................................................. 50 Lessons which this Article Teaches .............................................................................................. 51 Humility And Poverty Of Christ...................................................................................................... 51 Elevation And Dignity Of Man ....................................................................................................... 51 Duty Of Spiritual Nativity ............................................................................................................... 51

ARTICLE IV : "Suffered Under Pontius Pilate, Was Crucified, Dead, And Buried'" ................. 52 Importance Of This Article............................................................................................................. 52 First Part of this Article: '"Suffered Under Pontius Pilate, was Crucified",..................................... 52

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"Suffered," ..................................................................................................................................... 52 "Under Pontius Pilate" ................................................................................................................... 52 "Was Crucified".............................................................................................................................. 53 Importance Of The History Of The Passion .................................................................................. 53 Figures And Prophecies Of The Passion And Death Of The Saviour........................................... 53 Second Part Of This Article: "Dead, And Buried".......................................................................... 54 Christ Really Died.......................................................................................................................... 54 Christ Died Freely.......................................................................................................................... 54 The Thought Of Christ's Death Should Excite Our Love And Gratitude ....................................... 54 Christ Was Really Buried .............................................................................................................. 55 Circumstances Of Christ's Burial................................................................................................... 55 Useful Considerations on the Passion .......................................................................................... 55 The Dignity Of The Sufferer .......................................................................................................... 55 Reasons Why Christ Suffered ....................................................................................................... 56 Christ Was Delivered Over To Death By The Father And By Himself .......................................... 56 The: Bitterness Of Christ's Passion............................................................................................... 56 Fruits Of Christ's Passion .............................................................................................................. 57 Christ's Passion, -- A Satisfaction, A Sacrifice, A Redemption An Example ................................ 57 Admonition..................................................................................................................................... 58

ARTICLE V : "HE DESCENDED INTO HELL, THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD" .............................................................................................................................................. 58

Importance Of This Article............................................................................................................. 58 First Part of this Article: "He Descended into Hell"........................................................................ 58 "Hell".............................................................................................................................................. 59 Different Abodes Called Hell"........................................................................................................ 59 "He Descended" ............................................................................................................................ 59 Why He Descended into Hell ........................................................................................................ 60 To Liberate The Just ..................................................................................................................... 60 To Proclaim His Power.................................................................................................................. 60 Second Part of this Article: "The Third Day He arose again from the Dead" ................................ 60 "He arose Again" ........................................................................................................................... 61 "From the Dead" ............................................................................................................................ 61 "The Third Day" ............................................................................................................................. 61 "According to the Scriptures"......................................................................................................... 62 Three Useful Considerations on this Article .................................................................................. 62 Necessity Of The Resurrection ..................................................................................................... 62 Ends Of The Resurrection............................................................................................................. 63 Advantages Of The: Resurrection ................................................................................................. 63 Signs Of Spiritual Resurrection ..................................................................................................... 63

ARTICLE VI : "HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, SITTETH AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY" ...................................................................................................................... 64

Importance Of This Article............................................................................................................. 64 First Part of this Article: "He Ascended into Heaven".................................................................... 64 "Into Heaven"................................................................................................................................. 64 "He Ascended" .............................................................................................................................. 64 Second Part of this Article: "Sitteth at the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty"..................... 65 "At the Right Hand" ....................................................................................................................... 65 "Sitteth".......................................................................................................................................... 65 Reflections on the Ascension: ....................................................................................................... 65 Its History....................................................................................................................................... 65 Greatness Of This Mystery............................................................................................................ 65 Reasons Of The Ascension........................................................................................................... 66 Results Of The Ascension............................................................................................................. 66 Virtues Promoted By The Ascension. ........................................................................................... 67

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The Ascension Benefits The Church And The Individual.............................................................. 67 ARTICLE VII : "FROM THENCE HE SHALL COME TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD" 68

Meaning Of This Article ................................................................................................................. 68 "From Thence He Shall Come" ..................................................................................................... 68 "To Judge the Living and the Dead".............................................................................................. 68 Two Judgments ............................................................................................................................. 68 Reasons For General Judgment ................................................................................................... 69 This Truth has Rightly been made an Article of the Creed ........................................................... 69 Circumstances of the Judgment:................................................................................................... 70 The Judge...................................................................................................................................... 70 Signs Of The General Judgment................................................................................................... 70 The Sentence Of The Just ............................................................................................................ 70 The Sentence Of The Wicked ....................................................................................................... 71 Importance of Instruction on this Article ........................................................................................ 71

ARTICLE VIII : "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY GHOST" ...................................................................... 72 Importance Of This Article............................................................................................................. 72 "Holy Ghost" .................................................................................................................................. 72 "I Believe in the Holy Ghost" ......................................................................................................... 73 The Holy Ghost Is Equal To The Father And The Son ................................................................. 73 The Holy Ghost Is Distinct From The Father And The Son .......................................................... 73 "The Lord"...................................................................................................................................... 74 "Life-Giver" .................................................................................................................................... 74 "Who Proceedeth from the Father and the Son"........................................................................... 74 Certain Divine Works are Appropriated to the Holy Ghost............................................................ 75 Creation, Government, Life ........................................................................................................... 75 The Seven Gifts............................................................................................................................. 75 Justifying Grace............................................................................................................................. 75

ARTICLE IX : "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH; THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS" .......................................................................................................................................................... 76

The Importance Of This Article...................................................................................................... 76 First Part Of This Article : "I Believe In The Holy Catholic Church................................................ 76 "Church" ........................................................................................................................................ 76 Mysteries Which The Word Church Comprises ............................................................................ 77 Other Names Given The Church In Scripture ............................................................................... 77 The Parts of the Church ................................................................................................................ 77 The Members Of The Church Militant ........................................................................................... 78 Those Who Are Not Members Of The Church .............................................................................. 78 Other Uses of the Word "Church" ................................................................................................. 78 The Marks Of The Church............................................................................................................. 79 "One'.............................................................................................................................................. 79 Unity In Government ..................................................................................................................... 79 Unity In Spirit, Hope And Faith ...................................................................................................... 80 "Holy"............................................................................................................................................. 80 "Catholic" ....................................................................................................................................... 81 Apostolic ........................................................................................................................................ 81 Figures of the Church.................................................................................................................... 82 "I Believe the Holy Catholic Church" ............................................................................................. 82 Second Part of this Article: "The Communion of Saints"............................................................... 83 Importance Of This Truth .............................................................................................................. 83 Meaning of "The Communion of Saints" ....................................................................................... 83 Communion Of Good Works ......................................................................................................... 83 Those Who Share In This Communion ......................................................................................... 84 Communion In Other Blessings..................................................................................................... 84

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ARTICLE X : "THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS"............................................................................... 84 Importance Of This Article............................................................................................................. 84 The Church Has the Power of Forgiving Sins ............................................................................... 85 Extent of this Power: ..................................................................................................................... 85 All Sins That Precede Baptism...................................................................................................... 85 All Sins Committed After Baptism ................................................................................................. 85 Limitation of this Power: ................................................................................................................ 86 It Is Not Limited As To Sins, Persons, Or Time............................................................................. 86 It Is Limited As To Its Ministers And Exercise ............................................................................... 86 Greatness of this Power ................................................................................................................ 86 Sin Can Be Forgiven Only By The Power Of God ........................................................................ 86 This Power Communicated To None Before Christ ...................................................................... 87 Sin Remitted Through The Blood Of Christ................................................................................... 87 The Great Evil From Which Forgiveness Delivers Man ................................................................ 87 Exhortation: ................................................................................................................................... 88 This Remedy To Be Used ............................................................................................................. 88 Abuse To Be Guarded Against...................................................................................................... 88

ARTICLE XI : "THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY" ................................................................ 88 Importance Of This Article............................................................................................................. 88 "The Resurrection of the Body" ..................................................................................................... 89 The Fact of the Resurrection:........................................................................................................ 89 Examples And Proofs Derived From Scripture ............................................................................. 89 Analogies From Nature ................................................................................................................. 89 Arguments Drawn From Reason................................................................................................... 90 All Shall Rise ................................................................................................................................. 90 The Body Shall Rise Substantially the Same................................................................................ 91 Restoration Of All That Pertains To The Nature And Adornment Of The Body............................ 91 Restoration Of All That Pertains To The Integrity Of The Body .................................................... 92 The Condition of the Risen Body Shall be Different...................................................................... 92 Immortality ..................................................................................................................................... 92 The Qualities Of A Glorified Body ................................................................................................. 93 Impassibility ................................................................................................................................... 93 Brightness...................................................................................................................................... 93 Agility ............................................................................................................................................. 93 Subtility .......................................................................................................................................... 93 Advantages of Deep Meditation on this Article ............................................................................. 94

ARTICLE XII : "LIFE EVERLASTING"............................................................................................ 94 Importance Of This Article............................................................................................................. 94 "Life Everlasting" ........................................................................................................................... 95 "Everlasting" .................................................................................................................................. 95 Life................................................................................................................................................. 95 Negative and Positive Elements of Eternal Life ............................................................................ 96 The Negative ................................................................................................................................. 96 The Positive................................................................................................................................... 96 Essential Happiness...................................................................................................................... 96 The Light Of Glory ......................................................................................................................... 97 The Beatific Vision......................................................................................................................... 97 An Illustration Of This Truth........................................................................................................... 97 Accessory Happiness.................................................................................................................... 98 Glory .............................................................................................................................................. 98 Honour........................................................................................................................................... 98 Peace ............................................................................................................................................ 98 How to Arrive at the Enjoyment of this Happiness ........................................................................ 99

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PART II : THE SACRAMENTS ............................................................................................................ 99 Importance Of Instruction On The Sacraments............................................................................. 99 The Word "Sacrament".................................................................................................................. 99 Definition of a Sacrament ............................................................................................................ 100 "A Sacrament is a Sign" .............................................................................................................. 100 Proof From Reason ..................................................................................................................... 100 Proof From Scripture ................................................................................................................... 101 "Sign of a Sacred Thing" : Kind of Sign Meant Here................................................................... 101 Natural Signs ...............................................................................................................................101 Signs Invented By Man, .............................................................................................................. 101 Signs Instituted By God............................................................................................................... 102 Kind of Sacred Thing Meant Here ............................................................................................... 102 Other Sacred Things Signified By The Sacraments.................................................................... 102 All The Sacraments Signify Something Present, Something Past, Something Future: .............. 102 A Sacrament Sometimes Signifies The Presence Of More Than One Thing ............................. 103 Why the Sacraments were Instituted .......................................................................................... 103 Constituent Parts of the Sacraments .......................................................................................... 104 Ceremonies Used in the Administration of the Sacraments ....................................................... 105 The Number Of The Sacraments ................................................................................................ 105 Comparisons among the Sacraments......................................................................................... 106 The Author of the Sacraments .................................................................................................... 106 The Ministers of the Sacraments................................................................................................. 106 Unworthiness Of The Minister And Validity................................................................................. 107 Lawfulness Of Administration...................................................................................................... 107 Effects of the Sacraments ........................................................................................................... 108 First Effect: Justifying Grace ....................................................................................................... 108 Second Effect: Sacramental Character....................................................................................... 109 How to Make Instruction on the Sacraments Profitable .............................................................. 109

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM.................................................................................................. 110 Importance Of Instruction On Baptism ........................................................................................ 110 Names of this Sacrament ............................................................................................................ 110 Definition Of Baptism................................................................................................................... 111 Constituent Elements Of Baptism ............................................................................................... 111 Matter of Baptism ........................................................................................................................ 111 Testimony Of Scripture Concerning The Matter Of Baptism....................................................... 111 Figures......................................................................................................................................... 112 Prophecies................................................................................................................................... 112 Fitness ......................................................................................................................................... 112 Chrism Added To Water For Solemn Baptism ............................................................................ 112 Form of Baptism .......................................................................................................................... 113 Words Of The Form..................................................................................................................... 113 Essential And Non-Essential Words Of The Form ...................................................................... 113 Baptism In The Name Of Christ .................................................................................................. 114 Administration of Baptism............................................................................................................ 114 Institution Of Baptism .................................................................................................................. 114 Baptism Instituted At Christ's Baptism ........................................................................................ 115 Baptism Made Obligatory After Christ's Resurrection................................................................. 115 Reflection..................................................................................................................................... 115 The Ministers of Baptism............................................................................................................. 116 Bishops And Priests The Ordinary Ministers............................................................................... 116 Deacons Extraordinary Ministers Of Baptism ............................................................................. 116 Ministers In Case Of Necessity ................................................................................................... 116 The Sponsors at Baptism ............................................................................................................ 117 Why Sponsors Are Required At Baptism .................................................................................... 117 Antiquity Of This Law .................................................................................................................. 117

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