Baltimore Catechism Volume Iii Part 2

THE ANGELICAL SALUTATION.

Q. 27. Say the Angelical Salutation.

A. Hail Mary, full of grace! the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of G.o.d, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Q. 28. What is a salutation?

A. A salutation is the customary words or actions by which the people of a country greet one another.

Q. 29. Why is this salutation called Angelical?

A. This salutation is called Angelical because it was given by an angel.

Q. 30. What does "hail" mean?

A. "Hail" means, I wish you health. It is an exclamation of respectful greeting.

Q. 31. How is the "Hail Mary" divided?

A. The "Hail Mary" is divided into two parts. The first part, made by the Angel Gabriel and St. Elizabeth, contains the praises of the Mother of G.o.d; and the second part, added by the Church, begs her intercession for sinners.

Q. 32. Why is the "Hail Mary" usually placed after the Lord's Prayer?

A. The "Hail Mary" is usually placed after the Our Father because it is an inspired prayer, the most excellent after the Lord's Prayer, and also that the Blessed Mother may, by her powerful intercession, aid us in obtaining what we ask.

Q. 33. Who was St. Elizabeth?

A. St. Elizabeth was the mother of St. John the Baptist and the cousin of the Blessed Virgin.

Q. 34. What answer did the Blessed Virgin make to the words of St.

Elizabeth?

A. The Blessed Virgin answered St. Elizabeth in the words of the beautiful Magnificat.

Q. 35. What is the Magnificat?

A. The Magnificat is the splendid canticle or hymn in which the Blessed Virgin praises G.o.d and returns Him thanks for the great things He has done for her. It is usually sung at Vespers in the Church.

Q. 36. Why do we address Mary as "full of grace"?

A. We address Mary as "full of grace" because she was never guilty of the slightest sin; was endowed with every virtue, and blessed with a constant increase of grace in her soul.

Q. 37. Why do we say "the Lord is with thee"?

A. We say "the Lord is with thee," for besides being with her as He is with all His creatures on account of His presence everywhere; and as He is with the good on account of their virtue, He is with Mary in a very special manner on account of her dignity as Mother of His Son.

Q. 38. Why is Mary called "blessed amongst women"?

A. Mary is called "blessed amongst women" on account of her personal holiness, her great dignity as Mother of G.o.d, and her freedom from original sin.

Q. 39. Why is Mary called "holy"?

A. Mary is called "holy" because one full of grace and endowed with every virtue must be holy.

Q. 40. Why do we need Mary's prayers at the hour of death?

A. We need Mary's prayers at the hour of death because at that time our salvation is in greatest danger, and our spiritual enemies most anxious to overcome us.

Q. 41. Why do we say the "Hail Mary"?

A. We say the "Hail Mary" to put us in mind of the Incarnation, and to show our devotion to the Mother of G.o.d, and our confidence in her a.s.sistance.

Q. 42. In what form of prayer is the "Hail Mary" most frequently repeated?

A. The "Hail Mary" is most frequently repeated in the recitation of the rosary or beads.

Q. 43. What is the Angelus?

A. The Angelus is a prayer giving a brief history of the Incarnation.

Q. 44. Say the Angelus.

A. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost. Hail Mary, &c. Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to Thy Word. Hail Mary, &c. And the Word was made flesh. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary, &c. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of G.o.d! That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may, by His Pa.s.sion and cross, be brought to the glory of His resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Q. 45. At what time is the Angelus usually said?

A. The Angelus is said in the evening, it memory of the Incarnation; in the morning, in memory of the Resurrection, and at noon in memory of the Pa.s.sion of Our Lord.

Q. 46. What does "the Word was made flesh" mean in the Angelus?

A. "The Word" means the second person of the Blessed Trinity, and "made flesh" means became man.

Q. 47. What is the Litany of the Blessed Virgin?

A. The Litany is a form of prayer in which we address our Blessed Lady by many beautiful t.i.tles, such as Mother of G.o.d, Virgin Most Pure, Refuge of Sinners, &c., asking her after each to pray for us.

Q. 48. Are there any other Litanies in use besides the Litany of the Blessed Virgin?

A. Besides the Litany of the Blessed Virgin there are other Litanies in use, especially the Litany of the Saints, the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, the Litany of the Sacred Heart, &c.

THE APOSTLES' CREED.

Q. 49. Say the Apostles' Creed.

A. I believe in G.o.d, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified; died, and was buried. He descended into h.e.l.l: the third day He arose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of G.o.d, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Q. 50. What is a creed?

A. A creed is a summary or list of the chief truths we believe or profess to believe. It is a compendium of doctrine.

Q. 51. Why is this creed called the Apostles'?

A. This creed is called the Apostles' because it came down to us from the Apostles, and also to distinguish it from longer creeds in use in the Church, such as the Nicene Creed, which is said in the Ma.s.s; the Athanasian Creed, which is said in the priests' divine Office, and the Creed of Pope Pius IV, which is used on solemn occasions.

Q. 52. Do all these creeds teach the same doctrines?

A. All these creeds teach the same doctrines, for the longer creeds are only a fuller explanation of the truths contained in the Apostles'

Creed.

Q. 53 Who were the Apostles?

A. The Apostles were the twelve men selected by Our Lord to be the first bishops of His Church.

Q. 54. How do you know the Apostles were bishops?