Baltimore Catechism Volume Iii Part 16

A. These signs are not continued everywhere at the present time, because now that the Church is fully established and its divine character and power proved in other ways, such signs are no longer necessary.

Q. 449. Were such powers as the "gift of tongues" a part of the Sacrament of Confirmation?

A. Such powers as the "gift of tongues" were not a part of the Sacrament of Confirmation, but they were added to it by the Holy Ghost when necessary for the good of the Church.

LESSON TENTH.

ON THE EFFECTS OF THE REDEMPTION.

Q. 450. What is an effect?

A. An effect is that which is caused by something else, as smoke, for example, is an effect of fire.

Q. 451. What does redemption mean?

A. Redemption means the buying back of a thing that was given away or sold.

Q. 452. What did Adam give away by his sin, and what did Our Lord buy back for him and us?

A. By his sin Adam gave away all right to G.o.d's promised gifts of grace in this world and of glory in the next, and Our Lord bought back the right that Adam threw away.

Q. 453. {102} Which are the chief effects of the Redemption?

A. The chief effects of the Redemption are two: The satisfaction of G.o.d's justice by Christ's sufferings and death, and the gaining of grace for men.

Q. 454. Why do we say "chief effects"?

A. We say "chief effects" to show that these are the most important but not the only effects of the Redemption--for all the benefits of our holy religion and of its influence upon the world are the effects of the redemption.

Q. 455. Why did G.o.d's justice require satisfaction?

A. G.o.d's justice required satisfaction because it is infinite and demands reparation for every fault. Man in his state of sin could not make the necessary reparation, so Christ became man and made it for him.

Q. 456. {103} What do you mean by grace?

A. By grace I mean a supernatural gift of G.o.d bestowed on us, through the merits of Jesus Christ, for our salvation.

Q. 457. What does "supernatural" mean?

A. Supernatural means above or greater than nature. All gifts such as health, learning or the comforts of life, that affect our happiness chiefly in this world, are called natural gifts, and all gifts such as blessings that affect our happiness chiefly in the next world are called supernatural or spiritual gifts.

Q. 458. What do you mean by "merit"?

A. Merit means the quality of deserving well or ill for our actions. In the question above it means a right to reward for good deeds done.

Q. 459. {104} How many kinds of grace are there?

A. There are two kinds of grace, sanctifying grace and actual grace.

Q. 460. What is the difference between sanctifying grace and actual grace?

A. Sanctifying grace remains with us as long as we are not guilty of mortal sin; and hence, it is often called habitual grace; but actual grace comes to us only when we need its help in doing or avoiding an action, and it remains with us only while we are doing or avoiding the action.

Q. 461. {105} What is sanctifying grace?

A. Sanctifying grace is that grace which makes the soul holy and pleasing to G.o.d.

Q. 462. {106} What do you call those graces or gifts of G.o.d by which we believe in Him, hope in Him, and love Him?

A. Those graces or gifts of G.o.d by which we believe in Him, and hope in Him, and love Him, are called the Divine virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity.

Q. 463. What do you mean by virtue and vice?

A. Virtue is the habit of doing good, and vice is the habit of doing evil. An act, good or bad, does not form a habit; and hence, a virtue or a vice is the result of repeated acts of the same kind.

Q. 464. Does habit excuse us from the sins committed through it?

A. Habit does not excuse us from the sins committed through it, but rather makes us more guilty by showing how often we must have committed the sin to acquire the habit. If, however, we are seriously trying to overcome a bad habit, and through forgetfulness yield to it, the habit may sometimes excuse us from the sin.

Q. 465. {107} What is Faith?

A. Faith is a Divine virtue by which we firmly believe the truths which G.o.d has revealed.

Q. 466. {108} What is Hope?

A. Hope is a Divine virtue by which we firmly trust that G.o.d will give us eternal life and the means to obtain it.

Q. 467. {109} What is Charity?

A. Charity is a Divine virtue by which we love G.o.d above all things for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of G.o.d.

Q. 468. Why are Faith, Hope and Charity called virtues?

A. Faith, Hope and Charity are called virtues because they are not mere acts, but habits by which we always and in all things believe G.o.d, hope in Him, and love Him.

Q. 469. What kind of virtues are Faith, Hope and Charity?

A. Faith, Hope and Charity are called infused theological virtues to distinguish them from the four moral virtues--Prudence, Justice, Fort.i.tude and Temperance.

Q. 470. Why do we say the three theological virtues are infused and the four moral virtues acquired?

A. We say the three theological virtues are infused; that is, poured into our souls, because they are strictly gifts of G.o.d and do not depend upon our efforts to obtain them, while the four moral virtues--Prudence, Justice, Fort.i.tude and Temperance--though also gifts of G.o.d, may, as natural virtues, be acquired by our own efforts.

Q. 471. Why do we believe G.o.d, hope in Him, and love Him?

A. We believe G.o.d and hope in Him because He is infinitely true and cannot deceive us. We love Him because He is infinitely good and beautiful and worthy of all love.

Q. 472. What mortal sins are opposed to Faith?

A. Atheism, which is a denial of all revealed truths, and heresy, which is a denial of some revealed truths, and superst.i.tion, which is a misuse of religion, are opposed to Faith.

Q. 473. Who is our neighbor?

A. Every human being capable of salvation of every age, country, race or condition, especially if he needs our help, is our neighbor in the sense of the Catechism.

Q. 474. Why should we love our neighbor?

A. We should love our neighbor because he is a child of G.o.d, redeemed by Jesus Christ, and because he is our brother created to dwell in heaven with us.

Q. 475. {110} What is actual grace?

A. Actual grace is that help of G.o.d which enlightens our mind and moves our will to shun evil and do good.

Q. 476. {111} Is grace necessary to salvation?

A. Grace is necessary to salvation, because without grace we can do nothing to merit heaven.

Q. 477. {112} Can we resist the grace of G.o.d?

A. We can, and unfortunately often do, resist the grace of G.o.d.

Q. 478. Is it a sin knowingly to resist the grace of G.o.d?

A. It is a sin, knowingly, to resist the grace of G.o.d, because we thereby insult Him and reject His gifts without which we cannot be saved.

Q. 479. Does G.o.d give His grace to every one?

A. G.o.d gives to everyone He creates sufficient grace to save his soul; and if persons do not save their souls, it is because they have not used the grace given.