Baltimore Catechism Volume I Part 6

296. Q. Why do we make the sign of the cross?

A. We make the sign of the cross to show that we are Christians and to profess our belief in the chief mysteries of our religion.

300. Q. What other sacramental is in very frequent use?

A. Another sacramental in very frequent use is holy water.

301. Q. What is holy water?

A. Holy water is water blessed by the priest with solemn prayer to beg G.o.d's blessing on those who use it, and protection from the powers of darkness.

302. Q. Are there other sacramentals besides the sign of the cross and holy water?

A. Besides the sign of the cross and holy water there are many other sacramentals, such as blessed candles, ashes, palms, crucifixes, images of the Blessed Virgin and of the saints, rosaries and scapulars.

LESSON TWENTY-FOURTH ON PRAYER

303. Q. Is there any other means of obtaining G.o.d's grace than the Sacraments?

A. There is another means of obtaining G.o.d's grace, and it is prayer.

304. Q. What is prayer?

A. Prayer is the lifting up of our minds and hearts to G.o.d to adore Him, to thank Him for His benefits, to ask His forgiveness, and to beg of Him all the graces we need, whether for soul or body.

305. Q. Is prayer necessary to salvation?

A. Prayer is necessary to salvation, and without it no one having the use of reason can be saved.

306. Q. At what particular times should we pray?

A. We should pray particularly on Sundays and holydays, every morning and night, in all dangers, temptations, and afflictions.

308. Q. Which are the prayers most recommended to us?

A. The prayers most recommended to us are the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, the Apostles' Creed, the Confiteor, and the Acts of Faith, Hope, Love and Contrition.

309. Q. Are prayers said with distractions of any avail?

A. Prayers said with wilful distractions are of no avail.

LESSON TWENTY-FIFTH ON THE COMMANDMENTS OF G.o.d

310. Q. Is it enough to belong to G.o.d's Church in order to be saved?

A. It is not enough to belong to the Church in order to be saved, but we must also keep the Commandments of G.o.d and of the Church.

313. Q. Which are the Commandments of G.o.d?

A. The Commandments of G.o.d are these ten:

1. I am the Lord thy G.o.d. Thou shalt not have strange G.o.ds before Me.

2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy G.o.d in vain.

3. Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day.

4. Honor thy father and thy mother.

5. Thou shalt not kill.

6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

7. Thou shalt not steal.

8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.

LESSON TWENTY-SIXTH ON THE FIRST COMMANDMENT

315. Q. What is the first Commandment?

A. The first Commandment is: I am the Lord thy G.o.d: thou shalt not have strange G.o.ds before Me.

317. Q. How do we adore G.o.d?

A. We adore G.o.d by faith, hope, and love, by prayer and sacrifice.

318. Q. How may the first Commandment be broken?

A. The first Commandment may be broken by giving to a creature the honor which belongs to G.o.d alone; by false worship; and by attributing to a creature a perfection which belongs to G.o.d alone.

320. Q. Are sins against faith, hope, and charity also sins against the first Commandment?

A. Sins against faith, hope, and charity are also sins against the first Commandment.

321. Q. How does a person sin against faith?

A. A person sins against faith: 1st, by not trying to know what G.o.d has taught; 2d, by refusing to believe all that G.o.d has taught; 3d, by neglecting to profess his belief in what G.o.d has taught.

326. Q. Are we obliged to make open profession of our faith?

A. We are obliged to make open profession of our faith as often as G.o.d's honor, our neighbor's spiritual good, or our own requires it.

327. Q. Which are the sins against hope?

A. The sins against hope are presumption and despair.

328. Q. What is presumption?

A. Presumption is a rash expectation of salvation without making proper use of the necessary means to obtain it.

329. Q. What is despair?

A. Despair is the loss of hope in G.o.d's mercy.

LESSON TWENTY-SEVENTH THE FIRST COMMANDMENT--ON THE HONOR AND INVOCATION OF SAINTS

331. Q. Does the first Commandment forbid the honoring of the saints?

A. The first Commandment does not forbid the honoring of the saints, but rather approves of it, because by honoring the saints, who are the chosen friends of G.o.d, we honor G.o.d Himself.

332. Q. Does the first Commandment forbid us to pray to the saints?

A. The first Commandment does not forbid us to pray to the saints.