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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
3 /
10001
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Q.
What do we mean by the "end of man"?
A.
By the "end of man" we mean the purpose for which he was created: namely, to know, love, and serve God.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
3 /
10002
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Q.
In what respect are all men equal?
A.
All men are equal in whatever is necessary for their nature and end. They are all composed of a body and soul; they are all created to the image and likeness of God; they are all gifted with understanding and free will; and they all have been created for the same end - God.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
3 /
10003
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Q.
Do not men differ in many things?
A.
Men differ in many things such as learning, wealth, power, etc.; but these things belong to the world and not man's nature. He came into this world without them and he will leave it without them. Only the consequence of good or evil done in this world will accompany men to the next.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
1 /
10004
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Q.
Who made the world?
A.
God made the world.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
1 /
10005
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Q.
Who is God?
A.
God is the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
1 /
10006
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Q.
What is man?
A.
Man is a creature composed of body and soul and made to the image and likeness of God.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
3 /
10007
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Q.
Does "man" in the Catechism mean all human beings?
A.
Man in the Catechism means all human beings, either men or women, boys, girls, or children.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
3 /
10008
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Q.
What is a creature?
A.
A creature is anything created, whether it has life or not, body or no body. Every being, person, or thing except God Himself may be called a creature.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
2 /
10009
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Q.
Is this likeness in the body or in the soul?
A.
This likeness is chiefly in the soul.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
2 /
10010
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Q.
How is the soul like to God?
A.
The soul is like to God because it is a spirit that will never die, and has understanding and free will.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
3 /
10011
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Q.
Is every invisible thing a spirit?
A.
Every spirit is invisible - which means that it can not be seen; but every invisible thing is not a spirit. The wind is invisible, and it is not a spirit.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
3 /
10012
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Q.
Has a spirit any other quality?
A.
A spirit is also indivisible; that is, it can not be divided into parts, as we divide material things.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
3 /
10013
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Q.
What do the words "will never die" mean?
A.
By the words "will never die" we mean that the soul, when once created, will never cease to exist, whatever be its condition in the next world. Hence way say the soul is immortal or gifted with immortality.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
3 /
10014
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Q.
Why then do we say a soul is dead while in a state of mortal sin?
A.
We say a soul is dead while in a state of mortal sin because in that state it is as helpless as a dead body and can merit nothing for itself.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
3 /
10015
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Q.
What does our "understanding" mean?
A.
Our "understanding" means the "gift of reason", by which man is distinguished from all other animals, and by which he is enabled to think and thus acquire knowledge and regulate his actions.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
3 /
10016
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Q.
Can we learn all truths by our reason alone?
A.
We can not learn all truths by our reason alone, for some truths are beyond the power of our reason and must be taught to us by God.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
3 /
10017
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Q.
What do we call the truths God teaches us?
A.
Taken together, we call the truths God teaches us revelation, and we call the manner by which He teaches them also revelation.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
3 /
10018
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Q.
What is "Free Will"?
A.
Free Will is that gift of God by which we are enabled to chose between one thing and another; and to do good or evil in spite of reward or punishment.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
1 /
10019
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Q.
Why did God make you?
A.
God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
3 /
10020
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Q.
Why is it necessary to know God?
A.
It is necessary to know God because without knowing Him we cannot love Him; and without loving Him we cannot be saved. We should know Him because He is infinitely true; love Him because He is infinitely beautiful; and serve Him because He is infinitely good.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
2 /
10021
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Q.
Of which must we take more care, our soul or our body?
A.
We must take more care of our soul than of our body.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
2 /
10022
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Q.
Why must we take more care of our soul than of our body?
A.
We must take more care of our soul than of our body, because in losing our soul we lose God and everlasting happiness.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
1 /
10023
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Q.
What must we do to save our souls?
A.
To save our souls, we must worship God by faith, hope, and charity; that is, we must believe in Him, hope in Him, and love Him with all our heart.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
1 /
10024
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Q.
How shall we know the things which we are to believe?
A.
We shall know the things which we are to believe from the Catholic Church, through which God speaks to us.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
3 /
10025
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Q.
What do we mean by the "Church, through which God speaks to us"?
A.
By the "Church, through which God speaks to us," we mean the "teaching Church"; that is, the Pope, Bishops, and priests, whose duty it is to instruct us in the truths and practices of our religion.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
1 /
10026
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Q.
Where shall we find the chief truths which the Church teaches?
A.
We shall find the chief truths which the Church teaches in the Apostles' Creed.
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Lesson 01: On the End of Man /
1 /
10027
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Q.
Say the Apostles' Creed
A.
I believe in God, 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 hell: the third day He rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and 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 life everlasting. Amen.
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
3 /
10028
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Q.
What is a perfection?
A.
A perfection is any good quality a thing should have. A thing is perfect when it has all the good qualities it should have.
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
1 /
10029
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Q.
What is God?
A.
God is a spirit infinitely perfect.
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
3 /
10030
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Q.
What do we mean when we say God is "infinitely perfect"?
A.
When we say God is "infinitely perfect" we mean there is no limit or bounds to His perfection; for He possesses all good qualities in the highest possible degree and He alone is "infinitely perfect".
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
1 /
10031
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Q.
Had God a beginning?
A.
God had no beginning; He always was and He always will be.
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
1 /
10032
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Q.
Where is God?
A.
God is everywhere.
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
1 /
10033
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Q.
If God is everywhere, why do we not see Him?
A.
We do not see God, because He is a pure spirit and cannot be seen with bodily eyes.
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
3 /
10034
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Q.
Why do we call God a "pure spirit"?
A.
We call God a pure spirit because He has no body. Our soul is a spirit, but not a "pure" spirit, because it was created for union with our body.
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
3 /
10035
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Q.
Why can we not see God with the eyes of our body?
A.
We cannot see God with the eyes of our body because they are created to see only material things, and God is not material but spiritual.
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
1 /
10036
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Q.
Does God see us?
A.
God sees us and watches over us.
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
3 /
10037
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Q.
Is it necessary for God to watch over us?
A.
It is necessary for God to watch over us, for without His constant care we could not exist.
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
1 /
10038
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Q.
Does God know all things?
A.
God knows all things, even our most secret thoughts, words, and actions.
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
1 /
10039
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Q.
Can God do all things?
A.
God can do all things, and nothing is hard or impossible for Him.
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
1 /
10040
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Q.
Is God just, holy, and merciful?
A.
God is all just, all holy, all merciful, as He is infinitely perfect.
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
3 /
10041
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Q.
Why must God be "just" as well as "merciful"?
A.
God must be just as well as merciful because He must fulfil His promise to punish those who merit punishment, and because He cannot be infinite in one perfection without being infinite in all.
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
3 /
10042
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Q.
Into what sins will the forgetfulness of God's justice lead us?
A.
The forgetfulness of God's justice will lead us into the sins of presumption.
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Lesson 02: On God and His Perfections /
3 /
10043
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Q.
Into what sins will the forgetfulness of God's mercy lead us?
A.
The forgetfulness of God's mercy will lead us into the sins of despair.
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Lesson 03: On the Unity and Trinity of God /
3 /
10044
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Q.
What does "unity", and what does "trinity" mean?
A.
Unity means being one, and trinity means threefold or three in one.
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Lesson 03: On the Unity and Trinity of God /
3 /
10045
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Q.
Can we find an example to fully illustrate the mystery of the Blessed Trinity?
A.
We cannot find an example to fully illustrate the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, because the mysteries of our holy religion are beyond comparison.
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Lesson 03: On the Unity and Trinity of God /
1 /
10046
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Q.
Is there but one God?
A.
Yes; there is but one God.
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Lesson 03: On the Unity and Trinity of God /
1 /
10047
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Q.
Why can there be but one God?
A.
There can be but one God, because God, being supreme and infinite, cannot have an equal.
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Lesson 03: On the Unity and Trinity of God /
3 /
10048
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Q.
What does "supreme" mean?
A.
Supreme means the highest in authority; and also the most excellent or greatest possible in anything. Thus in all things God is supreme, and in the Church the Pope is supreme.
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Lesson 03: On the Unity and Trinity of God /
1 /
10049
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Q.
How many Persons are there in God?
A.
In God there are three Divine Persons, really distinct, and equal in all things - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
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Lesson 03: On the Unity and Trinity of God /
1 /
10050
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Q.
Is the Father God?
A.
The Father is God and the first Person of the Blessed Trinity.
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