just an eternal reward, and for the wicked eternal

tortures.

Q. What has it always believed and taught respecting the world?

A. Respecting the world, it has always believed and taught that it was made out of nothing, and that it is governed by a God infinitely powerful, infinitely wise, and infinitely good; that it will be consumed by fire, and then there will be new heavens and a new earth.

Q. Has religion always been the same in its moral teaching, and in its worship?

A. Yes, religion has always been the same in its moral teaching and in its worship. It has always admitted the same distinction between good and evil, enjoined the same virtues, and forbidden the same vices. In its worship, it has always practised the two essential acts of adoration; namely, prayer and sacrifice.

Q. And for its object?

A. For its object, it has always had in view the extirpation of sin, and the happiness of mankind. Q. In its means?

A. In its means, it has always believed that man stands in need of grace to secure his salvation; has always taught the manner, and furnished him with the means of obtaining it. There is only this difference: the Christian religion, that is to say, the religion unfolded by our Lord, is much more perfect, much richer in grace, than the religion practised before the coming of the Messiah.

Q. Can we then say, that the Church has always been one and the same?

A. Yes, we can also say that the Church has always been one and the same. It was requisite that there should exist an exterior society, visible and perpetual, to preserve religion, and to teach it to men. This society is the Church. It has commenced with religion, and with it has been developed.

Q. Explain this.

A. We see the existence of the Church from the very beginning of the world. Under the patriarchs it was, together with religion, confined within their families. Under Moses it became developed, and, together with religion, was merged into the national establishment. With the Gospel, it extends with religion throughout all the nations of the earth, and makes of them, as it were, but one family.

Q. Show us, as far as religion is concerned, how the Church, after Jesus Christ, is the same as before the coming of the Messiah.

A. The Church, after Jesus Christ, is the same as before the coming of the Messiah; firstly, in its founder, who is God; secondly, in its object, which is the preservation and teaching of religion. It acknowledges the same holy books; it has a tribunal to ascertain their meaning, a sovereign pontiff, and different orders of sacred ministers; it has its day of rest consecrated to the Lord; it has its great solemnities and its festivals.

Q. Continue the same subject.

A. After Jesus Christ, no less than before his coming, the Church has ever been in a state of combat, sometimes with strangers, sometimes with her own children. She has had her great schism, which has separated her into two divisions; but all her afflictions have redounded to her glory. The various events and the revolutions of empires which formerly aided her in the attainment of her object, namely, the establishment of the Gospel, still contribute to her preservation and extension. As formerly nothing could destroy her, so now; neither the world nor hell itself can prevail against her.

I am resolved to love God above all things, and my neighbour as myself, for the love of God; and in testimony of this love, I will often pray for the welfare of the Church.

LESSON LII.

Influence of Religion.

Q. What were the effects of religion among the Israelites?

A. The effects of religion among the Israelites were to render them more enlightened, virtuous, and happy, than the ancient people. This is easily recognised when we take a view of the improvements introduced into the state of families, of society, and of religion in the Jewish nation.

Q. What was the family position among the Jews? A. The family was by them considered as the foundation of kingdoms, and as the good order of a family depends upon the authority of parents, they were always highly respected among the Jews.

Q. What was their system of education?

A. Their system of education was simple, but solid. Parents taught all that was necessary for temporal support, also the history of their nation. Each Israelite was supposed to commit to memory those canticles of Moses and the prophets which recalled to mind the wonderful works of the Lord.

Q. What was the state of society?

A. The state of society among the Jews was very much superior to that which prevailed among the Pagans. The Jews had admirable laws, which condemned every species of crime, which opposed ambition, and which prohibited them from enriching themselves at the expense of others. This was far from being the case with the Pagans.

Q. State one of these laws.

A. Among these laws was that of the Jubilee. This law empowered every one again to take possession of whatever he had sold on the recurrence of each fiftieth year, so that a general equality reigned throughout all the families of the Jewish nation.

Q. What was the state of religion?

Its

A. The religion of the Jews being the true religion, was more perfect than that of other nations. dogma was true, its moral pure, its worship holy and magnificent.

Q. What were the principal festivals of the Jews? A. The principal festivals of the Jews were Easter, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. It was on the second day of the paschal festivity that they offered to the Lord, as the supreme Master of all things, the first fruits of the harvest. On gathering these fruits,

the Israelites also came to offer the first to the Lord in the Temple of Jerusalem.

Q. What were their fasts?

A. The Jews had one day which was a general fast; it was called the Festival of Expiation. Upon this day, and this only, the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies. A he-goat was immolated, and another was driven into the desert, after having been charged with the malediction of all the sins of the people. This last was called the emissary goat. It was a representation of our Lord, loaded with the sins of the world, and led forth from Jerusalem to be put to death. They had also extraordinary fasts during the prevalence of public calamities or partial afflictions.

Q. What fruits do you gather from this first part of the Catechism?

A. There are many fruits to be gathered from this first part of the Catechism. Firstly, to believe firmly that God has never ceased to work for man's salvation. Secondly, that religion is the greatest of all blessings. Thirdly, to love our religion as a child, well brought up, loves its mother. Fourthly, to observe its commandments with firmness and fidelity. Th1 90) 1970 99ftoudipi, etf deol gequos to

I am resolved to love God above all things, and my neighbour as myself, for the love of God; and in testimony of this love, I will entertain the greatest respect for the ceremonies of the Church to

SECOND PART.

CONTAINING THE HISTORY AND THE EXPLANATION OF RELIGION, FROM THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH UNTIL

HIS ASCENSION.

LESSON I.

Condition of the World at the Coming of the Messiah.

Q. What was the general state of the world at the coming of the Messiah?

A. In accordance with the prophecy of Daniel, the Roman empire had subjected all nations to its laws. Augustus Cæsar reigned in peace over the world, but all nations were immersed in the shades of idolatry. Q. What was idolatry?

4. Idolatry was the worship of false divinities. The Pagans adored not only the sun, the moon, and the earth, but the vilest creatures, and they attributed to their gods every species of human passion.

Q. What was the state of the Jews at the coming of the Messiah?

4. Truth, which was in the throes of dissolution among the Pagan nations, was also threatened with a similar fate among the Jews, There were in Judea four principal sects, by whom it was adulterated, and it had of course lost its influence over the minds of the people.

Q. What were these different sects?

A. The different sects which prevailed among the Jews at the coming of the Messiah, were the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes, and the Herodians.