THIRD PART.

CONTAINING THE HISTORY AND THE EXPLANATION OF RELIGION, FROM THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD TO THE PRESENT TIME.

LESSON I.

Christianity established. First Preaching of the Apostles.
First Century.

Q. What did the Apostles do after the ascension of our Saviour?

A. After the ascension of our Saviour the Apostles returned to Jerusalem with the Blessed Virgin; they made their abode in an upper room, where they awaited in prayer and meditation for the descent of the Holy Ghost, whom they received on Whit Sunday. Q. Relate the history of this miracle.

A. Towards the ninth hour in the morning, "there came a sound from heaven as of a mighty, wind coming," ,"a which was heard throughout the house where the Apostles were assembled. At the same time there appeared tongues as it were of fire, which rested over the heads of each. Immediately they spoke divers languages, were changed into new men, and full of zeal and courage they went forth to announce Jesus crucified.

Q. Continue the reply.

A. A multitude of people, having learned what had come to pass, ran to the place: these were men of all nations, nevertheless, all of them understood the Apostles. This miracle, with the discourse of Saint

a Acts ii. 2.

Peter, converted upon the spot three thousand per

sons.

Q. What did the Apostles on this?

A. The Apostles baptised the new converts; Peter and John repaired to the Temple, where they found a man, a cripple from his birth, who asked them for alms.

Q. What was Saint Peter's reply?

4. Saint Peter said to him: "Silver and gold I have none: but what I have I give thee in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise and walk." And the cripple rising up was cured. He entered the Temple joyfully with the Apostles. Peter again preached, and his second discourse converted five thousand per

sons.

Q. What did the chief priests do?

A. The chief priests and all the synagogue, alarmed at the progress of the Gospel, arrested the Apostles, ordered them to be scourged, and forbade them to preach the name of Jesus of Nazareth. The Apostles replied that they must obey God rather than men, and they continued their mission. The Jews, more irritated than ever, condemned Saint Stephen to be stoned.

Q. What was the effect of this persecution?

с

A. The effect of this persecution was to propagate the Gospel far and wide, because a part of the disciples were dispersed by it into Samaria, and in Judea, where they made a great number of conversions?

Q. Who were the converts of Philip the deacon? A. The principal converts of Philip the deacon were a famous magician called Simon, whom he converted in Samaria, and a minister of the queen of Ethiopia, who came to Jerusalem to adore the true God. Saint Peter and Saint John went to Samaria to give confirmation to the converts.

Q. What did Simon the magician do?

b Acts iii. 6.

c Ib. iv. 19.

A. Simon the magician wishing to buy the power of giving the Holy Ghost, Saint Peter reproved him; but instead of repenting, he became a personal enemy to the Apostles.

Q. Who was the most ardent persecutor of the Church?

A. The most ardent persecutor of the Church was a young man named Saul. Learning that there were some Christians in Damascus, he asked permission of the high priest to arrest them, and conduct them, chained, to Jerusalem; and he set off on this errand, with a certain number of officers under his orders.

Q. What happened to him on his way ?

4. About the middle of the way he was all at once surrounded with a bright light; he fell backwards on the ground, and heard a voice, which said to him: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Saul, trembling and astonished, replied, "Who art thou, Lord ?? The voice said to him: "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest." On which Saul answered, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” “Go to Damascus," added the voice," and there it shall be told thee what thou must do." He went thither, and was bap tised.d

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 study with care this third of the Catechism.

part

Christianity established. Life of Saint Peter and of Saint Paul. First Century.

Q. What did the

the Gospel in Judea?

Apostles after having preached

A. After having preached the Gospel in Judea, the Apostles divided amongst them the whole world, in order to reduce it into subjection to Jesus Christ.

d Acts ix.

Q. Relate the history of St. Peter.

A. Saint Peter was in the town of Joppè when God made known to him that the Gentiles were to be called to the knowledge of the Gospel, and that he, the head of the Church, was to open to them its gates.

Q. Who was the first Gentile convert?

A. The first Gentile convert was a Roman officer called Cornelius, who was then at Cesarea. He was a man who feared God, and was very charitable. He sent for Saint Peter, who baptised him, together with all his household.

Q. Where did Saint Peter go after leaving Cesarea? A. From Cesarea Saint Peter went to Antioch, the capital of Syria, where he established his see. He travelled over a great part of Asia, and went to Rome, to oppose Simon the magician, whom the devil had sent thither, in order to oppose the establishment of the Gospel. Saint Peter placed the character of Simon in its true light, converted a great number of persons, and then returned to the east.

Q. What did he at Jerusalem ?

A. He presided over the council of Jerusalem, at which the Apostles were present; it is the first, and the model of all the councils which have taken place in the Church. It was therein decided that the converted Gentiles were not to be required to follow the legal observances of the law of Moses.

Q. How many epistles has Saint Peter left us?

4. Saint Peter wrote two epistles to the faithful, dispersed over the provinces of the Roman empire, which breathe the tenderness of a father, and the dignity of the chief Pastor of the Church. He then returned to Rome, where the crown of martyrdom was prepared for him, and also for Saint Paul, who had shared in his labours.

Q. Who was Saint Paul?

A. Saint Paul was of the Jewish race; he was born at Tharsus in Celicia, and was by birth a Roman