15.) "What things He (the Father) doth, these the Son also doth in like manner. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and giveth life, so the Son also giveth life to whom He will; that all men may honour the Son, as they honour the Father." (John 5, 19. 21. 23.) Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham When Peter

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was made, I am." (John 8, 58. etc.) said to Jesus: "Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God;" (Matt. 16, 16.) and Thomas said to Him: "My Lord, and My God" (John 20, 28); our Saviour confirmed the faith, and the declaration of both the Apostles.

27. What are miracles?

Miracles are such extraordinary works as cannot be done by natural powers, but only by the Omnipotence of God.

28. Which are the principal miracles, wrought by Christ?

He changed water into wine; with five loaves He filled several thousands; with one word He calmed the winds and the waves, cured diseases of all sorts, cast out devils, and raised the dead to life. When He died, all nature mourned; three days after His death, He rose again from the grave, and forty days later, He ascended into Heaven in the sight of His Disciples.

The miracles of Jesus were such, that all Judea must have known whether they had been really wrought, or not. Yet, no one has denied or questioned them, not even His most bitter enemies. On the contrary, thousands, nay, millions of people have given up all they possessed, even their lives, in testimony of their belief in these miracles.

29. How do these miracles prove the Divinity of Christ?

They prove, 1. That when Christ said that He is the Son of God, He spoke the truth, since God cannot possibly confirm a lie by miracles; and 2. That Christ possessed Divine power, since of Himself He wrought miracles.

1. "If you will not believe Me (My words), believe My

works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” (John 10, 38.) 2. "What things soever the Father doth, these the Son also doth in like manner. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and giveth life, so the Son also giveth life to whom He will." (John 5, 19. 21.)

30. How did Jesus confirm the doctrine of His Divinity by Prophecies ?

By this, that He foretold many things which God alone could know; for instance: His betrayal by Judas, and His denial by Peter; the manner of His death; His resurrection; His ascension, &c.

31. Which Prophecies of Christ do we still see being accomplished?

These, for instance, 1. That the Gospel shall be preached in the whole world (Matt. 24, 14); 2. That the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church (Matt. 16, 18); and 3. That of the temple of Jerusalem there shall not be left a stone upon a stone. (Mark 13, 2.)

With a view to frustrate the prediction of our Lord and of the Prophets, the apostate Emperor Julian_resolved, in 363, to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem. Full of joy, the Jews came in great haste from all countries, set to work, and cleared away the rubbish of the old temple, insomuch that not one stone was left upon another. But when they were going to commence the building, terrible flames flashed out of the ground, which partly killed the workmen, and partly put them to flight. This occurred at each fresh attempt that was made, until they gave up their undertaking. This miracle is attested by contemporary Pagan, as well as Christian, writers.

32. How did Jesus seal the doctrine of His Divinity with His death?

Being adjured by the living God before the tribunal of the High-priest, He solemnly confessed that He was "The Christ, the Son of God, and that they shall see Him sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and coming in the clouds of Heaven;" and, on

account of this confession, He suffered death. (Matt. 26, 63. 64. John 19, 7.)

As it would be the most grievous sin, falsely to pretend to be God; so it is the greatest dishonour to Jesus Christ, not to give credit to His protestation that He is God.

33. What do the Apostles teach of Jesus Christ?

The Apostles explicitly teach, 1. That Jesus Christ. is true God; 2. That He possesses all the fulness of the Godhead, and the infinite Perfections of God; and 3. That all creatures should adore Him.

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1, "We know that the Son of God is come. This is the true God and life eternal." (1 John 5, 20.) 'Christ, who is over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen." (Rom. 9, 5.)

2." In Him (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporally;" i.e., substantially. (Col. 2, 9.) Of Christ, the Son of God, St. John says: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was made nothing that was made." (John 1, 1-3.) "In Him (Christ) were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and in Him; and He is before all, and by Him all things consist.” (Col. 1, 16. 17.) “By His Son God made the world, who, being the brightness of His glory, and the figure of His substance, upholds all things by the word of His power." (Hebr. 1, 2. 3.)

3. "In the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth; and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father." (Phili. 2, 10. 11.) "Let all the angels of God adore Him." (Hebr. 1, 6.)

The Apostles also confirmed their doctrine of the Divinity of Jesus by innumerable miracles which they wrought in the name of Jesus, and by the most stupendous of all miracles, the conversion of the world. (Short Hist. of Rel. §§. 28, 29, etc.) 34. What does the Catholic Church teach of Jesus Christ?

The Catholic Church has ever believed and taught, that Jesus Christ is true God, and of one substance

with God the Father; and, in defence of this fundamental Christian doctrine, she composed, at the Council of Nice, a peculiar Creed, and excommunicated those who taught the contrary. (See Short Hist. of Rel. §. 36. and Catech. Page 103. Quest. 6.)

The holy Martyrs also professed this belief, and suffered with joy indescribable torments, nay, death itself, for it; and it often pleased God to confirm their profession by undeniable miracles. One of these is particularly remarkable; it took place in Africa in 484, and is attested by many unobjectionable eye-witnesses. For when Hunnerich, King of the Arian Vandals, who most cruelly persecuted those who professed the Divinity of Christ, had had the tongues of the orthodox Christians of the city of Tipasa torn out, they spoke without tongues as fluently and distinctly as before, and proclaimed everywhere that Jesus Christ is true God, and of one substance with the Father. About sixty of them fled to Constantinople, where all the town saw them, and heard them speak daily, and that for many years.

Application.-Wickedness dims the understanding. Be always pious and virtuous, and you will never have any doubts respecting the truth of your faith. If any man will do the will of Him that sent Me, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God. (John 7, 16. 17.)

THE THIRD ARTICLE.

"Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary."

(See Short Hist. of Rel. §§. 21, 22, 23.†)

1. What does the Third Article of the Creed principally teach us?

It teaches us that the Son of God, through the operation of the Holy Ghost, became Man, i.e., that He took to Himself a body and a soul like ours.

The Word (the Only-begotten of the Father) was made flesh, and dwelt among us. (John 1, 14.)

The History of the Birth, Life, and Passion of Christ is to be learned from the Short History of Religion.

2. What do we call this Mystery? The Incarnation of the Son of God.

3. What is then our belief concerning Jesus Christ, when we believe the Mystery of the Incarnation ?

We believe that Jesus Christ is both true God and true Man, or that He is a God-Man: He is God from eternity, and became Man in time.

When Christ says: "I and the Father are one," He speaks of Himself as God; and when He says: "The Father is greater than I," He speaks of Himself as Man.

4. How many natures then are there in Jesus Christ?

There are two natures in Jesus Christ, the Divine and the human.

5. Are there also in Jesus Christ two wills distinct from one another?

Yes, in Jesus Christ there is a Divine will, and a human will, which, however, is always in perfect subjection to the Divine will.

"Father, not My will, but Thine be done." (Luke 22, 42.)

6. Are there also two Persons in Jesus Christ? No; Jesus Christ is only one Divine Person; for the two natures are inseparably united in the one Person of the Son of God.

7. Why is the Incarnation of the Son of God attributed to the operation of the Holy Ghost?

Because it is especially an effect of the Divine love and mercy towards man. (Comp. Page 90. Quest. 44.) "God so loved the world, as to give His Only-begotten Son." (John 3, 16.)

8. From whom did the Son of God take His human nature?

From Mary, the purest of Virgins; therefore, she is also called "Mother of God." (Feast of the Annunciation of B. V. Mary.)