Episode03 – The Baltimore Catechism

Full Text: The Baltimore Catechism

A Catechism of Christian Doctrine: FAQ

Short Answer Questions

1. What is God?

2. What are the three Divine Persons of the Blessed Trinity?

3. What is the difference between actual sin and original sin?

4. Explain the difference between mortal and venial sin.

5. What is the role of the Holy Ghost in the Church?

6. What are the four marks of the Church?

7. What are the Sacraments of the living?

8. What is the difference between Baptism of water, desire, and blood?

9. What are the three conditions necessary for a good confession?

10. What is the difference between a Plenary Indulgence and a Partial Indulgence?

Answer Key

1. God is a spirit, infinitely perfect.

2. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

3. Actual sin is any willful thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the law of God, while original sin is the sin inherited from Adam and Eve.

4. Mortal sin is a grievous offense against the law of God that deprives us of sanctifying grace, while venial sin is a slight offense that weakens our resistance to mortal sin.

5. The Holy Ghost sanctifies the Church, enlightens and strengthens its members, and keeps it one, holy, and catholic.

6. One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.

7. Baptism, Confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist.

8. Baptism of water is the traditional form using water, while baptism of desire is an ardent wish to receive baptism, and baptism of blood is martyrdom for the faith. All three have the same effect if baptism of water is impossible.

9. Contrition, Confession, and Satisfaction.

10. A Plenary Indulgence is the full remission of temporal punishment due to sin, while a Partial Indulgence is the remission of a part of the temporal punishment.

Glossary of Key Terms

Actual Sin: Any willful thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the law of God.
Apostle: One sent by Christ to preach the Gospel and establish His Church.
Baptism: The first Sacrament, which washes away original sin and makes us children of God.
Blessed Trinity: The one God in three Divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Bishop: A successor of the Apostles, responsible for governing a diocese.
Church: The community of believers founded by Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit.
Confession: The Sacrament in which we confess our sins to a priest and receive absolution.
Concupiscence: The strong inclination to evil that remains in us after original sin.
Confirmation: The Sacrament that strengthens us with the gifts of the Holy Ghost.
Contrition: Sincere sorrow for our sins.
Divine Virtue: A supernatural habit infused by God into the soul, enabling us to perform good acts. (Faith, Hope, Charity)
Eucharist: The Sacrament in which bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ.
Faith: A Divine virtue by which we firmly believe the truths which God has revealed.
God: The Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things. A spirit, infinitely perfect.
Grace: The free and undeserved help God gives us to know and love Him.
Heaven: A state of eternal happiness with God.
Hell: A state of eternal separation from God and eternal punishment.
Holy Ghost: The third Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Spirit of Truth and Love.
Hope: A Divine virtue by which we firmly trust that God will give us eternal life and the means to obtain it.
Indulgence: The remission of temporal punishment due to sin.
Infallibility: The Church’s inability to err when teaching doctrine on faith or morals.
Jesus Christ: The Son of God, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity, true God and true man.
Mortal Sin: A grievous offense against the law of God that deprives us of sanctifying grace.
Original Sin: The sin inherited from Adam and Eve.
Pope: The Bishop of Rome, the successor of St. Peter and head of the Catholic Church.
Purgatory: A state of temporary purification after death for those who die in God’s grace but are not yet perfectly cleansed.
Sacrament: An outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.
Sacrilege: A grave sin of profaning or treating unworthily the sacraments, other liturgical actions, as well as persons, things, or places consecrated to God.
Saint: A person who has died in God’s grace and is in Heaven.
Salvation: The forgiveness of sins and the attainment of eternal life with God.
Sanctifying Grace: The grace that makes the soul holy and pleasing to God.
Sin: A thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the law of God.
Venial Sin: A slight offense against the law of God.
Virtue: A good habit that disposes us to do good.
Vow: A deliberate and free promise made to God to do something that is pleasing to Him.