The Purpose of Man's Existence
Who is God?
God is the Supreme Being, infinitely perfect, who made all things and keeps them in existence.
What is actual sin?
Actual sin is any willful thought, desire, word, action, or omission forbidden by the law of God.
Does the sacrament of Penance, worthily received, always take away all punishment?
The sacrament of Penance, worthily received, always takes away all eternal punishment; but it does not always take away all temporal punishment.
Why did God make us?
God made us to show forth His goodness and to share with us His everlasting happiness in heaven.
Besides depriving the sinner of sanctifying grace, what else does mortal sin do to the soul?
Mortal sin makes the soul an enemy of God, takes away the merit of all its good actions, deprives it of the right to everlasting happiness in heaven, and makes it deserving of everlasting punishment in hell.
Why does Christ give us His own body and blood in the Holy Eucharist?
to be offered as a sacrifice commemorating and renewing for all time the sacrifice of the cross; to be received by the faithful in Holy Communion; to remain ever on our altars as the proof of His love for us, and to be worshiped by us.
What must we do to gain the happiness of heaven?
To gain the happiness of heaven we must know, love, and serve God in this world.
How does venial sin harm us?
Venial sin harms us by making us less fervent in the service of God, by weakening our power to resist mortal sin, and by making us deserving of God's punishments in this life or in purgatory.
How should we pray?
with attention; with a conviction of our own helplessness and our dependence upon God; with a great desire for the graces we beg of Him; with loving trust in His goodness; with perseverance.
From whom do we learn to know, love, and serve God?
We learn to know, love, and serve God from Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who teaches us through the Catholic Church.
How can we keep from committing sin?
By praying and by receiving the sacraments; by remembering that God is always with us; by recalling that our bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost; by keeping occupied with work or play; by promptly resisting the sources of sin within us; by avoiding the near occasions of sin.
Which are the chief corporal works of mercy?
To feed the hungry. To give drink to the thirsty. To clothe the naked. To visit the imprisoned. To shelter the homeless. To visit the sick. To bury the dead.
Say the Apostles' Creed.
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 arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the 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.
What is meant by the Redemption?
That Jesus Christ, as the Redeemer of the whole human race, offered His sufferings and death to God as a fitting sacrifice in satisfaction for the sins of men, and regained for them the right to be children of God and heirs of heaven.
Which are the chief spiritual works of mercy?
To admonish the sinner. To instruct the ignorant. To counsel the doubtful. To comfort the sorrowful. To bear wrongs patiently. To forgive all injuries. To pray for the living and the dead.