A Catechism of Christian Doctrine, No. 2

Lesson Second: On God and His Perfections

9 sections

Third Plenary Council of Baltimore

Transcribed from a dated scan; artifacts may remain. Edition notes

Perfections, good qualities.

13. Infinitely, beyond measure.

13. Perfect, so good that nothing can be better.

18. Secret, that which is known to one person only.

19. Impossible, what no one is able to do.

20. Merciful, tender-hearted.

What is God?

A. God is a spirit infinitely perfect.

Had God a beginning?

A. God had no beginning; He always was and He always will be.

Where is God?

A. God is everywhere.

If God is everywhere, why do we not see Him?

A. We do not see God, because He is a pure spirit and cannot be seen with bodily eyes.

Does God see us?

A. God sees us and watches over us.

Does God know all things?

A. God knows all things, even our most secret thoughts, words, and actions.

Can God do all things?

A. God can do all things, and nothing is hard or impossible to Him.

Is God just, holy, and merciful?

A. God is all just, all holy, all merciful, as He is infinitely perfect.

Trans. None. Written in English: the Catechism prepared and enjoined by order of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore (1884), approved at Baltimore on April 6, 1885. The word-meanings are the Benziger Brothers addition of 1898., The Baltimore Catechism, No. 2 (edition with word-meanings, prayers and hymns, with the questions numbered to agree with the Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism), 1885. Public domain.