A CATECHISM OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE PREPARED AND ENJOINED BY ORDER OF THE THIRD PLENARY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE (In Accordance with the New Canon Law) No. 3 {For Two Years' Course for Post-Confirmation Classes} SUPPLEMENTED BY Rev. THOMAS L. KINKEAD Author of "An Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism" Published by Ecclesiastical Authority NEW YORK, BOSTON, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO BENZIGER BROTHERS, INC. PRINTERS TO THE HOLY APOSTOLIC SEE Imprimatur: JOHN CARDINAL McCLOSKEY, Archbishop of New York. NEW YORK, April 6, 1885 The Catechism ordered by the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, having been diligently compiled and examined, is hereby approved. + JAMES GIBBONS, Archbishop of Baltimore, Apostolic Delegate. BALTIMORE, April 6, 1885. Nihil obstat: REV. REMIGIUS LAFORT, S.T.L., Censor Librorum. Imprimatur: + MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York. NEW YORK, February 21, 1901. Nihil obstat: ARTHUR J. SCANLAN, S.T.D., Censor Librorum. Imprimatur: + PATRICK J. HAYES, D.D., Archbishop of New York. NEW YORK, June 29, 1921. {Transcriber's Note: This book is commonly known as "The Baltimore Catechism No. 3" and is part of a four volume e-text collection. See the author's note below for the background and purpose of the series. This e-text collection is substantially based on files generously provided by http://www.catholic.net/ with some missing material transcribed and added for this release. Transcriber's notes in this series are placed within braces, and usually prefixed "T.N.:".} NOTE These Catechisms of the Baltimore Series are arranged on a progressive plan. No. 00 gives the Prayers and Acts to be learned before the study of the Catechisms begins:--No. 0 contains one half the questions of No. 1; No. 1 half the questions of No. 2; No. 2 one-third the questions of No. 3, and No. 4 (an Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism) furnishes much additional information with copious explanations and examples. The same questions bear the same numbers throughout the series, and their wording is identical. The different sizes of type make the Catechisms more suitable to their respective grades, smaller children usually requiring larger print. Apart from its educational advantages, the progressive plan aims at lessening the expense in providing children with Catechisms, by furnishing just what is necessary for each grade; it aims also at encouraging the children to learn, by affording opportunity for promotion from book to book. These Catechisms are intended to furnish a complete course of religious instruction, when, used as follows: No. 00 for Prayer classes. No. 0 for Confession classes and certain adults. No. 1 for First Communion classes. No. 2 for Confirmation classes. No. 3 for two years' course for Post-Confirmation classes. No. 4 for Teachers and Teachers' Training classes. PREFACE TO NO. 3