The Catechetical Instructions St. Thomas
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www.freecatholicebooks.com THE CATECHETICAL INSTRUCTIONS of ST. THOMAS AQUINAS Translated with a Commentary by Rev. Joseph B. Collins, S.S., D.D., Ph.D. Introduction by Rev. Rudolph G. Bandas, Ph.D., S.T.D. et M. Nihil Obstat: E. A. Connolly, S.S., J.C.D, Censor Deputatus Imprimatur: Most Reverend Michael J. Curley, D.D., Archbishop of Baltimore Baltimore, February 9, 1939 1 www.freecatholicebooks.com The Catholic Primer Copyright Notice The contents of this document is in the public domain. However, this electronic version is copyrighted. © The Catholic Primer, 2004. All Rights Reserved. This electronic version may be distributed free of charge provided that the contents are not altered and this copyright notice is included with the distributed copy, provided that the following conditions are adhered to. 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The Catholic Primer: www.catholicprimer.org 2 www.freecatholicebooks.com Table of Contents INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................6 TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE...........................................................................................................7 ST. THOMAS AQUINAS..............................................................................................................7 CHIEF WORKS OF ST. THOMAS ............................................................................................9 THE OPUSCULA ..........................................................................................................................9 ST. THOMAS IN THE HISTORY OF CATECHETICS........................................................10 TRANSLATOR'S NOTE ............................................................................................................10 INDEX OF KEY TERMS ...............................................................................................................12 THE APOSTLES' CREED .............................................................................................................16 WHAT IS FAITH?.......................................................................................................................16 THE FIRST ARTICLE: "I Believe in One God."....................................................................18 SOME MOTIVES FOR BELIEF IN MANY GODS....................................................................19 ERRORS RELATING TO THE FIRST ARTICLE ......................................................................20 GOOD EFFECTS OF OUR FAITH...........................................................................................21 THE SECOND ARTICLE: "And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord."........................22 ERRORS RELATING TO THE SECOND ARTICLE .................................................................23 THE DIVINE GENERATION.....................................................................................................23 THE THIRD ARTICLE..............................................................................................................25 ERRORS RELATING TO THE THIRD ARTICLE .....................................................................25 GOOD EFFECTS OF THESE CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................26 THE FOURTH ARTICLE: "Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried." .........................................................................................................................................28 EVIL EFFECTS OF SIN ............................................................................................................29 CHRIST, EXEMPLAR OF VIRTUES.........................................................................................30 THE FIFTH ARTICLE: "He Descended into Hell." ...............................................................31 REASONS FOR CHRIST'S DESCENT ......................................................................................31 WHAT WE MAY LEARN FROM THIS ......................................................................................32 SPECIAL CHARACTER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.......................................................34 WHAT WE MAY LEARN FROM THE RESURRECTION .........................................................35 THE SIXTH ARTICLE: "He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty." .................................................................................................................36 THE SUBLIMITY OF THE ASCENSION ..................................................................................36 THE REASONABLENESS OF THE ASCENSION.....................................................................36 THE BENEFITS OF THE ASCENSION ....................................................................................37 THE SEVENTH ARTICLE: "From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead." ............................................................................................................................................38 THE FORM OF THE JUDGEMENT.........................................................................................38 WHO ARE TO BE JUDGED? ...................................................................................................38 THE FEAR OF THE JUDGMENT ............................................................................................39 OUR PREPARATION FOR THE JUDGMENT.........................................................................40 THE EIGHTH ARTICLE: "I Believe in the Holy Ghost.".....................................................40 TEACHING OF THE NICENE CREED ....................................................................................41 BENEFITS FROM THE HOLY GHOST....................................................................................41 THE NINTH ARTICLE: "I Believe in the Holy Catholic Church."......................................43 THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH ...............................................................................................43 THE HOLINESS OF THE CHURCH ........................................................................................43 THE CATHOLICITY OR UNIVERSALITY OF THE CHURCH................................................44 THE APOSTOLICITY OF THE CHURCH................................................................................44 THE TENTH ARTICLE: "The Communion of Saints, the Forgiveness of Sins." ...............46 THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS: A REVIEW .................................................................................46 THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS..................................................................................................47 3 www.freecatholicebooks.com THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS ..............................................................................................47 THE ELEVENTH ARTICLE: "The Resurrection of the Body."...........................................48 THE BENEFITS OF THE RESURRECTION ............................................................................49 QUALITIES OF THE RISEN BODIES ......................................................................................49 CONDITION OF THE BLESSED..............................................................................................50 CONDITION OF THE DAMNED..............................................................................................50 THE TWELFTH ARTICLE: "Life everlasting. Amen." ........................................................51 WHAT IS EVERLASTING LIFE? ..............................................................................................51 THE FULLNESS OF DESIRES .................................................................................................52 WHAT IS EVERLASTING DEATH?..........................................................................................52 EXPLANATION OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS................................................................54 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.................................................................................................54 THE FIRST COMMANDMENT: "Thou Shalt Not Have Strange Gods Before Me." ........54 WHY WE SHOULD ADORE ONE GOD...................................................................................55 SECOND COMMANDMENT: "Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of the Lord Thy God in Vain." ............................................................................................................................................58 THE MEANING OF IN VAIN ....................................................................................................58