A CATECHISM,
THAT IS TO SAY,
AN INSTRUCTION TO BE LEARNED OF EVERY PERSON, BEFORE HE
BE BROUGHT TO BE
CONFIRMED BY THE BISHOP.
Question.
WHAT is your Name?
Answer. Christian Name or Names.
Question. Who gave you this Name?
Answer. My Godfathers and Godmothers in my
Baptism; wherein I was made a member of Christ, the child of God, and
an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.
Question. What did your Godfathers and Godmothers
then for you?
Answer. They did promise and vow three things
in my name:
First, that I should renounce the devil and all his
works the pomps and vanity of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts
of the flesh;
Secondly, that I should believe all the Articles of
the Christian Faith;
And thirdly, that I should keep God's holy will and
Commandments and walk in the same all the days of my life.
Question. Dost thou not think that thou art
bound to believe, and to do, as they have promised for thee?
Answer. Yes, verily; and by God's help so
I will. And I heartily thank our heavenly Father, that he bath called
me to this state of salvation, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. And I
pray unto God to give me his grace, that I may continue in the same unto
my life's end.
Catechist.
Rehearse the Articles of thy Belief.
Answer.
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty,
Maker 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, dead, and buried, He descended into hell; The third
day he rose again from the dead, He ascended into heaven, And sitteth
at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come
to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholick Church;
The Communion of saints; The Forgiveness of sins The Resurrection of the
body; And the life everlasting. Amen.
Question. What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles
of thy Belief?
Answer. First, I learn to believe in God the
Father, who hath made me, and all the world;
Secondly, in God the Son, who hath redeemed me and
all mankind;
Thirdly, in God the Holy Ghost, who sanctifieth me,
and all the elect people of God.
Question.
You said, that your Godfathers and Godmothers did
promise for you, that you should keep God's Commandments. Tell me how
many there be?
Answer. Ten.
Question. Which be they?
Answer.
THE same which God spake in the twentieth
chapter of Exodus, saying, I am the LORD thy God,
who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
1. Thou shalt have none other gods but me.
2. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image,
nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth
beneath, or in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down to them,
nor worship them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous
God, and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third
and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shew mercy unto thousands
in them that love me and keep my commandments.
3. Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD
thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh
his Name in vain.
4. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. Six
days shalt thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do; but the seventh
day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God. In it thou
shalt do no manner of work, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy manservant,
and thy maidservant, thy cattle, and the stranger that is within thy gates.
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore
the LORD blessed the seventh day, and hallowed
it.
5. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days
may be long in the land which the LORD thy God
giveth thee.
6. Thou shalt do no murder.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false Witness against thy neighbour.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou
shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor
his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his.
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Note
that one part of the Catechism was changed in 1949, when Ireland
became a Republic and left the Commonwealth.
The section marked "R.I." is for use in the Republic of
Ireland, and was added since 1949; that marked "N.I."
is for use in Northern Ireland, and was always part of this book. |
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Question.
What dost thou chiefly learn by these Commandments?
Answer. I learn two things: my duty towards
God, and my duty towards my Neighbour.
Question. What is thy duty towards God?
Answer. My duty towards God, is to believe
in him, to fear him and to love him with all my heart, with all my mind,
with all my soul, and with all my strength; to worship him, to give him
thanks, to put my whole trust in him, to call upon him, to honour his
holy Name and his Word, and to serve him truly all the days of my life.
Question. What is thy duty
towards thy Neighbour?
Answer. My duty towards my Neighbour, is to love him
as myself, and to do to all men as I would they should do unto me: To
love, honour, and succour my father and mother: To honour and obey N.I.[the
King, and all that are put in authority under him:] R.I.[all
that are put in authority over me:] To submit myself to all my governors,
teachers, spiritual pastors, and masters: To order myself lowly and reverently
to all who are set over me: To hurt no body by word or deed: To be true
and just in all my dealing: To bear no malice nor hatred in my heart:
To keep my bands from picking and stealing, and my tongue from evil speaking,
lying, and slandering: To keep my body in temperance, soberness, and chastity:
Not to covet nor desire other men's goods; but to learn and labour truly
to get mine own living, and to do my duty in that state of life, unto
which it shall please God to call me.
Catechist.
My good Child, know this that thou art not able to
do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the Commandments of God, and
to serve him, without his special grace; which thou must learn at all
times to call for by diligent prayer. Let me hear, therefore, if thou
canst say the Lord's Prayer.
Answer.
OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed
be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Question. What desirest thou of God in this
Prayer?
Answer. I desire my Lord God our heavenly
Father, who is the giver of all goodness, to send his grace unto me, and
to all people; that we may worship him, serve him, and obey him, as we
ought to do. And I pray unto God that he will send us all things that
be needful both for our souls and bodies; and that he will be merciful
unto us, and forgive us our sins; and that it will please him to save
and defend us in all dangers spiritual and bodily; and that he will keep
us from all sin and wickedness, and from our spiritual enemy, and from
everlasting death. And this I trust he will do of his mercy and goodness,
through our Lord Jesus Christ. And therefore I say, Amen, So be it.
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Question.
HOW many Sacraments hath Christ ordained
in his Church?
Answer. Two only, as generally necessary to salvation; that is
to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord.
Question. What meanest thou by this word Sacrament?
Answer. I mean an outward and visible sign
of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Christ himself,
as a means whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us thereof.
Question. How many parts are there in a Sacrament?
Answer. Two; the outward visible sign, and
the inward spiritual grace.
Question. What is the outward visible sign
or form in Baptism?
Answer. Water, wherein the person is baptized
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Question. What is the inward and spiritual
grace?
Answer. A death unto sin and a new birth unto
righteousness; for being by nature born in sin, and the children of wrath,
we are hereby made the children of grace.
Question. What is required of persons to be
baptized?
Answer. Repentance, whereby they forsake sin;
and Faith, whereby they stedfastly believe the promises of God made to.
them in that Sacrament.
Question. Why then are Infants baptized, when
by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them?
Answer. Because they promise them both, by
their Sureties; which promise, when they come to age, themselves are bound
to perform.
Question. Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's
Supper ordained?
Answer. For the continual remembrance of the
sacrifice of the death of Christ, and of the benefits which we receive
thereby.
Question. What is the outward part or sign
of the Lord's Supper?
Answer. Bread and Wine, which the Lord hath
commanded to be received.
Question. What is the inward part, or thing
signified?
Answer. The Body and Blood of Christ, which
are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's
Supper.
Question. After what manner are the Body and
Blood of Christ taken and received in the Lord's Supper?
Answer. Only after a heavenly and, spiritual
manner; and the mean whereby they are taken and received is Faith.
Question. What are the benefits whereof we
are partakers thereby?
Answer. The strengthening and refreshing of
our souls by the Body and Blood of Christ, as our bodies are by the Bread
and Wine.
Question. What is required of them who come
to the Lord's Supper?
Answer. To examine themselves, whether they
repent them truly of their former sins, stedfastly purposing to lead a
new life; have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful
remembrance of his death; and be in charity with all men.
¶ The Curate of
every Parish shall diligently at such times as he shall think convenient,
instruct and examine the children of his Parish in this Catechism; and
upon Sundays and Holy-days, after the Second Lesson at Evening Prayer,
or at such other time as may be convenient, he may, with the approval
of the Ordinary, openly in the Church instruct and examine so many of
such children as he shall think fit in some part of the Catechism.
¶ And all Fathers,
Mothers, Masters, and Mistresses shall cause their Children, Servants,
and Apprentices to come to such instruction at the time appointed.
¶ So soon as children
are come to a competent age, and can say in their mother tongue the Creed
the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and are further instructed
in this Catechism, they shall be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed
by him.
¶ And whensoever
the Bishop shall give knowledge for children to be brought unto him for
their Confirmation, the Curate of every Parish shall either bring, or
send in writing, with his hand subscribed thereunto, the names of all
such persons within his Parish, as he shall think fit to be presented
to the Bishop to be confirmed. And, if the Bishop approve of them, he
shall confirm them in manner following.
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THE
ORDER FOR
CONFIRMATION,
OR LAYING ON OF HANDS UPON THOSE THAT ARE BAPTIZED AND
COME TO YEARS OF
DISCRETION.
¶ Upon the day
appointed all that are to be then confirmed, being placed, and standing
in order, before the Bishop; he (or some other Minister appointed by him)
shall read this Preface following:
TO the end that Confirmation may be ministered
to the more edifying of such as shall receive it, the Church hath thought
good to order, That none hereafter shall be confirmed, but such as can
say the Creed the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and have been
further instructed in the Church Catechism, set forth for that purpose:
Which order is very fitting to be observed; to the end that children,
being now come to the years of discretion, and having learned what their
Godfathers and Godmothers promised for them in Baptism, they may themselves,
with their own mouth and consent, openly before the Church, ratify and
confirm the same; and also promise, that by the grace of God they will
evermore endeavour faithfully to observe such things, as they, by their
own confession, have assented unto.
¶ The Bishop may then, if he
think fit, address the candidates.
¶ Then shall the Bishop say,
DO you here, in the presence of God and
of this Congregation, renew and confirm the solemn promise and vow of
your Baptism?
Answer. I do.
The Bishop.
DO you renounce the devil and all his works,
the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the
same, and the sinful desires of the flesh, so that you will not follow
nor be led by them?
Answer. I renounce them all.
The Bishop.
DO you believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth?
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord? And that
he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; that he suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
that he descended into hell, and the third day rose again from the dead;
that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the
Father Almighty; and from thence shall come to judge the quick and the
dead?
And do you believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholick
Church; the Communion of Saints; the Forgiveness of sins; the Resurrection
of the body; and the life everlasting?
Answer. All this I stedfastly believe.
The Bishop.
WILL you then obediently keep God's holy
will and Commandments, and walk in the same all the days of your life?
Answer. I will, by God's help.
¶ Then shall the Congregation
stand, and the Bishop shall say,
OUR help is in the Name of the Lord;
Answer. Who bath made heaven and earth.
Bishop. Blessed be the Name of the Lord;
Answer. Henceforth, world without end.
Bishop. Lord, hear our prayers;
Answer. And let our cry come unto thee.
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¶
Then shall the Congregation kneel, as also those about to be confirmed
and the Bishop, still standing, shall say,
Let us pray.
ALMIGHTY and ever living God, who hast
vouchsafed to regenerate these thy servants by Water and the Holy Ghost,
and hast given unto them forgiveness of all their sins; Strengthen them,
we beseech thee, O Lord, with the Holy Ghost the Comforter, and daily
increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace; the spirit of wisdom and
understanding; the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength; the spirit
of knowledge and true godliness; and fill them, O Lord, with the spirit
of thy holy fear, now and for ever. Amen.
¶ Then, all of them in order kneeling
before the Bishop, he shall lay his hand upon the head of every one severally,
saying,
DEFEND, O Lord, this thy Child [or
this thy Servant] with thy heavenly grace, that he may continue
thine for ever; and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until
he come unto
thy everlasting kingdom. Amen.
¶ Here may follow
a Hymn, and the Bishop may address the newly confirmed, if he see fit.
¶ Then shall the Bishop say,
The Lord be with you;
Answer. And with thy spirit.
¶ And (all kneeling down) the Bishop shall add,
Let us pray.
OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed
be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil,. Amen.
¶ And this Collect.
ALMIGHTY and ever living God, who makest
us both to will and to do those things that be good and acceptable unto
thy Divine Majesty; We make our humble supplications unto thee for these
thy servants, upon whom (after the example of thy holy Apostles) we have
now laid our hands, to assure them (by this sign) of thy favour and gracious
goodness towards them. Let thy fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be
over them; let thy Holy
Spirit ever be with them: and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience
of thy Word, that in the end they may obtain everlasting life; through
our Lord Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth,
ever one God, world without end. Amen.
¶ And also this, or some other
Collect out of this Book, at his discretion.
O GOD, whose blessed Son was manifested
that he might destroy the works of the devil, and make us the sons of
God, and heirs of eternal life; Grant us, we beseech thee, that, having
this hope, we may purify ourselves, even as lie is pure; that when he
shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto
him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where with thee, O Father, and
thee, O Holy Ghost, he liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without
end. Amen.
¶ Here may follow a Hymn.
¶ Then the Bishop shall bless
them, saying thus:
THE blessing of God Almighty, the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost. be upon you and remain with you for ever.
Amen.
¶ When Confirmation
is ministered only to those baptized in riper years, the Preface shall
be omitted.
¶ Every person
ought to present himself for Confirmation (unless prevented by some urgent
reason) before he partakes of the Lord's Supper.
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