A Journey Through the Catechism (Contrition; Confession)
We continue with our Pastor Column series through the Baltimore Catechism, and we turn now to the seventeenth and eighteenth articles: “On Indulgences” and “On the Holy Eucharist.”
Q: What is an indulgence?
A: An indulgence is the remission in whole or in part of the temporal punishment due to sin.
Q: How many kinds of indulgences are there?
A: There are two kinds of indulgences: Plenary and Partial.
Q: What is a plenary indulgence?
A: A plenary indulgence is the full remission of the temporal punishment due to sin.
Q: What is a partial indulgence?
A partial indulgence is the remission of a part of the temporal punishment due to sin.
Q: What must we do to gain an indulgence?
A: To gain an indulgence, we must be in the state of grace and also perform the holy worked associated with that particular indulgence. (N.B. receiving Holy Communion in a state of grace; praying for the Holy Father; and doing the prayer or work of mercy that is attached to that given indulgence.)
Q: What is the Holy Eucharist?
A: The Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament which contains the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine.
Q: What do we mean by the appearances of bread and wine?
A: By the appearances of bread and wine, we mean the figure, the color, the taste and whatever else appears to the senses.
Q: When did Jesus give His priest the power to change b read and ine into His Body and Blood?
A: Jesus gave His priests the power to change bread and wine into His Body and Blood when He said to the Apostles (His first priest): “Do this in memory of Me.”
Q: How do the priests exercise this power of changing bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ?
A: The priests exercise this power of changing bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ through the words of consecration in the Mass, which are the words of Jesus Himself; “This is My Body; this is My Blood.”
Article Nineteen: “On the Ends For Which the Holy Eucharist Was Instituted”
Q: Why did Jesus institute the Holy Eucharist?
A: Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist in order to:
A: Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist in order to:
- Unite us to Himself to nourish our souls with His Body and Blood;
- Increase sanctifying grace and all virtues in our souls;
- Lessen our evil inclinations;
- Be a pledge of everlasting life;
- Fit our bodies for the glorious resurrection of the dead;
- Continue the Sacrifice of the Cross in His Church
Q: Do they who receive Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin receive the Body and Blood of Christ?
A: Even in a state of mortal sin they receive the Body and Blood of Christ, but they do not receive His grace and in fact commit the most awful sin of sacrilege. (N.B. This is biblical; see 1 Corinthians 11:27-29.)
~ Fr. Lewis