Baltimore Catechism No. 1 (of 4) | Page 7

of husband and wife; 2d, to give them grace to bear with each other's weaknesses; 3d, to enable them to bring up their children in the fear and love of God.
286. Q. To receive the Sacrament of matrimony worthily is it necessary to be in the state of grace? A. To receive the Sacrament of Matrimony worthily it is necessary to be in the state of grace, and it is necessary also to comply with the laws of the Church.

LESSON TWENTY-THIRD ON THE SACRAMENTALS
292. Q. What is a sacramental? A. A sacramental is anything set apart or blessed by the Church to excite good thoughts and to increase devotion, and through these movements of the heart to remit venial sin.
294. Q. Which is the chief sacramental used in the Church? A. The chief sacramental used in the Church is the sign of the cross.
295. Q. How do we make the sign of the cross? A. We make the sign of the cross by putting the right hand to the forehead, then on the breast, and then to the left and right shoulders, saying, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
296. Q. Why do we make the sign of the cross? A. We make the sign of the cross to show that we are Christians and to profess our belief in the chief mysteries of our religion.
300. Q. What other sacramental is in very frequent use? A. Another sacramental in very frequent use is holy water.
301. Q. What is holy water? A. Holy water is water blessed by the priest with solemn prayer to beg God's blessing on those who use it, and protection from the powers of darkness.
302. Q. Are there other sacramentals besides the sign of the cross and holy water? A. Besides the sign of the cross and holy water there are many other sacramentals, such as blessed candles, ashes, palms, crucifixes, images of the Blessed Virgin and of the saints, rosaries and scapulars.

LESSON TWENTY-FOURTH ON PRAYER
303. Q. Is there any other means of obtaining God's grace than the Sacraments? A. There is another means of obtaining God's grace, and it is prayer.
304. Q. What is prayer? A. Prayer is the lifting up of our minds and hearts to God to adore Him, to thank Him for His benefits, to ask His forgiveness, and to beg of Him all the graces we need, whether for soul or body.
305. Q. Is prayer necessary to salvation? A. Prayer is necessary to salvation, and without it no one having the use of reason can be saved.
306. Q. At what particular times should we pray? A. We should pray particularly on Sundays and holydays, every morning and night, in all dangers, temptations, and afflictions.
308. Q. Which are the prayers most recommended to us? A. The prayers most recommended to us are the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, the Apostles' Creed, the Confiteor, and the Acts of Faith, Hope, Love and Contrition.
309. Q. Are prayers said with distractions of any avail? A. Prayers said with wilful distractions are of no avail.

LESSON TWENTY-FIFTH ON THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD
310. Q. Is it enough to belong to God's Church in order to be saved? A. It is not enough to belong to the Church in order to be saved, but we must also keep the Commandments of God and of the Church.
313. Q. Which are the Commandments of God? A. The Commandments of God are these ten:
1. I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not have strange gods before Me. 2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. 3. Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day. 4. Honor thy father and thy mother. 5. Thou shalt not kill. 6. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 7. Thou shalt not steal. 8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. 9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife. 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.

LESSON TWENTY-SIXTH ON THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
315. Q. What is the first Commandment? A. The first Commandment is: I am the Lord thy God: thou shalt not have strange gods before Me.
317. Q. How do we adore God? A. We adore God by faith, hope, and love, by prayer and sacrifice.
318. Q. How may the first Commandment be broken? A. The first Commandment may be broken by giving to a creature the honor which belongs to God alone; by false worship; and by attributing to a creature a perfection which belongs to God alone.
320. Q. Are sins against faith, hope, and charity also sins against the first Commandment? A. Sins against faith, hope, and charity are also sins against the first Commandment.
321. Q. How does a person sin against faith? A. A person sins against faith: 1st,