Baltimore Catechism No. 3 (of 4) | Page 6

Creed.
Q. 53 Who were the Apostles? A. The Apostles were the twelve men selected by Our Lord to be the first bishops of His Church.
Q. 54. How do you know the Apostles were bishops? A. I know the Apostles were bishops because they could administer the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Orders and make laws for the Church, as we learn from Holy Scripture, and these powers belong to bishops alone.
Q. 55. Who were the disciples of Our Lord? A. The disciples were the seventy-two chosen followers of Our Lord, whom He sent to preach and perform good works in every city and place whither He Himself was to come. The Apostles also are frequently called "the disciples."
Q. 56. Why did the Apostles leave us a creed? A. The Apostles left us a creed that all who wished to become Christians might have a standard of the truths they must know and believe before receiving Baptism.
Q. 57. How many articles or parts in the Apostles' Creed? A. There are twelve articles or parts in the Apostles' Creed. They refer to God the Father in the works of creation; to God the Son in the works of redemption; to God the Holy Ghost in the works of sanctification; and each article contradicts one or more false doctrines on these subjects.
Q. 58. What does Creation mean? A. To create means to produce out of nothing. God alone has this power, and He alone can be called "Creator."
Q. 59. Had Jesus Christ more than one Father? A. God the Father, the First Person of the Blessed Trinity, is the only real and true Father of Jesus Christ, as the Blessed Virgin is His true Mother. St. Joseph, whom we also call His father, was only His foster-father or guardian upon earth.
Q. 60. By what names is Our Lord called? A. Our Lord is called by many names, such as Our Saviour, Our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Son of God; Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Messias, Son of David, Lamb of God and others to be found in the litanies. Each name recalls to our mind some benefit received or prophesy fulfilled.
Q. 61. Of what religion was Pontius Pilate? A. Pontius Pilate was a pagan; that is, a worshiper of false gods.
Q. 62. Why do we say "died" instead of "was put to death"? A. We say "died" to show that Our Lord gave up His life willingly; for how could He be put to death against His will, who could always restore His life as He did at His resurrection?
Q. 63. What is death? A. Death in man is caused by the separation of the soul from the body, for Adam was made a living being by the union of his soul and body.
Q. 64. Why do we say of Christ "He was buried"? A. We say that "He was buried" to show that He was really dead.
Q. 65. Did "hell" always mean only that state in which the damned are punished? A. The word "hell" was sometimes used to signify the grave or a low place. In the Apostles' Creed it means Limbo.
Q. 66. Is Limbo the same place as Purgatory? A. Limbo is not the same place as Purgatory, because the souls in Purgatory suffer, while those in Limbo do not.
Q. 67. Who were in Limbo when Our Lord descended into it? A. There were in Limbo when Our Lord descended into it the souls of all those who died the friends of God, but could not enter heaven till the Ascension of Our Lord.
Q. 68. Name some holy persons who died before Christ ascended into heaven. A. Among the holy persons who died before Christ ascended into heaven, we may mention: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, the Prophets, St. Ann, St. John the Baptist, and St. Joseph.
Q. 69. What do we mean by "Judge the living and the dead"? A. By the "living" we mean all those who shall be alive upon the earth at the last day, and by the "dead" those who have died before that time. Or the "living" may also mean those who are in a state of grace; and the "dead" those who are in mortal sin.
Q. 70. How many branches or parts of the Church are there? A. There are three branches or parts of the Church, called the Church Militant, the Church Suffering, and the Church Triumphant.
Q. 71. What do we mean by the "Church Militant"? A. By the "Church Militant" or "fighting Church" we mean all the faithful who are still upon earth struggling for their salvation by warring against their spiritual enemies.
Q. 72. What do we mean by the "Church Suffering"? A. By the "Church Suffering" we mean the faithful in Purgatory, who are being purified from the last stains