A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity/Brief Statement of Christian Doctrine

by Clarence E. Woodman

Brief Statement of Christian Doctrine.

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The Ten Commandvients of God.—Exodus xx.

AM the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt not have strange gods before Me. Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them.

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.

The Six Commandments of the Church.

1. To hear Mass on Sundays, and Holydays of Obligation.

2. To fast and abstain on the days appointed.

3. To confess at least once a year.

4. To receive the Holy Eucharist during the Easter time.

5. To contribute to the support of our Pastors.

6. Not to marry persons who are not Catholics, or who are related to us within the fourth degree of kindred, nor privately without witnesses, nor to solemnize marriage at forbidden times.

The Seven Sacraments.

Baptism, ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Matt. xxviii. 19.

Confirmation, ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Acts viii. 17.

Holy Eucharist, ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Matt. xxvi. 26.

Penance, ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

John xx. 23.

Extreme Unction, ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

James v. 14.

Holy Orders, ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Luke xxii. 19.

Matrimony, ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Matt. xix. 6.

The Three Theological Virtues.

Faith—Hope—Charity.

The Four Cardinal Virtues

Prudence—Justice—Fortitude—Temperance.

The Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost.—Isa. xi. 2, 3.

• Wisdom,
• Understanding,
• Counsel,

• Fortitude,
• Knowledge,
• Piety,

• The Fear of the Lord.

The Twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost

• Charity,
• Joy,
• Peace,
• Patience,
• Benignity,
• Goodness,
• Long-suffering,
• Mildness,
• Faith,
• Modesty,
• Continency,
• Chastity.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy.

• To admonish the sinner,
• To instruct the ignorant,
• To counsel the doubtful,
• To comfort the sorrowful,
• To bear wrongs patiently,
• To forgive all injuries,
• To pray for the living and the dead.

The Corporal Works of Mercy.

• To feed the hungry,
• To give drink to the thirsty,
• To clothe the naked,
• To ransom the captive,
• To harbor the harborless,
• To visit the sick,
• To bury the dead.

The Eight Beatitudes.—Matt. v.

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2. Blessed are the meek; for they shall possess the land.

3. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted.

4. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice; for they shall be filled.

5. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.

6. Blessed are the clean of heart; for they shall see God.

7. Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.

8. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Seven Deadly Sins, and the opposite Virtues.

Pride, Covetousness, Lust, Anger, Gluttony, Envy, Sloth.

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Contrary Virtues.

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Humility, Liberality, Chastity, Meekness, Temperance, Brotherly love, Diligence.

Sins against the Holy Ghost.

Presumption of God's mercy—Despair—Impugning the known truth—Envy at another's spiritual good—Obstinacy in sin—Final impenitence.

Sins Crying to Heaven for Vengeance.

Wilful murder—The sin of Sodom—Oppression of the poor—Defrauding laborers of their wages.

Nine Ways of being Accessory to another's Sin.

By counsel—By command—By consent—By provocation—By praise or flattery—By concealment—By partaking—By silence—By defence of the ill done.

Three Eminent good Works.

Prayer—Fasting—Almsgiving.

The Evangelical Counsels.

Voluntary Poverty—Chastity—Obedience.

The Four Last Things to be Remembered.

Death—Judgment—Hell—Heaven.

Subjects for Daily Meditation.

Remember, Christian soul, that thou hast this day, and every day of thy life—

• God to glorify,
• Jesus to imitate,
• The Angels and Saints to invoke,
• A soul to save,
• A body to mortify,
• Sins to expiate,
• Virtues to acquire,
• Hell to avoid,
• Heaven to gain,
• Eternity to prepare for,
• Time to profit by,
• Neighbors to edify,
• The world to despise,
• Devils to combat,
• Passions to subdue,
• Death perhaps to suffer,
• And Judgment to undergo.

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Lay Baptism.

PROVIDED an infant is in danger of dying before a Priest can be procured, any other person, whether man, woman, or child, may baptize it in the following manner:

While pouring common water on the head or face of the infant, pronounce the words:

I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

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