Upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Head Corner Stone.

In a Church built with hands, what is the first thing that is done?

The foundation or corner-stone is laid.

Yes, and so it is that because Jesus was the Foundation of the Church for which He died, He is called the Chief Corner Stone. Who form the other stones?

All Christians.

What do we call the Church of Christ on earth?

The Church militant.

What does militant mean?

Fighting.

How long will the Church on earth have to fight her battle? Unto the end of the world.

What do her members (for you must always remember that they are the living stones of the Church) fight for?

For holiness; for the Church militant here on earth must be holy, each one of us her members must strive to be pure and good and true if we would rank amongst the saints of the Church triumphant in heaven.

No. 2.-THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS.

Q. When we speak of a saint, what do we mean?
A. A holy person.

A living person or a dead person?

Both living and dead; for if people have not lived a holy life,—that is, the life of a saint in the Church militant,—they cannot attain to the glory of saints in the Church triumphant. What do we mean by the Communion of Saints?

The intercourse or fellowship which saints on earth and saints in Paradise have with the Blessed Trinity and with each other. Can you explain this a little more fully?

In Holy Baptism we are made one with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; in the Blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, the Triune Life is strengthened and made perfect; then death comes, and death does not quench this life; on the contrary, it brings us near to the Three in One. To die and be with Christ is far better than to live. What, then, do you argue from this?

That as the saints in Paradise are one with their Lord, and as He by His Sacrament has made us one with Him, it must be that we are one with each other.

Do we pray to the saints for pardon, and do we ask from them the gift of eternal life?

No; only, because they have battled and fought and won the promised rest, we ask them to pray to God for us, that He, through Jesus Christ, the One Mediator between God and man, may let us be with the blessed company who have gone before into the land of light.

In what words does the Church teach us in her office for the Holy Eucharist to express our belief in the Communion of Saints?

"Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious Name," etc., etc.

No. 3.-THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

Q. Who alone can forgive sins?

A. God.

And who took away the guilt and stain of sin from our souls? Jesus Christ.

How did He do this?

By His death.

We call Him our Redeemer; what is the meaning of to

redeem?

To buy back.

What was to be the penalty of our sin?
Death.

How was God's pardon obtained for us?

First, by the Incarnation. Jesus took upon Him our flesh, and lived His Incarnate Life to show men how to live. Secondly, by the Crucifixion. He died that we might live.

How are we made heirs of this great gift of pardon?
By Holy Baptism.

What do we say in the Nicene Creed?

"I believe in one baptism for the remission of sins."

What does our Lord say upon this subject?

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved " (S. Mark

xvi. 16).

What is necessary to the forgiveness of sin?

Repentance, heartfelt sorrow for sin.

And what is the outcome of sorrow?

Confession and reparation.

What do you mean by this?

That if we have injured any one by word or deed, we should tell them we are sorry, and ask them to forgive us, even as we hope that God will pardon our offences and accept our repentance.

We are therefore to confess our sins not only to God, but to man; and then what great blessing is given us?

The blessing of absolution.

What do you mean by absolution?

The words of pardon or remission of sin which God's priest pronounces, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, because we have truly repented. He tells us that through the Precious Blood of Jesus, our sins, which were as scarlet, shall be made white as snow.

Who gave this power to God's priests to forgive the penitent sinner?

Jesus Christ Himself. Just before His ascension He breathed on His apostles, and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained" (S. John xx. 22, 23). And so the power given to them has been with their successors, the Ministers of the Gospel, even until now, and will remain so long as the world lasts; for He says, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (S. Matt. xxviii. 20).