IMPRIMATUR

New York, April 6, 1885.  John Cardinal McCloskey, Archbishop of New York.

Baltimore, April 6, 1885.  “The Catechism ordered by The Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, having been diligently compared and examined, is hereby approved.” + James Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, Apostolic Delegate.

{Transcriber’s Note:  This book is commonly known as “The Baltimore Catechism No. 1” and is part of a four volume e-text collection.  See the author’s note to Baltimore Catechism No. 3 for the background and purpose of the series.  Please note that there are gaps in the numbering, and some questions are out of order, because Catechism No. 1 is essentially an abridgement of Catechism No. 2.  There are also minor phrasing differences in some of the questions and answers of this text compared with No. 2.  This e-text collection is substantially based on files generously provided by http://www.catholic.net/ with some missing material transcribed and added for this release.  Transcriber’s notes in this series are placed within braces, and usually prefixed “T.N.:".}

PRAYERS

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name:  Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us:  and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Amen.

THE ANGELICAL SALUTATION

Hail Mary, full of grace! the Lord is with thee:  blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified:  died, and was buried.  He descended into hell:  the third day He arose again from the dead:  He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

THE CONFITEOR

I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary, ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.  Therefore, I beseech blessed Mary, ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me.