CATECHISM

Q. What is Confession?
A. Confession is to accuse ourselves of our sins to a priest approved by the Bishop.
Confession. To make known our sins. We are bound to confess all our mortal sins.
To accuse ourselves. To lay the blame on ourselves: to tell our sins; to acknowledge, as
from an inferior to a superior. We must make our confession humbly, truthfully, and
briefly.
 
Q. What if a person wilfully conceals a serious sin in confession?
A. If a person wilfully conceals a serious sin in confession he is guilty of a great sacrilege, by telling
a lie to the Holy Spirit in making a bad confession.
Conceal. To keep secret; to hide completely.

Q. How many things have we to do in order to prepare for confession?
A. We have four things to do in order to prepare for confession: first, we must heartily pray for
grace to make a good confession; secondly, we must carefully examine our conscience; thirdly,
we must take time and care to make a good act of contrition; and fourthly, we must resolve by
the help of God to renounce our sins, and to begin a new life for the future.

Q. What is satisfaction?
A. Satisfaction is doing the penance given us by the priest.
Satisfaction. Making atonement or payment for; repairing a wrong done. The penance
given by the priest in confession usually consists in the saying of some particular prayers
or doing some good work. The guilt of sin and its eternal punishment are taken away by
a good confession; the temporal punishment may be taken away by performing the
penance given by the priest, by prayer, fasting, alms-deeds and Indulgences.

Q. Does the penance given by the priest always make full satisfaction for our sins?
A. The penance given by the priest does not always make full satisfaction for our sins. We should
therefore add to it other good works and penances, and try to gain Indulgences.

Q. What is an Indulgence?
A. An Indulgence is a remission, granted by the Church, of the temporal punishment which often
remains due to sin after its guilt has been forgiven.
Indulgence. A releasing or letting off from punishment. There are two kinds of
Indulgences:
1. plenary, when the whole of the punishment is remitted or forgiven;
2. partial, when only part of the temporal punishment is taken away.
Conditions for gaining an Indulgence are
1. the person seeking it must be a Catholic;
2. he must have the intention of gaining it;
3. he must be in a state of grace;
4. he must perform the necessary good works ordered for gaining it.
V. Anointing of the Sick

Q. What is the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick?
A. This Sacrament is the anointing of the sick with holy oil, accompanied with prayer.
Anointing of the Sick. Formerly called the Extreme Unction.
Outward sign. The matter consists of oil of olives blessed by a Bishop; the form consists
of the words used by the priest whilst anointing the sick person: ‘By this holy anointing,
and of His own most tender mercy, may the Lord forgive thee whatever thou hast
committed by thy sight’. The eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth, hands, and feet are each
anointed, and the form of words repeated, except in cases of urgent necessity, when one
form of words is sufficient for all.
Effects. Comforts the soul; cleanses the soul from venial sin; takes away guilt of unknown
mortal sins which have not been forgiven in any other way; increases habitual grace;
restores health where God sees it to be desirable.
Institution. Used in the time of the Apostles, according to St James (v. 14, 15): ‘Is any one
sick among you,’ etc.
Minister. Each priest in his own parish.
Anointing. Pouring or rubbing oil on anything.

Q. When is the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick given?
A. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is given when we are in danger of death by sickness.

Q. What are the effects of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick?
A. The effects of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick are to comfort and strengthen the soul,
to remit sin, and even to restore health, when God sees it to be expedient.
Expedient. When it is fit.

Q. What authority is there in Scripture for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick?
A. The authority in Scripture for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is in the 5th chapter of
St. James, where it is said: ‘Is any one sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the
Church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the
prayer of faith shall save the sick man; and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he be in sins they
shall be forgiven him’. James 5:14-15