and is a gift of God. Catholics who are convinced that they possess the true Faith, should frequently thank Almighty God that He has so blessed them and should show their gratitude by striving to interest others in their religion. The convert to the true Faith, also especially blessed by God, should show his appreciation by making an effort to share it with his non-Catholic friends.
Both the Catholic and the non-Catholic, while exercising an apostolate for the cause of Christ and of souls, should pray daily that God may draw to Himself those who are near and dear to them. If they are prayed for in this way, indifferent Catholics will be best impelled by God’s grace to take a greater interest in their religion, and non-Catholics will become better disposed to hearken to the voice of God’s Church.
An inquiry into the claims of the Catholic Church, such as you are about to make, results in the conversion of nearly 100,000 citizens of the United States every year, or approximately 250 every day.
Despite the prejudices in which so many have been reared, despite the stricter religious discipline under which Catholics must live, the Catholic Church grows faster than all other churches combined.
As you continue your inquiry you will learn that the Catholic religion claims to be essentially different from others — because it is divine in origin, divine in character, divine in its means of sanctification.
Your instructor will probably question you from the Baltimore Catechism, but if you master this book, which, I believe, you will find extremely interesting, you will be able, in your own words, to answer practically all questions contained in that Catechism.
The author is greatly indebted to the Rev. L. J. Fallon, C.M., of Saint Louis, for the interest he has shown in this work, and for the supervision he has long been exercising over Instructions by Correspondence.
The author feels equally indebted to the Daughters of Isabella who, as a national organization, have contributed most generous funds for the furtherance of the work initiated by Father Fallon.
Praying God’s blessing on all who seek, through this book, to learn Him better and to love Him more, and asking their prayers in return, I am
Yours in Christ,
John Francis Noll, D.D., LL.D.
Part I
God’s Church and Her Teachings
“I will build my Church.” — Mt 16:18
“The Church of the living God, the pillar and mainstay of the truth.” — 1 Tm 3:15
“If he refuse to hear even the Church, let him be to thee as the heathen and the publican.” — Mt 18:17
“He who hears you, hears me.” — Lk 10:16
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations … and behold, I am with you all days, even unto the consummation of the world.” — Mt 28:19-20
“He is the head of his body, the Church.” — Col 1:18
“So we, the many, are one body in Christ.” — Rom 12:5
“As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remain on the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me.” — Jn 15:4
“I persecuted the Church of God.” — Gal 1:13
“Why dost thou persecute me?” — Acts 9:4-5
Getting Acquainted
Mr. Jackson. Good evening, Reverend.
Father Smith. Good evening; come in. What can I do for you?
Mr. J. My name is Jackson. I came to see you about taking instructions in the Catholic religion, if you have the time.
Father S. Certainly I have the time; and if I didn’t, I would try to make it. Instruction is an important part of my work. If I am frank with my explanations and you are equally frank with your observations and questions, our conversations should be interesting. Just a few questions first. Have you ever been baptized?
Mr. J. No, Sir.
Father S. Have you been reared in any religion?
Mr. J. No, Sir.
Father S. Are you going with one of our Catholic girls?
Mr. J. No, Sir; at least not yet. But I am impressed by the age, the bigness of the Catholic Church, and by the religious unity among its people.
Father S. Well, that means that you are not prejudiced as many are.
Mr. J. I try, Sir, to have an open mind. Pardon me for forgetting to address you with your proper title. You know, I am not accustomed to addressing a priest.
Father S. That’s all right. Do you happen to know why Catholics call their priests “Father”?
Mr. J. No, I do not, although I heard a Catholic friend give a good answer to a non-Catholic, who contended that the priest had no right to that name.
Father S. What was the answer?
Mr. J. Well, the non-Catholic quoted Christ as saying: “Call no man ‘Father,’ ” and the Catholic answered: “What do you call your ‘Dad’?”
Father S. That was more than a clever comeback. Saint Paul furnishes the principal reason why the priest is called “Father”: “For in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel, did I beget you” (1 Cor 4:15). The priest’s office is like that of Saint Paul — he is an instrument in God’s hands for the imparting of a new kind of life, a supernatural life, to the soul, just as the parent whom you call “Father,” was God’s instrument for giving natural life to you. God is the principal agent in both instances, and that is what Christ meant when He said: “One is your Father, who is in heaven” (Mt 23:9). The priest’s very purpose in life is to serve the spiritual needs of his parish, just as a father does the temporal needs of his family, and hence merits the title “Father.”
Mr. J. Father, since we have touched on this subject, would you mind giving the Church’s reasons for requiring her priests to remain single? Understand me: if I asked you why you are not married, you might tell me that it is “none of my business,” but I suppose it’s legitimate for me to ask why the great body of Catholic priests does not marry. Non-Catholics do not understand this requirement of your Church.
Father S. I shall gladly explain it. You will understand this demand of the Church better after you become familiar with the real nature of God’s Church and the office of the priest. He is more than a mere preacher of the gospel. He is dedicated to God by a special consecration; he may never be anything else; he regards himself as specially called by God from entanglements with the world and human ties. In the words of Saint Paul: “Every high priest taken from among men, is appointed for men in the things pertaining to God, that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sins” (Heb 5:1). He is ordained for men, and hence his time, his talents, his life should
