Lesson First of the Baltimore Catechism No. 2 establishes the end, or purpose, of man. All things have a purpose; our purpose is seen in our creation in the image and likeness of God. Our souls share in the immortality of God and find their rest in Him.
Our life in this world is aimed first at the salvation of our souls in the next. Christ, by His life, death, and resurrection, brought salvation to a world fallen as the result of the sin of Adam and Eve. The Church that Christ established safeguards the truths that God has revealed.
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A. God is the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things.
A. Man is a creature composed of body and soul, and made to the image and likeness of God.
A. This likeness is chiefly in the soul.
A. The soul is like God because it is a spirit that will never die, and has understanding and free will.
A. God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.
A. We must take more care of our soul than of our body.
A. We must take more care of our soul than of our body, because in losing our soul we lose God and everlasting happiness.
A. To save our souls we must worship God by faith, hope, and charity; that is, we must believe in Him, hope in Him, and love Him with all our heart.
A. We shall know the things which we are to believe from the Catholic Church, through which God speaks to us.
A. We shall find the chief truths which the Church teaches in the Apostles' Creed.
A. 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, and 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.
