Contents With Summaries of the Chapters Foreword by the Most Rev. Richard Downey, D.D., Ph.D., LL.D, Archbishop of Liverpool
1. ABOUT GOD
God Exists—What God has told us—The problem of evil Evolution—We must love God—God's claims—Our duty.
2. WHAT IS MAN?
The Human Soul—Man has a spiritual soul—The soul is immortal—What does Scripture say?—The value of the soul We are free—What does life mean?
3. THE NECESSITY OF RELIGION
Definition of Religion—What Religion implies—The practice of Religion—The need for Religion—Religion is a duty Morality needs Religion—Some false notions—Public worship—Religion supremely important.
4. THE SOURCES OF FAITH
The Church and the Bible—Catholicism now the greatest defender of the inspiration of the Bible—Gospels are authentic—The Gospels are true history—The Gospels are still complete and unchanged—The Bible is the inspired word of God—Facts about the Bible—Texts and versions The Bible is not the only rule of Faith—Tradition.
5. PRAYER
The reasonableness of prayer—The necessity of prayer Christ's teaching and example—The conditions of prayer Unanswered prayers—The practice of prayer—What is prayer? Vocal prayer—Mental prayer.
6. WHAT IS FAITH
The duty of belief—Faith defined and explained—What must be believed—Qualities of Faith—The convert's first act of Faith—Faith is God's gift.
7. SIN
Definition of Sin—Conscience—Sin in Scripture—The horror of sin—The divisions of sin—Original sin—Its effects in Adam and ourselves—Proof of original sin Mortal sin—Conditions for mortal sin—Venial sin.
8. THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD
(1) The Ten Commandments—The First Commandment Sins against Faith—Dangers to Faith—Sins against Hope Sins against Religion—Statues—Spiritualism—Sacrilege Simony—Angels, Saints, relics.
9. THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD (2) The Second Commandment—Oaths, Vows—Blasphemy Cursing—Profane words—The Third Commandment Keeping the Sunday holy—The Fourth Commandment Love, reverence and obedience for parents—Duties toward pastors and civil authorities—Duties of parents toward their children—Secret societies: Freemasonry, Oddfellows, Communism—The Fifth Commandment—The taking of life Other sins.
10. THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD (3) 85 The Sixth Commandment—Catholic attitude toward sex God's purpose in marriage—Why be pure?—Sins of impurity Looks, words, action—Causes of impurity—Remedies Impure thoughts—The Ninth Command
11. THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD (4) 93 The Seventh Commandment—The right to private ownership Ways of sinning against the Seventh Commandment Restitution—The gravity of theft—The Eighth Commandment What it forbids—Lies—Calumny—Detraction—Tale-bearing Contumely—Betraying secrets.
12. THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY TRINITY
Mysteries—The Trinity revealed—Explanation—The Trinity and ourselves—Sharing in the Divine Nature—Supernatural Life—Sons of God—Temples of God—Grace.
13. BELIEF IN JESUS CHRIST
Summary of the doctrine—Jesus Christ is true God—Christ foretold—The character of Christ—The power of Christ The claims of Christ—Christ foretold the future—The Resurrection—Miracles.
14. REDEMPTION
One Person, two Natures—The Hypostatic Union Atonement—The Sacrifice of Christ.
15. WHY ORGANIZED RELIGION? (1)
Different ideas of "church"—Christ founded a visible, organized Church—All must belong to Christ's Church— believe in the Holy Catholic Church—The marks of the Church—Unity—Universality—A miracle—The history of mankind is the study of difference—Men continuously aim at unity but never attain it—World unity is not in nature—The Catholic Church is one in doctrine, worship and government She is universal in doctrine, constitution and in fact—The combination of unity and universality defies natural explanation.
16. WHY ORGANIZED RELIGION? (2)
The holiness of the Church—Holiness of doctrine—Means of holiness—The holiness of members of the Church Miracles—Apostolicity—Apostolic in mission—Apostolic in Character—Apostolic in teaching—Apostolic in descent The Reformation—Conclusion.
17. THE SUPREMACY OF THE POPE (1)
The need for authority—The teaching of the Church—St. Peter in the Gospels: his name is changed—Peter and Christ Promise of primacy—Rock—Gates of Hell—Keys—Binding and loosing—The primacy conferred—The metaphor of the shepherd.
18. THE SUPREMACY OF THE POPE (2)
Peter in the Acts of the Apostles—Peter at Rome—The Bishops of Rome recognized as Vicars of Christ, Letter of St. Clement—Ignatius and Abercius—The Easter controversy St. Irenaeus—Other writers—Papal supremacy is reasonable.
19. INFALLIBILITY
Summary of Catholic teaching—A divine Church needs a divine guarantee—The Infallibility of the Church is reasonable—Infallibility of the Church in Scripture Tradition—Infallibility of the Pope: Meaning and extent Papal infallibility in Scripture—The evidence of Tradition How infallibility is exercised.
20. THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH
The Church's right to command—The Six Commandments The First Commandment of the Church—Extent of the obligation to attend Mass—Excuses for missing Mass Servile work—Holydays of Obligation—The Second Commandment of the Church—The necessity of penance Fasting and abstinence—Former (Traditional) Penitential Days—The Third Commandment of the Church—Annual Confession—The Fourth Commandment of the Church Easter Communion—The Fifth Commandment of the Church—Supporting our pastors—The Church and money The Sixth Commandment of the Church—Marriage impediments.
21. THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST
The Church an organism—The Vine and the branches—The Head and the members—Meaning of the metaphors Dangers and illustrations—The meaning of "mystical" Cells of Christ—Christ's other self—Christ in the Church today—Obligations.
22. THE SACRAMENTAL SYSTEM
Channels of spiritual life—What makes a Sacrament (outward sign, inward grace, institution by Christ)—The Sacraments named—Christ instituted seven Sacraments Why seven?—Matter and form—Character—Sacraments of the living and the dead.
23. BAPTISM
Men are destined to be sons of God—Sanctifying grace, a new life—Baptism, birth to a new life—The solemn teaching of the Church—Definition of Baptism—Institution by Christ—Methods of administration—Immersion is unnecessary The administration of Baptism—The necessity of Baptism The Baptism of desire; Baptism of blood—Infant Baptism.
24. CONFIRMATION
Purpose and definition of Confirmation—The minister—Who may be confirmed?—Anointing with Chrism—Institution by Christ—Confirmation in Scripture—Confirmation in Tradition The effects of Confirmation—The Gifts of the Holy Ghost The Fruits of the Holy Ghost.
25. THE HOLY EUCHARIST
(1) The sixth chapter of St. John—Christ's promise must be accepted literally—The Last Supper—The meaning of the words of institution—The Real Presence has always been believed—The Didache—St. Ignatius—St. Justin—Other evidence of the Real Presence—The significance of the Real Presence—The Blessed Sacrament is God.
26. THE HOLY EUCHARIST
(2) Christ is really present—Substance and accidents Transubstantiation—How Christ is present—Why Christ is present—Food for our souls—Union with Christ—Further effects of Holy Communion—Frequent Communion is desirable—Preparation and thanksgiving—Further practical points.
27. HOLY MASS—THE EUCHARISTIC SACRIFICE
Sacrifice—The Christian sacrifice—Melchisedech and Malachias—The Last Supper—St. Paul—Tradition—Holy Mass, Calvary re-enacted—The objects for which Mass is offered—Vestments—The ceremonies of Holy Mass How to assist at Mass.
28. THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
(1) Catholic doctrine—Christ passed on the power to forgive sin—The evidence of Scripture—The evidence of Tradition Effects of the Sacrament—Jurisdiction or "Faculties" Contrition and purpose of amendment—Perfect and imperfect contrition—Confession was imposed by Christ—Confession in the Christian Tradition.
29. THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
(2) Integrity—Examination of conscience—Frequent Confession is recommended—The method of Confession—General Confession—Satisfaction—Absolution—The Seal of Confession—Confession, a great gift of God.
30. THE CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD
Holy Orders defined—Christ founded a visible, perpetual priesthood—Priestly power is conferred by a sacramental rite Major and minor orders—Celibacy—Anglican Orders—The world's debt—The Church and science—Respect for priests.
31. EXTREME UNCTION [ANOINTING OF THE SICK] AND INDULGENCES
The Sacrament of Extreme Unction defined—Extreme Unction in Scripture—The evidence of Tradition—Matter, Form, Effects, Minister—Who may be anointed?—The necessity of Extreme Unction—Indulgences—Guilt and satisfaction The Treasury of the Church—The Church can remit satisfaction Indulgence defined—Plenary and partial Indulgences—The conditions for gaining Indulgences—Acts carrying a Plenary Indulgence—Acts carrying a Partial Indulgence—The value of Indulgences.