A Complete Catechism of the Catholic Religion
Fr. Joseph Deharbe, SJ
This month on This is Catholicism, we welcome guest Father Nicolás Despósito and host Father Germán Fliess, seminary professors at Most Holy Trinity Seminary in Brooksville, Florida.
On the Three Divine Persons: The doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity is most important; for it is the principal and fundamental doctrine of Christianity, insomuch that to reject it would be to deny the Christian Faith.
On the Creation and Government of the World: God created, made out of nothing — the whole world, the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them.
A Complete Catechism of the Catholic Religion by Father Joseph Deharbe, S.J. was originally written in German, was very popular in the 19th century, and was translated into English. Bishop Donald Sanborn finds the Deharbe Catechism to be the most complete to convert and instruct people in the Catholic Faith.
Part I On Faith (continued)
Chapter II. Chief Truths of Faith
The First Article
'I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.’
Continuation:
§ 2. On the Three Divine Persons.
'I believe in God the Father.'
33. Why do we say, ‘I believe in God the "Father"’?
34. How many Persons are, then, in God?
35. Is each one of the three Persons God?
36. Why are the three Persons but one God?
37. Is any one of these Persons older, or more powerful, than the others?
38. Is there, then, no distinction at all between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost?
39. How are the three Divine Persons distinct from one another?
40. But if the Son is begotten of the Father, and the Holy Ghost proceeds from both, why, then, is none of the Divine Persons older than the others?
41. Why is the Father called the 'first,' the Son the 'second,' and the Holy Ghost the 'third' Person?
42. What works are principally attributed to each of the three Divine Persons?
43. What do we call the mystery of one God in three Persons?
44. Can we comprehend this mystery?
45. Is the doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity also important to us?
§ 3. On the Creation and Government of the World.
'Creator of Heaven and earth.'
46. Why is God called 'Creator of Heaven and earth'?
47. How has God created the whole world?
48. Did God create the world because He needed it?
49. If God needs nothing besides Himself, why did He create other beings?
50. Did, then, God create the world for His creatures?
51. What does God still do, that the world which He has created may not return into its original nothing?
52. How does God preserve the world?
53. How does God govern the world?
54. What do we call this supreme care of God in preserving and governing the world?
55. But if God orders and directs all things in the world, why, then, is there so much evil done? Does He will it?
56. And if God takes care of all things, why are we subject to so many sufferings?
57. But why does God often permit the wicked to prosper, whilst evil befalls the good?
58. How ought we to receive the sufferings that come upon us?
Episode Notes:
The text is available in the public domain for free online as a PDF. Used copies and reprint versions can still be found and purchased.
“A Complete Catechism of the Catholic Religion” by Father Joseph Deharbe SJ on Archive.org.
Show Sponsor: The Australian Catholic Mission
Original Air Date: August 31, 2015
Show Run Time: 1 hour 9 minutes
Show Guest(s): Father Nicolás Despósito
Show Host(s): Father Germán Fliess
Season 4 Sponsor:
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