Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/22

 doctrine, her  communion,  her  orders,  and  her  mission,  by  an uninterrupted  succession  from  the  Apostles  of  Christ.

8. With  this  Catholic  Church,  the  Scriptures,  both  of  the Old and  New  Testament,  were  deposited  by  the  Apostles; she is,  in  her  pastors,  the  guardian  and  interpreter  of  them, and the  judge  of  all  controversies  relating  to  them. These Scriptures, thus  interpreted,  together  with  the  traditions  of the  Apostles,  are  to  be  received  and  admitted  by  all  Christians for the  rate  of  their  faith  and  practice.

We roust  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  has  instituted in  his Church seven  sacraments,  or  mysterious  signs  and  instrumental causes  of  divine  grace  in  our  souls. Baptism, by  way  of  a new  birth,  by  which  we  are  made  children  of  God,  and  washed from sin. Confirmation, by  which  we  receive  the  Holy  Ghost, by the  imposition  of  the  hands  of  the  successors  of  the  Apostles; Acts viii. The blessed  Eucharist,  which  feeds  and nourishes our  souls  with  the  body  and  blood  of  'Christ,  really present under  the  forms  of  bread  and  wine,  or  under  either  of them. Penance, by  which  penitent  sinners  are  absolved  from their sins,  by  virtue  of  the  commission  given  by  Christ  to  his ministers; St. John xx.,  and  St. Matt, xviii. Extreme Unction, which  wipes  away  the  remains  of  sin,  and  arms  the  soul with the  grace  of  God  in  the  time  of  sickness;  St. James v. Holy  Orders,  by  which  the  ministers  of  God  are  consecrated. And Matrimony,  which,  as  a  sacred  sign  of  the  indissoluble union of  Christ  and  his  Church,  unites  the  married  couple  in a  holy  band,  and  imparts  a  grace  to  them  suitable  to  that state; Eph. v.

10. We  must  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  has  also  instituted the great  Eucharistic  Sacrifice  of  his  body  and  blood  in  remembrance of  his  death  and  passion. In this  sacrifice  he  is mystically  immolated  every  day  upon  our  altars,  being  himself both priest  and  victim. This sacrifice  is  the  principal  worship of the  new  law,  in  which,  and  by  which,  we  unite  ourselves  to Jesus  Christ,  and  with  him  and  through  him  we  adore  God m spirit  and  truth,  give  him  thanks  for  all  his  blessings,  obtain his  grace  for  ourselves  and  the  whole  world,  und  pardon for all  our  sins,  and  those  of  the  living  and  the  dead.

11. We  must  believe  that  there  is,  in  the  Catholic  or  universal Church  of  God,  a  communion  of  saints,  by  means  of which we  communicate  with  all  holy  ones  and  in  all  holy things. We communicate  with  the  saints  in  heaven,  as  out fellow-members under  the  same  head,  Christ  Jesus;  we  give