The pastoral diligence of the Bishop of Rome, etc. Therefore, etc. We have ordered a New Book of Christian Teaching, written by our beloved Son Robert Bellarmine, Priest of the Society of Jesus, by our order, to be issued and printed, etc. WE EXHORT in the Lord, the venerable Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops and beloved sons, their Vicars, as well as Abbots, and all Pastors wherever they exist, and all to whom this concerns, that as far as is in their power, to accept and use the mentioned Book of Christian Teaching, (as said) approved, and published by our order, to see to it and ensure that it is both received and used in all Churches, Dioceses, and Parishes, each in particular belonging to them, etc. Without regard, etc.

Given in Ferrara, under the Fisherman’s Ring, on July 15, 1598, in the seventh year of Our Pontificate.

MARCELLUS VESTRIUS BARBIANUS.

When teaching the Christian Doctrine, two main things must be kept in mind:

1. Necessity, that is, what everyone must necessarily know for salvation.
2. Capacity, that is, how well those we are teaching can understand.

Regarding necessity: everyone needs, and must necessarily know, at least the following four things:

1. The Apostles’ Creed, so that they know what they must believe.
2. The Lord’s Prayer and the Angelic Salutation, that is, the Our Father and the Hail Mary; so that they know what they should hope for, from whom they should hope for it, and to whom they should turn to obtain what they must hope for. Although knowledge of the Apostles’ Creed is first in order, we do not condemn the custom of teaching small children the Our Father and Hail Mary before the Creed, which is longer and harder to memorize.
3. The Ten Commandments of God, as well as the Commandments of the Church: for both sets of commandments bind everyone, and serve all in order to know what to do and what not to do, in accordance with the love of God and love of neighbor.
4. The Seven Sacraments, which are the means instituted by God for the remission of sins, and for the acquisition, preservation, and increase in us of God’s grace and Heavenly Gifts, namely Faith, Hope, and Love.

The Catechism composed by order of the Council of Trent, which undoubtedly carries the highest authority, contains only the explanation of these four things. It seems, however, that some other points can be profitably added, such as: the principal Virtues, which are the sources of good deeds; the Works of Mercy most pleasing to God; Sins which, according to the expression of Sacred Scripture, cry out for vengeance to God; the Evangelical Counsels; the Four Last Things of Man; and the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

As for other matters, it is better to remain silent in this introductory Catechism; for they are either too difficult or not very useful, burdening the memory, and not even memorized by the learned. Moreover, some matters are those that children and the uneducated must learn by heart; others are those that need to be known and understood by those who teach them the Christian Doctrine. Therefore, we will first write out all that needs to be memorized; then we will set out a more extensive exposition of the Christian Doctrine, intended specifically for those who are to teach it, and yet accessible to everyone’s understanding.

Prayer before catechetical instruction

In the Name of the Father † and of the Son † and of the Holy Spirit † Amen.
We implore You, Lord, go before us with Your inspiration and support us with Your help, so that all our prayer and work may always begin from You and through You reach completion. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
In the Name of the Father † and of the Son † and of the Holy Spirit † Amen.

Prayer after catechetical instruction

In the Name of the Father † and of the Son † and of the Holy Spirit † Amen.

We give You thanks, Almighty God, for all Your benefits. You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

In the Name of the Father † and of the Son † and of the Holy Spirit † Amen.

Are you a Christian?
I am, by the grace of God.

What does it mean to be a Christian?
It means to profess the Faith and the Law of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On what does the Faith of Christ mainly depend?
On two principal Mysteries contained in the sign of the Holy Cross; the first is the Oneness and Trinity of God; the second is the Incarnation and Death of our Savior.

What does the Oneness and Trinity of God mean?
The Oneness and Trinity of God means that in God there is only one Divinity, that is, one being and nature of God; which nevertheless exists in Three Divine Persons: these are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Why are these Three Persons one and the same God?
Because they share one and the same essence, one and the same omnipotence, one and the same wisdom, and one and the same goodness.

What does the Incarnation and Death of our Savior mean?
The Incarnation and Death of our Savior means that the Son of God, that is, the second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, became Man and died on the Cross for our salvation.

How are these two Mysteries contained in the sign of the Holy Cross?
In this way: we make the sign of the Holy Cross by first placing the right hand on our forehead and saying, In the Name of the Father; then on the chest saying, and of the Son; and finally on the shoulder, first left then right, saying, and of the Holy Spirit.

How is the first Mystery, that is, the Mystery of the Holy Trinity, expressed here?
In such a way that the phrase “In the Name” signifies Oneness, while the other words signify Threeness.

How is the second Mystery, that is, the Mystery of the Incarnation, expressed in the sign of the Holy Cross?
In that this sign of the † Cross signifies the Death of the Savior, who, having become Man, showed us the way to salvation by teaching, example, and miracles, and died on the wood of the Holy Cross.

What is the rule of Faith?
The rule of Faith is the Apostles’ Creed, which we commonly call the “I believe in God.”

Recite the Apostles’ Creed.
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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints. The forgiveness of sins. The resurrection of the body. And life everlasting. Amen.

Who composed this Creed?
The Twelve Apostles; and for this reason, it is divided into twelve Articles.

What do these twelve Articles contain?
They contain everything we must necessarily and specifically believe about God and about His Bride, the Church: the first eight Articles refer to God, and the last four to the Holy Church.

Explain the first Article of the Apostles’ Creed.
I firmly and unshakably believe in one God, who is by nature the Father of His only Son, and who, by grace, is the Father of all good Christians, who are thus called adopted children of God. He is also the Father of all things by creation. And this God is almighty because He can do all that He wills, and He created from nothing heaven and earth, with all that is in them, that is, the entire universe.

Explain the second Article.
I also believe in Jesus Christ, who is the only Son of the Father, begotten of Him eternally; and He is the eternal God, infinite, almighty, Creator and Lord of us and of all things, just as God the Father is.

Explain the third Article.
I believe that Jesus Christ is not only true God, but also true Man, for He took on human flesh in the womb of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit. And as in Heaven He was begotten of the Father without a mother, so on earth He was born of a Mother without a father.

Explain the fourth Article.
I believe that Jesus Christ, in order to redeem the world by His most precious Blood, suffered under Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judea; being scourged, crowned with thorns, and nailed to the Cross, on which He died, and from which, when taken down, He was buried in a new tomb.

Explain the fifth Article.
I believe that Jesus Christ, immediately after dying, descended in His soul to hell, that is, into the place where the souls of the holy Fathers awaited redemption; and on the third day, which fell on a Sunday, He rose from the dead in glory and triumph.

Explain the sixth Article.
I believe that after spending forty days with the Apostles to prove by many appearances His true Resurrection, Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven: there, exalted above all the Angelic Choirs, He sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty; that is, He is equal in glory to the Father, as Lord and Ruler of all creation.

Explain the seventh Article.
I believe that when the end of the world comes, Jesus Christ will come down from Heaven in the highest power and glory, and He will judge all people, giving each one the reward or punishment he deserves.

Explain the eighth Article.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, who is the Third Person of the Most Holy Trinity, proceeding from the Father and the Son, and equal to them in all and through all; that is, He is the Eternal, Infinite, Almighty God, Creator and Lord of all things, as God the Father and God the Son are.

Explain the ninth Article.
I also believe that there is one Holy Church, which is the Assembly of all the faithful Christians, that is, those who are baptized, who believe and profess the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, and who acknowledge the Pope as Christ’s Vicar on earth.

Why is the Church called Holy and Catholic?
It is called Holy because Christ the Lord, who is its Head, is holy; because among the members of the Church there are many Saints; because its Faith, Laws, and Sacraments are holy. It is called Catholic because it is universal; for the word “catholic” means universal.

What does “the communion of Saints” mean?
It means that all the members of the Church share in the prayers and good works of the entire Church.

Explain the tenth Article.
I believe that in the Church there is true forgiveness of sins through the Sacraments; and that by entering into the bosom of the Church, from being children of Satan condemned to hell, we become children of God and heirs of Heaven.

Explain the eleventh Article.
I believe that when the end of the world comes, the dead will rise in these same bodies they had in life, but healthy, youthful, and beautiful; and this through the power of God, for whom nothing is impossible.

Explain the last Article.
I believe that for good Christians there is eternal Life, full of every happiness and free from every evil; but, conversely, for unbelievers and for evil Christians, there is eternal death, filled with all misery and deprived of every good.

What does “Amen” mean?
It means, so it truly is.

Explanation of the Lord’s Prayer

Having explained all that we must believe, let us see whether you know what you must hope for, from whom, and to whom you must turn to obtain what you should hope for. Do you know the Lord’s Prayer, that is, the Our Father?
I do, and quite well, because it is the first thing I was taught by heart; every day, morning and evening, I recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Creed.

Say the Our Father.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen.

Who composed this prayer?
Our Lord Jesus Christ; and therefore it is the most perfect of all prayers.

What does this prayer contain?
Everything we should ask of God and everything we should hope for from Him. For this prayer consists of seven petitions, of which the first four ask for all that is good for us, and the last three ask God to deliver us from evil.
Regarding the good: first, we ask for God’s glory; second, for our highest good; third, for the grace to attain this good; fourth, for the means to acquire and preserve that grace.
Regarding evil: we ask that God deliver us, first, from past evil; second, from future evil; third, from present evil; that is, from every evil.

Explain the words preceding the first petition, that is, Our Father, who art in heaven.
These words make up the Introduction, which teaches us why we can dare to speak to so great a Lord, and have hope that He will hear us. We call Him our Father because He created us and adopted us as His children; hence we turn to Him as children to a Father. And by saying that He is in heaven, we recall that He is Lord of all things, and therefore able to answer us if He wills; and we hope He wills it, because He is our Father.

Explain the first petition.
In the first petition, we ask God that the whole world may know Him and properly honor and magnify His holy Name.

Explain the second petition.
In the second petition, we ask God that the Kingdom He promised may soon come: that is, that after we have finished our struggle with Satan, the world, and the flesh, we may attain eternal happiness, in which, free from any fear or hindrance, we shall reign with God.

Explain the third petition.
In the third petition, we ask God for the grace, by which we might be as perfectly obedient to His holy commandments as the Angels in heaven are. For the path to heaven is obedience to His commandments.

Explain the fourth petition.
In the fourth petition, we ask God for our daily bread, both spiritual (that is, the Word of God and the Sacraments) and bodily (that is, food and clothing). Indeed, the Word of God preached by Priests and contained in spiritual books, as well as the holy Sacraments, chiefly Confession and Communion, provided we receive them devoutly, are through their power the most effective means for acquiring, preserving, and increasing God’s grace, for which we pray in the third petition. And food and clothing are necessary for our temporal life in God’s service.

Explain the fifth petition.
In the fifth petition, we ask God to deliver us from past evil: that is, from the sins we have committed, by forgiving us both guilt and the punishment we deserve for our sins. Then we add the words “as we forgive those who trespass against us,” because it would be unjust to ask God to forgive our sins if we are unwilling to forgive those who sin against us, that is, those who offend or harm us; for our injuries, however great, are nothing compared to the offense we commit against God by sin.

Explain the sixth petition.
In the sixth petition, we ask God to free us from temptations, either by not allowing us to be tempted, or by giving us the strength to overcome them.

Explain the seventh petition.
In the seventh petition, we ask God to free us from present evil, that is, from every suffering and distress, and also from all worldly advantages and greatness if these might endanger the salvation of our souls.

We now move on to what we must do in order to love God and neighbor. Recite the Ten Commandments of God.
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
10. Neither his house, nor his field, nor his servant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is his.

Who gave these Commandments?
God Himself gave them in the Old Law, and Christ our Lord confirmed them in the New Law.

What do these Commandments contain?
Everything we must do and must not do in order to love God and neighbor. The first three Commandments teach us how we are to behave toward God in heart, in speech, and in deed; and the next seven teach us to do good for our neighbor, and not to harm him—neither in his person, nor in his reputation, nor in his property—whether by deed, by word, or even by thought. And the end of all the commandments is Love, which requires that man love God above all else, and his neighbor as himself.

Explain the first Commandment.
First, God declares that He is our true and supreme Lord; hence we must obey Him as diligently as possible. Then He commands that we have no other god but Him. All who give worship to creatures instead of giving worship to the Creator violate this Commandment.

Explain the second Commandment.
The second Commandment forbids blasphemy, which is the gravest sin; perjury, as well as needless oaths; the breaking of vows; and all other insults against God that may be committed in speech.

Explain the third Commandment.
The third Commandment commands the keeping of holy days, which consists in refraining from servile work so that we may have time to reflect on God’s blessings, to visit churches, to pray, to do spiritual reading, to listen to God’s word, and to perform similar devout and holy works.

Explain the fourth Commandment.
The fourth Commandment obliges us to honor our Father and Mother not only in words and manner, but also with service and support in all their needs. What is said of Father and Mother also applies, though to a lesser degree, to other neighbors, though not to the same extent as to the Father and Mother who gave us life and raised us with great care and not little effort.

Explain the fifth Commandment.
The fifth Commandment commands that we neither kill anyone unjustly nor do any harm to their person. I say “unjustly,” because judges who condemn criminals to death, and executioners who carry out the death sentence, as well as soldiers in a just war who wound and kill, do not sin.

Explain the sixth Commandment.
The sixth Commandment forbids adultery, fornication, and all unchaste and impure sins.

Explain the seventh Commandment.
The seventh Commandment orders us not to take another’s property: neither secretly, which is called theft, nor openly, which is called robbery; nor by deceit in buying, selling, and other contracts; and that in no way may we wrong our neighbor in his possessions.

Explain the eighth Commandment.
The eighth Commandment forbids bearing false witness, slander, lying, flattery, grumbling, and all harm or damage done to one’s neighbor by speech.

Explain the last two Commandments.
In the last two Commandments, God enjoins that no one should covet either another man’s wife or anything else belonging to him. For God, who sees our hearts, wants us to be pure and holy not only in our deeds, but also in our thoughts and feelings, so that we may be truly and entirely righteous.

How many Commandments has the Holy Church added to God’s Commandments, and what are they?
There are six of them, and they are as follows:
1. Attend Holy Mass on Sundays and on solemn feast days.
2. Fast during the forty-day fast called Lent; on the prescribed Vigils of great Feasts; and on the Ember Days, which occur four times a year. Moreover, abstain from meat on Fridays and Saturdays.
3. Confess at least once a year.
4. Receive Holy Communion, that is, the Most Holy Sacrament, at least during the Easter season.
5. Pay tithes to the Church.
6. Do not contract marriage during forbidden times, that is, from the First Sunday of Advent until Epiphany, and from Ash Wednesday until Low Sunday, inclusive.

Besides God’s Commandments and the Church’s Commandments, which everyone is obliged to observe, are there any Counsels pertaining to Christian perfection?
There are three Counsels given by Our Lord Jesus Christ for those who wish to attain Christian perfection.

What are these Counsels?
Voluntary Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience in all that is not sin.

We have already spoken about all that we must believe, what we must hope for, and what we must do. It remains for us to speak about the Sacraments, through which we obtain God’s grace.
How many Sacraments are there?
Seven.
1. Baptism.
2. Confirmation.
3. The Body and Blood of the Lord.
4. Penance.
5. Extreme Unction (Anointing with Holy Oil).
6. Holy Orders.
7. Matrimony.

Who instituted the Sacraments?
Our Lord Jesus Christ.

What effects does Holy Baptism produce?
Through Holy Baptism, a person becomes a child of God and an heir of Heaven; Baptism removes all sins and fills the soul with grace and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

What effects does Confirmation produce?
Confirmation strengthens the Christian so that he may bravely profess the Faith of our Savior; and thus it makes us true soldiers of Christ.

What effects does the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord produce?
The Body and Blood of the Lord is the nourishment that sustains and increases love, which is the life of the soul; hence it is given to us under the form of bread and wine. Yet what appears to be bread and wine is not actually bread and wine, but the true Body and Blood of Christ the Lord under the appearances of bread and wine.

What effects does the Sacrament of Penance produce?
The Sacrament of Penance forgives sins committed after Baptism, and reconciles with God those who through sin have become enemies of God.

What is needed to receive the Sacrament of Penance?
One must be contrite for one’s sins, and resolve never to sin again. One must confess all one’s sins to a Priest authorized to hear confessions by the proper spiritual authority. Finally, one must perform the penance the Confessor imposes.

What effects does the Sacrament of Extreme Unction produce?
The Sacrament of Extreme Unction removes the remnants of sin, gladdens the soul, and gives it the strength needed to overcome Satan at the last moment of life; it also helps to restore health, if that is necessary for the salvation of the soul.

What effects does the Sacrament of Holy Orders produce?
The Sacrament of Holy Orders gives the power and the grace needed by Priests and others in Holy Orders, so that they may properly fulfill their duties.

What effects does the Sacrament of Matrimony produce?
The Sacrament of Matrimony gives spouses, validly wedded according to the laws of the Church, the power and grace necessary to live in harmony and love, and to bear and raise children in holy fear of God, so that they may abound in true joy in this life and in the life to come.

We have covered the four main parts of the Christian Doctrine, which are: the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and the Angelic Salutation, the Commandments, and the Sacraments. We must now speak of the virtues and sins, and of some other matters that greatly assist in living according to God’s will.
How many foremost virtues are there?
There are seven, of which three are Theological and four are Principal.

Which are the Theological Virtues?
Faith, Hope, and Love.

Why are they called Theological?
Because the word “Theological,” taken from Greek, denotes something that pertains or relates to God.

How does Faith relate to God?
It causes us to believe all that God has revealed to the Holy Church.

How does Hope relate to God?
It causes us to trust in God and to expect eternal Life from Him, through divine grace and our own merits, which also begin with His grace.

How does Love relate to God?
It causes us to love God above all things, and for the sake of God to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Which are the Principal Virtues?
Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude.

Why do you call them principal?
Because they are, so to speak, the sources of good deeds.

What do these virtues accomplish?
Prudence makes us thoughtful and cautious in all things, so that we neither deceive others nor allow ourselves to be deceived.
Justice causes us to give each his due.
Temperance causes us to bridle our evil inclinations.
Fortitude makes us fearless in God’s service, ready to face any danger and even death itself.

How many Gifts of the Holy Spirit are there?
Seven:
1. Wisdom.
2. Understanding.
3. Counsel.
4. Fortitude.
5. Knowledge.
6. Piety.
7. Fear of the Lord.

What is the purpose of these gifts?
They support virtue and help us advance in the way of God. Thus: Fear of the Lord restrains us from sins. Piety makes us obedient to God. Knowledge teaches us to discern God’s will. Fortitude gives us courage to fulfill God’s will. Counsel protects us from the deceptions of Satan. Understanding enables us to enter into the Mysteries of the Faith. Through Wisdom, we become perfect, directing our entire life and all our works to the glory of God, for the wise man knows the ultimate end and strives for it in all things.

How many works of mercy are there, about which on the Day of Judgment we will be especially asked whether we have performed them?
There are seven:
1. To feed the hungry.
2. To give drink to the thirsty.
3. To clothe the naked.
4. To shelter the homeless.
5. To visit the sick.
6. To visit the imprisoned.
7. To bury the dead.

These are works of mercy concerning the body. Are there also works of mercy concerning the soul?
Yes, and there are also seven of these:
1. To give counsel to those who doubt.
2. To teach the ignorant.
3. To admonish sinners.
4. To comfort the afflicted.
5. To forgive offenses.
6. To bear patiently those who annoy and offend us.
7. To pray for the living and the dead.

How many kinds of sin are there?
Two: original and actual.

What is original sin?
Original sin is that with which we are all born, having inherited it from Adam, our first Father.

How are we freed from original sin?
By Holy Baptism, which erases it; for this reason, whoever dies without Baptism is forever deprived of heavenly glory.

What is actual sin?
Actual sin is that which we commit ourselves during life, by thought, word, or deed. This sin is either mortal or venial.

What is mortal sin?
Mortal sin is that which is committed against the love of God and neighbor; it is called mortal because it causes death to the soul by depriving it of God’s grace, which is its life.

How can we obtain forgiveness of this sin?
By Baptism, if committed before Baptism; and by the Sacrament of Penance, if committed after Baptism. Whoever dies in mortal sin goes to hell for eternal punishment.

What is venial sin?
Venial sin is that which, while not wholly opposed to love, does not deprive us entirely of God’s grace nor does it cast us into hell, yet it offends God because it goes against His will and diminishes love. Therefore, we need to cleanse ourselves of this sin by penance, either in this life or in the next in Purgatory.

How many principal sins are there that are, so to speak, the sources of all sins, and which virtues are opposed to them?
There are seven:
1. Pride, opposed by the virtue of Humility.
2. Greed, opposed by the virtue of Generosity.
3. Lust, opposed by the virtue of Chastity.
4. Anger, opposed by the virtue of Patience.
5. Gluttony, opposed by the virtue of Temperance.
6. Envy, opposed by the virtue of Brotherly Love.
7. Sloth, opposed by the virtue of Diligence.

How many sins are there against the Holy Spirit?
There are six:
1. Despair of salvation.
2. Presumption of salvation without merit.
3. Fighting against the recognized truth.
4. Envy of another’s spiritual good.
5. Willful obstinacy in sin.
6. Final impenitence.

How many sins cry out to God for vengeance?
There are four:
1. Willful murder.
2. The sin of the flesh against nature.
3. Oppression of the poor.
4. Withholding wages from workers.

How many things does Sacred Scripture call the last things of man, the consideration of which keeps us from sin?
Four:
1. Death.
2. Final Judgment.
3. Hell.
4. Heaven.

Do you have any particular devotion to kindle your piety?
I recite the Rosary of the Most Holy Virgin, meditating on its fifteen Mysteries, which encompass the Life of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What are the fifteen Mysteries of the Holy Rosary?
Among the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary, there are five Joyful, five Sorrowful, and five Glorious Mysteries:

The Glorious Mysteries are as follows:
1. The Resurrection of the Lord.
2. The Ascension of the Lord.
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit.
4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
5. The Coronation and exaltation of the Most Holy Virgin above all the Angelic choirs.

Which Acts must be made with the whole heart to be saved?
The Act of Faith, the Act of Hope, the Act of Love, and the Act of Contrition.

Recite these Acts.

Act of Faith

I firmly and unshakably believe, because God, who is infallible Truth, has revealed it to the Catholic Church, and through this Holy Church reveals it to us: that there is only one God, in Three divine Persons, equal and distinct, called the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; that the Son of God became Man, having taken a human body and soul by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Most Pure Virgin Mary; that He died for us on the cross; that He rose again; that He ascended into Heaven; that from there He shall come at the end of the world to judge all the living and the dead; that He will grant eternal Heaven to the good and condemn the evil to eternal hell. I furthermore believe all that the Holy Church believes and teaches, for it is infallible.

Act of Hope

O my God, because You are almighty and infinitely good and merciful, I hope that through the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ, our Savior, You will grant me eternal life, which You have promised to all who faithfully perform the duties of a good Christian, as I desire to do with the help of Your grace. Amen.

Act of Love

O my God, because You are the highest and most perfect Good, I love You with my whole heart and above all things; and I would rather lose everything than lose Your love. And for the love of You, I love and desire to love my neighbor as myself.

Act of Contrition

O my God, because You are infinitely good, and because I love You above all things, I am heartily sorry for having offended You; and I firmly resolve, by the help of Your grace, never to sin again, and to guard against and avoid every occasion of sin. Amen.

We fly to thy protection, O Holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but ever deliver us from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Our Lady, our Mediatrix, our Advocate, our Comforter; reconcile us to your Son, commend us to your Son, present us to your most beloved Son.
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.