"If you wish to learn and appreciate something worth while, then love to be unknown and considered as nothing. Truly to know and despise self is the best and most perfect counsel."

Thomas á Kempis

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"Lord, take from me everything that hinders me from going to You. give me all that will lead me to You. Take me from myself and give me to Yourself."

St Nicholas Flue

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"It is better to be burdened and in company with the strong than to be unburdened and with the weak. When you are burdened you are close to God, your strength, who abides with the afflicted. When you are relieved of the burden you are close to yourself, your own weakness; for virtue and strength of soul grow and are confirmed in the trials of patience."

St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church

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About this "Penny" Catechism - Visit the more detailed "Catechism of the Catholic Church" here.

 
 

FROM THE "PENNY CATECHISM"
     

Grace and Prayer
135.

Will Faith alone save us?
 

Faith alone will not save us without good works; we must also have Hope and Charity.
 
136. What is Hope?

 

Hope is a supernatural gift of God, by which we firmly trust that God will give us eternal life and all means necessary to obtain it, if we do what he requires of us.
 
  137. Why must we hope in God?
 
 

We must hope in God because he is infinitely good, infinitely powerful, and faithful to his promises.
 
  138. Can we do any good work of ourselves towards our salvation?
 
 

We can do no good work of ourselves towards our salvation; we need the help of God's grace.
 
139. What is Grace?
 

Grace is a supernatural gift of God, freely bestowed upon us for our sanctification and salvation.
 
140. How must we obtain God's grace?
 

We must obtain God's grace chiefly by prayer and the holy Sacraments.
 
141. What is prayer?
 

Prayer is the raising up of the mind and heart to God.
 
142. How do we raise up our mind and heart to God?
 

We raise up our mind and heart to God by thinking of God; by adoring, praising, and thanking him; and by begging of him all blessings for soul and body.
 
143. Do those pray well who, at their prayers, think neither of God nor of what they say?
 

Those who, at their prayers, think neither of God nor of what they say, do not pray well; but they offend God, if their distractions are wilful.