CATHOLIC CAUCUS: The Catechism Explained – Introduction – I For what end are we on this earth?

Archive .Org ^ | 1899 | Rev. Francis Spirago Professor of Theology

[GonzoII]

INTRODUCTION.
 
I. FOR WHAT END ARE WE ON THIS EARTH?
As the scholar goes to school in order that he may afterwards 
attain a certain position in life, so man is placed on this earth in 
order that he may attain to the lofty end of eternal happiness. As the 
servant serves his master and so earns his bread, so man has to serve 
God, and through his service attains happiness to some extent in 
this life, and in its fulness after death. 
We are upon this earth in order that we may glorify God, 
and so win for ourselves eternal happiness. 
The glory of God is the end of all creation. All creatures on 
the earth are created for this end, that they may manifest in 
themselves the divine perfections and God’s dominion over His 
rational creatures, that is, over angels and men, and that He may be 
loved and praised by them. Even the material world, and creatures 
not possessed of reason--animals, trees, plants, stones, metals, etc., 
all praise God after their own fashion. "The Lord has made all 
things for Himself" (Prov. xvi. 4). Man is created for this end, 
that he should proclaim the majesty of God. He must do so whether 
he wills it or not. The construction of the body of man, the lofty 
powers of his soul, the rewards of the good, the punishment of the 
wicked, all proclaim the majesty of God, His omnipotence, wisdom, 
goodness, justice, etc. Even the reprobate will have to contribute 
to the glory of God (Prov. xvi. 4). In the end he will show how 
great is the holiness and justice of God. Man, from being possessed 
of reason and free will, is through these enabled in an especial way to 
give glory to God. This he does when he knows, loves, and honors 
God. Man is created chiefly for the life beyond the grave. In this 
life he is a stranger, a wanderer, and a pilgrim. "We have not here 
a lasting city, but we seek one that is to come" (Heb. xiii. 14). 
Heaven is our true country; here we are in exile. 
Hence we are not upon earth only to collect earthly treasures, 
to attain earthly honors, to eat and to drink, or to enjoy 
earthly pleasures. 
He who pursues ends like these behaves as foolishly as a servant 
who, instead of serving his master, devotes himself to some passing 
amusement. He stands idle in the market-place, instead of working 
in his master’s vineyard. He is like a traveller who, attracted by the 
beauty of the scenery, does not pursue his journey, and so allows the 
night to overtake him. We are not made for earth; we are made to 
look upward to heaven. The trees, the plants point upward to 
heaven, as if to remind us that it is our home. 
For this reason Our Lord says: "One thing is necessary" 
(Luke x. 42), and again "Seek first the kingdom of God and 
His justice, and all other things shall be added unto you" (Matt, 
vi. 33.) 
Unhappily, too many forget their last end, and fix their hearts on 
money, influence, honor, etc. They are like the kings of that heathen 
country who, althpugh they reigned but for a year and after that had 
to go and live on a barren island, spent all their time in luxury and 
feasting, and did not lay up any provision for the future on the 
island whither they were bound. He who does not think on his last 
end is not a pilgrim, but a tramp, and falls into the hands of the 
devil as a tramp into the hands of the police. He is like a sailor 
who knows not whither he is sailing, and so wrecks his ship. Our 
Lord compares such to the servant who sleeps, instead of watching 
for his master’s coming (Matt. xxiv. 42).

[GonzoII]

[GonzoII]

THE CATECHISM EXPLAINED

INTRODUCTION

I. FOR WHAT END ARE WE ON THIS EARTH?

[MarkBsnr]

Thank you my friend. I have delivered a 3-year Intermediate School religious educational text based entirely on the Catechism that we are implementing this year. Of course, we also have a mid-30’s padre who does the the TLM and is planning on moving the Tabernacle front and center under the Crucifix behind the Altar. Heh heh heh. We Catholics are taking the Church back.

[GonzoII]

I'd be happy to discuss salvation another time on another non-caucus thread.

FRegards.

[GonzoII]

"Thank you my friend. I have delivered a 3-year Intermediate School religious educational text based entirely on the Catechism that we are implementing this year."

You're welcome...I believe your students are in good hands...

"Of course, we also have a mid-30’s padre"

They keep getting younger!

[vladimir998]

The Catechism Explained is my all time favorite catechism. It’s a fantastic book and is still in print: http://www.amazon.com/The-Catechism-Explained-Exhaustive-Explanation/dp/0895554976 Make sure you get the very old edition and not the newer 1950s edition. The link takes you to the very old edition.

[vladimir998]

Here’s an inexpensive paperback reprint: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?ie=UTF8&field-author=Spirago+%26+Clarke&search-alias=books&text=Spirago+%26+Clarke&sort=relevancerank

Here are the companion books that would be worthwhile to get:

Anecdotes and Examples Illustrating the Catholic Catechism http://www.amazon.com/Anecdotes-Examples-Illustrating-Catholic-Catechism/dp/1481912526/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388930977&sr=1-3&keywords=Francis+Spirago

There’s even an audio version: http://www.amazon.com/Anecdotes-Examples-Catechism-Commandments-God/dp/1892331764/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388930977&sr=1-6&keywords=Francis+Spirago

Spirago’s Method of Christian Doctrine: A Manual for Priests, Teachers, and Parents http://www.amazon.com/Spiragos-Method-Christian-Doctrine-Teachers/dp/B008OZRUW4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388930918&sr=1-1&keywords=Francis+Spirago

[GonzoII]

"The Catechism Explained is my all time favorite catechism."

I got mine from TAN back in the day when they first starting printing it.

Thanks for that Audio link!

[Salvation]

Outstanding on both the text selection, but most of all on moving your tabernacle back to where it belongs.

As we looked at pictures at our first town hall meeting — architect provided — our priest said loud enough for everyone to hear — and the tabernacle will be in the center right under the crucifix!

My heart said “Hooray!” even though other designs didn’t turn out the way I had envisioned.

[GonzoII]

starting = started

[dsc]

“Man is created for this end, that he should proclaim the majesty of God. He must do so whether he wills it or not.”

What about free will?

[GonzoII]

“Man is created for this end, that he should proclaim the majesty of God. He must do so whether he wills it or not.”

"What about free will?"

A person's obstinate refusal of God by his free act of the will in the end glorifies God's justice.

From the same paragraph:

"Even the reprobate will have to contribute to the glory of God (Prov. xvi. 4). In the end he will show how great is the holiness and justice of God. "

I think the key word is "show". The reprobate certainly wont be sing "Amazing Grace".

I'm sure the author also had these verses of Scripture in mind: Rom 2:5; 2 Pet 2:9,3:7;

FRegards