Baltimore Catechism No. 2

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1. The #2 Is The Communion And Confirmation Catechism

The Baltimore Catechism No. 2 has all the questions from the Baltimore Catechism No. 0 and No. 1 in one booklet.

The division occurred because younger children did not need to have all of the questions available to study the sacraments.

The Baltimore Catechism No 2 also has many more catechism questions to help children to an elementary school understanding of the Catholic catechism. If you have the No. 2 you will not need the No. 1 or the 0.

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1.A. Baltimore Catechism No. 2 For Children

10 Commandments And First Communion

No. 0 and No. 1 are usually used for First Communion preparation while certain questions of the No. 2 are marked for memorization in preparation for Confirmation. Both First Communion and Confirmation are included in the second book.

Learn more about the 10 Commandments here.

You can see First Communion resources here.

Baltimore Catechism Confirmation

In the 1930s when my parents were confirmed, the children were confirmed almost at the same time as their First Communion. My mother's beautiful children's Missal that was given to her by her mother and aunt shows about one week between the two dates.

There were very few Confirmation questions asked at that time although they were studied in subsequent years in the larger Baltimore Catechisms. It was later when more questions were added to the Confirmation list of required knowledge to meet what The Catechism of the Council of Trent required.

See my notes about Catholic Confirmation here.

1.B. Baltimore Catechism No. 2 For Adults

Those who are new to the Catholic Faith only need the No. 2, since it includes the answers and prayers that are in the two other booklets. It covers preparing for Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, and Penance.

An adult would only need the No. 2 as it really does cover most of the questions that most adults ever face. The No. 3, or the excellent Catechism Explained  are much more comprehensive adult catechism books.

I'd skip the No. 3 and move straight to The Catechism Explained as it covers the Baltimore Catechism, and adds saint and Bible stories as well as examples from history.

2. Easiest Catechism For Religion Class

The Baltimore Catechism is especially handy for Catholic Religion class, Sunday school catechism, RCIA, and Catholic homeschool.

It is the definitive book by which most catechisms written in English are compared, at least those in the United States of America, the USA. 

The questions are plain and the answers directly correspond to the questions in a direct and concise format. The answers use the words in the question in the wording of the answer. This makes the answers easy to learn, to memorize, and to remember for life. 

TAN Books publishes a new paperback BC #2 that we have proofed to be word for word the same as their old stapled versions. I hope that the complete set is the same as it had been especially the #1, if only for reference.

3. Baltimore Catechism Comparison With The Confraternity Version

The Baltimore is the basis for many Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) catechism versions in the USA since the 1940s. Some versions were better than others, which is why many people want the 1885 reprints. It's hard to trust re-writes and paraphrases.

One of its best features of the old version is that it asks the questions with easily memorized answers. The answers, if answered completely using the words of the question in the answer, offer a concise statement of the Catholic faith. Oh, what a treasure this is!

Concise answers not only give certitude they are also more easy to use in real life through the years, thereby aiding us in final perseverance, the one thing necessary.

I am particularly glad to have used this with our children as there have been few times when they were confused and these the answers were plain and to the point.

4. Published By TAN Books And Baronius Press

TAN Books and Baronius Press are major publishers of the old Baltimore Catechism books. Now there are many other publishers working to preserve this work.

TAN's 1977 version of the BC is from the original by the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1885. TAN used the 1933 Benziger edition that had added word pronunciations and meanings to the top of each chapter. This must have been a huge help to catechists in our melting-pot country, especially in different regions.

It also notes new rubrics as of the 1970 calendar, as with the Communion fast, so that you know not to expect more than the Catholic Church requires.

To add spice to your research about who wrote this catechism, see the old TAN's CathTruth American History article 

[Old web address: http://www.cathtruth.com/catholicbible/amerhst2.htm]

The same bishops who put together the Baltimore Catechism lived at the time of Pope Leo XIII's document against Americanism. See Americanist warnings by Pope Leo XIII in Testem Benevolentiae. 

5. Saint Anne's Helper Baltimore Catechism For Confirmation

Some of the difficulties in the 1885 version were corrected in the 1959 edition by the good priests, nuns, and catechists who actually had to use the books in classroom settings.

• They understood that they should be certain to teach small children about confession in the singular tense, I confess not we confess.
• They understood that using the definite article the is more indicative of there being only one sacrament of Baptism, and one sacrament of Confirmation rather than using the indefinite article a or an.

In general, though, the questions, answers, and prayers are exactly the same long trusted versions they've been for over one hundred years.

If you would like to have help teaching the 1959 Baltimore Catechism for First Communion, Confirmation, or general religion class; you will appreciate our Saint Anne's Helper audio, PDF worksheets, PDF ebooklets in digital downloads. You'll own them immediately and forever.

You can see and copy for free the texts of these questions and answers on our audio Baltimore Catechism pages, no purchase necessary:

• First Communion
• Confirmation

See more below about the Confirmation options. We have the same for First Communion.

See Seton's great defense of the Baltimore Catechism.

* Baltimore Catechism Confirmation

Confirmation Catechism Audio Book

The Baltimore Catechism No. 2 questions for Confirmation preparation frequently require a good deal of study.

St. Anne's Helper helps you learn the basic Catholic beliefs for Confirmation. They can help reduce the time and effort necessary to learn the catechism questions and answers.

• Adults appreciate the benefit of an audio book to be able to review Confirmation catechism answers while driving or doing light chores.
• Parents and children appreciate the benefit of ambient learning while riding to and from church, school and errands; or while coloring and doing other craft projects. 
• Catechists appreciate having printables for catechism class.

No matter which program you use, the definitive and concise Baltimore Catechism No. 2 gives you confidence in learning the basic Catholic beliefs.

An audio recording makes it easier to review and memorize the answers and prayers.

Baltimore Catechism Confirmation Copybook

Once we realized the benefits of Catholic copywork, we made up Catechism copybooks for learning to spell the words, write the answers and for penmanship practice.

What better Catholic copywork than the Confirmation answers from the Baltimore Catechism No. 2?

It is a magic moment when a student WANTS to write beautifully, he or she then CAN write beautifully! On top of this they learn their faith and how to use and spell the vocabulary.

You can order Saint Anne's Helper Confirmation Baltimore Catechism digital downloads here.

Audio Baltimore Catechism, Catholic Worksheets, Catholic eBooks, and Catholic Coloring Pages:

Get Catholic catechesis resources for your Roman Catholic catechism class, Faith formation, Catholic homeschool, religious education, or Sunday school lessons. ~Mary Fifer

Order our Baltimore Catechism worksheets . Choose your favorite  fonts,  colors, and SIZES on our fillable digital interactive worksheets. Paperless or printable.

First Communion Preparation And Catechesis
Baltimore Catechism No. 1 For Children And Adults

You may want to have each of these for your Baltimore Catechism Communion students: audio, ebooklet, and digital worksheets for kids and adults. Verbatim text in all formats. 

Baltimore Catechism Confirmation Preparation And Catechesis Resources

6. More Baltimore Catechism Resources

All for the love of You, my God!