because we
thereby insult Him and reject His gifts without which we cannot be
saved.

Q. 479. Does God give His grace to every one?
A. God gives to everyone He creates sufficient grace to save his soul;
and if persons do not save their souls, it is because they have not used
the grace given.

Q. 480. {113} What is the grace of perseverance?
A. The grace of perseverance is a particular gift of God which enables
us to continue in the state of grace till death.

Q. 481. Can we merit the grace of final perseverance or know when we
possess it?
A. We cannot merit the grace of final perseverance, or know when we
possess it, because it depends entirely upon God's mercy and not upon
our actions. To imagine we possess it would lead us into the sin of
presumption.

Q. 482. Can a person merit any supernatural reward for good deeds
performed while he is in mortal sin?
A. A person cannot merit any supernatural reward for good deeds
performed while he is in mortal sin; nevertheless, God rewards such good
deeds by giving the grace of repentance; and, therefore, all persons,
even those in mortal sin, should ever strive to do good.

Q. 483. Does God reward anything but our good works?
A. God rewards our good intention and desire to serve Him, even when our
works are not successful. We should make this good intention often
during the day, and especially in the morning.

LESSON ELEVENTH.
ON THE CHURCH.

Q. 484. How was the true religion preserved from Adam till the coming of
Christ?
A. The true religion was preserved from Adam till the coming of Christ
by the patriarchs, prophets and other holy men whom God appointed and
inspired to teach His Will and Revelations to the people, and to remind
them of the promised Redeemer.

Q. 485. Who were the prophets, and what was their chief duty?
A. The prophets were men to whom God gave a knowledge of future events
connected with religion, that they might foretell them to His people and
thus give proof that the message came from God. Their chief duty was to
foretell the time, place and circumstances of Our Saviour's coming into
the world, that men might know when and where to look for Him, and might
recognize Him when He came.

Q. 486. How could they be saved who lived before Christ became man?
A. They who lived before Christ became man could be saved by belief in
the Redeemer to come and by keeping the Commandments of God.

Q. 487. Was the true religion universal before the com