the questions of No. 2; No. 2 one-third the questions of
No. 3, and No. 4 (an Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism) furnishes
much additional information with copious explanations and examples.

The same questions bear the same numbers throughout the series, and
their wording is identical. The different sizes of type make the
Catechisms more suitable to their respective grades, smaller children
usually requiring larger print.

Apart from its educational advantages, the progressive plan aims at
lessening the expense in providing children with Catechisms, by
furnishing just what is necessary for each grade; it aims also at
encouraging the children to learn, by affording opportunity for
promotion from book to book.

These Catechisms are intended to furnish a complete course of religious
instruction, when, used as follows:

No. 00 for Prayer classes.
No. 0 for Confession classes and certain adults.
No. 1 for First Communion classes.
No. 2 for Confirmation classes.
No. 3 for two years' course for Post-Confirmation classes.
No. 4 for Teachers and Teachers' Training classes.

PREFACE TO NO. 3

I have been requested by several priests to prepare an abridgment of the
"Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism" that would be suitable as a
classbook for children who have been confirmed or who have completed the
study of the Baltimore Catechism No. 2. The "Explanation" itself
contains more matter than some of these children can master and it costs
a little more than many of them can afford to pay. I have, therefore,
selected from the list given in the back of the "Explanation" a large
number of the more practical and important questions, to which I have
added others, with answers, as full, brief and simple as the matter will
permit. These questions and answers are added to those of the Baltimore
Catechism No. 2, but with such distinction in type that all may see they
are not a part of the Catechism prepared by the Council, but only a
development of its meaning.

{T.N.: It is not practical below to mimic "such distinction in type"
that exists in the original book. To indicate the questions prepared by
the Council I have added in braces their corresponding numbers from
Baltimore Catechism No. 2. For example, question 130 below is question 1
in Baltimore Catechism No. 2. Fr. Kinkead's supplemental questions lack
this double numbering.}

Whenever questions on the same subject are repeated in the book their
object is