For The Use of Sunday-School Teachers and Advanced Classes
(Also known as Baltimore Catechism No. 4)
by Rev. Thomas L. Kinkead
Nihil Obstat: D. J. McMahon Censor Librorum
Imprimatur: + Michael Augustine Archbishop of New York New York, September 5,
1891
Nihil Obstat: Arthur J. Scanlan, S.T.D. Censor Librorum
Imprimatur: + Patrick J. Hayes, D.D. Archbishop of New York New York, June 29,
1921
APPROBATIONS
- His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons: "I thank you for the copy of The
Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism which has just reached me. A Religious
spoke to me in very high terms of your book. I regard the opinion as of great
value."
- Most Rev. M. A. Corrigan, D.D., Archbishop of New York: "I congratulate
you on the good which it is likely to do."
- Most Rev. William Henry Elder, D.D., Archbishop of Cincinnati: "I think
the work will be a very serviceable one. I hope it will meet with great
success."
- Most Rev. Thomas L. Grace, D.D., Archbishop of Siunia: "Your book entitled
An Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism supplies a want which is generally
felt by the clergy and others engaged in teaching Catechism. Apart from the
very satisfactory development of the answers to the questions and apt
illustrations of the subjects treated, the additional questions inserted in
your book give it a special value."
- Most Rev. P. J. Ryan, D.D., Archbishop of Philadelphia: "Your explanation
of the Baltimore Catechism is excellent and must be of very great service to
teachers of Sunday schools and to all who desire a clear exposition of
Catholic doctrine, either for themselves or to communicate it to others. We
give the work our cordial approval."
- Most Rev. William J. Walsh, D.D., Archbishop of Dublin, Primate of
Ireland: "I have had a copy of your admirable work for some weeks past, and on
several points it has been of very great use to me and to the committee [a
committee of professors of theology, moral as well as dogmatic; priests of
long and of wide experience in the work of instructing children in the
Catechism; experienced examiners of children; accomplished scholars and
writers of English; members both of religious and of secular collegiate
communities; and representatives of the missionary priesthood, secular and
regular, appointed to draft a new Catechism]."
- Right Rev. D. M. Bradley, D.D., Bishop of Manchester: "I am sure this
'Explanation' will be welcomed by the teachers in our schools and indeed by
all whose duty it may be to instruct others in the teachings of the Church."
- Right Rev. Thomas F. Brennan, D.D., Bishop of Dallas: "I like the book
very much and will not only recommend it to the priests and good sisters of my
diocese, but will also use it myself at catechism every Sunday in the
Cathedral. The list of questions and general index render its use very easy."
- Right Rev. M. E. Burke, D.D., Bishop of Cheyenne: "Your Explanation of the
Baltimore Catechism is excellent, and it supplies a much needed means of
useful and necessary catechetical instruction for our Sunday schools. It will
be found an excellent textbook for Catholic schools and academies throughout
the country and a most useful manual for all who are engaged in the
instruction of our children."
- Right Rev. L. De Goesbriand, D.D., Bishop of Burlington: "I consider your
book, the Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism, as an admirable work.
Nothing can be found more clear, more satisfactory."
- Right Rev. John Foley, D.D., Bishop of Detroit: "I congratulate you upon
producing a work so useful to those having charge of souls in such clear,
concise, and instructive a style. I shall gladly commend it to the Rev.
Clergy."
- Right Rev. H. Gabriels, D.D., Bishop-elect of Ogdensburg: "Your book will
furnish solid material to priests who wish to preach at low Masses the
catechetical instructions prescribed by the council of Baltimore. A rapid
perusal of some of its pages has convinced me that it is just what was often
looked for in vain in this important branch of the holy ministry."
- Right Rev. N. A. Gallagher, D.D., Bishop of Galveston: "Having read your
Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism, I wish to say that it is in my opinion
a very useful book for priests as well as for teachers; and that it is a
valuable book to place in the hands of those who wish to become acquainted
with the teachings of Holy Church. I have just ordered ten copies from the
Publishers for my own distribution."
- Right Rev. Leo Haid, O.S.B., D.D., Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina: "I
am very glad you gave us such a sensible, simple, and complete explanation of
the Baltimore Catechism. I wish it were in the hands of every teacher of
Christian doctrine. In this Vicariate, where priests are few, and often
obliged to receive converts into the Church without that thorough instruction
which resident pastors can give, your book will be hailed with joy. I will do
my utmost to make it known. Please send me one dozen copies."
- Right Rev. John J. Hennessy, D.D. Bishop of Wichita: "From what I have
seen of your book I am delighted with the method which you have adopted for
explanation. It makes the Catechism easy and interesting to both teacher and
pupil. I shall heartily recommend your book to our clergy for introduction
into our schools."
- Right Rev. A. Junger, D.D., Bishop of Nesqually: "I am sure your work will
not fail to obtain its object. There is not the least doubt that it will be of
the greatest and best use for Sunday school teachers and advanced classes who
will make use of it, and to whom we highly recommend it. Such a work was
needed, as our Baltimore Catechism does not and cannot contain all the
necessary explanations."
- Right Rev. John J. Keane, D.D., Rector of the Catholic University,
Washington: "The character of the work speaks for itself."
- Right Rev. W. G. McCloskey, D.D., Bishop of Louisville: "What I have
already seen of it gives me the impression that it is a meritorious work which
ought to be encouraged."
- Right Rev. James McGolrick, D.D., Bishop of Duluth: "I think you have
prepared a thoroughly practical work in your Explanation of the Baltimore
Catechism. You have in well selected and plain English enabled teachers to
give useful lessons from the text itself without the need of resort to other
books. Your book will find its way to the desk of every Catholic teacher, and
we hope to the home of every Catholic family. I am glad you marked the
Scripture references, for the higher classes after Confirmation can unite
their Scripture lessons with such study of your book as to prepare themselves
for teaching. Your series of questions and good index are certainly very
useful."
- Right Rev. Camillus P. Maes, D.D., Bishop of Covington: "I have examined
your Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism on some of the most important
points of doctrine and morals. I find its teachings sound, and the manner of
presenting them practical. I take pleasure in commending your book to priests
and teachers, and in congratulating you for having bestowed so much time on
the greatest of all pastoral work, viz: giving children a thorough and sound
knowledge of Holy Church and of her divine teachings."
- Right Rev. C. E. McDonnell, D.D., Bishop-elect of Brooklyn: "I beg you to
accept my hearty congratulations."
- Right Rev. R. Manogue, D.D., Bishop of Sacramento: "We have ponderous
works from distinguished authors on the Catechism in general, but yours--An
Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism--is the simplest, most concise, most
natural and instructive I have yet encountered. It is good not only for
advanced pupils, teachers, preachers and priests, but also for the sacred
precincts of every Catholic family."
- Right Rev. Tobias Mullen, D.D., Bishop of Erie: "Your book appears to me a
very meritorious production. In your preface you observe it has been designed
for the use of Sunday school teachers and that it 'should do good in any
Catholic family' I think you might have added that any clergyman having the
care of souls, whether giving private instructions or preparing for the
pulpit, would derive great benefits from its perusal."
- Right Rev. H. P. Northrop, D.D., Bishop of Charleston: "The Explanation of
the Baltimore Catechism, plain and practical, clear and comprehensive, was a
work very much needed. From a general examination, I think you have done your
work well, and you deserve the thanks of all teachers of catechism and those
who have charge of our schools. You have simplified the work of the teacher by
putting in his hand such a ready handbook and commentary on the text he is
supposed to explain. If they do what they expect their pupils to do--study the
lesson--with such a help as you have furnished them, the work of the Sunday
school will be much more satisfactory. I hope the hearty appreciation of those
for whom you have labored will crown your work with abundant success."
- Right Rev. Henry Joseph Richter, D.D., Bishop of Grand Rapids: "The aim of
your book is excellent. To judge from the portions which I have read, your
labor has been successful. I recommend the book to all Catholic adults, but
especially to teachers and converts, as a convenient handbook of appropriate,
plain, and solid instructions on the doctrine of the Catholic Church."
- Right Rev. S. V. Ryan, D.D., Bishop of Buffalo: "I think your work fully
meets all you claim for it. It will serve as a good textbook for an advanced
catechism class, and a very useful handbook for catechists in instructing
converts or our own people what they should know and what they are bound to
believe in regard to our holy faith. The book will, I think, do good in any
Catholic family."
- Right Rev. L. Scanlan, D.D., Bishop of Salt Lake: "I consider it a most
useful if not necessary book, not only for Sunday school teachers and for
advanced classes, but for all who may desire to have a clear, definite
knowledge of Christian doctrine."