These Catechisms of the Baltimore Series are arranged on a progressive
plan. No. 00 gives the Prayers and Acts to be learned before the study
of the Catechisms begins:--No. 0 contains one half the questions of No.
1; No. 1 half 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.