The Catechism: An Underrated Resource
The Catechism of the Catholic Church may not seem like a priority in these crazy times. Keeping up with breaking news and its impact on our family lives is a full-time job! Besides, the long season of Ordinary Time feels like a spiritual vacation. It is scattered with solemnities, but not as intense as the seasons on either side of it. And with digital ways to learn about the Faith, a thick book can seem archaic and outdated.
I used to think this way. I assumed the Catechism was full of complicated language and philosophical arguments. Like an encyclopedia, I considered it an index and not spiritual reading.
That is until I opened it. Once I did, I was stunned. Come to find out, the Catechism is not a dusty volume of difficult text. The Catechism is a rich exposition of the Catholic Church’s teachings and a story about God’s love for us!
The Go-To for Catholic Teaching
The more of the Catechism I read, the more I realize that Catholics need to rediscover it. Catholic Catechisms should be one of the most-used books on the shelves in our homes. Though the Catechism does not hold the Bible’s level of authority, it does present the dogma of the Church in a reliable way.
In answering a question about the Catechism’s authority, Catholic apologist Jim Blackburn answered:
Whatever the underlying degree of authority any given doctrine may carry, Pope John Paul II called the Catechism “a statement of the Church’s faith and of Catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the apostolic Tradition, and the Church’s magisterium” (Fidei Depositum 3). He declared it to be “a sure norm for teaching the faith.”
Catholics need to start going to their Catechisms like Protestants go to their Bibles: all the time! (Catholics should ALSO be going to their Bibles, just in case that wasn’t clear.) By learning the truths of the Church, we can fall in love with her. Then, we can renew our sense of calling to participate in God’s design. We can also prepare to defend the Church in modern conversations. It should be something we are comfortable opening and referencing at will.
The Catechism is a Compilation
For those concerned about the author and origin of the Catechism, worry not! Far from the written work of a few authority figures of the time, this edition of the Catechism is the result of six years of work. It was a special project of Pope John Paul II’s and Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) chaired the commission that put together early drafts.
This Catechism pulls from earlier catechisms. It recognizes Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Church’s Magisterium as the authorities informing the text. To quote from its Prologue:
This catechism aims at presenting an organic synthesis of the essential and fundamental contents of Catholic doctrine, as regards both faith and morals, in the light of the Second Vatican Council and the whole of the Church’s Tradition. Its principal sources are the Sacred Scriptures, the Fathers of the Church, the liturgy, and the Church’s Magisterium. It is intended to serve “as a point of reference for the catechisms or compendia that are composed in the various countries.” CCC 11
In other words, the Catechism is not the Church ordering her followers around in a show of power or control. The Catechism is the Church gifting her followers and those curious about her a single place to start. In it, we can learn about her teachings. We can also find additional resources to keep learning more about the Faith and God’s love for us.
Easy Starting Points
So, where do you start? Maybe you have little time or find the size of the book intimidating. The Church has designed two easy ways to start:
1. The “In Brief” Sections of the Catechism
Every section of the Catechism ends with an “In Brief” section. These sections are a few paragraphs that summarize everything explained in the preceding section. The Church designed these sections for catechists to memorize and the faithful to study with ease. The summary of about 30 pages of the Catechism equals three to five “In Brief” sections, on average.
2. The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is a 175 page volume intended to further summarize the Catechism itself. Pope Benedict XVI describes it as “in concise form, all the essential and fundamental elements of the Church’s faith, thus constituting, as my Predecessor had wished, a kind of vademecum which allows believers and non-believers alike to behold the entire panorama of the Catholic faith.” (Reference pg. xii in this edition of the Compendium) Unlike the Catechism, this book is small enough to carry around and read in short bursts while going about your day.
Embrace the Catechism this Ordinary Time
There is so much misinformation about the Catholic Church in the news and across social media. If you are tired of feeling hurt and confused by it all, then it’s time to learn the Faith. Perhaps, this long Ordinary Time is your invitation to become comfortable with the Catechism.
Too many of us do not know our faith well enough to give it a fighting chance. This Ordinary Time, let’s change that as we fall in love with the Bride of Christ again. You don’t have to do it alone. If you want support and community, you can join me as I read through the Catechism this Ordinary Time.
I invite you to rediscover the Extraordinary Church with me. May God bless us all in our faith journeys and remind us of our calling to be witnesses to His Son and the Church.
12 thoughts on “Why Catholics Need to Return to the Catechism”
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Below, is Canon 920 requiring one to receive Jesus in Holy Communion …
It may well have come in to force when the faithful were receiving much teaching that they were unworthy and and did not understand Christ abiding in us and us in Him, and our Father’s Love, so they pulled back from receiving.
The actual solution to that kind of teaching, which was often associated with some of the saints and more, Jesus’ Father loves us as He loves Jesus: is the Gospel of John:
” 22“The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. John 17: 22-23.
“Canon. 920 §1 Once admitted to the blessed Eucharist, each of the faithful is obliged to receive holy communion at least once a year.
§2 This precept must be fulfilled during paschal time, unless for a good reason it is fulfilled at another time during the year.”
God bless, C-Marie
It may well have come in to force when the faithful were receiving much teaching that they were unworthy …
What kind of a church would teach that in light of Jesus’ love for sinners.
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What I find alarmingly irrational about the so called catechism isn’t so much that it purports to have all the answers but that it asserts it has all the questions, too. Anyone reading it who doesn’t find his or her mind asking more questions, desiring follow ups and wanting for deeper discussion might as well just not bother. It’s pretty predictable stuff.
That’s the whole point of reading it! It’s a compilation, summary and directory with voluminous references to where to go to find each topic mentioned discussed in greater depth. The fact that you seem unaware of this makes me doubt that you’ve ever actually looked inside the CCC.
You are absolutely right that the CCC assumes it has asked all the questions laity would ever need to know. Far, far from it, and that’s why the minute changes made when it was revised will not have an effect going forward especially in the area of evangelization. Case in point – it is beyond mystery that one of the disciplines imposed is the injunction (under mortal sin, I’m not sure since I haven’t read it either) that one receive Communion once a year. Who, in a state of grace would do that, that is, receive once a year ? It is not based on reason or tradition especially when paired with the old rules I grew up with – still in force ? – that one in a state of mortal sin must still attend mass or incurs even more mortal sin for not doing so. How many times can you condemn a person ? All that said, It is a useful handbook for understanding the theology of the Trinity, concepts of God, ect. but lacks enough acuity to induce conversions in a world of rigid theologies
Thank you! “The Catholic path to Heaven and eternal life
is attending Sunday Mass every week and receiving the Eucharist.”
And how does one be faithful to the attending of Sunday Mass and the reception of the Holy Eucharist? How does one keep these activities of worship living and real to one’s heart and mind? Attending without the intention of worship will do little to grow us in relationship with our Father Whom Jesus said is His Father and our Father when He let Mary Magdalene see Him after His Resurrection. He also said to her that He was going to His God and to our God.
“17Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” 18Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.” John 20: 17-18.
So, yes, Catholics are required to attend Sunday Mass and to receive Holy Communion once a year.
But if relationship with God our Father, and with Jesus His only begotten Son Who is risen from the dead, and with the Holy Spirit, is grown with frequent and even daily times of prayer and quiet with God, the desire to attend Mass with frequency and to receive our Dear Lord’s Body and Blood with frequency, could even grow to attending daily, if circumstances permitted.
Here are excellent instructions on how to love and live, so as to never stumble: 2 Peter 1: 1-11. And if we do stumble, we can ask for and receive forgiveness. All thanks be to God.
“1Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
4For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
5Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
8For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.9For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten hispurification from his former sins.
10Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
St Peter knew that he was going to go to Heaven, to be with Jesus in Heaven. 2 Peter 1:12-15.
12Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. 13I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,14knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind. 2 Peter 1: 1-11.
God bless, C-Marie
CATHOLIC’S MAIN PURPOSE
By Deacon John Lorenzo
The main purpose of being Catholic is to achieve eternal life with God in Heaven.
Since God loves all His children, He does not make it difficult to get from this life on earth to be with Him in paradise when we die. The following statement might sound too easy or simple to believe its truth, but it contains providential wisdom in doing God’s will.
The Catholic path to Heaven and eternal life
is attending Sunday Mass every week and receiving the Eucharist.
When Jesus came into our world as our Savior, He made two statements in announcing the good news of attaining God’s heavenly kingdom:
1. If you love me, obey my commandments.
2. Unless you eat my body and drink my blood, you have no life in you.
God knew His children would need spiritual guidance and wisdom to survive this world and stay close to Him. After recognizing the need of loving God and neighbor, God’s 3rd commandment “To keep holy the Sabbath Day” was critical for man’s destiny.
God knew that life on Earth for most of His children would be, at times, difficult. He also knew that the more we choose to live our lives separated from Him, the more difficult life will be and gaining our inheritance would be difficult.
Because of God’s love for His creation, HE sent His Son into our world with the long-awaited Good News. The message of Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, to proclaim the coming Kingdom of God, His death on the cross and resurrection to restore people’s relationship with God. The descent of the Holy Spirit to help and guide with the forgiveness of our sins. His gift of His Body and Blood in the Eucharist for man to consume made possible at the holy sacrifice of the Mass.
Less than fifteen percent (15%) of registered parishioners attend Mass every Sunday. With the attendance steadily declining over the past years. Because of the Pandemic, Sunday Mass attendance amounted to approximately eight percent (8%). Sunday Mass attendance, after the Pandemic, must still be determined.
Since not attending Sunday Mass is a serious sin many souls could be lost. Why, because many believe that not attending Sunday Mass is not a serious sin and God’s mercy will save them.
My dear Catholic brothers and sisters, when it comes to who will be saved and who will not be saved, no one knows. Any assumption, by anyone, concerning who goes to Heaven or who goes to Hell is contrary to God’s strategy that this knowledge is not given to anyone.
So, what does this tell us who were baptized Catholic? It tells us that any deviation from or self-interpretations from what we are taught by Jesus and His Church will jeopardize our chances of going to Heaven and gaining our inheritance of eternal life with our Creator.
My dear brothers and sisters, be wise and be saved, put Jesus Christ into your life throughout your years in this life and follow His commandments. When committing mortal sins, go to your priest, who represents Christ, for forgiveness. Never use your judgement to decide if a sin is mortal or venial. The priest is there to forgive all sins no matter how serious, or the number of times committed. The priest is there to help and guide you. Do not risk losing your soul because you believe you are a good person or believe God will forgive you because He is merciful.
Lovely article. Thank you! Much is good in the Catholic Catechism, but people afflicted with same sex attraction, are not taught in the Catechism, that they can be freed from the unnatural attraction.
If the Bishops used the gifts of the Holy Spirit which He gave to the Church, (see
1 Corinthians 12: 4-11, and 1 Corinthians 12: 27-31), of healings and more, which gifts they receive at their consecration, the Joy of the Holy Spirit would abound in the hearts of so many so afflicted, and in the hearts of their families and friends who were true to Jesus Christ.
Healing and being freed from same sex attractions, would be prominately written about in this section of the Catholic Catechism. And the healings and miracles of Jesus would activated and continued on as they were in the early Church.
Take a read of the Book of Acts, all of the way through, and write down the verses or their chapters and verse numbers which reference healings and miracles. And note, that they are wholly associated with a PRAYING CHURCH. So lovely!!
“Chastity and homosexuality
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,141 tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.”142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
God bless, C-Marie
Vatican II, in Dei Verbum 21 says: “Therefore, like the Christian religion itself, all the preaching of the Church must be nourished and regulated by Sacred Scripture.”
This tells me that the Church recognizes that Scripture has authority over the apostolic Tradition, and the Church’s magisterium.
Hello Peter! I just reviewed the section of the Catechism dedicated to explaining the relationship between Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium on my website! You can find that video here: https://catholic-perspective.com/2021/06/02/gods-existence-and-the-divine-revelation-debate.
In the meantime, I would first remind you that the Catechism is directly influenced by Vatican II and intended to be an extension of its mission. To quote the Apostolic Constitution that prefaces the Catechism: “this catechism will make a very important contribution to that work of renewing the whole life of the Church, as desired and begun by the Second Vatican Council.”
In regards to your question, CCC 95 directly quotes Dei Verbum 10 and states: “‘It is clear therefore that, in the supremely wise arrangement of God, sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without the others. Working together, each in its own way, under the action of one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.”
I hope that clarifies things for you! God bless.