Why Catholics Need to Return to the Catechism

Michie

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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 And with digital ways to learn about the Faith, a thick book can seem archaic and outdated.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:

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Why Catholics Need to Return to the Catechism - Catholic Stand
 

BobRyan

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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 And with digital ways to learn about the Faith, a thick book can seem archaic and outdated.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:

Continued below.
Why Catholics Need to Return to the Catechism - Catholic Stand

Leo Trese writes a commentary on the Baltimore Catechism after Vatican II - called "The Faith Explained" -- that I find very informative.
 
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Gnarwhal

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Catholics should pick up the Roman Catechism too (from the Council of Trent, 1566). It's the only catechism ever actually declared infallible: Pope Clement XIII in 1761 wrote that it was in In Dominico Agro. I think we would do well to defer to that first, but that's my opinion. I know I'm beating a dead horse, but it's true.

So the Council of Trent condemned those heresies which tried at that time to dim the light of the Church and which led Catholic truth into a clearer light as if the cloud of errors had been dispersed. As our predecessors understood that that holy meeting of the universal Church was so prudent in judgment and so moderate that it abstained from condemning ideas which authorities among Church scholars supported, they wanted another work prepared with the agreement of that holy council which would cover the entire teaching which the faithful should know and which would be far removed from any error. They printed and distributed this book under the title of The Roman Catechism. –In Dominico Agro, No. 4
 
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Chesster

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Gnarwhal

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I agree Catholics absolutely need to pick up the Catechism and relearn the faith. Today is the feast of Corpus Christi and I still look back in tears at the 2019 study finding that 70% of U.S. Catholics Do Not Believe in Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist. How very sad!

It's a travesty indeed. Maybe this is because I'm a convert but I get frustrated that we count people who don't practice, or have never practiced, as Catholics. It muddies the waters. I didn't check the methodology but I doubt that number is low amongst Catholics who go to Mass weekly, regularly seek out Confession, and maybe pray the rosary even semi-frequently.

The numbers are skewed because the poll people who claim to be Catholic without understanding what being Catholic is, and then they spew all kinds of nonsense about what the Church believes and confess a disbelief in core teaching whether it's the Eucharist, Matrimony, Holy Orders, or something else.
 
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Basil the Great

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Catholics should pick up the Roman Catechism too (from the Council of Trent, 1566). It's the only catechism ever actually declared infallible: Pope Clement XIII in 1761 wrote that it was in In Dominico Agro. I think we would do well to defer to that first, but that's my opinion. I know I'm beating a dead horse, but it's true.
Does the 1566 Trent Catechism square with the modern version? That is the big question it would seem.
 
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Gnarwhal

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Does the 1566 Trent Catechism square with the modern version? That is the big question it would seem.

I think the better question might be does the modern version square with the Roman Catechism, since the latter is the one that was declared infallible. Or perhaps better still, which one is most consistent with the deposit of faith?
 
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