Catechism

The Catechism of the Catholic Church was prepared by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and approved personally by Pope John Paul II for worldwide use; it is the reference standard by which all other Catholic teaching is measured. The highest Vatican authorities have scrutinized every word of the English language version. Every single Catholic and every aspiring Catholic should have a copy well worn from constant use. Every reporter who covers the Catholic Church or scholar who studies the Catholic Church should have a copy at hand for reference.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is extraordinary in that it can be easily understood by a novice, yet it is a tremendous resource for Catholic scholars. Novice Catholics can confine themselves to the “In Brief” summaries at the end of each section and learn all that they need to be saved. Active Catholics can read the regular paragraphs, which present the same teachings in more detail. Teachers of the faith and others led to know all they can will read the regular paragraphs and also the footnoted texts.

Catholics interested in other catechisms may enjoy Rev. John A. Hardon’s The Catholic Catechism, Pocket Catholic Catechism, and The Faith, as well as the St. Joseph Baltimore Catechisms #1 and #2. They are solid and reliable. There are other good catechisms on the shelves, such as Russell Ford’s The Missionary’s Catechism, but there are also diabolical books that pretend to be catechisms but subtly lead the reader astray. We build our faith on solid rock.