Page 10 - St. Joseph Messenger October 2020
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History of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Essential Teachings of the Catholic Faith
W of the question and answer formats was the
hen people think of the Catechism of
Baltimore Catechism, which today’s grandparents
the Catholic Church today, they most
likely are referring to the 1992 version
which was commissioned by Pope John Paul II. remember well.
But the Catechism of the Catholic Church has a Pope John Paul II wished to develop a new form
much longer history. of Roman Catholic Catechism, so in 1986, he
commissioned twelve Cardinals and Bishops, led
Early History by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (the future Pope
Although early books of instruction were authored Benedict XVI). He wanted to publish this new
th
by the Church fathers, the “catechism” form of Catechism to coincide with the 30 anniversary of
th
instruction began in the 16 century with the the opening of the Second Vatican Council.
advent of the printing press.
Although suitable for all Catholics to read, the
The most famous early Roman Catholic Catechism intention of this new edition was to provide a
was authored by St. Peter Canisius and published source for those responsible for catechesis, such as
in A.D. 1555. St. Peter Canisius had already bishops, priests, and catechists. It moved from the
edited and written many books on Church history question and answer format to an outline form
and theology and was a delegate to the Council of using modern language to teach the tenets of the
Trent. faith.
During the time of the Statement of Doctrinal Value
Reformation, Peter became Pope John Paul II, in his Apostolic Constitution
worried about the preserva- Fidei Depositum, declares:
tion of true Catholic beliefs,
so when King Ferdinand The Catechism of the Catholic Church . . .
asked him to compile a is a statement of the Church’s faith and
Catechism he did so willing- of catholic doctrine, attested to or
ly. He approached this task Illumined by Sacred Scripture, the
by dividing the Catechism Apostolic Tradition, and the Church’s
into two parts, wisdom and Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure
justice, linked by a section norm for teaching the faith and thus a
on the sacraments. valid and legitimate instrument for
ecclesial communion.
The Catechism was an
immediate success, so much so that Peter produced Pope John Paul II also noted that the new
two more versions of the Catechism, one for Catechism was not intended to replace the local
middle school children, and one for young catechisms, especially if they have been approved
children. by the Apostolic See.
Evolution of Form When you have questions, the Catechism is the
Often, the early Catechisms were in question and place to go to seek knowledge of the beliefs and
answer form. In the United States, the most famous teachings of Our Mother Church. SJM
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