PROLOGUE
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified
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Three Truths (1-25)
Scripture gives three clear truths:
- Eternal life is to know God and Jesus whom he sent (Jn 17:3)
- God wills all to be saved and to know the truth (1 Tim 2:3-4)
- All are saved only in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12)
God Comes Close to Man in Jesus (1-3)
God created man to share in his blessings. God always comes close to man and calls man to seek him. To gather men (scattered by sin) God sent Jesus, his only Son. In Jesus he invites men to become his adopted children and heirs of eternal life.
Jesus sent his disciples to preach and to baptize, so everyone would know God's call (Mt 28:18-20). The apostles "preached everywhere" and the Lord "confirmed the message by the signs that attended it" (Mk 16:20).
Those who heard must now proclaim this apostolic Good News, (faithfully preserved in the Church) and hand it on to each new generation.
Catechesis - The Making of Disciples (4-5)
Catechesis is the Church's efforts to make disciples and to instruct them. Catechesis must impart Christian teaching in a full and systematic way.
Catechesis builds upon other parts of Church life (missionary preaching, apologetics, Christian living, sacraments, etc) in gaining new members and in deepening their inner growth.
Previous Catechisms (6-10)
Renewal in the Church is always accompanied by intense Catechesis. Excellent catechetical works were written by St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. John Chrysostom, St. Ambrose and St. Augustine (among others).
The Roman Catechism (Council of Trent) gave rise to the works of St. Charles Borromeo, St. Peter Canisius, and St. Robert Bellarmine.
After the second Vatican Council, the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops asked for a catechism of all Catholic doctrines.
Presenting an Organic Synthesis (11-12)
This catechism draws from the Scriptures, the Church Fathers, the liturgy and the Church's Magisterium, and presents an organic synthesis of fundamental Catholic doctrines. Hopefully, it will help the faithful and those responsible for catechesis.
The Four Pillars (13)
The great Tradition of Catholic Catechesis is built upon four pillars:
- The Creed
- The Sacraments
- The Commandments
- The Our Father (The Lord's Prayer)
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