cburrell, at
All Manner of Thing, pointed to this yesterday in a post titled
Vatican II, etc.:
Today is the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. Much ink is being spilled to mark the occasion, but I’d like to recommend a short piece written by my friend Adam Hincks, S.J. on the theme ofunity in Lumen Gentium, which was (of course) one of the principal documents promulgated by the Council. As usual with Adam, it is a model of clarity and good judgment.
Today is also the beginning of the Year of Faith initiated by the Holy Father. Janet Cupo points out that one can sign up for a year-long project to read the Catechism: you’ll get a portion emailed to you each day, starting today. I cannot think of anyone for whom this would not be a worthwhile endeavour. I have just signed up myself. Thanks, Janet.
I did, too. Here's the content of today's email:
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Prologue (1 - 25)
"FATHER, ... this is eternal life, that
they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have
sent." "God our Savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth." "There is no other name under heaven given
among men by which we must be saved" - than the name of JESUS.
III. THE AIM AND INTENDED READERSHIP OF THE CATECHISM
11 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".
12 This work is intended primarily for
those responsible for catechesis: first of all the bishops, as teachers
of the faith and pastors of the Church. It is offered to them as an
instrument in fulfilling their responsibility of teaching the People of
God. Through the bishops, it is addressed to redactors of catechisms, to
priests, and to catechists. It will also be useful reading for all
other Christian faithful.
IV. STRUCTURE OF THIS CATECHISM
13 The plan of this catechism is inspired
by the great tradition of catechisms which build catechesis on four
pillars: the baptismal profession of faith (the Creed), the sacraments
of faith, the life of faith (the Commandments), and the prayer of the
believer (the Lord's Prayer).
Part One: The Profession of Faith
14 Those who belong to Christ through
faith and Baptism must confess their baptismal faith before men. First
therefore the Catechism expounds revelation, by which God addresses and
gives himself to man, and the faith by which man responds to God
(Section One). The profession of faith summarizes the gifts that God
gives man: as the Author of all that is good; as Redeemer; and as
Sanctifier. It develops these in the three chapters on our baptismal
faith in the one God: the almighty Father, the Creator; his Son Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Savior; and the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, in the
Holy Church (Section Two).
Part Two: The Sacraments of Faith
15 The second part of the Catechism
explains how God's salvation, accomplished once for all through Christ
Jesus and the Holy Spirit, is made present in the sacred actions of the
Church's liturgy (Section One), especially in the seven sacraments
(Section Two).
Part Three: The Life of Faith
16 The third part of the Catechism deals
with the final end of man created in the image of God: beatitude, and
the ways of reaching it — through right conduct freely chosen, with the
help of God's law and grace (Section One), and through conduct that
fulfills the twofold commandment of charity, specified in God's Ten
Commandments (Section Two).
Part Four: Prayer in the Life of Faith
17 The last part of the Catechism deals
with the meaning and importance of prayer in the life of believers
(Section One). It concludes with a brief commentary on the seven
petitions of the Lord's Prayer (Section Two), for indeed we find in
these the sum of all the good things which we must hope for, and which
our heavenly Father wants to grant us.
Copyright © 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc. [Get your own copy of the Catechism here.]
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