On October 11, 1992, Pope John Paul II officially promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church with his apostolic constitution Fidei Depositum. The idea of a catechism is not new. About the year 100, the Didache was compiled, which was a compendium of the teachings of the Apostles on doctrine, morals, and liturgy. The most famous universal catechism was that of the Council of Trent in 1566. In the United States, one easily remembers the Baltimore Catechism produced in 1885 at the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore. All of these catechisms had the same objective: to authentically teach the Catholic faith. All of these catechisms were published in times of great controversy, when forces of disbelief, confusion, and heresy attacked the Church. For this same reason, Pope John Paul II encouraged the issuance of a new catechism for the entire Church.
On January 25, 1985, Pope John Paul II summoned an extraordinary assembly of the Synod of Bishops to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council. The purpose of this synod was not only to celebrate the graces and fruits of the council, but also to clarify and deepen an understanding of its teachings. As with any previous council, the aftermath of Vatican II saw much disbelief, confusion, and even heresy. So the synod stated “that a catechism or compendium of all Catholic doctrine regarding both faith and morals be composed as a source text for the catechisms or compendia composed in the various countries. The presentation of doctrine should be biblical and liturgical, presenting sure teaching adapted to the actual life of Christians.” Since 1985, the Holy Father and the Sacred Congregation of the Clergy guided by Cardinal Ratizinger have assiduously dedicated themselves to composing the new Catechism.
The Catechism has a “four pillar format”: what the Church believes (an explication of the Creed), what the Church celebrates (the sacraments), what the Church lives (the moral teachings of the Church) and what the Church prays (the spiritual life of the Church). In one sense the Catechism is old, reiterating beliefs long held and defined by the Church, such as the mystery of the Holy Trinity. In another sense, the Catechism is new, addressing moral issues like nuclear war and questions of bioethics.
To date, the Catechism has been published in most major languages. It was first released in French because that was the common working language of the many scholars assigned to this task. Rather than using a “question and answer format” like the Baltimore Catechism, the new Catechism reads in narrative form. The Catechism is well indexed with many citations from Sacred Scripture, Church documents, and the writings of the Popes, Church Fathers, and the Saints. In all, the Catechism provides a beautiful expression of the living faith handed down to us through the generations.
Keep in mind that the Catechism is meant to be studied and used by the person in the pew. The Catechism is not meant to be just a reference work in libraries or a tool for theologians, priests, or scholars. For instance, shortly after its release, over 500,000 copies of the Catechism were sold in both the French and the Italian translations, attesting to its wide reception by faithful Catholics and the current hunger for the authentic teachings of the Church. I would encourage every Catholic home to have a good English translation of the Bible and the Catechism. Together these two sources represent what we believe as Catholics.
Moreover, the new Catechism is a remarkable teaching tool. Parents, as the primary educators of their children, can utilize the Catechism in handing the faith onto their children. Here is a reference for any question that a child may have. Whenever posed a question by a child or when conversation arises which takes one by surprise, the parent, like any good teacher, ought to go to the Catechism, study, and then return to the child with a clear and accurate answer. Moreover, the parents can use the Catechism not only as a resource to supplement the religious education materials of a school or CCD program, but also as a standard to hold those programs accountable. In all, the new Catechism will be a unifying force in the Church. What is presented in the Catechism ought to be preached from the pulpit, taught in Catholic schools and CCD programs, and lived and reinforced in the family.
Pope John Paul II declared the new Catechism to be a gift to the universal Church. The Holy Father stated, “The Catechism of the Catholic Church lastly is offered to every individual who asks us to give an account of the hope that is in us and who wants to know what the Catholic Church believes.”