Catechismal Thoughts

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is an invaluable document that deserves to be read, pondered, and written about. Catholic Phoenix, therefore, resolves to read, ponder, and write about it more. Check back for updates.

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Joe March 9, 2011 at 11:29 am

Where did the Catechism come from? Who wrote it? How does it relate to the Bible?

Thanks,

Joe

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Steven May 18, 2011 at 1:20 pm

I know I’m two months late to the party, but I thought I’d chime if you’re still interested.

There is actually a brief story of how the Catechism came to be in the front of the Catechism (at least in my version). While there have been different versions throughout Church history, the most recent version (it’s in many different languages but is otherwise the same version) was commissioned by Bl. John Paul II in response to the Second Vatican Council’s guard and make accessible the deposit of Christian doctrine.

It is a collection of works assembled by a commission of bishops and cardinals, led by (then) Cardinal Ratzinger. You’ll see most of the entries are cross-referenced to Scripture, the Saints and fathers, or Church documents.

It explains many things found in the Bible, but also discusses a variety of things with more detail through the teaching authority of the Church.

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Captoe March 11, 2011 at 2:40 pm

Hi Joe, That sounds a little like a homework assignment!
There are folks more qualified than I to address your question, but since they’ve not chimed in…

Amazon’s book listing for the Catechism lists “U.S. Catholic Church” as the author, and that’s about as good an answer as you’ll get. It is a church document, there is a U.S. edition, and the numerous particular individuals who scribed the paragraphs of the Catechism are not really the answer to your question.

Similarly, the Bible is a Church-compiled document. The numerous hands who scribed it are not truly the ‘authors’ of the inspired words of God.

The Bible is to be used in the liturgy whereas the Catechism is not.

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Reginaldus April 11, 2011 at 8:15 am

I’m wondering if this series of posts has already been continued and I just missed it, or if the series was abandoned or put on hold…

Also, I simply have to respond to the following quotation — “The numerous hands who scribed it [i.e. the Bible] are not truly the ‘authors’ of the inspired words of God.”
I respond with another quotation — “In composing the sacred books, God chose men and while employed by Him they made use of their powers and abilities, so that with Him acting in them and through them, they, AS TRUE AUTHORS, consigned to writing everything and only those things which He wanted.” (Dei Verbum 11)
Captoe, I do understand the point you are trying to make…but I find the choice of words to be unfortunate.

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