I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
I will tell of all thy wonderful deeds - Psalm 9:1

What is a Catechism?

According to Britannica, a catechism is a “manual of religious instruction usually arranged in the form of questions and answers used to instruct the young, to win converts, and to testify to the faith.”

And for that purpose, with questions and answers, they can be very useful. It is easy for knowledge to remain unfocused. There is a conciseness about a good catechism that can clarify things:

Q. Why did God make me?
A. God made me to know him, love him, serve him in this life and to be happy with him forever in heaven.

That answer is a reminder of what is important in life no matter how old we are.

Well-known older catechisms in English are:

• the Baltimore Catechism (1885) in the United States
• A Catechism of Christian Doctrine (“Penny Catechism”) in England (1898)

In 1997 the Vatican issued a Latin edition of a new universal Catechism of the Catholic Church that summarized the ‘one and perennial apostolic faith’. It was addressed primarily to bishops who have the task of educating and guiding their flock. However, anyone can read it with profit. At 900 pages, though, it can be heavy going.

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Because the new catechism is not in question and answer form, rightly used the “Penny Catechism” is still useful so we have included it on our site. I had to learn it at primary school :) While it does not cover adult topics like abortion, birth control, and homosexuality, it does cover the mysteries of our faith, prayers and the sacraments.

Read the PENNY CATECHISM [elementor-template id=“2433”]