The Catechism

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Well I’m not sure if I posted this in the right spot, but anyway…

This may seem like a dumb question but here it goes.

I began the RCIA back in October.

It was reccomended to me on here that I get a copy of it.

Well I finally got one last night.

My question, how do I use it?
 
jazzy0710 said:
Well I’m not sure if I posted this in the right spot, but anyway…

This may seem like a dumb question but here it goes.

I began the RCIA back in October.

It was reccomended to me on here that I get a copy of it.

Well I finally got one last night.

My question, how do I use it?
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Start with the sacraments.
 
There are a number of ways you can use the Catechism. You can look up topics you find interesting by using the index; you can start with one of the four major sections, read through it, and then move on; you can just read it from cover to cover; you can read a short section you find interesting and then look up the cross-references to other sections… The possibilities are nigh limitless. 😃

To be quite honest, I recommend reading it from cover to cover and just take each section slowly. I know it’s a big book, but it can be done (I’ve done it). Starting with the first section is probably the best step as that sections sets out the overall world-view that will unfold throughout the rest of the Catechism. Although it is possible to start with any section, I believe you will miss much of the nuances and insights if you don’t start with the first section.

Ultimately the Catechism is not something you read through once or twice and then shelve indefinitely. It is a work meant to be read and referenced constantly. As such, it should be kept with your Bible and read as often. 👍

Congratulations on getting your copy. It is one of my favorite books. 😃
 
How do you use an encyclopedia?

You search through when you need to find a fact or, if you want to read, just start reading.

It’s not a difficult read. I’d suggest reading about things you are most interested in learning more about first, or things you know little about.
 
jazzy0710 said:
Well I’m not sure if I posted this in the right spot, but anyway…

This may seem like a dumb question but here it goes.

I began the RCIA back in October.

It was reccomended to me on here that I get a copy of it.

Well I finally got one last night.

My question, how do I use it?
Click to expand...
That’s not a dumb question at all. If you’ve never seen the Catechism before, it can seem quite unfamiliar and daunting!

First, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) is organized by paragraph numbers. So if you look something up in the index, what you will find is the paragraph number, not the page number.

Second, the Catechism is organized around 4 “pillars”: Creed, Sacraments, Morality, Prayer. These are the four main sections the CCC is divided into.

If you read through John Paul II’s introductory Apostolic Letter (Fidei Depositum) and the first 50 or so paragraphs of the CCC, that actually gives a nice snapshot of how the CCC came about, how it is structured, and what its’ purpose is. I would recommend starting there to get your bearings.

The CCC is a great reference tool. I would encourage you to take some time to just filp through the index and find topics that appeal to you. Then, just locate the corresponding paragraph and read it. Then you can return to the index and keep perusing. It’s a nice laid-back way to get more familiar with the CCC and what it has to offer.

There’s no rush or deadline. Don’t feel like you have to read the whole thing (and understand it perfectly!) in a short amount of time. Just start the journey. 👍
 
jazzy0710 said:
Well I’m not sure if I posted this in the right spot, but anyway…

This may seem like a dumb question but here it goes.

I began the RCIA back in October.

It was reccomended to me on here that I get a copy of it.

Well I finally got one last night.

My question, how do I use it?
Click to expand...
You could use the following reading plan. I’m determined to plough through the whole text, so I started using this reading plan on New Year’s Day. Welcome home and good luck!🙂
 
Thanks for this link!! 🙂

One thing I have really learned to appreciate the past few years is the sheer genius of the Church and how She writes her documents. They way they are divided into to sections and paragraphs makes then much more managable.
And enables one to read them carefully and prayerfully!! 😃
Matthew_Holford said:
You could use the following reading plan. I’m determined to plough through the whole text, so I started using this reading plan on New Year’s Day. Welcome home and good luck!🙂
Click to expand...
 
jazzy0710 said:
Thanks everyone! 😃
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I would suggest reading things at your own pace but by starting at the beginning.

One helpful method is to keep a good study Bible near you when you are reading. There are many references to Sacred Scripture passages throughout the Catechism. Having a Bible nearby, will allow you to look the ones up which interest you and enhance the study process. For beginners, I really like the Catholic Scripture Study International Bible and it would work well with the Catechism.

Peace, and Welcome Home!
 
I’m going to show my ignorance now.:o What actually is/or is in a study bible? I could, obviously, hazard an educated guess. However, I would like to hear what one is. Despite several versions of the bible in our home, we have no study bible.
 
Matthew_Holford said:
I’m going to show my ignorance now.:o What actually is/or is in a study bible? I could, obviously, hazard an educated guess. However, I would like to hear what one is. Despite several versions of the bible in our home, we have no study bible.
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A study Bible provides commentary along with the Scripture passages to illumine the text in light of Church teaching and tradition. Often, the Fathers of the Church are cited, along with great saints, the Catechism, Papal Encyclicals, etc. In addition, links are made within scripture about how one passage might relate to another. For example, as I am sure you are aware, Catholic teaching is that much of the OT prefigures that of the NT, particularly with respect to our Blessed Lord. In a good study Bible, those instances in the OT are brought out and related to passages in the NT and to the teachings of the Church on the subject.

There are quite a few great ones to choose from (Ignatius, Haydock, Navarre, CSSI, etc.) and there are several good threads on the subject if you are interested. I don’t want to derail this one too much… 😉

I hope that helps…

Peace,
 
jwinch2 said:
A study Bible provides commentary along with the Scripture passages to illumine the text in light of Church teaching and tradition. Often, the Fathers of the Church are cited, along with great saints, the Catechism, Papal Encyclicals, etc. In addition, links are made within scripture about how one passage might relate to another. For example, as I am sure you are aware, Catholic teaching is that much of the OT prefigures that of the NT, particularly with respect to our Blessed Lord. In a good study Bible, those instances in the OT are brought out and related to passages in the NT and to the teachings of the Church on the subject.

There are quite a few great ones to choose from (Ignatius, Haydock, Navarre, CSSI, etc.) and there are several good threads on the subject if you are interested. I don’t want to derail this one too much… 😉

I hope that helps…

Peace,
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Thanks for the info. I like our Ignatius Bible so may be their study Bible would be the right choice.
 
Matthew_Holford said:
Thanks for the info. I like our Ignatius Bible so may be their study Bible would be the right choice.
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I am very happy with it. The only concern is that the entire OT is not out at this time in a single volume, but rather is being released book by book. They did this with the NT as well to begin with. I talked to people at Ignatius Press as well as someone at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology and was quoted next Fall as a release date for the entire OT in one volume. Hopefully that will prove to be true.

Peace,
 
jwinch2 said:
I am very happy with it. The only concern is that the entire OT is not out at this time in a single volume, but rather is being released book by book. They did this with the NT as well to begin with. I talked to people at Ignatius Press as well as someone at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology and was quoted next Fall as a release date for the entire OT in one volume. Hopefully that will prove to be true.

Peace,
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Oh:eek:, I thought a study Bible would be a single volume.
 
I have the “Compendium” of the Catechism, published by USCCB Publishing. Its thin and concise and is simple to flip through; it may be much less intimidating to start with! 🙂
 
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