Traditional Catholic Books on Dogmatic Theology

[PilgrimMichelangelo]

I am an Orthodox Catholic Christian exploring the beauty of the traditional Western Church, any suggestions on a succinct book of traditional Catholic Dogmatic Theology?

 

[PetraG]

LOL, the first thing I thought of was Summa Theologica, which is certainly not “succinct.”

 

[PilgrimMichelangelo]

Haha—Yes I was hoping for something I would be able to get through before next Pascha.

Although someday I would like to actually make it through the Summa, I was hoping for a more intermediate level theological outline, something similar to Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Fr. Michael Pomazansky, if there is something analoguous in the Catholic tradition.

 

[StJoseph8]

I believe this is what would fit your request best: “Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma” by Ludwig Ott

Link to book

 

[PilgrimMichelangelo]

@StJoseph8 Thank you, I will give it a try!

 

[porthos11]

@StJoseph8 Thank you, I will give it a try!

Ott is the go-to book for Western dogmatic theology. I don’t know if you’re Eastern Orthodox, but be warned, the language is very Western, so approach it with an open mind.

 

[PilgrimMichelangelo]

Yes I am Orthodox (Currently in an Antiochian Eastern Rite parish), but never was very well acquainted with Catholic theology. My degree is in Biblical Studies from a tiny Protestant college, so I am fairly familiar with Western language (plus being raised Baptist then converting to Anglicanism for a brief spell before being received into the Orthodox Church three years ago). But thank you for the warning.

 

[porthos11]

Yes I am Orthodox (Currently in an Antiochian Eastern Rite parish), but never was very well acquainted with Catholic theology. My degree is in Biblical Studies from a tiny Protestant college, so I am fairly familiar with Western language (plus being raised Baptist then converting to Anglicanism for a brief spell before being received into the Orthodox Church three years ago). But thank you for the warning.

Okay. Just wanted to mention that because language has been a sticking point and contributed to the schism between our communions. Unfortunately, a lot of your confreres do not approach our Western expressions with the same openness the Latin church approaches your Eastern expressions (which we greatly appreciate), and would rather read heresy into it when in fact we’re just saying the same thing but with different expressions (e.g Latins can express a truth negatively, while you would express the same truth positively). Just want to advise you to approach our Western expressions with an open mind and try to translate them into your own Eastern expressions.

 

[Aquinas11]

Baltimore Catechism or Catechism of St Pius X

 

[PilgrimMichelangelo]

Yes–sadly the spirited polemics that my Orthodox brethren frequently engage in, hurts my heart, especially when you and your brethren are very charitable and bend over backwards to heal the most painful (in my opinion) Schism in Christendom.

I have also discovered that many of the contentious issues do not hold up to the light of study. The schismatical attitude fostered by my Orthodox brethren certainly does not help our case as the “One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church”.

Thus I am doing an independent study of Catholicism to help fill in the gaps of my own enfeebled understanding of Church history.

May God heal the schism and save the faithful.

 

[Lysander]

Imitation of Christ by Father Thomas A Kempis, is a good book for Western mysticism.

 

[PilgrimMichelangelo]

Thank you for all of your suggestions. May God bless you on the upcoming Feast of Epiphany (Theophany for us Eastern Rite Orthodox) and send you abundant grace in the New Year!

unworthy Michelangelo