Versions of the Baltimore Catechism

  • Thread starter Thread starter Thinkcat
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Thinkcat

Guest
Hello

I’m looking into buying a set of Baltimore Catechisms. My current understanding is that there are four “numbers” of it. First, No. 1 is for children, No. 2 is for Confirmation classes, No. 3 is for adults and No. 4 is for teachers. And there seems to be a No. 0 for First Communions. But I only saw that once, so I assume it’s somehow nonstandard.

I’ve heard that there are different amounts of questions in the first three. No. 1 having half the questions, No. 2 having a “normal” amount and No. 3 having “extra” questions. And No. 4 having the same as No. 3.

Then I’ve heard that there are No. 3 catechisms with all kinds of maps, essays, passages from the Bible, quotes and background information. Does every publisher always publish for all four levels, or are there some who only publish No. 3 and fill it with as much stuff as possible? Is No. 4 even necessary in those cases?

I’ve seen that there’s the Tan Classics complete set. Then there’s Father Connell’s Confraternity Edition New Baltimore Catechism No.3 which seems to be only this single volume. Then there’s Baronius Press with all four volumes, of which the third one you can see here.

I also saw The New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism Paperback – 1969 by C.P. Father Bennet, but these seem to have either No. 1 or No. 2 or no mention of which volume it is.

And finally Baltimore Catechism Number 3 Paperback – 3. November 2013 by Rev Thomas L Kinkead and Brother Hermenegild TOSF. The Amazon product page explains the different “levels” and says that No. 1 is for First Communion classes. These authors have at least volumes 1, 3 and 4.

If I were a rich man, I’d buy them all and make notes of the differences. But since I am not, I must beg you to tell me all you know about the differences.

Most importantly, which ones of these are complete sets and which ones are individual volumes? Which ones have been revised or updated, and how? Which ones have what kind of additional material? If I believed that there is one or two that are the best ones, then which ones would those be? Or without knowing my preferences, can you help me to come to a conclusion anyway?

Thanks for all the information you can give me.
 
I don’t know the publication history. What I do recall is in 8th grade, 1962, there were a couple additional questions that were not there before. One I recall was about “Catholic Action”, with a tiny picture of a woman speaking to a group of people.

There was another new? question, “What do we mean by ‘outside the Church there is no salvation’”?

It described how those “who, through no fault of their own”…

I think the question about the amount of pre Eucharist fast time must have been updated, since it was cut to only 3 hours for solid foods.

Boy was that an innocent time.
 
Last edited:
From looking at them, it appears that the difference is the year they were originally published. The Tan Classics one looks to be the oldest, from the 1880s.

I have the Baronius Press one somewhere, but it is on paper that I didn’t care for. It was more like newsprint even though it was thick. I sliced it apart and rebound it so it would lie flat. I do like it. I would have taken pictures of the pages, but I have looked high and low and cannot figure out where I put it.

I also have the new Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism paperback by Father Bennett. The one shown on the site is No. 2, and that is what I have. Their picture just cut off the number. Here’s a pic of mine:
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
You can see that it is No. 2. It does contain additional questions, particularly question number 23 pertaining to the Bible and tradition. Here’s a snap of 2 pages:(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
It continues on through question 23L. Although it says it is No. 2, nowhere are any other volumes mentioned. This one is a long time favorite of mine, and includes a dictionary and index, with pictures of the Holy Land in the back and the Mass as it was in 1969. The pictures are black and red line drawings.

It was always my understanding that No. 4 was the teacher’s edition.

I hope this helps a little.☺️
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top