In the military the rule is “follow your last order first”…I think this would be a good guide here. The best catechism is the last one published…I enjoyed it.I have no idea why I’m compelled to make this thread here.
But what is the best Catechism to have? My one is the Second Edition “revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II”.
That’s a fairly good point.In the military the rule is “follow your last order first”…I think this would be a good guide here. The best catechism is the last one published…I enjoyed it.
What is the latest one?There are really a few differences that are not critical for most of the people. If you have the old one just keep it. If you need to by a new one then you should buy the latest edition.
Do older Catechisms contain stuff that the Church has changed it mind on now though? I mean, you know, the insignificant things. I don’t know, this might sound offensive. I don’t mean it to. I just don’t know how to word it properly.The best Catechism is, for adults and pastors, “The Roman Catechism”, edited by Saint Charles Borromeo.
It is the most complete, dogmatically correct exposition of Church teaching and it was given an Imprimatur and edited by a canonized saint.
Just wording in some sentences, nothing significant that would affect the teachings. The following is a statement from the web site of the USA Catholic Bishops.Do older Catechisms contain stuff that the Church has changed it mind on now though? I mean, you know, the insignificant things. I don’t know, this might sound offensive. I don’t mean it to. I just don’t know how to word it properly.
How does the second edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church differ from the first edition?
The second edition differs in two ways. First, the second edition reflects the changes that were made in the final Latin text in 1997. Second, the second edition includes a new index. The glossary was also added in the American version of the second edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
So in a sense then, it doesn’t matter?Just wording in some sentences, nothing significant that would affect the teachings. The following is a statement from the web site of the USA Catholic Bishops.
That is your personal opinion. The Church published the Catechism of the Catholic Church because She recognized that there was the need for it, and that it is the latest that has been published.The best Catechism is, for adults and pastors, “The Roman Catechism”, edited by Saint Charles Borromeo.
It is the most complete, dogmatically correct exposition of Church teaching and it was given an Imprimatur and edited by a canonized saint.
Correct. If you go to the website of the Vatican you will see that the English online version is the first one, but if you but a copy from the bookstore you will be given the second edition.So in a sense then, it doesn’t matter?
It is a lot more than my personal opinion.That is your personal opinion. The Church published the Catechism of the Catholic Church because She recognized that there was the need for it, and that it is the latest that has been published.
“Best” and “most complete” are your opinions and not the ones of the Church. Having or not having an infallible status associated to it is not the end of the story for a teaching document and it does not imply a full development of a doctrine.It is a lot more than my personal opinion.
The Roman Catechism has an infallible status attached to it.
The CCC does not.
They are similar in many ways but there are also differences in teachings.
Alright then. Thanks.Use the most recent one, authorized by Pope John Paul II.
I like the analogy to military orders.
Catechisms are designed to explain and answer questions, etc. New questions come up over time as the outside world changes (example: “is it a sin to drive over the speed limit?”), and so catechisms develop accordingly.
Church doctrine never changes, however.
Another thing, what about those Catechisms that are for different audiences, like students, clerics etc?Another book that I would suggest for people in middle school and high school is the English edition of YouCat. It is strongly recommended by the present Pope.