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RCIAGraduate
Guest
Why do Catholics have a Catechism of the Catholic Church when there is already a bible?
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fhansen
Guest
Because the bible can’t explain or interpret itself for you. This is the lesson taught by the encounter of the Ethiopian Eunuch with Philip; we need the Church to authoritatively convey understanding of God’s written Word, along with the Sacred Tradition she possesses as a part of her patrimony. Otherwise we can end up like Protestantism, with a variety of beliefs sometimes in serious conflict with each other. Even JW theology is a legacy of Sola Scriptura.
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cessnawag
Guest
The catechism is the catholic church’s official stand on faith and morals. It helps priest and the rest of us interpret the bible.
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MarkThompson
Guest
This is like asking, why have a chemistry textbook when you have a lab full of chemicals?
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coachdennis
Guest
By your reasoning there should be NO books at all on religion.
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LoyalViews
Guest
Exactly.
Isn’t it easier and more efficient to learn the teachings of the Church with an official catechism, the book of teachings, than to look for different people to tell you different aspects of the faith?
The Bible is the Word of God, and it does not conflict with the Catechism. It’s not the Cathechism vs. the Bible, it’s the Catechism AND the Bible.
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JerryZ
Guest
Because the Bible as the repository of the written word can be daunting to understand.
It is soo easy to grab a passage, yank it out of context and proceed to elaborate heresy upon heresy.
This has happened throught Church history.
The Church in it’s wisdom decided to help the faithfull that want to read and understand the Holy Scriptures by promulgating the Catechism, which draws itself from Sacred Scripture, but tells us the proper key to read the Bible.
The Catechism in fact NEVER contradicts the Bible.
We should be extremely thankfull to the Church for giving us this marvelous tool.
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LegoGE1947
Guest
It helps all people who are interested in understanding what the Church knows for sure. In the US there is a companion book called “The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church” Published by the USCCB it is a smaller book that is the equivalent of the Reader’s Digest compared to other publications. It gives a short explanation to some of the more difficult to understand parts of the Catechism.
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aemcpa
Guest
Actually, the Compendium was also published by the Vatican. Cardinal Ratzinger was the President of the Special Commission that put it together. He submitted it to John Paul II on 20 March 2005. Unfortunately, John Paul II didn’t get to promulgate it before his death on 2 April 2005, so it was left for his successor to promulgate it. Benedict XVI did so on 28 June 2005.It helps all people who are interested in understanding what the Church knows for sure. In the US there is a companion book called “The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church” Published by the USCCB it is a smaller book that is the equivalent of the Reader’s Digest compared to other publications. It gives a short explanation to some of the more difficult to understand parts of the Catechism.
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COPLAND_3
Guest
That’s also like saying, Why did Jesus choose Apostles when He could have just passed out Bibles? Jesus established the Church first, and then the Church developed the Bible. It truly is challenging coming from a Protestant background where the Bible is the “complete authority” to your faith, then to shift gears to a whole other foundation that follows a way that has a tradition and system that came before the Bible was put together. Catholics are to uphold the Bible as Authoritative, but we are to also uphold its correct meaning just as much because the incorrect meaning of the Bible is just as dangerous or perhaps more dangerous than no understanding of it at all. The Bible is the infallible Word of God, and the Church is the infallible interpreter of the Faith of Christianity. The Catechism is a sure way to learn the correct way to understand Catholicism.
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LegoGE1947
Guest
Thanks! I had never noticed that it was originally published by LIBRERIA. EDITRICE VATICANA and then licensed to the USCCB for publication in the US.
You learn something new every day ( At least that’s the tag-line of our local NPR radio station, WNIJ)
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LegoGE1947
Guest
I was formerly an evangelical, before 2002 when I became Catholic. So I sure understand where you are coming from. Actually, for me that was my biggest challenge to converting! For some Mary is the big obstacle but for me it was the concept of “sola scriptura”.
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aemcpa
Guest
I remember thinking at the time that it was pretty neat the Cardinal Ratzinger had essentially submitted it to himself for promulgation.Thanks! I had never noticed that it was originally published by LIBRERIA. EDITRICE VATICANA and then licensed to the USCCB for publication in the US.
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LegoGE1947
Guest
I remember thinking at the time that it was pretty neat the Cardinal Ratzinger had essentially submitted it to himself for promulgation.
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COPLAND_3
Guest
Same here, sola scriptura was programed into my brain for a long time and it took a while before I was able to get it out of my thinking altogether, even after I completely submitted myself to Catholicism. I am so thankful that I have the 2000 years of Catholicism to go to rather than being another dime-a-dozen self-righteous subjective interpreter of the Bible, which I was.I was formerly an evangelical, before 2002 when I became Catholic. So I sure understand where you are coming from. Actually, for me that was my biggest challenge to converting! For some Mary is the big obstacle but for me it was the concept of “sola scriptura”.
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opus101
Guest
Because there are only about 798,562,999,432 .99 different takes on what the Bible means, plus, (as I’m sure you learned in your RCIA class?), the Bible and Tradition are what constitute the faith. How do you think Christians learned the faith for hundreds of years before the compilation of the Bible? It was through catechesis.
Another reason: The Church had been going through a crisis in Catechesis during the latter half of the 20th century, and hearts were crying out for official clarification of the tenets of the Faith. There is still some of this problem lurking about.
The Catechism was a strong and beautiful answer to this need.
Another reason: The Church had been going through a crisis in Catechesis during the latter half of the 20th century, and hearts were crying out for official clarification of the tenets of the Faith. There is still some of this problem lurking about.
The Catechism was a strong and beautiful answer to this need.
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Becca3
Guest
Exactly! The Catechism and the Bible go hand in hand together. I am exploring the faith as part of my conversion process before I am confirmed, and I love reading the Catechism. It really helps me to understand what the bible can’t explain in detail. It is simple and plain to read.
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allhers
Guest
Here is the Prologue to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
It was written by John Paul II, which explains it well. (you can keep clicking on next for each page to continue, it is less than 5 pages long in the Catechism itself.)
…PROLOGUE
"FATHER,… this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."1
"God our Saviour desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."2
"There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved"3 - than the name of JESUS…
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P1.HTM
It was written by John Paul II, which explains it well. (you can keep clicking on next for each page to continue, it is less than 5 pages long in the Catechism itself.)
…PROLOGUE
"FATHER,… this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."1
"God our Saviour desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."2
"There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved"3 - than the name of JESUS…
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P1.HTM
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LegoGE1947
Guest
The Coming Home Network, sponsor of “The Journey Home” on EWTN has a flyer that allows one to read both the Bible and the Catechism through in a year. Their website is www.chnetwork.org.
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PJM
Guest
Take note of the following:
- The bible simply cannot be the only source of what is needed to be saved.
These dates may be off a wee-bit; but the point is critically valid.
Christ Died and Rose from the dead around 33 AD
The Bible was not completely written until the end of the First century or the beginning of he 2nd. Century. WHAT WAS USED IN THE INTRIM? Word of mouth which was the more common form of faith-formation within the Local communities.
Further John in chapters 20 and 21 ends both chapters [he lived to be the lodest Apostle] saying clearly “that not everything is in the bible.”
The Old Testament relies on Sacred Tradition for the bulk of its information. And the NT tells EVERYONE:1 Cor. 11 2: 2 “I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you”
2 Thess. 2: 15 “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter”.
2 Thess. 6 “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us”
So despite Protestant claims to the contrary; the bible itself demands sacred Traditions.
- Once again putting asside Protestant propaganda; **Read carefully Mt. 16: 18-19 **And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church,[Singular!] and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee [Alone] the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven
- God has always chosen a man to lead His chosen people [OT]; and “church” [NT]
John.15: 16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you”
- Perhaps you will recall the 600+ additions added by Moses and the high priest to the 10Commandments. **THAT IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE CATECHISM IS IN THE NT **TIMES; now UNDER GRACE; not only “laws.”
And The CC dates back to the very Paostles in the bible; some 2,000+ years. MUCH has chaged and MUCH has taken place included a Holy Spirit guided enlightened papacy and the magisteroum.**ONLY the CC has both the Holy Spirit [Jn.14;16-17 & Jn.20:1-21] AND Christ in person [Jn.17:15-19] who has committed HIMSELF to be the warranty of ALL that the CC teaches on any and ALL matters of Faith-beliefs and Morals. **
The Bible is 2,000 Years YOUNG:thumbsup: The Catechism does not invalidate a single thing in the bible. The Cathechism explains the Wisdom; the intent and the meaninging of the bible for todays necessary use. The Catechism makes the Bible “alive” for us in present times.
And like the Bible; the catechism too is a Infallible; Holy Spirit Guided document.
So its not one or the other; BUT BOTH which God desires that we use; know and obey.:tiphat:
Thanks for asking, I’m disapointed you din’t uncover some of this in your RCIA.
NOT your fault.God Bless you and Welcome Home
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