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December 17, 2004
Something New....Reading the Catechism
In an effort to assist each of you in growing in your Catholic faith, we here at Living Catholicism have decided to start something new, an ongoing reflection on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. On a regular basis we will post one section of the Catechism and, at times, commentary on its meaning and application. The Catechism is one of the greatest gifts and treasures of Pope John Paul II's pontificate. It serves as a light of truth for the Church during these dark times we live in.
Our hope and prayer is that these reflections will serve as a means for each of you to become more aware of what the Catholic Church teaches and believes.
May the Holy Family continue to bless and guide you and your family. Amen.
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 Savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." "There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" - than the name of JESUS.
I. THE LIFE OF MAN - TO KNOW AND LOVE GOD1 God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Savior. In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life.
2 So that this call should resound throughout the world, Christ sent forth the apostles he had chosen, commissioning them to proclaim the gospel: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." Strengthened by this mission, the apostles "went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it."3 Those who with God's help have welcomed Christ's call and freely responded to it are urged on by love of Christ to proclaim the Good News everywhere in the world. This treasure, received from the apostles, has been faithfully guarded by their successors. All Christ's faithful are called to hand it on from generation to generation, by professing the faith, by living it in fraternal sharing, and by celebrating it in liturgy and prayer.
Posted by HolyFamily at December 17, 2004 12:01 PM
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» Conversations on the Catechism from Ales Rarus
I've tried unsuccessfully to get some ecumenical discussion going by using the Catechism's coverage of the Apostles' Creed. Jay at Living Catholicism seems to be getting more feedback on his catechetical posts. I encourage folks to go check them out.... [Read More]
Tracked on December 19, 2004 10:08 PM
Comments
I hope your efforts are more fruitful than mine. I've been trying to cover the Apostles' Creed via the Catechism and have gotten nil response. My "Conversations on the Catechism" posts didn't generate any conversation. *sigh*
Posted by: Funky Dung at December 17, 2004 12:46 PM
Great idea!
Hey Funky ... the things I have done like your "Conversations" have generated practically no feedback (in my case posting bits of Bible study info that I liked). However, just when I was wondering if it was worth the typing involved, I got several comments about people who had been reading all along but just not making any remarks. You never know what good you may be doing so don't lose heart.
Posted by: Julie D. at December 17, 2004 3:09 PM
Thanks you for doing this. I have really been feeling the need to get back to the basics of the faith.
As far as comments like these, sometimes the thoughts I have when reading posts like these are hard for to to put into words. Like this first selection. I have to think about it's meaning. I am reminded of the call to evangelize, something I have not done as much as I could. I often use the phrase "Preach the Gospel always; when necessary, use words". And I believe it to be true, but I also think I use it as an excuse at times for not using words often enough. But when we think about the amazing thing God has done by even creating us in the first place to share His life, how can we not proclaim it?
Posted by: Philothea Rose at December 17, 2004 4:26 PM
Hi Funky,
I would have to agree with Julie, the most important thing is that we "bear witness to the truth." This is at the very heart of Christ's mission:
For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice.
- John 18:37
So what we really should hope and pray for are "receptive" readers. Comments are nice, but what is more important is that others actually "hear" the truth. So take heart, who knows how many have read your "Conversations" and conformed their lives to the truth.
In Christ,
Joe
Posted by: Joe at December 17, 2004 5:26 PM
