[admins - I hope I posted this in the correct section, if not please feel free to move it] While browsing in a second hand shop a couple of years ago, I found this little booklet. "CATECHISM OF CHRISTIAN DOCTERINE" A local edition of the "Penny Catechism", that would have been common place in Catholic national(primary) schools (roughly ages 4-13) up until the 1960's. My parents generation and before had to learn all these answers off by heart and would then have been very strictly examined on them and asked to recite the answers back word for word. Browsing through it again recently, I've realised that some of the answers are quite profound in their simplicity and depth, and therefore very easy to use for further contemplation. It is divine simplicity itself, but as deep as the ocean. If it's ok with the admins, I think I'll post an excerpt from it regularly, as it's an exercise that will give me some simple material for contemplation, and hopefully some of the readers here as well. Please feel free to add your own comments / thoughts / contemplations on the excerpts throughout the thread.
PART 1 (FOR FIRST COMMUNION CLASS) ---o--- Lesson 1. - GOD AND CREATION ---o--- 1 - Who created you and placed you in the world? God 2- Why did God create you? To know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him, and by that means to gain everlasting life. 3- Who is God? God is the Creator of Heaven and Earth, and Sovereign Lord of all things. 4- Had God a beginning? No ; He never had a beginning, nor will He ever have an end. 5- Where is God? God is everywhere. 6- Does God see everything? God sees all things, even the most secret thoughts of our hearts NOTE 1 Created, Made out of nothing.
This small catechism starts with a few prayers. The Hail Mary is included, but interestingly (at least to me), it’s not titled "Hail Mary" as we usually see. Instead, it’s appropriately referred to as the "Angelical Salutation." A Little Historical Context: The original purpose of this catechism was excellent—it was designed to require Catholic pupils to memorise the answers to the questions, while also allowing teachers to explain the answers and their meanings. Unfortunately, its widespread implementation was not as effective. Children were expected to memorise it word for word, with great strictness, but without any real explanation of what the answers or terms meant. I spoke to my mother today, who is in her 80s. She remembers this catechism well, but unfortunately, not with fondness for the reason mentioned above. Whenever they asked any questions, they were simply told, "Just learn it, you’ll understand when you’re older." She suspects that most of the teachers didn’t really understand the answers themselves and had merely memorised them as well, without any deeper understanding. To receive Confirmaton when you came of age (around 12-13), children had to be able to answer any three questions chosen at random from the book, word for word. They were first examined by a diocesan examiner in their Confirmation year at school. If they passed, they could attend the upcoming confirmation ceremony and Mass. At the actual Confirmation, when you were called forward to meet the Bishop, he would ask you three random questions from the book. If you failed to provide the exact wording for any of them, you were escorted back to the entrance of the church and given a few minutes of intense coaching. You would then have a second and final chance with the Bishop. If you failed again, you were not confirmed that year, and had to wait another two years for the next opportunity. My mother recalls that at least two or three children didn’t pass each year, and no leniency was given. They would simply have to wait for the next Confirmation session in two years time, though they could leave school in the meantime if they had completed their education. Eventually, this strict style of learning the Catechism was abandoned and replaced with the much more casual approach we have today. I think most of us would agree that many Catholics today don’t even know the basic Catechism and teachings of the Church. What they do know is often a confusing mixture of unreliable sources and media influences. That’s certainly the impression I had when I left school, and I believe many in my age group share that experience. We are now in the third generation of Catholics worldwide, most of whom have never been properly catechised. The consequences of this are clear: confusion, indifference, and even hostility towards certain Catholic teachings are widespread. Although I read the full, larger edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) a few years ago, it’s both interesting and helpful (at least to me) to revisit and deeply reflect on these short questions and their brief answers as an adult Catholic today. I hope to post a few personal thoughts on my own contemplation of Lesson 1 shortly, and then, it's on to contemplation of Lesson 2. Please feel free of course to share any of your own thoughts, recollections and observations ...
My own thoughts on lesson 1 - "Who created you and placed you in the world?" We sometimes think of ourselves as just one of billions that landed where we did randomly, but I like the reminder that God himself placed into the world, exactly where and when he wanted us to exist. - "He never had a beginning, nor will He ever have an end." - nice and simple, says it all - "God is everywhere. God sees all things, even the most secret thoughts of our hearts" a daunting notion at first, but as we grow in the faith and get better at it and understanding it, comforting I had a look at two other famous short catechism, the "penny catechism" of the UK and the Baltimore Catechism. I like the way the Baltimore Catechism adds scripture quotes that assist with each answer. I'm finding this a nice contemplation exercise, I hope some others do as well. Please chime in with your own thoughts anytime ! This thread is not just for my veiws! ... I'll post the next extract soon.
I like this thread. I was taught using the Baltimore Catechism and I find it is orthodox and complete.
Great !, There is something soothing as an Adult revisiting and re-contemplating these truths put so clearly and concisely, and mulling them over again with the gift of more life experience and a bit more understanding of the depth. Chime in with a few thoughts, or added quotes from the Baltimore Catechism etc. anytime! The more the merrier. It's all great food for thought.
Lesson 2. - THE BLESSED TRINITY ---o--- 1 - How many Gods are there ? There is but one God. 2 - How many Persons in God ? There are three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. 3- Is the Father God ? He is. 4- Is the Son God ? He is. 5- Is the Holy Ghost God ? He is. 6- Are there Three Gods ? No ; because these three Persons have but one and the same Divine nature. 7- What are these three Persons in one Divine nature called ? They are called the Blessed Trinity 8- Is any one of these Divine Persons older or better than another ? No ; they are equal in everything.
It's a good time to say : Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. It’s helpful to think of the Trinity in terms of their unified action in salvation history, and these roles don't imply any hierarchy in terms of authority or divinity. The three Divine Persons are perfectly equal to one another, because all are one and the same God. The Father : Creator, the source of all that is. The Son : Savior, who became incarnate to redeem humanity. The Holy Spirit : Sanctifier, who works in believers' hearts to transform and empower us
Lesson 3. - THE INCARNATION ---o--- 1 - Which of these Three Divine Persons became man ? The Son of God, the second Person of the most Holy Trinity 2 - He became Man - what does that mean ? It means that He took a body and soul such as we have 3- Where did he take this body and soul ? In the chaste womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Mother. 4- Why did He become Man ? To redeem and save us from sin and hell, and teach us the way to heaven. 5- What is he called since He became man? He is called Jesus Christ. 6- Is Jesus Christ God ? Jesus Christ is both God and Man. 7- On what day was Jesus Christ born ? On Christmas day, at the hour of midnight. NOTES 4 - Redeem. To buy back for a price ; to save. The price Jesus Christ paid for our deliverance was His own most Precious Blood. 7 - Born. Christ was born in the Stable of Bethlehem.
