What is the Catechism and how do we use it?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) was completed on December 8, 1992 and promulgated by St. Pope John Paul II. It was the first comprehensive and complete catechism in 500 years (since the Council of Trent in 1566). It is intended to be used as a reference text for the entire Catholic world (universal Church) for understanding the faith of the Church. It was to be used as a model for writing local catechisms that would serve various parts of the world based on culture and local needs.
The CCC is not referred by page numbers but rather by paragraph numbers. There are 2,865 paragraphs which are cross-referenced to Sacred Scripture (the bible) and other documents. The main topics are:
The Profession of Faith: The Creed (what we believe)
The Celebration of the Christian Mystery (liturgy and sacraments)
Life in Christ (moral living, sin, grace & salvation)
Christian Prayer (especially the Lord’s Prayer)
The bishops of the United States produced a catechism for the U.S. Church based on this universal catechism. It is called the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. What makes it different is that it breaks down the universal catechism into manageable chapters in easy-to-read prose and includes texts to help people better understand what they are reading, including stories of saints and heroes, ways to pray, brief summaries, discussion questions, and ways to apply the teaching in everyday life—particularly within the culture of the United States. It is suitable for all adults who wish to learn about the teachings of the Catholic Church. Many high school students benefit from it as well.
The entire Catechism of the Catholic Church is available in print version or for reading online, click HERE to view.
The entire text of the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults is available in print or online click HERE to view.