The Foundational Text Many Catholics Have Never Read...
Many Catholics have read the Bible, or at least part of it, at some point during their lives. And this is to be expected. After all, it is the most important book in the Catholic Church! It contains the story of our salvation and reveals the life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
However, there is another remarkable book that often goes unnoticed—the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Though it is the 2nd most important book in the Church, many Catholics have never read it and see it more as a reference book than something they should sit down and read. Is this a fair assumption or are many Catholics missing out on an invaluable gift from God?
More Than Just Rules
Many Catholics think the Catechism solely outlines various rules and guidelines for Catholics to follow—but this isn't entirely correct.
Rather, the Catechism teaches us much more: it shows us who God is and who we are—and how to live in a right relationship with our Creator.
This foundational book is structured with four pillars that comprehensively outline what we believe, how we worship, how we live, and how we pray. In this, we learn not only what we believe and practice as Catholics but also why.
The Catechism serves as both a reference as questions regarding our Faith arise and as a guide designed to help us mature in our own personal faith.
Want to delve into this foundational text? Try the Catechism in a Year podcast, where you will journey with Fr. Mike Schmitz and Catholics from around the world as they grow in knowledge and understanding of the Catholic Faith together.
This is the exact Catechism Fr. Mike Schmitz reads throughout the podcast, and it is the only Catechism in the world that has the Foundations of Faith approach built in!
The Foundations of Faith is the color-coded approach that the Catechism in a Year reading plan is based on, and gives Catholics a framework to understand the big picture of their faith.
It truly is the Catechism that teaches you how to read it.
The first Catechism in history to include a built-in, color-coded guide
How Catholics learn with this Catechism:
Carefully designed pages to make the majestic truth and beauty of the Catholic Faith readable, organized, and inviting
An original and specially designed color-coded approach that helps readers understand how everything in the Catechism is connected together
The Catechism at a Glance Chart woven within the text to show how the Catechism is structured and where to find key teachings of the Catholic Faith
Highlighted keywords and visual references help Catholics quickly identify major truths and easily find their place within the big picture of the Catechism
Dozens of callout boxes to highlight the books of Sacred Scripture and the writings of the Church that are the basis for the Catechism’s teachings
An exclusive, never-before-seen appendix, “Sources from Scripture and the Church,” with a clear introduction to hundreds of sources in the Catechism
Top Reviews From Catholics Like You
★★★★★
This is treasure
I was a lapsed Catholic, feeling confused about what I believed. For the past two months I've been faithfully listening/reading the Catechism, and it has guided me back to full communion with the Catholic Church, and to a full appreciation of what a TREASURE the Catholic Faith is. I feel like the man who found a treasure in the field and bought the whole field for joy. I get it now!
★★★★★
A Must Read for All Christians
I am very pleased with the Catechism. I have been remiss in reading the second most important book to our Faith. It is so important to understand the proper context and an accurate account of the history offered by the Holy Fathers responsible for proceeding with the teachings of Christ. My only regret is waiting so long to seek a more wholesome understanding!
★★★★★
Spectacular book on our Faith
I have used the Catechism on occasion to look up information about my Catholic beliefs but have never read it from beginning to end. I didn't know quite what to expect but reading it along with the CIY podcast has been amazing, enlightening, beautiful, fulfilling, reassuring, and so much more! The book itself is beautiful, easy to read and use, and will be a volume I will treasure forever.