The Roman Catholic

DIOCESE OF PAGADIAN

Catholic Catechism

What is a catechism?

A catechism is a text which contains the fundamental Christian truths formulated in a way that facilitates their understanding. There are two categories of catechism: major and minor. A major catechism is a resource or a point of reference for the development of minor catechisms. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is an example of a major catechism. The Baltimore Catechism is an example of a minor catechism.

What is a universal catechism?

A “universal catechism” is a major catechism which is intended to be a resource or point of reference for the development of national or local catechisms and catechetical materials throughout the world. Such a catechism can be termed “universal” in that its primary audience is the universal Church.

What is the purpose of the Catechism?

The Catechism serves several important functions:

  1. It conveys the essential and fundamental content of Catholic faith and morals in a complete and summary way.
  2. It is a point of reference for national and diocesan catechisms.
  3. It is a positive, objective and declarative exposition of Catholic doctrine.
  4. It is intended to assist those who have the duty to catechize, namely promoters and teachers of catechesis.

What exactly is in the Catechism?

The Catechism contains the essential and fundamental content of the Catholic faith in a complete and summary way. It presents what Catholics throughout the world believe in common. It presents these truths in a way that facilitates their understanding.

The Catechism presents Catholic doctrine within the context of the Church’s history and tradition. Frequent references to Sacred Scripture, the writings of the Fathers, the lives and writings of the saints, conciliar and papal documents and liturgical texts enrich the Catechism in a way that is both inviting and challenging. There are over three thousand footnotes in the Catechism.