Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Meanwhile, though, a new Compendium to the Catechism is out
Vatican, Jun. 28 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) released the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church at a June 28 liturgical ceremony at the Vatican.
In his homily, Pope Benedict said that the new volume fulfilled an important need by providing "a brief, concise catechism, containing all and only the essential and fundamental elements of Catholic faith and morals." He expressed his hope that the work would make more people acquainted with the teachings of the Church.
The need for a Compendium of the Catechism had become clear, the Holy Father said, with the appearance of many books-- which he described as "more or less successful"-- attempting to summarize the teachings of the full Catechism. The problem, the Pope observed, was to ensure a presentation that would be fully accurate, preserving "the fullness and integrity of Catholic doctrine." The solution to that problem, Pope Benedict continued, was to produce an abridged version of the Catechism that was reliable and complete, as certified by the approval of the Pope. He said that the Compendium, which "maintains intact" the essential teachings of the Catechism, should now become "a fundamental tool of education in the faith."
The Pope also expressed satisfaction with the way the Compendium presents the Church's teachings, in a concise question-and-answer format that allows "clarity of communication." He also drew attention to the inclusion of prayers at the end of the volume-- many of them in Latin, to promote the common prayer of the universal Church.
The Compendium, in its Italian-language edition, is a 205-page book, consisting of 598 questions and responses. It also includes a number of icons and other sacred images-- which, the Pope explained-- "express the splendor of Catholic truth, showing the supreme harmony between the good and the beautiful." The book will be available for sale beginning on June 29, with translations into other languages already underway.
During the Vatican ceremony, Pope Benedict presented copies of the Compendium to various prelates, clerics, religious, and lay people who were selected to symbolize the Catholic community. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn (bio - news) of Vienna, the secretary of the committee that edited the original Catechism, received the first ceremonial copy of the Compendium.
In his homily, Pope Benedict said that the new volume fulfilled an important need by providing "a brief, concise catechism, containing all and only the essential and fundamental elements of Catholic faith and morals." He expressed his hope that the work would make more people acquainted with the teachings of the Church.
The need for a Compendium of the Catechism had become clear, the Holy Father said, with the appearance of many books-- which he described as "more or less successful"-- attempting to summarize the teachings of the full Catechism. The problem, the Pope observed, was to ensure a presentation that would be fully accurate, preserving "the fullness and integrity of Catholic doctrine." The solution to that problem, Pope Benedict continued, was to produce an abridged version of the Catechism that was reliable and complete, as certified by the approval of the Pope. He said that the Compendium, which "maintains intact" the essential teachings of the Catechism, should now become "a fundamental tool of education in the faith."
The Pope also expressed satisfaction with the way the Compendium presents the Church's teachings, in a concise question-and-answer format that allows "clarity of communication." He also drew attention to the inclusion of prayers at the end of the volume-- many of them in Latin, to promote the common prayer of the universal Church.
The Compendium, in its Italian-language edition, is a 205-page book, consisting of 598 questions and responses. It also includes a number of icons and other sacred images-- which, the Pope explained-- "express the splendor of Catholic truth, showing the supreme harmony between the good and the beautiful." The book will be available for sale beginning on June 29, with translations into other languages already underway.
During the Vatican ceremony, Pope Benedict presented copies of the Compendium to various prelates, clerics, religious, and lay people who were selected to symbolize the Catholic community. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn (bio - news) of Vienna, the secretary of the committee that edited the original Catechism, received the first ceremonial copy of the Compendium.
