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catholicdan
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| Joined: | Wed Jul 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | Merced, California USA |
| Posts: | 61 |
| First Name: | Danny | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | From A 2 Z now on to RC. |
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Posted: Mon Jul 16th, 2007 10:51 pm |
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Hi folks.
My wife and I scraped together our loose change and went out a collected cans so we could purchase two books. The first is "Catechism of the Catholic Church" Second Edition Libreria Editrice Vaticana, and "Catholic Book of Prayers" edited by Rev. Maurus Fitzgerald, O.F.M, Catholic Book Publishing Corp. New Jersey.
I wanted to get the Catechism of the Catholic Church so I could start my studies on the church and its teachings from the source. My wife wanted the Catholic Book of Prayers for devotional purposes.
We are going to be attending RCIA and asked the book store clerk what book would we need for RCIA and the gave us the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Hope this was the right book.
Peace.
____________________
"To be steeped in history is to cease to be Protestant." Cardinal Newman
"Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux,
Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux"
May the Holy Cross be my Light.
Let not the dragon be my guide.
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Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1268 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Jul 16th, 2007 11:23 pm |
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| Danny, the Catholic Book of Prayers was one of the first books I bought. I still use it, and keep it by the bed or computer. I used it the other day to type out the Prayer for Grace to Help Others by St. Francis of Assisi. I hope your wife will find a lot of comfort in it like I did.
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5080 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Tue Jul 17th, 2007 12:02 am |
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catholicdan wrote: We are going to be attending RCIA and asked the book store clerk what book would we need for RCIA and the gave us the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The Catechism is an excellent book. It presents the teachings of the Catholic Church concisely, is extremely well researched, and very well written.
However, it is not the book I would recommend for those attending RCIA. I never recommended it in my own program, and never used it as a text.
The Catechism is a reference book. It is intended for Catholics and catechists who want to be able to look up what the Church teaches on a particular subject. It does not directly address apologetics-type questions. It's sort of like handing someone an encyclopedia so they can study science. The information is in there, but you have to know where to look.
There are other books that do a better job of presenting the faith to those who are not familiar with it.
I made my recommendations on general books about the Catholic faith in this thread. Others contributed their ideas as well.
Don't get me wrong, the Catechism should be on the bookshelf of everyone who wants to learn more about the Catholic faith, and certainly in every Catholic household. But's not necessarily the best place to start.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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catholicdan
Member
| Joined: | Wed Jul 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | Merced, California USA |
| Posts: | 61 |
| First Name: | Danny | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | From A 2 Z now on to RC. |
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Posted: Tue Jul 17th, 2007 01:00 am |
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CajunRick wrote: The Catechism is an excellent book. It presents the teachings of the Catholic Church concisely, is extremely well researched, and very well written.
However, it is not the book I would recommend for those attending RCIA. I never recommended it in my own program, and never used it as a text.
The Catechism is a reference book. It is intended for Catholics and catechists who want to be able to look up what the Church teaches on a particular subject. It does not directly address apologetics-type questions. It's sort of like handing someone an encyclopedia so they can study science. The information is in there, but you have to know where to look.
There are other books that do a better job of presenting the faith to those who are not familiar with it.
I made my recommendations on general books about the Catholic faith in this thread. Others contributed their ideas as well.
Don't get me wrong, the Catechism should be on the bookshelf of everyone who wants to learn more about the Catholic faith, and certainly in every Catholic household. But's not necessarily the best place to start.
Thanks for the info. I am not completely unfamiliar with the teachings of the Catholic Church by any means. I was once an opponent of the Catholic Church and had to study the basic teachings to address what was "wrong" with the RCC. In this endeavor I started to see over the years of challenging those who weren't "Reformed" or "awakened" to the truth that some of my own arguments and those of my church were less agreeable to the early church faith than the RCC.
I figured out how to use the Catechism of the Catholic Church after a few attempts. I am use to using works in this format and that is what has helped me. As to someone completely unfamiliar with works as the Catechism of the Catholic Church or no knowledge of its teachings or apologetics in general, I would most likely agree with you.
I would like to know what other books you would recommend.
Not to sound offended because I am not, but sometimes I get the feeling that those who are coming over to the Catholic Church are treated as though they do not have any training in exegesis, hermeneutic and homiletics. I know some who are very educated but just needed to be allowed to see or be open to the real history of the Church.
Thanks for your input.
Peace.
Last edited on Tue Jul 17th, 2007 01:02 am by catholicdan
____________________
"To be steeped in history is to cease to be Protestant." Cardinal Newman
"Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux,
Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux"
May the Holy Cross be my Light.
Let not the dragon be my guide.
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5080 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Tue Jul 17th, 2007 01:15 am |
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catholicdan wrote: I am use to using works in this format and that is what has helped me.
That's fine, but your original statement dealt with books that we would recommend for RCIA. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is not a text, it's a reference. The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults is a much better text. For example, the CCC does not distinguish between dogma, doctine, and teaching; the USCCA does. The CCC does not include Q&A topics for discussion at the end of chapters; the USCCA does. The CCC was intended as a reference to be used by bishop's conferences to write their own catechisms. The USCCA is the "local" catechism the CCC foresaw.
The thread I cited in my message above included a list of several books that I consider worthy. In addition to the USCCA, one of my favorites is Unabridged Christianity by Fr. Mario Romero. But if I was selecting a text for RCIA, it would be the USCCA.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 734 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Jul 18th, 2007 11:13 am |
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Actually, when I started out I read the catechism all the way through and had no trouble with it. It doesn't have an encyclopedic organization, it is meant to be read like the Bible is. It is divided into topical sections and has enough footnotes to satisfy the really curious.
I think whether you can use the "big fat green catechism book" in the beginning depends on whether you are a verbal learner.
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Annie
Ora et labora
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Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1268 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Jul 20th, 2007 01:30 am |
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| When our RCIA started we all compared our editions of the catechism and our small group leaders used them during discussion. I agree with Rick, for someone who is only starting out and just curious it might not be the most user-friendly, but someone who refers to himself as CatholicDan is more than just curious! It will be the one book, other than your Bible, that will serve throughout your journey.
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BettyBoopToo
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Camas/Washougal, Washington USA |
| Posts: | 538 |
| First Name: | Betty | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Fist Baptist/Calvary Babtist/Secular Confusion/ Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Jul 20th, 2007 03:02 am |
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Rick, this is a very interesting comment.
However, it is not the book I would recommend for those attending RCIA. I never recommended it in my own program, and never used it as a text.
The CCC and the New American Bible were the first books father gave us in RCIA, Then he gave us Catholic Christianity by Kreift and Prayer Primer by fr. Dubay. I'd just not ever thought about that maybe others would use different books. I highly respect your opinion on Catechises and you just kind of threw me here. HHHMMMM!  I have another book that I know Father supports and he may give to his current RCIA groups too, as he gave my mil who is on the RCIa team one. It's called the Catholic Source Book by Rev. Peter Klein. I was just wondering if you've heard of it or have one???
The Catholic Source Book is a vast collection of information to help people of faith learn, renew, teach and live the risen life of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church. Prayer, Overview of Tradition, scripture, church, Liturgy, Liturgical year, devotions, veneration of Saints, Catholic Symbols, word and phrase origins.
Daniel, The Catholic Source Book can be found at Catholic book stores also, and you & your DW may really enjoy it's set up and it has alot of information about the church, instead of just doctrinal information. Don't get me wrong. I'm really glad you bought a Catechism
I'm glad you were able to get a couple of books, It's so exciting to be on a new road of faith, it makes us just want to dig in to learn. I hope you'll beable to keep your home and internet connection too.
God Bless, you in my prayers. Betty
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Patience
"Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent."
St. John of the Cross
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 5080 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Jul 20th, 2007 08:19 am |
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BettyBoopToo wrote:
The CCC and the New American Bible were the first books father gave us in RCIA,
I just don't think the average RCIA participant, in my opinion, knows enough about Catholic culture to properly understand the Catechism. It was never intended as a text, although for a long time it was the only really reliable book out there. The new US Catholic Catechism for Adults is a much better text.
It's called the Catholic Source Book by Rev. Peter Klein. I was just wondering if you've heard of it or have one???
I actually have several copies and use it often. Like the Catechism it is a great reference but again, I would not distribute it as a text book.
I think handing someone the Catechism and telling them to learn the Catholic faith is like handing someone an encyclopedia and telling them to learn history. All the information is in there but it's not organized in a fashion that is intended for teaching non-Catholics about the Catholic faith.
That is not to discount the value of the Catechism. It is a wonderful resource.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 734 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Jul 20th, 2007 11:37 am |
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I also read The Catholic Source Book from cover to cover. (that's why I wear glasses).
____________________
Annie
Ora et labora
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