THE P RTAL
June 2015
Page 23
A Catechism
of Christian Doctrine
The famous Penny Catechism has been re-published
and Laura Magson has been reading it
T
he Catholic Truth Society (CTS) has recently
of edition of what was originally known as The Penny
Catechism – so-called because of how much it cost when first
published in 1889.
produced
a
third
This pocket-sized book is structured to mirror the
full Catechism of the Catholic Church and is presented
in a question and answer format covering all aspects of
the Catholic Faith, with a selection of common prayers
at the end.
It begins with a chapter on faith in God. The first
questions are: “Who made you?” Answer: “God made
me” and “Why did God make you?” “God made me to
know him, love him and serve him in this world and to
be happy with him for ever in the next.” An explanation
of each article of the Apostles’ Creed follows.
These straight-to-the-point answers continue for the
rest of the 370 questions. There is no excessive detail
or elaboration, just simple direct answers on subjects
that can be explored in much more detail by those who capital sin, the six sins against the Holy Spirit and the
want to.
sins of others.
The second chapter is entitled “Hope”, with sections
on hope and grace, (including: “What is hope?”, “What
is grace?”) and prayer – a quick introduction: “What
is prayer?” “Prayer is the raising up of the mind and
heart to God.” A line-by-line breakdown of the Our
Father and the Hail Mary follows.
“The Christian’s Rule of Life and Daily Exercise” tells
us about the rule of life we must follow if we hope to be
saved: “What are we bound to do by the rule of Jesus
Christ?” “By the rule of life taught by Jesus Christ we
are bound always to hate sin and to love God.” and a
guide follows on to how to begin and end the day, and
what we should do daily.
The next chapter, on Charity, is broken down into
the Commandments of God and the Commandments
The final chapter lists “Some Common Prayers”, an
of the Church. Here it tells us what each of the Ten Act of Contrition, the Rosary, and the Angelus are
Commandments is, with a few more questions to all there as a useful reference, and the whole book
expand on their meaning. A similar discussion of the concludes with an Aspiration.
six chief Commandments of the Church follows.
This little book says it should not be considered
We then receive an explanation of what a sacrament an abridged version of the Catechism of the
is, followed by a number of questions on each of the Catholic Church. Instead, it could be considered
seven – “What is ?” - an accompaniment – providing brief but complete
always being the first.
answers, and ideas as to what you might wish to look
into further.
A chapter on virtues and vice covers the Theological
Virtues, Cardinal Virtues, gifts and fruits of the Holy
A Catechism of Christian Doctrine is published by
Spirit, the Beatitudes and sin. Here we learn about the Catholic Truth Society, ISBN 978 085183 420 7
contents page