Catholic Christianity : A Complete Catechism of Catholic Beliefs Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church

by Kreeft, Peter

• ISBN13: 9780898707984
• ISBN10: 0898707986
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Ignatius Press

Summary

For the first time in 400 years the Catholic Church has authorized an official universal catechism which instantly became an international best-seller, the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Using this official Catechism, the highly-regarded author and professor Peter Kreeft presents a complete compendium of all the major beliefs of Catholicism written in his readable and concise style. Since the Catechism of the Catholic Church was written for the express purpose of grounding and fostering catechisms based on it for local needs and ordinary readers, Kreeft does just that, offering a thorough summary of Catholic doctrine, morality, and worship in a popular format with less technical language. He presents a systematic, organic synthesis of the essential and fundamental Catholic teachings in the light of the Second Vatican Council and the whole of the Church's Tradition. This book is the most thorough, complete and popular catechetical summary of Catholic belief in print that is based on the universal Catechism.

Author Biography

Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy at Boston College, is one of the most respected Christian authors of our time. His many bestselling books cover a vast array of topics in spirituality, theology, and philosophy. They include How to Be Holy, Practical Theology, Back to Virtue, Because God Is Real, You Can Understand the Bible, Angels and Demons, Heaven: The Heart's Deepest Longing, and A Summa of the Summa.

Table of Contents

Preface	9	(6)
PART I: Theology (What Catholics Believe)
Faith	15	(17)
God	32	(12)
Creation	44	(11)
Man	55	(12)
Jesus Christ	67	(16)
The Holy Spirit	83	(14)
The Holy Catholic Church	97	(20)
The Forgiveness of Sins	117	(15)
The Resurrection of the Body	132	(10)
Life Everlasting	142	(13)
PART II: Morality (How Catholics Live)
The Essence of Catholic Morality	155	(12)
Human Nature as the Basis for Morality	167	(14)
Some Fundamental Principles of Catholic Morality	181	(9)
Virtues and Vices	190	(10)
The First Three Commandments: Duties to God	200	(13)
The Fourth Commandment: Family and Social Morality	213	(13)
The Fifth Commandment: Moral Issues of Life and Death	226	(15)
The Sixth and Ninth Commandments: Sexual Morality	241	(17)
The Seventh and Tenth Commandments: Social and Economic Morality	258	(11)
The Eighth Commandment: Truth	269	(12)
PART III: Sacraments and Prayer (How Catholics Worship)
Introduction to Catholic Liturgy	281	(15)
Introduction to the Sacraments	296	(11)
Baptism and Confirmation	307	(13)
The Eucharist	320	(16)
The Sacrament of Penance	336	(12)
Matrimony	348	(14)
Holy Orders	362	(8)
Anointing of the Sick	370	(5)
Prayer	375	(16)
The Lord's Prayer	391	(13)
Mary	404	(19)
Conclusion	423	(2)
Abbreviations	425