Since its publication in 2006, and even more so in recent months as I’ve grown increasingly accustomed to using it, I’ve thought the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is a godsend to all who are involved in teaching (and learning) the Catholic faith.
Of course, being a document of the Holy See and published in the United States by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops isn’t the recipe for a best-seller. Surely the book’s title is accurate, as a “compendium” is a brief summary of a larger work, but it’s not as accessible or endearing as The Catechism for Dummies or Cliff Notes for the Catechism. I’ve found it shocking that many Catholic school teachers and catechists are still unfamiliar with the Catechism itself, let alone its “compendium.”
But marketing concerns aside, I want to provide five reasons why everyone who is interested in teaching (and learning) the Catholic faith should own a copy of the Compendium:
(1) It is a compendium.
My hardbound copy of the Catechism is over 900 pages. The Compendium, counting the appendix and index, is barely 200 pages. Yet the Compendium closely follows the Catechism’s presentation of the four pillars of catechesis (creed, sacraments, morality, and prayer), and has an easy-to-use cross-referencing system that makes it very easy to find a fuller presentation of the teaching in the Catechism.
(2) Dialogical format.
The Compendium follows a question-and-answer format. This format sadly fell out of favor among the generation of catechists who resisted the Baltimore Catechism. Yet, this type of presentation, as Pope Benedict notes in the introduction, is an ancient catechetical genre that allows the reader to enter into an imaginary discussion between teacher and disciple. This encourages the reader to actively engage the text.
(3) Brevity of the teaching.
This format also allows for brief answers to specific catechetical questions. The way of the Vatican II documents and the Catechism itself–-not to mention the way of Pope John Paul II–-has been to provide more detailed discussion and explanation of Church teaching, which has truly been a gift to the Church. But while faith seeks understanding, we first need to have a handle on what the faith is. For that reason, the Compendium’s concise expression of Catholic doctrine, which even lends itself to memorization, provides a wonderful framework on which catechumens can build a solid understanding of the faith.
(4) Traditional art.
Like CUF’s critically acclaimed Faith and Life elementary series and MTF's exceptional Didache high school series (both available in a new, online format through My Catholic Faith Delivered), the Compendium makes use of classical religious art to enhance its presentation of the Catholic faith. As Pope Benedict has stressed, the art produced over the centuries by the Church is one of the most effective catechetical tools in the Church’s catechetical arsenal, given the power of beauty to draw people to God.
(5) Check out the back of the book.
In the back of the book, there is an appendix with an ample selection of Catholic prayers in both English and Latin, as well as formulas of Catholic doctrine that should be known by all believers, young and old alike. This section goes a long way toward bridging the “generation gap” by reminding us of our shared religious patrimony and giving us a common language of prayer.
If you don’t already own a hard copy of the Compendium, you may order one through Emmaus Road Publishing, among other places. Click here for more details.