Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition Paperback – March 2, 2000

Easy to read and follow.

Was extremely useful in helping a few protestant friends convert and join RCIA, all the information and teachings in one convenient book.

The Catchism is a compact and handy hard-cover you can easily carry in your bag or even lady's purse. This edition was promulgated by Poe john Paul II which would be ideal for Polish Catholics and those from Central and Eastern Europe. Also, at US$9.99, it is value for money.

This is a compact edition 7.2 x 4.5 x 1.7 (825 pages) of the larger, more current and easy to use edition 9 x 6.7 x 2 inches (920 pages) by USCCB Publishing. Yet, this is more suitable when travelling and on the road.Nota Bene: This edition was published in April 1995. Although called the Second Edition, this is not therefore the "Catechism of the Catholic Church: revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II" which was published in April 2000. In fact, there is a proviso on the copyright page that says, "This translation is subject to the Latin typico edition (editio typica) when it is published."Anyway, there are a number of different good Catechisms that are in print. To name a few, Father John A. Hardon gave us The Catholic Catechism: A Contemporary Catechism of the Teachings of the Catholic Church and The Question & Answer Catholic Catechism. Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl authored the Teaching of Christ and later The Gift of Faith: A Question and Answer Catechism Version of the Teaching of Christ. Better known as the Roman Catechism (Resources for catechetical teachers), there is the less known version of The Catechism of the Council of Trent, which has a history like no other.Each of these has its unique format. However, examining the Roman Catechism, one finds it is divided into four parts which correspond to the divisions followed by the Church since early Christian times:1. Catholic belief presented in an explanation of the twelve articles of the Apostles' Creed.2. The seven sacraments are explained at length, instituted by Christ as a means for the living of the demands of faith.3. The Ten Commandments in a New Testament setting showing how Christ brought the Old Law to perfection.4. After a detailed treatise on prayer: its nature, its necessity, and the practice of prayer in general, including an exposition of the seven petitions of the Lord's Prayer.If we look at the new Catechism of the Catholic Church, we notice an apparent likeness in how it corresponds to the format of the Roman Catechism, having four main and similar divisions:1. The Profession of Faith2. The Celebration of the Christian Mystery (and the Sacraments)3. Life in Christ4. Christian PrayerSo, we can say that the new Catechism in many ways is really update of the Roman Catechism and the teachings and practices that Church has clung to throughout the centuries from early Christian times. This gives much credibility to the permanence, and uninterrupted nature of the Church's beliefs, doctrine, and the Christian Life espoused for 2000 years. We could call the Catechism of the Catholic Church a "Defender of the Faith" for what it does. It could also be called "Defender of Scripture" because it cites Sacred Scripture more than anything else, which certainly takes us back to early Christian times. There are also great references to Vatican II Documents, other Council & Papal documents, plus the writings of the Church Fathers and the Saints. You could say that it "teaches with authority!" It is a great reference book, not something the average person will sit and read from cover to cover.

Good

Every Catholic should have a copy of the Catechism. It keeps one rooted and reminded of the Truths in the Church's deposit of faith and helps serve as guide in the way we lead our everyday lives. Promulgated in 1992, matters of faith and morality are explained in the contest of today's realities and issues as we understand and encounter them.The most important explanations and answers to one's own and other Catholics questions about his Faith are found in this comprehensive volume: Holy Tradition, real presence, doctrine of the BVM, the Paschal Mystery, etc. This CCC is the most complete and the official CCC of the Church. All other new Catechism books are (or should be) derived from this one. A bit heavy reading though. And it might take time before one finishes the entire tome and could be difficult at some portions. The language is a bit difficult especially for ordinary persons like me who have may not have had formal lessons in theology. Many words used are a bit unfamiliar. However, this should not stop anyone from reading it. A solution would be to read the Compendium or any other shorter forms of the Catechism written in simpler language. The CCC can thus be used as a "resource" or "reference" book when one wants more detailed or deeper explanation of things. Every Catholic should have at least read the CCC once as a "refresher" or introductory course.The small-sized Doubleday printing of the 2nd edition is a handy companion to the Roman Daily Missals that provide cross references to the Catechism. It's a good copy to keep on hand for meditation or reflection purposes. (It has enough content to help in meditation.) The binding looks sturdy enough to last a long time and carry along. Convenient enough to carry around and squeeze into tiny spaces in the car.My problem with this printed version is that the texts are too small worse with the footnotes), not at all reader-friendly. The texts are even smaller than the ones in the tiny missal I use. I can hardly see anything when I used it under subdued lighting. The publishers might have missed out some practical aspects of the Catechism's uses. If you need the Catechism for other purposes like a reference for writing or research, this printed version is a bit troublesome to use. Unlike the small missals, it doesn't stay open when you lay it out on your desk for reading. No space for writing side notes for study. Still, I purchased the copy I needed to have a copy of the Catechism (2nd edition); unfortunately, it is the only one available at Amazon when I bought it.If not for this inconvenience and as there are many alternative copies by other publishers, I would have given it 5 stars.