Teaching the Catholic Faith Today: Twentieth Century Catechetical Documents of the Holy See

The purpose of this new Catechetical Series is to help catechists to teach the Catholic Faith in these years after Vatican II and to provide basic resources for students in the field of Catechetics. The series is planned to include three types of works. First: those that help the catechist to know the deposit of faith better as it is in itself, and to explain it in a way that is practical and helpful in deepening each catechumen's personal conversion to the God of Revelation. These are the official documents of the Church, and ex professo catechetical treatises. Secondly: current, post-conciliar theological writings which are authentic in terms of the deposit of faith because they take the articles of faith as their point of departure and as the illumination of their theological discourse. Thirdly: the classical works of Catholic Tradition in catechetics and catechetical teaching, especially the patristic ones. This first title in the new Catechetical Series gathers into one volume the chief catechetical documents of the Holy See which have been published in the present century. Cardinal Silvio Oddi, Prefect of the Catechetical Office of the Holy See, says in his Preface: This handy collection of twentieth century papal documents concerning the teaching of Christian Doctrine to children and adults alike will be welcomed by English-speaking catechists everywhere. It is the first such collection in this language of which I have heard. Priests, particularly, will find a bonus in the collection because there are included the two beautiful letters of our present Holy Father on the Eucharist, which he wrote for Holy Thursday of the years 1979 and 1980. This volume will serve to help root catechesis in Catholic Tradition so that catechists can more confidently adapt the adaptable to the times while holding firm on the deposit of faith.