Catholic Catechism on the Angels Author(s): Father John A. Hardon, S.J. In today's culture, angels are represented on everything from popular television programs to needlecraft projects, but they are rarely portrayed accurately. This little powerhouse of a book sets the record straight on Catholic teaching regarding our "holy helpers". Thorough but concise, it is written for upper high-school students and adults. Read more about Catholic Catechism on the Angels
Catechism on the Real Presence Author(s): Father John A. Hardon, S.J. In September 1965, Pope Paul VI issued the encyclical titled Mysterium Fidei (Mystery of Faith) to provide the faithful with the teachings of the Catholic Church on the doctrine and worship of the Holy Eucharist. The first half of Catechism on the Real Presence is an eloquent question-and-answer catechism that carefully details each of the main points of Mysterium Fidei, cross-referenced to specific paragraphs in the document itself. The latter half of the book contains the entire text of the encyclical itself as a convenient reference. Read more about Catechism on the Real Presence
Father McBride's Teen Catechism Author(s): Alfred McBride, O.Praem. Teen Catechism is a nice entry point into the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In spite of its name, Teen Catechism could be used by an adult convert or any person who wants a solid introduction to or review of our Catholic faith. It follows the topic sequence of the Catechism, covering the Creed, the Sacraments, Morality, and Prayer in its 36 chapters. Read more about Father McBride's Teen Catechism
The New St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism No. 2 Author(s): Rev. Bennett Kelley, CP Book no. 2 has the same division and order as book no. 1, reviewed here, but the lessons are more in depth for the older student, taking a spiral approach. Its recommended use is for grades six through eight. This book is available from nearly all Catholic homeschool providers. Read more about The New St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism No. 2
The New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism No.1 Author(s): Rev. Bennett Kelley, CP Though very inexpensive, the New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechisms with explanations written by Father Kelley are worth their weight in gold. They are based on the Baltimore Catechism which was first approved by the Archbishop of Baltimore, James Cardinal Gibbons in 1885. The New Saint Joseph version goes beyond the simple question-and-answer format of the original catechism, it incorporates Holy Scripture with each lesson and includes discussion questions, a fill-in-the-blank section, and suggested Bible readings at the end of each lesson. Read more about The New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism No.1
The Catechism of the Catholic Church: Second Edition Author(s): Libreria Editrice Vaticana This beautiful new Catechism is truly a gift and a treasure in an era when "new" so often means "bad." Although I have not yet read every word of it (it's quite a big book!) I have had the pleasure of leading Catechism study groups for mothers and found much success in using this text to help some who were previously very lukewarm in their faith to better understand not only what the Catholic Church really teaches, but why these teachings make sense - yes, even in our modern world! Read more about The Catechism of the Catholic Church: Second Edition
The Catechetical Instructions of Saint Thomas Aquinas Author(s): St. Thomas AquinasTranslator(s): Rev. Joseph B. Collins, S.S., S.T.D. Saint Thomas provides beautiful explanations of the Apostles' Creed, the Ten Commandments, the Sacraments, the Lord's Prayer and the Hail Mary. Sample passages: Read more about The Catechetical Instructions of Saint Thomas Aquinas
Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism Author(s): Bennet Kelley This beautifully illustrated (in full-color) gem is designed to prepare a child for First Communion and would be appropriate for Kindergarten through second grade. The text follows the Baltimore Catechism, but also includes basic prayers, parts of the Mass and Holy Days of Obligation. In a few places, the explanations given to expand upon the Baltimore Catechism are not as well-written as I'd like them to be, but for the most part they are quite good. Read more about Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism
