SPIRITUAL READING

Christ in the Storm of the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt

Spiritual Reading The following are a very small sample of reading material that in some cases have changed many lives and brought them closer to the Way, the Truth and the Life of Jesus Christ. These books represent ideal reading for every practising Christian. In the case of the Bible it is essential reading and in the case of Imitation of Christ it is near essential reading. The Holy Bible The Four Gospels should be read and re read. The have God for their author, and contain His revelation of Himself in Jesus Christ. The One Year Bible This book is in fact the Bible but split into daily readings of the Old and New Testament and after 365 days the reader has completed reading or praying the Bible. The Daily Missal - the daily Gospel In Conversation with God (a commentary on the daily Gospel by Francis Fernandez) Meditations for every day of the year. The complete work has more than 550 meditations. These meditations deal with the main topics of the Christian doctrine and life. Author Francis Fernandez-Carvajal makes generous use of the writings of the great saints as he brings you focused and moving meditations on themes taken from the Mass readings for that day, the liturgical season, and more. This work is rich and extensive enough to serve as your spiritual reading for a lifetime, as it helps you relate the particulars of the message of Christ to the ordinary circumstances of your day. Each volume is small enough for you to carry it to Adoration or some other suitable place for meditation. Imitation of Christ (suggest the translation by Leo Sherley-Price) The Imitation of Christ takes first place among books on the spiritual life. The daily reading of a page or two of this book cannot be too highly recommended. It would be impossible to estimate the wide and profound influence that this wonderful little book has exercised throughout Christendom for over five hundred years. After the Bible itself, no other work can compare with its profound wisdom, clarity of thought, and converting power. Christians of such widely differing period and outlook as S. Thomas More and General Gordon, S. Ignatius Loyola and John Wesley, S. Francis Xavier and Dr Johnson, are but a few of the thousands who have acknowledged their debt to this golden work. It may perhaps appear strange that a book written by one who spent nearly the whole of his long life in the cloister, and who intended his works primarily for his fellow-religious, should have such power to guide and inspire hundreds who have little knowledge of monastic life : but the writer's deep and burning love of God, his deep humility, his profound knowledge of the Scriptures and the writings of the Fathers, coupled with his understanding of human nature and its needs, make him a wise and trustworthy counsellor to all who seek to know and fulfil the true purpose of human life -'to praise, love and serve God their Lord, and by doing these things, to save their souls'. Accordingly, while Thomas a Kempis writes in the first place for his fellow-religious, an ascetic for ascetics, a mystic for those who aspire to mystical union with God through the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and

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obedience, yet his counsels are a proved guide And inspiration to men and women of every age and nation. The secret of the amazing influence and converting power of this little book is the secret of the lives of all the Saints - their nearness to God, and the reflection of His love in their lives and writings. Thomas's theme is the love, mercy, and holiness of God; with vivid clarity he shows man's complete dependence on, and need of, God, and the empty futility of life lived apart from its only source of true Life and Light: he stirs us to seek our own good and lasting happiness in the knowledge and service of God. In the words of S. Augustine, Patron of the Order of Canons Regular to which Thomas himself belonged, 0 God, Thou halt made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.' In simple and burning words, Thomas shows that the only road to this sublime goal of oneness with God is by devotion to Christ Crucified, and by treading his `Royal Road to the Holy Cross'.1 Moreover, while the author is both a mystic and a scholar, he is always - like S. Teresa of Avila - eminently realistic and practical, and he shows us the `how' as well as the `why' of the spiritual life. This small book, free from intellectual pretensions, has had great appeal to anyone interested in probing beneath the surface of life. "A poor peasant who serves God," Thomas wrote in it, "is better than a proud philosopher who ponders the courses of the stars." The book advised the ordering of one's priorities along religious lines. "Vain and brief is all human comfort. Blessed and true is that comfort which is derived inwardly from the Truth." Thomas advised where to look for happiness. "The glory of the good is in their own consciences, and not in the mouths of men." Butlers Lives of the Saints Butler's great work, The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal Saints ("Butler's Lives"), the result of thirty years study (first published in four volumes, London, 17561759), has passed through many editions and translations (best edition, including valuable notes, Dublin, 12 vols. 17791780). It is a popular and compendious reproduction of the Acta Sanctorum, exhibiting great industry and research, and is in all respects the best compendium of Acta in English. Catechism of the Catholic Church This is basically a reference book concerning the believers of the Catholic Church. It is very eloquent but at the same times being very instructed. It covers everything a Catholic would want to know about the Church and faith. Part of a quotation from Pope John Paul: This Catechism confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine, enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates, lives, and prays in her daily life. At the same time it draws attention to the eager desire of all to make their contribution so that the Christian faith, whose essential and necessary elements are summarized in the Catechism, can be presented to the people of our day in the most suitable way possible. The Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux (translation by John Beevers) Saint Therese of Lisieux is a Saint whom one should meet early in ones reading.

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The Story of a Soul (l'Histoire d'une me) is the autobiography of Thrse of Lisieux. It was first published on September 30, 1898, a year to the day after her death from tuberculosis at the age of 24, on September 30, 1897. "The greatest saint of modern times. This famous statement of Pope Pius Xhimself a great saintwas prophetic. When he paid Therese Martin this extraordinary tribute, she had not yet even been beatified. But in a few brief years Catholics the world over were echoing his words. That an unknown French girl, born only yesterday in 1873, could in a mere half century have become one of the best-loved saints in the Church is a phenomenon that cannot be explained in purely human terms. It is unique in the history of modern Christianity, a prodigy of divine grace. Therese was the youngest of five daughters. Her father, a prosperous businessman, gave his family a comfortable home. Above all, it was a devout home. The first sorrow of Therese's life, the death of her mother, came when she was only four, M. Martin then moved his family to Lisieux, where his late wife's brother and sister-in-law helped care for the children. The older girls, Marie and Pauline, also rose to the occasion, taking over many of their mother's duties, and gradually the Martins were able to pick up the threads of family happiness. Five years later Therese endured another heartbreaking experience. Pauline, her little mother," left home to enter the local Carmelite convent. Marie followed her four years later. Shortly after, Therese was seized by the same calling. Though only fifteen, she begged to be allowed to follow them. Her father agreed, but both the Carmelite superiors and the bishop thought she was too young. The bishop, however, changed his mind and Therese entered a few months later. Her ideal was simple, direct, heroic: "I want to be a saint." The rest of her short life was, from any external standpoint, as uneventful as her early years. She was formally received into the order in 1889 and took her final vows the following year. In 1893 she was made assistant to the misstress of novices. Early in 1895 she began, in obedience to her Superior, to write the story of her childhood, afterwards expanded to this full autobiography. In 1896 she suffered the first attack of the illness that was to prove fatal; a year later she was dead at the age of twenty-four. But this bare outline gives no clue as to why Pope Pius XI decreed that Therese of Lisieux was to be the equal patron, with St. Francis Xavier, of all the missions and the secondary patron of France with St. Joan of Arc. How did an obscure nun achieve such honors so soon after her death? The answer, of course, is her holiness, a holiness founded on unshakeable confidence in God, absolute love for Him. Her doctrine of sanctity is enshrined for the ages in her own phrase, "the little way of spiritual childhood." This teaching was not original with St Thrse. Christ Himself held out the same ideal time and again, as when He urged His followers to become "as little children." God chose Therese to dramatize this truth anew, reminding us that great love, not great deeds, is the essence of sanctity. As we become acquainted with the histories of those in whom, in long succession, God has been pleased to show forth examples of holiness of life, it seems as if every phase of human existence had in the history of the Church received its consecration as a power to bring men nearer to their Maker. But there is no limit to the types of sanctity which the Creator is pleased to unfold before His Creatures. To many, on reading for the first time the story of

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Sister Teresa of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, it came almost as a shock to find a very youthful member of an austere Order, strictly retired from the world, engaged in hidden prayer and mortification, appearing before us to reveal to the whole world the wonders of the close intimacy of friendship to which her Divine Spouse had been pleased to call her. Certainly the way by which Soeur Therese was led is not the normal life of Carmel, nor hers the manner whereby most Carmelites are called to accomplish the wondrous apostolate of intercession to which their lives are given. But no less certain is it that, in her particular case, her work for God and her apostolate were not to be confined between the walls of her religious home, or to be limited by her few years on earth. In the first place, we know that it was by obedience that the record of God's dealings with her soul were set down in writing. And again, the long tale of graces granted in such strange profusion through her intercession is proof sufficient that it was not without Divine permission and guidance that the history of her special and peculiar vocation has become the property of all Catholics in every land. It is for God to keep, and for Him to make known the secrets of His Love for men. And in the case of Soeur Therese it has been His Will to divulge His secrets in most generous consideration for our needs. What are the hidden treasures which Our Divine Master thus reveals to us through His chosen little servant? It is the old story of simplicity in God's service, of the perfect accomplishment of small recurring duties, of trustful confidence in He who made and has redeemed and sanctified us. Humility, self-effacement, obedience, hiddenness, unfaltering charity, with all the self-control and constant effort that they imply, are written on every page of the history of this little Saint. And, as we turn its pages, the lesson is borne in upon our souls that there is no surer nor safer way of pleasing Our Father Who is in Heaven than by remaining ever as little children in His sight. Doubtless for many of her clients whose hearts are kindled as they read this book, Soeur Therese will obtain, as she has done so often in the past, wonderful gifts for health of soul and body. But may she win for all of us without exception a deep and fruitful conviction of the unchanging truth, that unless we become as little children in the doing of our Heavenly Father's Will, we cannot enter into our Eternal Home. FRANCIS CARDINAL BOURNE, Archbishop of Westminster. Feast of the Presentation of Our Blessed Lady, 1912. The heart of St. Therese's message is found in her autobiography. Indeed, as Pope Benedict XV affirmed, she could not have fulfilled her mission "without the world-wide circulation of The Story of a Soul." A Short History of the Catholic Church by J. Derek Holmes and Bernard W. Bickers The Church of Jesus Christ is a thoroughly unique phenomenon, which can be studied from all kinds of perspectives, and which has been evolving for two millennia by forces ranging from true re-birth to politics, demagogy or personal greed. It is truly amazing therefore that Holmes and Bickers manage to give a continuously fascinating record of that history without cluttering the pages with names and numbers. A Short History of the Catholic Church covers the period from New Testament times unto the election of John Paul II, and does so in 300 pages (that's roughly 6 years and 7 months per page). The result of this roller coaster ride through history is a clear view on the general evolution of the church, much rather than on specific issues or people. Famous church fathers, kings or heretics are mentioned and explained in a paragraph or two, to serve as a dot on a graph and as our minds connect the dots we see the millennial dance of a rock in the tide. I was especially endeared by reading the intentions of the latter few popes: to engage in conversation with the forms of Christianity other than that of the Catholic Church and discuss

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some kind of reunion. It will be a true work of art to forge a handshake between movements that exist on the merits of their mutually exclusive beliefs. And the irony is that the only way in which this is possible is through that which drives them all: the love of Jesus Christ. Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales Introduction to the Devout Life is one of the best of all books for the beginner in spiritual education. Another St. Francis De Sales book is The Love of God is a world classic. Do I need to go into full-time ministry to live a truly Christian life? Am I really a Christian if I'm not out preaching the gospel in dangerous places where people have never heard of Christ? Can secular work benefit the kingdom of God? All Christians struggle to discern God's call on their life, but God does call all to live a Christ-centered life. Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis of Sales attempts to help Christians discern what it means to be a child of God in a secular world. We can glorify God in a secular world, and be a testimony to the world of God's abounding grace and love. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola edited by Robert Blackhouse The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, (composed from 1522-1524) are a set of Christian meditations, prayers and mental exercises, divided into four thematic 'weeks' of variable length, designed to be carried out over a period of 28 to 30 days.[1] They were composed with the intention of helping the retreatant to discern Jesus in his life, leading then to a personal commitment to follow him. Though the underlying spiritual outlook is Catholic, the exercises are often made nowadays by non-Catholics. Written by the founder of the Society of Jesus, the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius is a powerful book. Derived mostly from St. Ignatius' conversion experiences in 1521-3, Spiritual Exercises has provided guidance and encouragement to its readers for several hundred years. The aim of Spiritual Exercises is to assist people in finding God's will for their life, and to give them the motivation and courage to follow that will. It is not a continuous piece of writing, but more like a program of sorts, containing a collection of thoughts, rules, encouragements, readings, meditations, prayers, warnings, and notes. Nevertheless the condensed writing is organized into four "weeks," or periods of time, with each week focusing upon a different theme--the first, human sin; the second, Christ's life on earth; the third, Christ's death on the cross; the fourth, Christ's risen life. A key theme throughout the Spiritual Exercises is discernment--the need to discern between good desires and evil desires in one's life. It is by following the four weeks, and by utilizing such discernment, that a person can better realize God's will for his or her own life. Although more profitably worked through with another person or spiritual director, Spiritual Exercises can be extremely beneficial for private personal study. The Practice of the Presence of God by Bother Lawrence (translation by E.M.Blaiklock) Brother Lawrence is one of the most admired and imitated sons of the Catholic church. He worked for a time as a soldier before entering the Discalced Carmelite Prior in Paris. Lawrence was uneducated, and so had to enter the monastery as a layman. He worked in the kitchens and as a cobbler there for the remainder of his life. Lawrence is known for his devotion and ability to bring God into every aspect of his life. His classic Christian work, Practice of the Presence of God, details how to gain that constant and comforting connection to God. Readers have treasured this short and easy book for centuries because of Lawrence's honest advice and his obvious passion for spiritual matters. He rejoiced in everyday tasks, prayed constantly, and was known around the monastery for his kindness

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and willingness to help others. Practice of the Presence of God is a creative Christian work that is required reading according to many believers. Readers will come away with great peace and joy, and a better understanding of what it means to constantly be in God's presence. The Cloud of Unknowing (translation by Halcyon Backhouse) Some things never change, including the human need to connect with our creator. Prayer and meditation on the divine are techniques that have been used for millennia to grow in the knowledge of God. Cloud of Unknowing documents techniques used by the medieval monastic community to build and maintain that contemplative knowledge of God. Scholars date the anonymous authorship of Cloud of Unknowing to 1375, during the height of European monasticism. Written as a primer for the young monastic, the work is instructional, but does not have an austere didactic tone. Rather, the work embraces the reader with a maternal call to grow closer to God through meditation and prayer. A History of the Society of Jesus by William V.Bangert, S.J. Fr. Bangert's book is, quite simply, the most comprehensive and up-to-date one-volume history of the Jesuits in any language. In a reliable, scholarly, and documented narrative, the author tells the story of the Jesuits from their founding in 1540 up to recent times. The footnotes and extensive bibliography furnish leads to the most important books and periodicals for further study of the various periods or topics treated in this volume. Since its publication, this book has been translated into several languages. Throughout the four and a half centuries of their existence, the Jesuits have engaged themselves wholeheartedly in the life of the Church and in the religious, intellectual, and cultural currents of their time. Their educational institutions and evangelizing activities have reached from one end of the world to the other. Out of the insights of their founder, Ignatius of Loyola, as expressed in the Spiritual Exercises and the Constitutions of the Society, the Jesuits have developed a spirituality that is deeply rooted both in prayer and in the conviction that God is at work in all the activities of the world. This presentation of the history of the Society of Jesus is basically chronological, but at the same time it keeps in view the ever-changing ecclesiastical, political, social, and cultural contexts within which the Jesuits carried on their lives and activities. Chapters 1 through 5 relate the Society's history to 1759, when Portugal started the series of actions that lead to the order's suppression by Pope Clement XIV in 1773. Chapter 6 treats of that suppression itself, the unexpected survival of the Society under extraordinary circumstances, and the subsequent universal restoration by Pope Pius VII in 1814. Chapters 7 and 8 bring the history up to the present time. The Way, the Forge, the Furrow (Daily thoughts to ponder) by Saint Josemaria Escriva Founder of Opus Dei Saint Josemaria is another Saint one should meet early in ones spiritual formation. (The Way from the author's preface:) "Read these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a father. And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so you will better

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your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in the end you will be a more worthy soul." The book follows the interior itinerary of a Christian as he seeks an ever closer identification with Christ. "The Forge accompanies the soul on the path of its sanctification, from the moment one's Christian vocation is first glimpsed right to the final light of eternity" (Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, Foreword). (from author's prologue:) "My friend and reader let me help your soul contemplate the human virtues, for grace builds upon nature. But don't forget that these considerations of mine, though they may seem very human to you, must be priestly as well, since I have written them for you and for myself-I have put them into practice too-before God. I ask our Lord that these pages may be of use for us. May we profit by them and be moved by them to leave behind us in our life a deep and fertile 'furrow', left by our deeds." Christ is Passing By and Friends of God (36 homilies) by Saint Josemaria Escriva Christ Is Passing By collects 18 homilies given by St. Josemaria between 1951 and 1971, on the occasion of various liturgical feast days. The guiding thread is divine filiation, and the universal call to holiness entailed by this reality. Other important themes are the sanctification of ordinary work, contemplation in the midst of the world, and unity of life. Friends of God first published in 1977, this is the first posthumous work of St. Josemaria. Collecting in one volume 18 homilies given between 1941-68 the book seeks to lead the reader to a deeper friendship with the "God who is close to us." Meditation for Lay Folk by Father Bede Jarrett It is felt that a book of meditation for the use of layfolk is a necessity of our times This is a book for anyone and is made up several short commentaries of practical Christian life. Meditation is essential for all Christian if they really want to live out their vocation to become Saints. This is a book to help all to get started. Ascent of Mount Carmel One of St. John of the Cross' most important and insightful works, Ascent of Mount Carmel is a brilliant work of Christian mysticism. Considered one of the great Spanish poets, St. John depicts the soul's ascent to Mount Carmel--allegorically, the place of God--and the "dark night" that the soul must endure to reach it. St. John describes the different mystic experiences the soul encounters on its way to union with God through the dark night. Although St. John continues to describe the dark night in Dark Night of the Soul, the sequel to Ascent of Mount Carmel, this book provides a hauntingly beautiful, profound, and mystical account of Christian spirituality. It is highly recommended. Bede's The Ecclesiastical History of England The Ecclesiastical History of England examines the religious and political history of the Anglo-Saxons from the fifth century to 731 AD. St. Bede's historical survey opens with a broad outline of Roman Britain's geography and history. St. Bede pays special attention to the disagreement between Roman and Celtic Christians, the dates and locations of significant events in the Christian calendar, and political upheaval during the 600's. St. Bede collected information from a variety of monasteries, early Church and government writings,

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and the oral histories of Rome and Britain. This book is useful to people looking for a brief survey of religious and political figures and events in Anglo-Saxon history. Readers should recognize that St. Bede's religious and political biases are subtly reflected in his historiography, diminishing its objectivity. Nonetheless, his Ecclesiastical History of England is one of the most important texts of the Anglo-Saxon history. The book's historical import is evidenced by the fact that nearly 200 hand written copies were produced in the Middle Ages. St. Bede's text has since been translated into several different languages. Confessions of Saint Augustine In his Confessions, Saint Augustine reflects upon his life in the light of scripture and the presence of God. He begins with his infancy, pondering the many sins of his life before his conversion, and he confesses not only his sins but even more the greatness of God. This work presents a wonderful contrast between the Holy God who created all things and whom heaven and earth cannot contain, and a commonly sinful man who has joyfully received God's loving salvation and mercy. Many scholars consider Saint Augustine to be among the greatest and most influential fathers of the early church. And as you read his Confessions, you will find the confident humility that is common among those whom Jesus calls "great in the kingdom of heaven." Augustine writes as a common man, and so his words span time and tradition. May his Confessions guide you to the One whom he confesses. The Dialog of Catherine of Siena The Dialog of Catherine of Siena is a practical and compelling work of Christian mysticism. St. Catherine of Siena, a Dominican Tertiary, wrote it "during a state of ecstasy while in dialogue with God the Father." The book contains a dialog between the "Eternal Father" (God the Father) and "a human soul" (St. Catherine). In it, the Eternal Father describes, through many different analogies, allegories, and metaphors, the spiritual life of humankind. In his description, the Eternal Father emphasizes the importance of cultivating virtue, continually praying, and the need for obedience. Written at a time of spiritual and political upheaval, the Dialog of Catherine of Siena remains relevant even to the present day, and any reader will profit from the sound advice throughout this dialogue. Instructive and profound, the Dialog of Catherine of Siena inspires with a revelation from God. The Everlasting Man by C.K Chesterton In this book, Chesterton replies to H.G. Wells argument for historical and scientific materialism. Wells considered Jesus Christ no more than a remarkable person, but Chesterton finds that a merely remarkable person could never have had such a widesweeping influence on peoples lives as the centuries passed. Chesterton could only conclude that something more than nature was at work in history. C.S. Lewis cited The Everlasting Man as one of the books that tipped him towards his conversion to Christianity, and it even made his list of the top ten books that most shaped his personal philosophy. The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila. Interior Castle is the work of 16th century Carmelite nun and Christian mystic St. Teresa of Avila. She wrote Interior Castle as a spiritual guide to union with God. Her inspiration for the work came from a vision she received from God. In it, there was a crystal globe with seven mansions, with God in the innermost mansion. St. Teresa interpreted this vision as an allegory for the soul's relationship with God; each mansion represents one place on a path

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towards the "spiritual marriage"--i.e. union--with God in the seventh mansion. One begins on this path through prayer and meditation. She also describes the resistance that the Devil places in various rooms, to keep believers from union with God. Throughout, she provides encouragements and advice for spiritual development. Beyond its spiritual merit, Interior Castle also contains much literary merit as a piece of Spanish Renaissance literature. A spiritually challenging book, Interior Castle stands on par with other great works of this time, such as Dark Night of the Soul. Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila Although she designed her book for her fellow sisters of the Carmelite Order, St. Teresa's Way of Perfection remains accessible to modern readers. In it, she sets out to lead others along the way to union with God through prayer, silence, and meditation. A few of the book's 42 chapters could be called a collection of rules, but the majority of the book more rightly fits the description of advice. As she suggests ways for readers to seek self-perfection, her words are practical, heartfelt, and drawn from personal experience. Not only this, but because of the book's less formal and less poetically obscure nature, it offers up a more direct articulation of St. Teresa's theological views than do her autobiography or her most famous work, The Interior Castle. Uniformity with God's Will by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori Written in 1755, Uniformity with God's Will is a wonderful little treatise on the true love of God. Saint Alphonsus de Liguori writes to encourage believers to unify their wills with that of God's, so that they may love God perfectly: "the more one unites his will with the divine will, the greater will be his love of God." To choose otherwise--i.e. to choose not to unify one's will with God's--is "a kind of idolatry." These seven short chapters, not simply prone to abstract speculation, explore concretely how to make one's own will uniform with God's through the hardships of this life. Further, the book discusses the fruit of such a union with God's will: happiness. De Liguori concludes by noting how, in all things, Christians must remain steadfast in their union with God's will. For in so doing, God will "press us to his heart." Challenging and encouraging, Uniformity with God's Will has the power to remind us of what true love of God really is. Catechism of the Catholic Church - APOSTOLIC LETTER To my Venerable Brother Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons and to other members of the People of God. It is a Cause for Great Joy that the Latin Typical Edition of the CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH is Being Published. It is approved and promulgated by me in this Apostolic Letter and thus becomes the definitive text of the aforementioned Catechism. This is occurring about five years after the Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum of October 11, 1992, which, on the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, accompanied the publication of the first, Frenchlanguage text of the Catechism. We have all been able to note with pleasure the broad positive reception and wide dissemination of the Catechism in these years, especially in the particular Churches, which have had it translated into their respective languages, thus making it as accessible as possible to the various linguistic communities of the world. This fact confirms how fitting was the request submitted to me in 1985 by the Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that a catechism or compendium of all Catholic doctrine regarding faith and morals be composed.

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Drawn up by the special Commission of Cardinals and Bishops established in 1986, the Catechism was approved and promulgated by me in the aforementioned Apostolic Constitution, which today retains all its validity and timeliness, and finds its definitive achievement in this Latin typical edition. This edition was prepared by an Interdicasterial Commission which I appointed for this purpose in 1993. Presided over by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, this Commission worked diligently to fulfill the mandate it received. It devoted particular attention to a study of the many suggested changes to the contents of the text, which in these years had come from around the world and from various parts of the ecclesial community. In this regard one can certainly understand that such a remarkable number of suggested improvements shows the extraordinary interest that the Catechism has raised throughout the world, even among nonChristians, and confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine, enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates, lives, and prays in her daily life. At the same time it draws attention to the eager desire of all to make their contribution so that the Christian faith, whose essential and necessary elements are summarized in the Catechism, can be presented to the people of our day in the most suitable way possible. Furthermore, this collaboration of the various members of the Church will once again achieve what I wrote in the Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum: The harmony of so many voices truly expresses what could be called the symphony of the faith (no. 2). For these reasons too, the Commission seriously considered the suggestions offered, carefully examined them at various levels and submitted its conclusions for my approval. These conclusions, insofar as they allow for a better expression of the Catechisms contents regarding the deposit of the Catholic faith, or enable certain truths of this faith to be formulated in a way more suited to the requirements of contemporary catechetical instruction, have been approved by me and thus have been incorporated into this Latin typical edition. Therefore it faithfully repeats the doctrinal content which I officially presented to the Church and to the world in December 1992. With todays promulgation of the Latin typical edition, therefore, the task of composing the Catechism, begun in 1986, is brought to a close and the desire of the aforementioned Extraordinary Synod of Bishops is happily fulfilled. The Church now has at her disposal this new, authoritative exposition of the one and perennial apostolic faith, and it will serve as a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion and as a sure norm for teaching the faith, as well as a sure and authentic reference text for preparing local catechisms (cf. Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum, no. 4). Catechesis will find in this genuine, systematic presentation of the faith and of Catholic doctrine a totally reliable way to present, with renewed fervor, each and every part of the Christian message to the people of our time. This text will provide every catechist with sound help for communicating the one, perennial deposit of faith within the local Church, while seeking, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to link the wondrous unity of the Christian mystery with the varied needs and conditions of those to whom this message is addressed. All catechetical activity will be able to experience a new, widespread impetus among the People of God, if it can properly use and appreciate this postconciliar Catechism. All this seems even more important today with the approach of the third millennium. For an extraordinary commitment to evangelization is urgently needed so that everyone can know

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and receive the Gospel message and thus grow to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:13). I therefore strongly urge my Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate, for whom the Catechism is primarily intended, to take the excellent opportunity afforded by the promulgation of this Latin edition to intensify their efforts to disseminate the text more widely and to ensure that it is well received as an outstanding gift for the communities entrusted to them, which will thus be able to rediscover the inexhaustible riches of the faith. Through the harmonious and complementary efforts of all the ranks of the People of God, may this Catechism be known and shared by everyone, so that the unity in faith whose supreme model and origin is found in the Unity of the Trinity may be strengthened and extended to the ends of the earth. To Mary, Mother of Christ, whose Assumption body and soul into heaven we celebrate today, I entrust these wishes so that they may be brought to fulfillment for the spiritual good of all humanity. From Castel Gandolfo, August 15, 1997, the nineteenth year of the Pontificate.

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