Read the Catechism: Day 4

Go Joseph Vincentius Gunawan: October 14 at 4:03 am.

Amin

Unreg Subscriber: October 14 at 4:25 am.

I have friend that want to sign up...can they still? Email me please...
Paldrich235@gmail.com

Patricia Howai: October 14 at 5:40 am.

Man is a religious being; God is the first cause and final end of all things; and our hearts are restless until they rest in Him; so let us rejoice in Him!!!

There is a whole lot to digest today.

Paschal Uche: October 14 at 5:45 am.

The world, and man, attest that they contain within themselves neither their first principle nor their final end, the restless can't find their rest in the world or men but in Him. Praise God!!

Brother Rex: October 14 at 5:45 am.

"Man's faculties make him capable of coming to a knowledge of the existence of a personal God. ....faith is not opposed to reason." AMEN! http://littleportionhermitage.blogspot.com/

Marci Waters: October 14 at 6:12 am.

"Our souks are the seeds of eternity". Thank you Lord
Marci

Aracelly Pauline: October 14 at 6:40 am.

Just signed up today. Very inspiratinal that I read through the four days. God is great. Happy there is an easy way ot reading in one year. Have a blessed day!!

Sister Christine Cunningham: October 14 at 6:45 am.

Thank you, glad for the opportunity to read the Catechism in its entirety bit by bit electronically! Blessings!

Dianne Wood: October 14 at 7:02 am.

So beautiful how God keeps calling us no matter what. The hound of Heaven.

Jim Groves: October 14 at 7:02 am.

31 - 35 Never had this explained so clearly before. Awesome

Dennis Wee: October 14 at 7:06 am.

The last phrase of today is the very significant message to the modern world of today: "... faith is not opposed to reason."
For a great treatise of Faith & Reason, listen to Fr Robert Barron:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcH_5Iecu5s&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Lizbeth H.: October 14 at 7:06 am.

Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for:
This alone to me is worth the entire catechism. My "heart" is so restless! Can't wait to hear more.
Thank you.

Carol Smith: October 14 at 7:13 am.

This is a wonderful way to learn the Catechism and being with others on this journey is very beneficial.

Blessings and Prayers your way!

Michelle Worman: October 14 at 7:24 am.

I started reading the 1985 CCC on my own a few weeks ago, before I heard about the Year of Faith or this group for reading the Catechism in a year, and I'm wondering if there are any significant differences between the 1985 version and the 1994 version, or if they are just different editions of the same thing? So far it seems to be the same.

It's great to be able to read people's comments about it, especially since I don't really have anyone in my life right now that I can discuss it with (most people where I live now don't speak English, and I don't speak their languages well enough to discuss stuff like this).
I'm looking forward to a year of great insight into the teachings of the Church.

Jim O'Reilly: October 14 at 7:32 am.

So glad that a friend sent an email to my wife letting us know about this. It was such a simple way to evangelize! We all need to pass this on to others. God Bless all here, and looking forward to sharing with you as we make our way down this beautiful path together!

Diane Hanson: October 14 at 7:32 am.

As we approached the beginning of the Year of Faith, I thoughtfully and prayerfully considered how I could best increase and strengthen my faith. Reading the Catechism had been recommended in several places, but having a copy, and knowing the size of it, made me feel intimidated. Having just started on this e-journey today, I am relieved and optimistic that I really can do it! I've even found that i can cross-reference with the Catholic Catechism for Adults. After reading the Pope's homily for the Mass opening the Year of Faith, my hope for the future of Catholicism...particularly in the US, was inspired. Now, after reading posts from all over the world, my hope has increased immeasurably! Thank you!

Ben A.: October 14 at 7:33 am.

QUOTE: (The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God. This invitation to converse with God is addressed to man as soon as he comes into being. For if man exists it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence. He cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and entrusts himself to his creator) Thank You God for you unending Love for us. Amen.

Vincent Soosai: October 14 at 7:37 am.

Vincent Soosai: October 14 at 8.30 am

Well begun explaining "What is Faith?", meaning man's search, God's revelation and his response. I would appreciate if you compare those three key elements (Search, Revelation & Response)to some happenings or incidents of today would be of great help to the younger ones to pick up easily the deeper meaning of Faith.

Its a wonderful opportunity to know Church's teachings and practice. Thank you very much.

Jeanne C.: October 14 at 7:37 am.

This reminded me of an article published in the Montreal newspaper La Presse, about how a psychological tendency to believe in God is written in our genes. Something like that. Of course, you know, it was meant to prove that God doesn't really exist, it's just some kind of random psychological, genetic thing. Silly people. Did they stop to think for ONE minute WHY on earth we would have a natural predisposition to belief in God? (Um, also something that the Catholic Church could have told you anyway, had you asked it, we already know about that.) I mean really, what other purpose could something like that possibly serve except to enable human beings to have contact with the spiritual? It's rather obvious to me that if it is in our humanity to naturally reach out to God, then it is highly likely that God himself put that natural tendency into our whole make-up in order to enable us to be in communion with Him. But I guess some people just prefer to remain blind.

Here's a similar article : http://www.mindpowernews.com/BrainGod.htm

Evelyn Chinetti: October 14 at 7:47 am.

Dignity of man/woman, he/she is called to communion with God~Invitaion to converse with God~God...through LOVE continues to hold him in existence~we must FREELY ack that LOVE and ENTRUST ourself TO our Creator.~

Evelyn Chinetti: October 14 at 7:48 am.

"For IN HIM, we Live and Move and have Our BEING."

Evelyn Chinetti: October 14 at 7:53 am.

I wasn't copying Ben. :-) I was typing and posted and then checked back and it was the same. Yes, the Holy Spirit drew me to that passage, also.

Evelyn Chinetti: October 14 at 8:21 am.

I believe I will write on a note card each day, the passages the Holy Spirit, draws me to, and then take them w/me as I walk to think on. `write them on my heart" so to speak. Print out or take the phone along, I suppose.

Mary-Margaret Tiano: October 14 at 8:23 am.

I agree Evelyn. The Holy Spirit is wonderful. "For in Him, we live and move and have our Being. For without Him we can do nothing." Truly when we know this we are happy and content with our blessings.

Jason Alvarez: October 14 at 8:23 am.

Today's read, provokes challenge. How well do we know of ourselves, how does our intellects, free will, and passions move in us to be open to the revelation of the One, True, God.....It's laid out for us brothers & sisters, right there.

Evelyn Chinetti: October 14 at 8:27 am.

...and your comments, also, they are so "edifying" ~to be built up~ and uplifting!

Unreg Subscriber: October 14 at 8:27 am.

For it is in Being and Believing that we serve Him, which was laid upon my heart. Now I understand and will consciously participate because we are always in Him, with or without knowing it, because He is that Being, Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. Thank you for this day by day!

Michael Arth: October 14 at 8:31 am.

Does anybody have a non-English catechism? I am wondering if paragraph 26 always states that we begin our profession by saying "I believe," or "we believe". With "I believe" now in the English Mass translation, referring to both forms might have become obsolete. I just wonder if other languages include the "we believe".

Carol Aylward: October 14 at 8:41 am.

Thank you for making this available to every who seeks knowledge! This book (4) is the best yet!

John Silva: October 14 at 8:44 am.

Thank you for making this available to us in 'bite-sized' pieces so that reading the Catechism becomes an 'approachable' effort.

BTW, another great resource for learning about the Catechism is the Knights of Columbus "Luke E. Hart Course"
http://www.kofc.org/un/courses/courseLogin.do?view=true&courseType=hart

Ewela Acha: October 14 at 8:47 am.

I can confidently say dat being a part of dis ɪ̣̝̇S̤̥̈̊ one of d̶̲̥̅̊ high points for me dis year!I've always wnted †✆ go thru d̶̲̥̅̊ 'Catechism of d̶̲̥̅̊ church'. Glad I'm finally able †✆ do so

Seraphic D.: October 14 at 9:05 am.

I am curious, the chatechism says that these "proofs" bring a "certainty." with them that God exists, but the proofs do not touch on matters of faith in paragraph 35.

So does that mean that we can be certain a god exists but we can only have faith that the Christian God exists?

Christina Hayward: October 14 at 9:15 am.

I have always felt sad for atheists. It must feel so lonely to think that there is nothing greater than yourself. I pray that one day they turn their hearts towards God and know the joy that brings.

Maria T.: October 14 at 9:40 am.

Oh God gives us a humble heart!! Put in our heart the desire of your presence. Amen.

Jeffrey Pinyan (@CatechismAPI): October 14 at 9:51 am.

@Michael Arth:

The Latin text of the Catechism reads "Cum nostram profitemur fidem, verbo incipimus: « Credo » vel « Credimus »."

So yes, both "credo" ("I believe") and "credimus" ("we believe") are mentioned in the Catechism. The phrase "we believe" is used when the bishops together at a council are professing the faith; the phrase "I believe" is used in the liturgy.

Gerald Ferrera: October 14 at 9:51 am.

"But for man to be able to enter into real intimacy with him, God willed both to reveal himself to man and to give him the grace of being able to welcome this revelation in faith. "

An understanding of this "real intimacy with God" requires both the Good News in the New Testament and "the grace" to welcome faith. Jesus tells us through many famous parables about this "intimacy" found in service to the least advantaged as loving and serving Him. Finally He reveals "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you also may be ... (Matthew 6:21). That's "real intimacy."

Jeffrey Pinyan (@CatechismAPI): October 14 at 9:57 am.

@Seraphic D.:

Paragraph 35 says that we can have knowledge of "the existence of a personal God", and not just some "higher force" in the universal. But it goes on to say that God's self-revelation to humanity is necessary for us to know Him more fully... or, if not necessary, it is at least the way God has chosen to bring us to a fuller knowledge of Himself (such as His tri-unity).

Michelle Worman: October 14 at 9:58 am.

@Michael Arth: I don't know about the Catechism in other languages, but I do know that in some languages, such as Korean or Japanese, the verb falls at the end of the sentence, so technically the "I believe" or "We believe" part would not be the first words of the Creed in those languages, although they would be in the first sentence.
Also, some languages don't require a subject to have a meaningful sentence. I'm pretty sure (as far as I can understand it after listening to it at Mass every week for more than a year) that the Creed in Korean doesn't have I or We, it just has the verb "believe".
I don't know if that helps answer your question at all, or if it just made it more confusing.

Leonelda Evangelista: October 14 at 10:03 am.

I really find this Catechism very useful for me and I am inspired by all the words in it. May we all try our best to seek God in our daily life. God bless us all.

Ester G.: October 14 at 10:13 am.

For if man exists it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence.

FELIX AKINYODE: October 14 at 10:30 am.

This is definitely a wonderful aspect of the year of faith as a gift from god through the church to us all. I only want to know if this forum is availabl also in other major languages of the world, like Spanish, French, German, Chinesen and hope others can help make it available in other traditional languages of the world eg. Yoruba for local consumption. We should explore the use of every medium of communication especially the social network in propagating this Good News. Im so happy and excited to be a memebr of this great family of God.

Samuel S: October 14 at 10:56 am.

"The proofs of God's existence, however, can predispose one to faith and help one to see that faith is not opposed to reason." New favorite Catechism quote.

Cheryl MacKinnon: October 14 at 11:05 am.

I love the Psalm "rest in God alone, rest in God alone, my soul, my soul.

Edward Acenas: October 14 at 11:22 am.

It is comforting to know that God always reaches out to us, no matter what. We just need to respond.

Michael Arth: October 14 at 11:45 am.

@Jeffrey Pinyan (ChatechismAPI), and Michelle Worman: Thanks for clarifying.

Regina Barzyk: October 14 at 11:53 am.

Good Morning everyone!
27 The dignity of man, for those who do not believe, or reject God can still benefit in the dignity of man by those who believe in God and who spent time in prayer. We look at each individual, even those who seem so unacceptable by whatever their disposition, we look at them with God within them, even if they themselves do not know it. It resides within our power, through the grace of God to give dignity to each and everyone... Does that make sense?

Further, in 28 we find the term "grope" I had never found that work in my spiritual life, and I am a senior, except in St Theodora Guerin's words to her sisters. here is a quote it is given through Franciscan Media, lives of the Saints each day
She and her community persevered despite fires, crop failures, prejudice against Catholic women religious, misunderstandings and separation from their original religious congregation. She once told her sisters, “Have confidence in the Providence that so far has never failed us. The way is not yet clear. Grope along slowly. Do not press matters; be patient, be trustful.” Another time, she asked, “With Jesus, what shall we have to fear?”
Within this lesson I take this as the quote of the day:
"The soul, the "seed of eternity we bear in ourselves, irreducible to the merely material", can have its origin only in God"
Thank you for all your comments
Also someone in the previous lesson had suggested to publish in their parish bulletin. Thank you for your suggestion, I did the same today... Blessings to all!

Regina Barzyk: October 14 at 11:55 am.

Correction: I had never found that "word"

Evelyn Brown: October 14 at 12:28 pm.

I really appreciate having this opportunity to read in daily doses of reasonable size the entire contents of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I've enmailed the link to at least 20 people I know, and hope they are responding. One thing I do miss, though, is the references that are available in the printed version.

Nancy Perlick: October 14 at 12:52 pm.

I appreciate being able read the Catechism of the Catholic Church in this way, however the constant use of ONLY male pronouns and/or references is a little "jarring" to we. After all, the Church IS trinitarian - hence a Church of equals - and "catholic" - hence "universal". I, for one, would welcome some inclusive language up-dating of the book!!

Helen Cloutier: October 14 at 1:03 pm.

Our faith is in the one, true God. God created all and is with us always. He is your God. He is Our God. We do not need to categorize which God He is. He is God and He loves us. Let us be worthy of His faithful love.

Jackie Lueders: October 14 at 1:57 pm.

God is the Alpha and the Omega, we begin with Him and we will return to Him at the end when all things come full circle. It is our Faith that guides to the end.

Jeffrey Pinyan (@CatechismAPI): October 14 at 2:37 pm.

@Evelyn Brown:

The footnotes and cross-references were omitted from the emailed version to save space and avoid clutter. To view the omitted information, click on the "Powered by CatechismAPI" link at the bottom of each email.

ELLY FERNANDEZ: October 14 at 3:38 pm.

Amen

Suzanne Hakkinen: October 14 at 4:38 pm.

I was raised in Catholic family and school with the Baltimore Catechism. In 1983 I joined an interdenominational Bible Study group, not expecting to know much about scripture, but to my surprise I knew quite a lot! Just had to learn where to find it in the Bible. Because of the Catechism, I knew the “Basic Truth”. Glad to be back!

Pat Jameson: October 14 at 5:01 pm.

God is wonderful. He created each of us in his image and likeness. Because you are writing, God holds you in existence becouse through his love for each of us for existence to be here. To spread the Good News!

Evelyn Chinetti: October 14 at 6:50 pm.

@Nancy Perlick~ Hi Nancy, What I do to make the Word more personal to me, and understand it even more personally, is put my own name in where it says man for humanity, meaning men and women. I think if this is not okay to do, Jeff will let us know and I'll stop. "In Him, Evelyn/I, live and move and have my being." "I cannot live freely according to the Truth, unless I "freely" ack. That love."

John Huinker: October 14 at 8:16 pm.

Thanks

Jeffrey Pinyan (@CatechismAPI): October 14 at 8:41 pm.

In addition to writing comments here in flocknote, you can now write comments on individual paragraphs of the Catechism at the Catechism Search Engine.

Click here and look at paragraph #26. The registration process is very simple, and you can start leaving comments in a matter of minutes. You can also leave comments on other people's comments (i.e. what forums call "threaded" comments).

You can get to the Catechism Search Engine by clicking the "Powered by CatechismAPI" link at the bottom of every daily Catechism email you receive.

Jim McCann: October 14 at 9:07 pm.

I hunger, I seek, I find, I forget, I persevere, I endure. Created by Him in love, he draws me near, asking for me to respond in faith. Asking me to entrust my life to Him. Come, Lord Jesus, come.

Elaine Ritzert: October 14 at 9:19 pm.

The CCC does need to be updated with the new creed.

Karelene Olson: October 14 at 9:26 pm.

30 "Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice." Although man can forget God or reject him, He never ceases to call every man to seek him, so as to find life and happiness. But this search for God demands of man every effort of intellect, a sound will, "an upright heart", as well as the witness of others who teach him to seek God.
I love this passage :)

Juan Luis Faustmann: October 14 at 10:08 pm.

"I beleive" this is not as easy as it seems. through my life I have come to realize that this term "I believe" is taken for granted . How does one 'know' that one beleives, i mean truely beleive, in the very core of one's soul?

Jacqueline Lakah: October 14 at 10:57 pm.

It has been difficult for me to answer those good men whose revolt against evil in the world results in their question: "How and why a good God allows it?"

Susan DeVault: October 14 at 11:17 pm.

Thanks for day 4! I wonder if I'll make it through 365 days? An entire year of reading every day is a huge challenge for me. I did this during the 40 days of Lent by reading my New American Catholic Bible along with the free CD ROM called "You've Got the Time" and I didn't think that I'd make it through the 40 days, but for the first time in my life I read along with that CD ROM and finished the entire New Testament. It was a huge challenge for me, and each Lent since then I've done that over again, but for me it is easier to have it reading to me while I read along. Also last year I discovered discussion questions that came along with it, so I also attempted to answer them. From all that I now can say I have a better knowledge of the New Testament than I ever thought I would. I'm still in a wait and see about learning the CCC. I'm just praying that I can keep trying. Thanks Susan!

Diana Torres: October 14 at 11:41 pm.

Thank You for this opportunity. I will share with all who are interested in reading the Catechism, and enriching their spiritual lives with this knowledge for this Year of Faith.

Robert LeBlanc: October 15 at 1:07 am.

In paragraph 27, it says, "Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for."

I can imagine an atheist disputing this. For instance, the modern definition of happiness is reduced to feelings and pleasure (rather than living a good virtuous life). And of course, he'll dispute that truth comes from anything other than the material world.

It also seems that the Catechism has provided a broad road maps, in that they could be shown the proofs of God via the world or the human person, or by God's grace (should we ever forget that the Holy Spirit effects conversion).

John Silva: October 15 at 6:41 am.

To the question about 'male pronouns'; I've heard the explanation before that the original Greek words used in the Creed have a 'neuter gender' but there isn't a similar concept in the English language. Maybe someone with a better understanding of language could comment on this.

Jeffry: thanks for the pointer about adding notes/comments to the online Catechism!

Susan: I feel the same way (and did when I tried to 'read the bible in a year'); I had many days that I had to 'catch up' with previously missed days. As far as the Catechism reading, so far these 'bite-sized' pieces seem very doable on an everyday basis. Also, I would suggest the K of C 'Luke E. Hart Course' (posted URL earlier) because it has audio 'chapters' where you can listen to each part of the Catechism explained. Also, it is 'more' than just the reading of the chapters; it is intermingled with examples and explanations (and analogies, etc.) that explain each chapter/section. It also has chapter quizzes to help check your understanding of the materials. Highly recommended (yes, I haven't finished that either; I started about a month ago and have only finished 8 chapters so far.)

Jeffrey Pinyan (@CatechismAPI): October 15 at 7:11 am.

@Elaine Ritzert: "The CCC does need to be updated with the new creed."

The second edition of the Catechism was printed in 1997, so no, it does not take into account the changes in the Mass translation. But when it speaks of "I believe" and "we believe", it's not completely wrong...

In paragraph 167 (which we'll read on Nov. 3), it states:

'"I believe" (Apostles' Creed) is the faith of the Church professed personally by each believer, principally during Baptism. "We believe" (Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed) is the faith of the Church confessed by the bishops assembled in council or more generally by the liturgical assembly of believers.'

While it is true that in English we no longer say "we believe" at the beginning of the Creed, it's possible there are some languages that still do. But more to the point, when the "Nicene Creed" (properly called the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed) was written up by the Council of Nicene (and then amended by the Council of Constantinople), it began with "We believe".

When the bishops meet in a council, they say "We believe".

Dennis Wee: October 15 at 8:05 am.

@Jeffrey Pinyan (CatechismAPI):
The paragraph-level commenting in Catechism Search Engine is a fantastic idea! I just tried it and I'm so eager to see how it will seed more in depth discussions, especially with the "threaded comment" feature. How many levels of threading can it go?

Jeffrey Pinyan (@CatechismAPI): October 15 at 9:59 am.

@Dennis:

As deep as necessary... although I'll probably need to make some changes if it gets indented too far! :)

Linda N.: October 15 at 10:35 am.

Agree to your "AMEN" Brother Rex - "Faith is not opposed to reason" - AMEN again!!

Catherine Hall: October 15 at 11:41 am.

"The soul, the "seed of eternity we bear in ourselves, irreducible to the merely material", can have its origin only in God." Oh my gosh! Did this reach out and grab me or what!?

Paul Adaja: October 15 at 1:25 pm.

Thanks

Jim Buzzelli: October 16 at 3:54 am.

How blessed I am, through this Catechism exercise, to finally begin to understand the size of my faith community. Thank you Lord.

Martha Goff: October 16 at 7:49 pm.

This is the best day I have read yet...and I am looking back from day 6. God bless you for providing this service to let us all study the Catechism together.

Cindy Oddi: October 17 at 1:09 pm.

Help, I changed my email address - how can I get this sent to that new address?

Jeffrey Pinyan (@CatechismAPI): October 17 at 2:38 pm.

@Cindy Oddi:

If you go to the top of the screen here and click "Your Account", you will be able to edit which email address you want to receive messages at.

Regin V: October 18 at 10:43 am.

"Faith ...at the same time bringing man a superabundant light as he searches for the ultimate meaning of his life." I remember reading somewhere that faith is like a telescope that helps us see beyond our natural limits of the naked eye, into the supernatural... So Beautiful!

Jessica Rabbit: October 19 at 11:10 pm.

Blogging Day 4, feeling like all is ash: http://oxyparadoxy.blogspot.com/2012/10/feel-like-ash.html

Sandra Jarvis: October 22 at 8:53 am.

It is always good to know that our heavenly Father wants to be known in a deep way. Let us be open to His revelations and will for us.

Scott Reddicks: October 27 at 4:28 pm.

It's real hard for me to believe that homosexuals were created from or for love when they do not have the right nor ability to love or be loved. Except by that which created it. Why are we it's and all other living things living things?

Theresa Fernandes: October 30 at 11:37 am.

This is to respond to Mr. Scott Reddicks' comment. We are ALL children of God and we all have the capability to love and be loved. From your comment, you are only addressing one kind of love and attraction.

But we love our parents, we love our children, we love our friends and they love us... to say that people who are homosexual "do not have the right nor ability to love or be loved" is just wrong.

In my humble opinion, to believe that notion is to believe that God is not love.

I would like to end on a positive note: Praise be to God for every life that he has created. That includes you, Mr. Reddicks! I will pray that you get the answer to your question. Keeping you and all of the brothers and sisters taking this journey of faith in my prayers, peace and blessings

Scott Reddicks: October 30 at 11:42 am.

TY theresa, but no, my father hates me, as well as many others in my extended family. Hate I've known. But yes the love i speak of is the one of One on One. I do not have the right to that Church induced Sacrament to love or be loved.
And yes, I am celibate, forced, but none the less.
I have and will humble myself to His Church, but will always seek to be invited to have all of His Sacraments at my disposal to accept or deny whichever ones I want like every other living being on Earth. :)

Steven Duran: October 30 at 12:29 pm.

@Scott I totally understand where your frustration comes from regarding the Church's teachings concerning homosexual persons. This article from LIFETEEN really answered some of those concerns that I had. http://lifeteen.com/gay-catholic-and-doing-fine/ The article is entitled "Gay, Catholic, and Doing Just Fine" and is written by a young, Catholic man who struggles with homosexual tendencies. Fascinating article...

Scott Reddicks: October 30 at 1:24 pm.

TY Steven. Will keep up with blog.

Steven Duran: October 30 at 1:32 pm.

You da man Scott!

Alice Mabao: November 25 at 5:28 am.

just finish reading day 4, thanks!

Chris Nunner: January 6 at 3:35 pm.

I missed Days 1,2 and 3. How can I receive these?

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Read the Catechism: Day 4

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