A catechism (; from , "to teach orally") is a summary or exposition of doctrine and serves as a learning introduction to the Sacraments traditionally used in catechesis, or Christian religious teaching of children and adult converts.Katecheo – Strong's Concordance As Daniel R. Hyde has shown, this word is used in the New Testament (Luke 1:4; Acts 18:25; 21:2, 24; Rom. 2:18; 1 Cor. 14:19; Gal. 6:6) for the instruction of believers. Catechisms are doctrinal manualsoften in the form of set questions and answers to be memorizeda format that has been used in non-religious or secular contexts as well.
The term catechumen refers to the designated recipient of the catechetical work or instruction. In the Catholic Church, catechumens are those who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Baptism. Traditionally, they would be placed separately during Holy Mass from those who had been baptized, and would be dismissed from the liturgical assembly before the Profession of Faith (Nicene Creed) and General Intercessions (Prayers of the Faithful).
Catechisms are characteristic of Western Christianity but are also present in Eastern Christianity. In 1973, The Common Catechism, the first joint catechism of Catholics and Protestants, was published by theologians of the major Western Christian traditions, as a result of extensive ecumenical dialogue.
Format Before the Protestant Reformation, Christian catechesis took the form of instruction in and memorization of the prayers and texts needed to participate in Christian liturgies: the Apostles' Creed, Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary and a fundamental understanding of the sacraments and of Faith, Hope and Charity. Catholic religious education was often directed to encouraging discipleship, such as the Acts of Bodily Mercy and of Spiritual Mercy, etc. more than being a detailed treatment of doctrine.
There were also more comprehensive documents that outlined the theology of the Christian faith, such as the Catechetical Lectures of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, "The Morals" of St. Basil of Caesarea, and the Enchiridion on Faith, Hope and Love by St. Augustine of Hippo. The earliest known catechism is the Didache, which was written between 60 and 85 AD. The word "catechism" for a manual for this instruction appeared in the Late Middle Ages.
The question-and-answer format calls upon two parties to participate, a master and a student (traditionally termed a "scholar"), or a parent and a child. The Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647) is an example:
Q. What is the chief end of man? A. To glorify God and enjoy Him forever!
Q. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him? A. The word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
Catholic catechisms
There are thousands of catechisms in the Catholic tradition, with texts already appearing in print for the instruction of lay people by the early medieval period.
Only two "universal" catechisms have been promulgated by the popes of the Catholic Church: The Catechism of the Council of Trent (1566), written chiefly for priests, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992), written chiefly for bishops. These remain among the most widespread among Catholics today, although the latter has been met with some controversy since its first appearance.
For Catholics, all the canonical books of the Bible (including the Deuterocanonical books), the tradition of the Church and the interpretation of these by the living Magisterium (which may be accomplished in a catechism or other mode of teaching) constitute the entire means whereby God's revelation to mankind may be accessed. Catholics believe that sacred scripture and sacred tradition preserved and interpreted by the Magisterium are both necessary for attaining to the fullest understanding of all of God's revelation.
The term catechist is most frequently used in Catholicism, often to describe a lay catechist, a layperson with catechetical training who engages in such teaching and evangelization. This can be in both parish church and mission contexts.
Notable catechisms in history Name Firstpublished Author NotesConstitutions of Peckhamc.1281John Peckham, Archbishop of CanterburyLatin. Priests were to instruct their flock four times a year on "the Creed, the ten commandments, the two precepts of the Gospel, viz. love to God and man, the seven works of mercy, the seven deadly sins, the seven cardinal virtues, and the seven sacraments of grace." So no priest could claim ignorance, Peckham wrote a catechism aimed at priests.The Lay Folk's Catechismc.1357John de Gaitrik (or de Taystek)(Subsequent revision perhaps by John Wycliffe)Middle English, versions in several Northern and Southern dialects for laity. Latin version for parish priests. Presented as blank verse, not Q&A format. L'ABC des simples gensc.1401Jean Gerson"ABC for simple folk": the common prayers, creed, commandments, etc. to be memorized as part of catechesis. Medieval French (langue d'oïl)Small Catechism1529Martin LutherConventional key elements of Christian doctrine such as those found in the Decalogue, the Lord's Prayer, and the Apostles' Creed. Each topic was broken up into small sections, with the question "What does this mean?" following each portion.Explanation of the Apostles' Creed1530ErasmusA Catholic response to Luther's catechisms of the previous year. Anglicanized English version 1533 A Playne and Godly Exposition or Declaration of the Commune CredeSumma Doctrinae Christianae1555Peter CanisiusFor clergy, children, and adolescents respectivelyCatechismus minimus1556Parvus Catechismus catholicorum1559An Honest Godlye Instruction1556Edmund BonnerReprinted in 2020 within Tradivox, Vol. I.The Roman Catechism(or the Catechism of the Council of Trent)1566Various Commissioned by the Council of Trent and was not intended for common use by the laity, but as a general use reference book for priests and bishops. There are two English translations. One by Theodore Buckley and the other by Rev. J Donovan.A Catechisme of Christian Doctrine1567Laurence VauxFirst published in Louvain, six further editions in rapid succession, emanating from Antwerp and Liège, testified to its widespread popularity and effectiveness. The 1583 Liège issue was reprinted with biographical introduction for the Chetham Society by Thomas Graves Law in 1885. This edition contains also Vaux's paper "The Use and Meaning of Ceremonies," and a few further pages of instruction added by the Liège publisher. The catechism is practically formed on the same lines as its successor of today, explaining in sequence the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer and Hail Mary (excluding the second half beginning at "Holy Mary…"), the Ten Commandments (at considerable length), the Sacraments and the offices of Christian justice. The treatise on the ceremonies discusses the use of holy water, candles, incense, vestments and so forth. According to the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia, Laurence Vaux's Catechism was the first Reformation era Catholic Catechism in English when it was published in 1567. Reprints followed in 1574, 1583, 1599 and 1605.The Christian Doctrine1573Fr. Diego de LedesmaReprinted in 2020 within Tradivox, Vol. I.Catecismo de Ripalda1591Jerónimo de RipaldaDoctrina cristiana, con una exposición breve de Jerónimo de Ripalda, SJ.Astete1599Gaspar AsteteDoctrina cristiana y documentos de crianza.A Shorte Catechisme1614Robert BellarmineReprinted in 2020 within Tradivox, Vol. II.Douay Catechism1649 Rev Henry Tuberville, DDWritten at the English College of Douay in Flanders & is based on the Roman Catechism of the Council of Trent. It was similarly written with the purpose of teaching Christian doctrine during the tumultuous English Reformation. It is a testament to Rev. Tuberville and his colleagues at Douay that it remains one of the clearest and most direct compendiums of Catholic teaching in the English language.The Douay CatechismLuz de verdades católicas1691Juan Martínez de la ParraLuz de verdades catholicas y explicación de la doctrina christiana.Einheitskatechismus1777Maria TheresaUnified catechism for Habsburg monarchy.Catéchisme impérial1806NapoleonUnified catechism for France under Napoleon rule, the catechism emphasizes loyalty to the emperor.El catecismo de la doctrina cristiana explicado1837Santiago José García MazoEl catecismo de la doctrina cristiana explicado, ó, Explicaciones del Astete que convienen también al Ripalda.A Complete Catechism of the Catholic Religion1847Joseph DeharbeA popular German catechism, written by the Theologian Joseph Deharbe, which "possesses theological correctness, brevity of sentences, preciseness of expression, clearness, and good order... It is to Deharbe's credit that in his catechism he preserved catechetical tradition, but abandoned the Canisian division, arranging the text-matter under chapters on Faith, Commandments, and Means of Grace."Baltimore Catechism1885Fr. Januarius De ConcilioVarious editions of the Baltimore Catechism were the de facto standard Catholic school text in America from 1885 to the late 1960s. It was often taught by rote. The most common edition has a series of questions with their answers, which are followed by explanations in more depth. These are often accompanied by biblical quotes. There is a test at the end of every chapter.Explicación del catecismo católico1900Ángel María de ArcosExplicación del catecismo católico breve y sencilla por el R. P. Ángel María de Arcos.Catechism of Saint Pius X1908Pope Pius XIt was issued by Pope Pius X at the beginning of the 20th century in Italian, with the intention that all Catholics could easily understand their faith.Dutch Catechism1966Edward Schillebeeckx & Piet Schoonenberg, S.J.The first comprehensive post-Vatican II Catholic catechism. It was commissioned and authorised by the Catholic hierarchy of the Netherlands, and in its foreword declares as its intention: "to make the message of Jesus Christ sound as new as it is." The catechism, a bestseller, was alleged to contain a number of problematic formulations. These were reviewed by a commission of cardinals, who alleged several significant shortcomings in the new catechism's presentation of Catholic doctrine. They were able, nonetheless, to "leave untouched by far the greatest part of the New Catechism," while offering their support for "the laudable purpose of the authors of the Catechism, namely, to present the eternal good tidings of Christ in a way adapted to the understanding and the thinking of the present day man."Catechism of the Catholic Church1992VariousThe first universal catechism issued since the Council of Trent in 1566. It contains articles on the classical topics of the official teaching of the Catholic Church on all matters of faith and morals. Since the official language of the Catholic Church is Latin, official teaching documents distributed in Latin are unlikely to change in perceived meaning over time. The Latin language version of the catechism, published 8 September 1997, is the editio typica—the normative and definitive text. The principal source materials for this work are the Sacred Scriptures, the Church Fathers, the liturgy, and the Magisterium. This catechism is intended to serve "as a point of reference for the catechisms or compendia that are composed in the various countries." – Extraordinary Synod of Bishops 1985, Final Report II B a, 4.