|
mal faith in the one God: the almighty
Father, the Creator; his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord
and Saviour; and the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, in the
Holy Church (Section Two). Part Two: The Sacraments of Faith 15 The second part of the Catechism explains how
Gods salvation, accomplished once for all through
Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit, is made present in the
sacred actions of the Churchs liturgy (Section One),
especially in the seven sacraments (Section Two).
Part Three: The Life of Faith i6 The third part of the Catechism deals with the
final end of man created in the image of God: beatitude, and
the ways of reaching it
through right conduct freely chosen, with the help of
Gods law and grace (Section One), and through
conduct that fulfils the twofold commandment of charity,
specified in Gods Ten Commandments (Section Two). Part Four: Prayer in the Life of Faith 17 The last part of the Catechism deals with the
meaning and importance of prayer in the life of believers
(Section One). It con cludes with a brief commentary on
the seven petitions of the Lords Prayer (Section
Two), for indeed we find in these the sum of all the good
things which we must hope for, and which our heavenly Father
wants to grant us.
18 This catechism is conceived as an
organic presentation of the Catholic faith in its
entirety. It should be seen therefore as a unified whole.
Numerous cross-references in the margin of the text
(italicized numbers referring to other paragraphs that deal
with the same theme), as well as the analytical index at the
end of the volume, allow the reader to view each theme in
its relationship with the entirety of the faith.
19 The texts of Sacred Scripture are often not quoted
word for word but are merely indicated by a reference
(cf.). For a deeper understanding of such
passages, the reader should refer to the
Scriptural texts themselves. Such Biblical references are
a valuable working-tool in catechesis. 20 The use of small print in certain passages
indicates observations of an historical or apologetic
nature, or supplementary doctrinal explanations.
|
|