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The
Catechism of the Council of Trent
New Edition
Did you know
that for over 450 years — until 1992 — the
authoritative Catechism of the Holy Catholic Church was the
“Roman Catechism”
otherwise known as the Catechism of the Council of Trent
— Catechismus ex decreto Concilii Tridentini — published
by Pope Pius V in 1566?
It was this most monumental Council in the history of the Church which
had produced Quo Primum (“From
the first”)
commonly known as The Latin Mass — prayed throughout the
world for the better part of 2000 years — and which was effectively
and universally abolished following the Second Vatican Council in 1969
— and then relegated to the inferior status of an
“Extraordinary Form”
(the Forma ordinaria or
“Ordinary Form”
having been used for only 40 years) by Pope Benedict XVI in his Motu
proprio Summorum Pontificum.
The Council of Trent was convened
“to revise and re-edit the
Sacred Books: the Catechism, the Missal and the
Breviary.”
This was a monumental task suffused with continuity, clearly articulating
all that the Church had taught and how it prayed and worshipped for
the better part of 2000 years. The
“Tridentine Mass”
retains this today, and subsequently grows around the world, especially
among younger people who have been indelibly impressed with the sacred
beauty, silence, and solemnity — almost altogether absent from
the Novus Ordo Mass, or the
“New Mass”
— of what has rightly been called
“The Mass of the Ages”.
It is nevertheless very interesting to read the Catechism of the
Council of Trent , the fruit of the Fathers convened at Trento,
Italy between 1545 and 1563, for its striking clarity and readability
concerning doctrine and worship that is divided into (4) parts:
The catechism is profoundly spiritual.
It is unsparing. It is always illuminating. And it suffuses one with
hope in God’s mercy. Whether parish priest, or layman, this spiritual
and ecclesiastical treasure abounds with insights in its stunning simplicity.
Learn the genuine teaching of the Church in clear terms that do not
demur from today's “ecumenical sensitivities”. It speaks the truth unapologetically
— and in charity.
Regrettably, most versions of the Catechism of the Council of
Trent are of poor quality (having merely been scanned) and suffer
in the way of readability. The Scriptural references are unclear, inconvenient,
or absent altogether. We have sought to remedy these deficiencies by
providing you with a translation into modern English that is faithful
to the original English translation that is sometimes antiquated and
we have provided in-line Scriptural references
in red for Biblical quotations to obviate the need to
advert to other parts of the page or even the Catechism itself. It is
our hope that this new format redounds to the glory of God and the salvation
of souls. Click on the appropriate link below to read (or download)
the Catechism in a PDF format or in an MS Word format.
PDF or
 Microsoft
Word
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