The deficiencies in Catholic catechesis of recent years are so many and so disheartening that even to think of the matter is painful. And so I will focus instead on one little remedy.
One book in particular could go a long way in remedying widespread ignorance of the Catholic understanding of the Eucharist — the Little Catechism on the Eucharist (New Hope, KY: New Hope Publications, 2005). All parents, grandparents, catechists, and evangelists (that means every Catholic) should know about this book. A quick review of the book will reveal the big difference that it can make for Catholics of all ages.
As the title has it, the Little Catechism on the Eucharist is primarily about the Eucharist. But since the Eucharist is the center, source, and summit of the Church's life, the Little Catechism presents the whole Catholic faith in light of the Eucharist and the Eucharist in light of the whole Catholic faith. For example, the book presents the doctrines of the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus, and the Church (Apostolic Succession), etc. Hence, the book is a mini "Intro to Catholicism".
Four Wonderful Features
Four things are especially worthy of note about the Little Catechism.
First, the Little Catechism combines both pictures and words to communicate the truths of the Church's Eucharistic faith. In its language level, the Little Catechism is intended primarily for adolescents — junior high and above. In its pictures, it is meant for children even younger. Virtually every page has one or more pastel pictures designed to illustrate some point of revealed truth. It is easy to conceive of an adolescent being intellectually capable of working through the book without an adult over his or her shoulder. But it is not difficult also to conceive of an adult working through some or all of the book together with a younger child. The higher level language would first give the adult an adult's grasp of the faith, and with that adult grasp of the faith, the adult could then help interpret the pictures for the child at an age appropriate level yet in accord with the true teachings of the Church. I have even known college age students who have read the Little Catechism with great zeal and great delight, hungering for the conceptualization of the faith that the book offers.
Second, the Little Catechism packs a powerful propositional punch. For half of the book, the Little Catechism uses the "Question-and-Answer" method. Like the old Baltimore Catechism, the Little Catechism presents,one after, another a clear question and an exact answer — plodding along one question at a time until the mind is full of illuminating and substantial knowledge of God, Jesus, and the Eucharist. But, unlike the Baltimore Catechism, the Little Catechism was composed after Vatican II and reflects details of Catholic life since the Council. For example, the Little Catechism carefully analyzes (with both Q&A as well as pictures) the structure of the Mass. But the Mass structure that it studies is the Mass of Pope Paul VI — the Mass that most Catholics today participate in. Furthermore, the Little Catechism refers to Saints who only recently have been beatified or canonized, e.g. Mother Teresa and Padre Pio. Finally, the Little Catechism reflects the Council's desire that Catholic spirituality and thinking become more Scripturally centered. The Little Catechism has a whole chapter of Q&A about the Scriptural roots of Eucharistic doctrine, and, frequently refers to Scriptural events, e.g. the Eucharistic event on the road to Emmaus (Lk.24). Finally, it seems to me that the Little Catechism also reflects the Council's desire that Catholics become more conscious of the Trinity of divine persons.
Third, the book has a lengthy section of practical instructions. For example, one chapter goes into how to dispose oneself before Mass for a fruitful reception of Holy Communion. In this context, the Little Catechism presents the Church's understanding of grace, spiritual growth in grace, the important distinction between mortal and venial sin, and the necessity of sacramental Confession before Communion when one is in a state of mortal sin. The practical instructions also cover such points as how to make a good thanksgiving after receiving Holy Communion and prayer before the Eucharist outside of Mass (e.g., Eucharistic Adoration). The practical instructions, too, are illustrated.
Fourth, and here is what really sets the book apart, the Little Catechism strives to produce enlightened conviction of the truth of the Church's teaching on the Eucharist. Fully half of the book is devoted to witnesses to the Eucharist. The witnesses are of two sorts — miracles and Saints. One quarter of the book consists of short stories of Eucharistic miracles. Another quarter of the book consists of short stories about the Saints and the difference that the Eucharist made in their heroic lives. These stories are probably accessible to children younger than junior high age. In total, the book presents fifteen Eucharistic miracles and sixteen examples of Saints and Blesseds.
A Traditional Understanding of the Eucharist
Unfortunately, and not without reason, some people think of all post-Vatican II catechesis as doctrinally empty or innovative. But in terms of what the Little Catechism puts forward as Catholic teaching, it is no revolutionary work at all. It teaches nothing other than the faith of the Apostles, and the faith of the ages, as that faith came to be understood in the Church's classical and longstanding theology. In that sense, the book is as traditional as one could get. To make the point clear, it helps to note that the theology taken as a given in the Little Catechism is none other than that of St. Thomas Aquinas — the same Eucharistic theology that was taken as a given at the Council of Trent, the same Eucharistic theology that was built into the Baltimore Catechism, the same Eucharistic theology that was taken as a given by the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council, and the same Eucharistic theology found today in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Indeed, the Little Catechism has a whole chapter titled "Transubstantiation."
In a single, one-hundred page book, the reader will find clear questions, real answers, illustrative pictures, moving accounts of miracles, and inspiring stories of Saints. All of it is devoted to building up an intelligent and convinced Eucharistic faith. The book is endorsed by a long list of Cardinals and Bishops from as far away as Rome (Cardinal Arinze) to as near as Chicago (Cardinal George). And to these prestigious accolades, I would like to add my own small testimony.
This book is practically the definition of "solid."
The Little Catechism is available for order from New Hope Publications via the web or by phone: 1-800-764-8444.
