Prologue to the Catechism
Marcel Dion
February 9, 2025
“Father…this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3)​
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God our Saviour desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:3-4)
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There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved', than the name of Jesus!" (Acts 4:12)
One of the most exciting things about reading the Catechism for the first time (in 1992) was discovering how the authors chose to begin this historic document; they began by quoting Sacred Scripture. On the very first page, as a preface to the prologue, these three verses are quoted.
And even more heartwarming for me personally was seeing which verses were quoted. Since the early days of my conversion in 1974, John 17: 3 has been one of my favourite verses from the New Testament.
​The Catechism is a veritable gold mine of wisdom and inspiration, in large part, because it is so inextricably linked to the Bible. Very early on in our reading of it, Linda and I noticed that practically every page either directly quoted, or made reference to, a verse of Scripture. That being the case we also realized that immersing ourselves in the Catechism would necessarily mean that our grasp of the Word of God would be deepened. That's one of the many reasons we love it!
This had significant implications for our prayer life! Both of us have had seasons, at times extended seasons, when prayer was dry and difficult. If you've been practicing daily personal prayer for some years you no doubt can relate! During these seasons, the Catechism has been a wellspring of inspiration and nourishment and has also been a help in anchoring the wandering mind! This of course, was not always attended by spiritual consolation, but knowing that the objective truth found in the Catechism reveals to us the mind of God is itself a consolation. In an age when so much confusion about the truth exists, outside the Church and also sadly, within the Church, this bedrock of truth is a gift of inestimable value.
Jesus declared that He and the Father are one (John 10: 30). It might be said that the Bible and the Catechism are one! Founded upon Sacred Scripture and at the same time shedding light on the Word of God, the Catechism is a sure and wonderful help to all who seek deeper union with God.
Linda and I pray that the Holy Spirit anoint your reading of this tremendous gift of revelation to deepen your life of prayer and thereby deepen your union with your loving Father, with Jesus your Saviour and Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit your comforter, guide and "master of prayer" (CCC 741)
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"To my Venerable Brothers the Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and to all the People of God.
Guarding the Deposit of Faith is the mission which the Lord entrusted to His Church, and which she fulfills in every age. Therefore, I ask all the Church's Pastors and the Christian faithful to receive this catechism in a spirit of communion and to use it assiduously in fulfilling their mission of proclaiming the faith and calling people to the Gospel of life."
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St. Pope John Paul II
pages 1, 5