Flawed Expectations : The Reception of the Catechism of the Catholic Church Book

Updated Jan 2, 2019 for incorrect link

December 22, 2017: This was my third full time to read the Catechism all the way through, though I have read many parts of it piecemeal.

This time I read it using an online service which you can subscribe to here. I highly recommend it as a painless way to read though the CCC in a year. You only receive emails during the week; two days off for week-ends.

Even if you get behind you can catch-up later just by saving the email notifications. They also offer a similar service to learn the Popes in a year. The papal information often verged on the silly to me, but I suppose that was to lighten the serious subject nature. I found it irksome.

The Catechism material is presented in a straightforward manner, no silliness. It is not in lieu of reading the actual Catechism, however. It is just a question and answer about a section of the material. Then you are encouraged to go to the actual text and read more. Effective way to study this important document for all Catholics.


January 2, 2017: The first time I did it on my own with a video series. The second time reading aloud with my husband and now I'm getting an email every day. Just like with the Bible, I am happy when I do read it, though it isn't the first book I would naturally reach for. I wish I could say it was. I am envious of those saints who never wanted to read anything but Holy Scripture, but that isn't me. :( I'm still praying for that grace...


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The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) is probably the most difficult book I’ve ever attempted to review—and also one which matters more to me than all the rest. As such, I can’t write about it like some dry theological tome which the vast majority couldn’t understand and the rest wouldn’t bother with even though they could. Experience with using the CCC has taught me that it’s anything but a dusty religious relic. For years I approached the Catechism tentatively and with trepidation, as though it would be much too difficult for the average Catholic (such as myself) to understand, failing to appreciate as most people do that the average Catholic is precisely who the book is written for and to. It's easy to use, well-organized, fully-indexed, cross-referenced throughout, and footnoted with thousands upon thousands of quotes, especially from Holy Scripture, but also the early Church Fathers and saints.


If you don’t have a copy, it’s available on-line here and here. The advantage of the on-line versions are the almost infinite number of links! Catholic geek heaven.

I marked this as ‘read’ but I wish GR had a category for constantly-reading.

EVERYTHING you always wanted to know about the Catholic Church but never bothered to ask.



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December 12, 2013, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: FINISHED IT! And much sooner than I expected to. My review is going to take a little while however as I want to go back over my highlights and margin notes before writing anything. So glad I read it!


Thanks Nicola for the quotes! I have highlighted so many good ones in my own copy. Need to go back when I finish and enter (at least some of them!)


Nov 23, 2013 Update: Just starting into 3rd Pillar, 'Life in Christ'- Christian Morality, and discovering it to be even better than first two pillars, so it keeps getting better ... and I already know the 4th part (Prayer) is my favorite.


Oct 26, 2013 Update: Have finished the first 5 Parts in "The Pilgrimage of Faith" study and they are excellent, but the Catechism itself is the real treasure. Didn't realize how much was here nor how much I was missing out on by not reading before now.


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I can still remember the day I was walking in the mall and saw this featured in a Waldenbook display. Why was I so surprised to see a 'catechism' in among the bestsellers? Little did I know then the long arduous process this book had to undergo to make its way to that bookstore. My other thought was, "Vatican II ended in 1965. This is the 1990's. Why has it taken almost thirty years to publish a new catechism?" Why indeed?!

I have always wanted to do a cover-to-cover read, instead of a 'dip my toe into the water' here or there. Now I have this study guide called: Catechism: A Pilgrimage of Faith which I'm going to use as a study guide while I read.