Christ of Saint John of the Cross by Salvador Dali
...we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles... (1 Cor. 1:23)
The Catholic Church began with Christ, and His apostles, when Jesus fulfilled the prophesies of the Old Testament with the incarnation through the Virgin Mary (Is: 7:14) and His suffering and death on the cross (see Is 53:13-15, Zechariah 12:1-l0, Ps.22:12-19, etc.). Christianity is not a separate religion from Judaism; rather, it is the fulfillment of the Jewish faith (see Shoeman Article and Peter Kreeft article).
Links:
Official Vatican Website
Catechism of the Catholic Church promulgated by Blessed Pope John Paul II
The Catholic Encyclopedia 1905 edition
Summa Theologica of Thomas Aquinas on NewAdvent.org
Writings of the Church Fathers
The Holy Bible (Greek, English, Latin)
Church Documents
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Catechism of the Catholic Church originated with a recommendation made at the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops in 1985. In 1986 Pope John Paul II appointed a Commission of Cardinals and Bishops to develop a compendium of Catholic doctrine. In 1989 the Commission sent the text to all the Bishops of the world for consultation. In 1990 the Commission examined and evaluated over 24,000 amendments suggested by the world's bishops. The final draft is considerably different from the one that was circulated in 1989. In 1991 the Commission prepared the text for the Holy Father's official approval. On June 25, 1992 Pope John Paul II officially approved the definitive version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. On December 8, 1992 Pope John Paul II promulgated the Catechism with an apostolic constitution.The Catechism serves several important functions:
(see also APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION / FIDEI DEPOSITUM)
Summa Theologica
The "Summa" is Christian doctrine in scientific form; it is human reason rendering its highest service in defence and explanation of the truths of the Christian religion. It is the answer of the matured and saintly doctor to the question of his youth: What is God? Revelation, made known in the Scriptures and by tradition; reason and its best results; soundness and fulness of doctrine, order, conciseness and clearness of expression, effacement of self, the love of truth alone, hence a remarkable fairness towards adversaries and calmness in combating their errors; soberness and soundness of judgment, together with a charmingly tender and enlightened piety -- these are all found in this "Summa" more than in his other writings, more than in the writings of his contemporaries, for "among the Scholastic doctors, the chief and master of all, towers Thomas Aquinas, who, as Cajetan observes (In 2am 2ae, Q. 148, a. 4) 'because he most venerated the ancient doctors of the Church in a certain way seems to have inherited the intellect of all'" (Encyclical, "Aeterni Patris", of Leo XIII).
- Catholic Encyclopedia
The Catholic Church began with Christ, and His apostles, when Jesus fulfilled the prophesies of the Old Testament with the incarnation through the Virgin Mary (Is: 7:14) and His suffering and death on the cross (see Is 53:13-15, Zechariah 12:1-l0, Ps.22:12-19, etc.). Christianity is not a separate religion from Judaism; rather, it is the fulfillment of the Jewish faith (see Shoeman Article and Peter Kreeft article).
Links:
Official Vatican Website
Catechism of the Catholic Church promulgated by Blessed Pope John Paul II
The Catholic Encyclopedia 1905 edition
Summa Theologica of Thomas Aquinas on NewAdvent.org
Writings of the Church Fathers
The Holy Bible (Greek, English, Latin)
Church Documents
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Catechism of the Catholic Church originated with a recommendation made at the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops in 1985. In 1986 Pope John Paul II appointed a Commission of Cardinals and Bishops to develop a compendium of Catholic doctrine. In 1989 the Commission sent the text to all the Bishops of the world for consultation. In 1990 the Commission examined and evaluated over 24,000 amendments suggested by the world's bishops. The final draft is considerably different from the one that was circulated in 1989. In 1991 the Commission prepared the text for the Holy Father's official approval. On June 25, 1992 Pope John Paul II officially approved the definitive version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. On December 8, 1992 Pope John Paul II promulgated the Catechism with an apostolic constitution.The Catechism serves several important functions:
- It conveys the essential and fundamental content of Catholic faith and morals in a complete and summary way.
- It is a point of reference for national and diocesan catechisms.
- It is a positive, objective and declarative exposition of Catholic doctrine.
- It is intended to assist those who have the duty to catechize, namely promoters and teachers of catechesis.
(see also APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION / FIDEI DEPOSITUM)
Summa Theologica
The "Summa" is Christian doctrine in scientific form; it is human reason rendering its highest service in defence and explanation of the truths of the Christian religion. It is the answer of the matured and saintly doctor to the question of his youth: What is God? Revelation, made known in the Scriptures and by tradition; reason and its best results; soundness and fulness of doctrine, order, conciseness and clearness of expression, effacement of self, the love of truth alone, hence a remarkable fairness towards adversaries and calmness in combating their errors; soberness and soundness of judgment, together with a charmingly tender and enlightened piety -- these are all found in this "Summa" more than in his other writings, more than in the writings of his contemporaries, for "among the Scholastic doctors, the chief and master of all, towers Thomas Aquinas, who, as Cajetan observes (In 2am 2ae, Q. 148, a. 4) 'because he most venerated the ancient doctors of the Church in a certain way seems to have inherited the intellect of all'" (Encyclical, "Aeterni Patris", of Leo XIII).
- Catholic Encyclopedia
Other Resources: Hebrew Catholics - Conversion Stories - Where to Start - Salvation is from the Jews - Writings of the early Church Fathers
News - Home Page of Vatican City State -
Bible Resources: The Sacred Page - USCCB Bible Online - Catholic.net Bible -
News - Home Page of Vatican City State -
Bible Resources: The Sacred Page - USCCB Bible Online - Catholic.net Bible -
