Resources used throughout our website
-
-
New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)
The New American Bible (NAB) was first published in 1970.
Released on March 9, 2011, the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) is the culmination of nearly 20 years of work by a group of nearly 100 scholars and theologians, including bishops, revisers and editors.
The New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) includes a newly revised translation of the entire Old Testament (including the Book of Psalms) along with the 1986 edition of the New Testament.
The New American Bible Revised Edition is one of three Catholic Bibles approved for use in the liturgy, and is the official translation of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The New American Bible Revised Edition is the most common Bible translation in the United States.
VIEW the New American Bible, Revised Edition at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
-
-
-
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition (CCC)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains the essential and fundamental content of the Catholic faith in a complete and summary way. It presents what Catholics throughout the world believe in common. It presents these truths in a way that facilitates their understanding.The Catechism presents Catholic doctrine within the context of the Church's history and tradition. Frequent references to Sacred Scripture, the writings of the Fathers, the lives and writings of the saints, conciliar and papal documents and liturgical texts enrich the Catechism in a way that is both inviting and challenging. There are over three thousand footnotes in the Catechism.
The Catechism is part of the Church's official teaching in the sense that it was suggested by a Synod of Bishops, requested by the Holy Father, prepared and revised by bishops and promulgated by the Holy Father as part of his ordinary Magisterium.
Pope John Paul II ordered the publication of the Catechism by the Apostolic Constitution, Fidei Depositum, on October 11, 1992. An apostolic constitution is a most solemn form by which popes promulgate official Church documents. The new Code of Canon Law, for example, was promulgated by the Apostolic Constitution, Sacrae Disciplinae Leges. In Fidei Depositum, Pope John Paul II said, "The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved June 25th last and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church's faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition, and the Church's Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion." John Paul II also stated that the Catechism "is given as a sure and authentic reference text for teaching Catholic doctrine."
-
-
-
The Didache Bible
(pronounced "did-a-kay" and the word comes from the Greek didoskolos meaning "teacher".
The Didache Bible is a valuable resource for students and those participating in Scripture studies. Ideal for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith and intended to be accessible by all Catholics in its level of scriptural scholarship.
This edition uses the New American Bible, Revised Edition translation of the complete text of Sacred Scriptures, Old and New Testaments. The Didache Bible also includes numerous apologetical inserts to assist the reader in understanding the Church’s teachings on current issues based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. -
United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults is an adaptation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It follows the Catechism's arrangement of content: the Creed, sacraments, Christian morality, and prayer. The structure of each chapter includes a story or lesson of faith with a corresponding Church teaching, its foundation and application, appropriate doctrinal statements, and a discussion on the relationship of that Church teaching to contemporary culture. Related interesting information in sidebars, questions for discussion, and meditation and prayer accompany each lesson.
The presence of the Catholic Church in the United States reaches back to the founding days of our country through the leadership of Archbishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in the United States. His story, like other stories at the start of the chapters in the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, gives us a glimpse into the lives of Catholics who lived out their faith throughout our country's history. Each chapter in the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults includes stories, doctrine, reflections, quotations, discussion questions, and prayers to lead the reader to a deepening faith.
The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults is an excellent resource for preparation of catechumens in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and for ongoing catechesis of adults. -
The Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council was the 21st Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church, announced by Pope John XXIII in January 1959. After several years of planning, the Council was formally called together in September 1962.
For the next three years, over 2,000 bishops and theological advisors met in Rome each September through December, returning home to care for their flocks while committee members continued to hammer away on drafts of the sixteen documents ultimately promulgated by the Council.
Pope John XXIII died after the first session and was succeeded by Pope Paul VI who solemnly closed the council in December 1965.
SELECT HERE to view the documents of The Second Vatican Council. -
Lumen Gentium (LG)
The central document of the Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium was promulgated by Pope Paul VI on November 21, 1964.
The phrase "Lumen Gentium" is Latin for "Light for the nations" and is taken from the first line of the document, as is customary for titles of major Catholic documents.This document is "the keystone" of the Council's whole Magisterium. It focuses on the whole Church as a communion of charity. With it, according to John Paul II, the Second Vatican Council wished to shed light on the Church's reality: a wonderful but complex reality consisting of human and divine elements, visible and invisible. To understand the Church, it is necessary to begin with her mystery. The Church is grafted onto Christ and rooted in the life of the Trinity.
The Church described in Lumen Gentium is a Church rich in life; a Church which, far from withdrawing into herself, is opening up with greater energy to the world. Referring to the institutional structure of the Church the document states that all the faithful, who make up the Church, are the People of God. Both clergy and people, as baptized believers, belong to the same community of faith, hope and love, and are fundamentally equal. The People of God as a whole are responsible for the life and growth of the Church.
Dei Verbum (DV)
Dei verbum, the Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, was promulgated by Pope Paul VI on November 18, 1965.
The phrase "Dei verbum" is Latin for "Word of God" and is taken from the first line of the document, as is customary for titles of major Catholic documents.
In Dei Verbum,the Second Vatican Council spelled out in some detail what the Church believes and teaches with regard to divine revelation, primarily as it is contained in the Bible. Tradition is also included, but the emphasis in the document is on the written word in the holy Scriptures of the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Dei Verbum, since it is a dogmatic constitution, is one of the most important documents of the Council. It ranks second only to the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) and is printed in the second place in the collection of Vatican II documents.
-
-
-
YOUCAT (Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church)
The Youth Catechism, which is written in language suitable for young people, deals with the entire Catholic Faith as it was presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC of 1997), without aiming, however at the completeness provided in that volume.
The work is structured in Question-and-Answer format, and numbers after each answer refer the reader to the more extensive and in-depth treatments in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). A commentary following the answer is meant to give the young person additional help in understanding the questions that are discussed and their significance in his/her life. Furthermore, the Youth Catechism offers in the margin a continuos series of supplementary elements, such as pictures, summary definitions, citations from Sacred Scripture, quotations from saints and reliable teachers of the faith but also from non-reliqious authors. At the conclusion of the book, there is an index of subjects and persons to facilitate finding specific topics.
-
-
-
The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth, Volume Three
This handbook has been created for three main purposes. Its uniqueness is that it was created especially for teens and young adults. It is used as a textbook or reference book in religion class, or it may be used as part of a program preparing a person to become a member of the Catholic family. Or perhaps this handbook will be read simply because a person is curious about what Catholics believe and do.
This book is a study guide or Catechism for teens. It contains the essential teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), but is presented using language that is easier to understand.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The Gospel of Christ and the teachings of his Church guide the work of the USCCB. The work of the Conference is rooted in three general mission goals and organized into three key areas of responsibility.- To act collaboratively and consistently on vital issues confronting the Church and society
- To foster communion with the Church in other nations, within the Church universal, under the leadership of its supreme pastor, the Roman Pontiff
- To offer appropriate assistance to each bishop in fulfilling his particular ministry in the local Church
SELECT HERE to visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Franciscan Media
SELECT HERE to visit Franciscan Media
-
-
-
Word on Fire- Bishop Robert Barron
Throughout our website, we have posted many videos of Bishop Robert Barron's reflections and comments on many Catholic topics. We hope you find these to be inspirational and educational about Catholicism.
VIEW HEREBishop Robert Barron's Biography.
-
-
SELECT HEREto discover Bishop Robert Barron's Word on Fire website.
-
-
-
Global Catholic Network, EWTN - Eternal Word Television Network
EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 38th year, is the largest religious media network in the world. EWTN’s 11 global TV channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 300 million television households in more than 145 countries and territories. EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 500 domestic and international AM & FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; one of the largest Catholic websites in the U.S.; electronic and print news services, including Catholic News Agency, “The National Catholic Register” newspaper, and several global news wire services; as well as EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division.
SELECT HERE to visit EWTNReal Life Catholic- Christopher Stefanik
We have posted throughout our website many of Christopher Stefanik's inspirational videos of Hope.
SELECT HERE to discover Christopher Stefanik's Real Life Catholic website.
-