By Leon Suprenant | June 4, 2008 The following is taken from
paragraph 121 of the General Directory for Catechesis (1997):
The Prologue to the Catechism of the Catholic Church states its
purpose: “This catechism aims at presenting an organic synthesis
of the essential and fundamental contents of Catholic doctrine,
as regards both faith and morals, in the light of the Second
Vatican Council and the whole of the Church’s Tradition.” The
Magisterium of the Church intends to render an ecclesial service
for our times with the Catechism of the Catholic Church,
recognizing that it is: –”a valid and legitimate instrument for
ecclesial communion”: it desires to promote the bond of unity in
the faith by helping the disciples of Jesus Christ to make “the
profession of one faith received from the Apostles”; –”a sure
norm for teaching the faith”: the Catechism of the Catholic
Church offers a clear response to the legitimate right of all
the baptized to know from the Church what she has received and
what she believes; it i