
	Each month Bishop Manning writes a Letter to the Catholic Community of Parramatta Diocese, which is published in 'Catholic Outlook', the official diocesan newspaper. Click here to view a pdf of the latest issue. To review previous letters from the Bishop visit the archive.
	September 2005 The Bishop's Letter Concise and helpful … Compendium of the Catechism From Bishop Kevin Manning, Catholic Outlook, September 2005. My Dear People, The new Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church was approved by Pope Benedict XVI on 28 June this year. The Compendium is a follow-up to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1992. While the Catechism was addressed primarily to Bishops as a resource for teaching Catholic doctrine and formulating local catechisms, the Compendium is offered to every human being who desires to know the way of Truth entrusted by God to His Son. The Compendium is described by Pope Benedict as "a faithful and sure synthesis" of the Catechism. Faithfully reflecting the Catechism, its simplified structure, content and language will assist in making the parent Catechism more widely known and better understood. Three characteristics The three principal characteristics of the Compendium are: close reliance on the Catechism of the Catholic Church; dialogue format; and use of artistic images in the Catechesis. The Compendium does not stand alone; its structured development and content is derived from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, while margin notes refer the reader to relevant parts of the Catechism. The second characteristic of the Compendium is its dialogue format reflecting the ancient teaching device of question and answer. By reproducing an imaginary dialogue between master and disciple, through a series of incisive questions, readers are invited to discover ever-new aspects of their faith. By focussing on the essentials, the dialogue format helps the reader to grasp the contents and, possibly, to memorise them. The brevity of the answers fosters the essential synthesis and clarity of what is being communicated. The third characteristic is the inclusion of some artistic images, which are drawn from the rich treasury of Christian iconography. Centuries-old tradition teaches us that images are also a preaching of the Gospel, and artists in every age have offered aspects of mystery of salvation for contemplation and wonder. The splendid colour and the perfection of form of the images demonstrates that today, in a thoroughly visual culture, a sacred image can express much more than what can be said in words, and be an extraordinary, effective and dynamic way of communicating the Gospel message. Structure: four parts Like the Catechism, the Compendium is structured in four parts. The first part entitled "The Profession of Faith" contains a synthesis of the faith taught by the Catholic Church. The faith professed by the Catholic Church is expressed in the Apostles' Creed, which is further elaborated by the Nicene - Constantinopolitan Creed. The second part entitled "The Celebration of the Christian Mystery" presents the essential elements of celebration. The proclamation of the Gospel finds its authentic response in the sacramental life, through which Christians experience, and witness to, the saving power of the Paschal Mystery by which Christ has accomplished our redemption. The third part, entitled "Life in Christ", recalls the baptised Christians' way of living commitment to the faith they have professed and celebrated through their actions and ethical choices. The Christian faithful are called by the Lord Jesus to act in a way that befits their dignity as children of the Father in the charity of the Holy Spirit. The fourth part entitled "Christian Prayer" summarises the Lex Orandi, the life of prayer, following the example of Jesus the perfect model of one who prays. The privileged expression of prayer is the Our Father, the prayer that Jesus taught us. In effect, the Compendium is a renewed proclamation of the Gospel in our times, so that we may carefully preserve the faith we received from the Church. An Appendix of several common prayers for the Universal Church, and several catechetical formulas of the Catholic faith, are included. This is an invitation to rediscover a common way of prayer in the Church, not only personally, but also in communion with others. It is hoped that this Compendium will give a new impetus to evangelisation in catechesis on which depends not only the Church's geographical extension and numerical increase, but, even more, her inner growth and correspondence with God's plan. Initially, the Compendium is in Italian, but translations into other languages will soon follow. I highly recommend this work for widespread use by all Catholics. Yours sincerely in Christ, Bishop Kevin Manning, Bishop of Parramatta.

Each month Bishop Manning writes a Letter to the Catholic Community of Parramatta Diocese, which is published in 'Catholic Outlook', the official diocesan newspaper. Click here to view a pdf of the latest issue.

To review previous letters from the Bishop visit the archive.

September 2005

The Bishop's Letter

Concise and helpful …
Compendium of the Catechism

From Bishop Kevin Manning, Catholic Outlook, September 2005.

My Dear People,

The new Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church was approved by Pope Benedict XVI on 28 June this year. The Compendium is a follow-up to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1992.

While the Catechism was addressed primarily to Bishops as a resource for teaching Catholic doctrine and formulating local catechisms, the Compendium is offered to every human being who desires to know the way of Truth entrusted by God to His Son.

The Compendium is described by Pope Benedict as "a faithful and sure synthesis" of the Catechism. Faithfully reflecting the Catechism, its simplified structure, content and language will assist in making the parent Catechism more widely known and better understood.

Three characteristics

The three principal characteristics of the Compendium are:

close reliance on the Catechism of the Catholic Church;
dialogue format; and
use of artistic images in the Catechesis.

The Compendium does not stand alone; its structured development and content is derived from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, while margin notes refer the reader to relevant parts of the Catechism.

The second characteristic of the Compendium is its dialogue format reflecting the ancient teaching device of question and answer. By reproducing an imaginary dialogue between master and disciple, through a series of incisive questions, readers are invited to discover ever-new aspects of their faith.

By focussing on the essentials, the dialogue format helps the reader to grasp the contents and, possibly, to memorise them. The brevity of the answers fosters the essential synthesis and clarity of what is being communicated.

The third characteristic is the inclusion of some artistic images, which are drawn from the rich treasury of Christian iconography. Centuries-old tradition teaches us that images are also a preaching of the Gospel, and artists in every age have offered aspects of mystery of salvation for contemplation and wonder.

The splendid colour and the perfection of form of the images demonstrates that today, in a thoroughly visual culture, a sacred image can express much more than what can be said in words, and be an extraordinary, effective and dynamic way of communicating the Gospel message.

Structure: four parts

Like the Catechism, the Compendium is structured in four parts.

The first part entitled "The Profession of Faith" contains a synthesis of the faith taught by the Catholic Church. The faith professed by the Catholic Church is expressed in the Apostles' Creed, which is further elaborated by the Nicene - Constantinopolitan Creed.

The second part entitled "The Celebration of the Christian Mystery" presents the essential elements of celebration. The proclamation of the Gospel finds its authentic response in the sacramental life, through which Christians experience, and witness to, the saving power of the Paschal Mystery by which Christ has accomplished our redemption.

The third part, entitled "Life in Christ", recalls the baptised Christians' way of living commitment to the faith they have professed and celebrated through their actions and ethical choices. The Christian faithful are called by the Lord Jesus to act in a way that befits their dignity as children of the Father in the charity of the Holy Spirit.

The fourth part entitled "Christian Prayer" summarises the Lex Orandi, the life of prayer, following the example of Jesus the perfect model of one who prays. The privileged expression of prayer is the Our Father, the prayer that Jesus taught us.

In effect, the Compendium is a renewed proclamation of the Gospel in our times, so that we may carefully preserve the faith we received from the Church.

An Appendix of several common prayers for the Universal Church, and several catechetical formulas of the Catholic faith, are included. This is an invitation to rediscover a common way of prayer in the Church, not only personally, but also in communion with others.

It is hoped that this Compendium will give a new impetus to evangelisation in catechesis on which depends not only the Church's geographical extension and numerical increase, but, even more, her inner growth and correspondence with God's plan.

Initially, the Compendium is in Italian, but translations into other languages will soon follow. I highly recommend this work for widespread use by all Catholics.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Bishop Kevin Manning,
Bishop of Parramatta.

September 2005

The Bishop's Letter

Concise and helpful … Compendium of the Catechism

From Bishop Kevin Manning, Catholic Outlook, September 2005.

Concise and helpful …
Compendium of the Catechism