Three New Publications — The Best Liturgical Catechism, the Best Book on Dressing, and the Best Book on Religious Vocation

Worshiping; dressing; discerning religious life. What do these three topics have in common?

All of them concern our vocation to give glory to God and bring benefit to our neighbors with the powers of our minds and our bodies—whether in the radical form of a total gift of self in the religious life of evangelical poverty, chastity, and obedience, or in the social form of dressing modestly and beautifully, or in the highest act of the highest moral virtue, religion: executing divine worship with all due reverence, honor, and splendor, taking seriously man's sensible condition and the rich tradition that sustains him.

Important study: “On Doctrinal and Moral Disorders Abiding in the Church” — Fr. John Hardon’s 1990 critique of the “revised draft” of the Catechism (Part 1)

Rorate has received from Drs. Maike and Robert Hickson the following important study, which introduces and then provides the critique written by Fr. John Hardon, S.J. (1914–2000) in 1990 when he was given the opportunity to review a “revised draft” of what would become the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The text offered here, in two parts, was first published in Christian Order in 2016 and is now being made available on the internet for the benefit of a wider readership. Ever since Pope Francis decided to use the Catechism as a Trojan Horse for his erroneous position on the death penalty, we have become aware once more of the possibility of “weaponized catechisms,” and so, Fr. Hardon’s study acquires new relevance. It should be noted that many of his just criticisms seem to have made no difference in the framing of the final text.—PAK

Father John A. Hardon’s 1990 Commentaries on the “Revised Draft” of the Catholic Catechism

(Part I)

“The Illustrated Liturgical Year Calendar” — Beautiful New Posters for the TLM

Set 1, Poster 1: Advent

Announcing Tradivox: An International Catechism Restoration Project

Truth-seekers, rejoice!

In the midst of these confusing times in the Church, we would like to share some encouraging news. An international catechism restoration project is currently underway, compliments of Tradivox, a U.S.-based Catholic nonprofit. Their work has been strongly endorsed by Bishop Athanasius Schneider. Take a look:

Catechism Restoration Project from Tradivox, Inc. on Vimeo.

The project is tremendous: archival manuscript recovery, full text and graphics restoration, reformatting and republication of dozens of historical Catholic catechisms as an entirely new reference series – all demonstrating the changeless continuity of Catholic faith and morals across time and space. Not only will the catechisms be published in book form, they will also be organized into a massive online database that will be able instantly to show the consistency of teaching across centuries on any subject treated.

This is an incredibly timely and much-needed project today. Priests and seminarians, parents and teachers, students and scholars, Catholics and non-Catholics alike will here find an accessible guide to the timeless truths of our Faith. We know that the Faith, well-presented, has the power to convict minds, touch hearts, and conquer errors. In the words of His Excellency, Bishop Athanasius Schneider: “I invite the faithful of the entire world to support this historic effort, as we see to restore the perennial catechism of the Church.” (See Bishop Schneider’s full endorsement here.)

We encourage our readers to find out more about Tradivox by visiting the website.