Summit of Faith
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Lesson 1 · CCC 1–25

The Prologue

Why the Catechism exists, and how to read it. About 5 minutes.

The big idea

God made you because he wanted to share his own happiness with you, and everything the Church teaches exists to lead you into that love.

That is the Prologue in one sentence. It is the Catechism's opening, paragraphs 1 to 25, and it explains why the book exists and how to read it.

The Prologue in plain words

Six short pieces

Each link opens the Vatican's own text, so you can read the real words next to these notes.

  1. CCC 1–3

    God made us out of pure generosity, and he wants us close.

    God, perfect and happy in himself, freely created us to share his life. He calls everyone to know and love him, gathers us into the Church, and sent his Son so we could become his adopted children through the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent the apostles to spread this news, and every believer is called to pass it on.

  2. CCC 4–10

    Teaching the faith has always been part of the Church's life.

    “Catechesis” is the Church's work of teaching the faith, so people believe Jesus is the Son of God and grow in that life. The Church has always done it, from early saints like Augustine, to the Council of Trent, to Vatican II. In 1985 the bishops asked for one complete catechism, and Pope John Paul II agreed.

  3. CCC 11–12

    It is the Church's reference book, and it is for you.

    This book is a summary of what Catholics believe and how they live. It draws on Scripture, the early Church Fathers, the liturgy and the Church's teaching office. It was written first for bishops and teachers, and it is meant for every Catholic too.

  4. CCC 13–17

    These four pillars are our map for the year.

    The book stands on four pillars: the Creed (what we believe), the sacraments (how we worship), the Commandments (how we live) and the Our Father (how we pray).

  5. CCC 18–22

    Use the In Brief lines as your cheat sheet.

    Read it as one connected whole. Look up the Bible references it gives. Small print adds history and quotes from saints. Each section ends with “In Brief” summaries worth memorizing.

  6. CCC 23–25

    Love is the point of all of it.

    The aim is understanding that sinks in and changes how you live. Teachers adapt it to each audience. Above all, every teaching is aimed at love: “The whole concern of doctrine and its teaching must be directed to the love that never ends.”

“God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life.”

The line to remember · CCC 1

Why it matters today

You are wanted

The Catechism is not a rulebook you open when you're in trouble. It opens by saying you are wanted. Every rule, sacrament and prayer that follows is the Church's explanation of how to live inside that love.

The Prologue opens with Jesus' own words from his prayer at the Last Supper:

“Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.”

John 17:3 · NABRE

Eternal life starts with knowing God. That is what this whole project is: getting to know him, one paragraph at a time.

A question for today

If God made me to share his happiness, where am I looking for happiness somewhere else?