PREPARING FOR CONFIRMATION: THE RIGHT WAY
A good friend of mine is preparing his son (age 9) for Confirmation next Spring in the Old Rite under the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX). The text being used for kids 9-12 is the “Baltimore Catechism #2: Explained by Fr. Bennet Kelley, C.P.” (Catholic Book Publishing Corp.). The teenagers and adults in the class are using the “Baltimore Catechism #3: Father Connell’s Confraternity Edition.” (The Seraphim Company, Inc.) An additional book is used, “Preparation for Confirmation According to the Baltimore Catechism” by Angelus Press.
I cannot say enough about the quality of these books. For teenagers and adults, the Baltimore Catechism #3 is hands down the greatest “piece of gear” (a Marine Corps term) ever devised in English for teaching the Faith. It will put to shame anything currently available. Most of the post Vatican II books were and are absolutely horrendous, having watered down the Faith to almost complete irrelevance.
I would urge those of you who do not have these great tools, to buy them for your home and your family, especially those with kids! The best place around to find these are Tan Books, and the Angelus Press (www.angeluspress.org).
I cannot say enough about the quality of these books. For teenagers and adults, the Baltimore Catechism #3 is hands down the greatest “piece of gear” (a Marine Corps term) ever devised in English for teaching the Faith. It will put to shame anything currently available. Most of the post Vatican II books were and are absolutely horrendous, having watered down the Faith to almost complete irrelevance.
I would urge those of you who do not have these great tools, to buy them for your home and your family, especially those with kids! The best place around to find these are Tan Books, and the Angelus Press (www.angeluspress.org).
posted by PreVat2 at
9:31 AM
13 Comments:
The BC is the bomb! Our holy Bishop says that even if the kids don't know what all the words mean, they will know the words, and when they eventually DO get the meanings, their faith will be interior and lasting. Very smart man.
I also recommend most highly this excellent book:
Most Reverend Louis LaRavoire Morrow, D.D., MY CATHOLIC FAITH: A MANUAL OF RELIGION, publ: SARTO House, original copyright 1949 and in its 6th printing as of Aug 2007, ISBN 978-0-9639032-6-6.
It's a bit pricey--$45 but I got it new for $40 through my traditional parish. It borrows some material from the Baltimore Catechism No. 3 (the old version) and the 1941 translation of the N.T. from the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. This is a very readable catechism.
Two levels of explanation: larger print sections for younger readers; smaller print explanations for teenagers and adults.
I usually look with amusement on those Protestants who say that Catholics at least of the pre-V-II age never used the Bible. This books is replete with Biblical citations and phrases to support Church teaching.
One correction: I bought the book for $30, not $40. Parishes who sell books often get a price break from the publisher and they will pass it on to their parishioners.
I use these for my Confirmation students at the NO Parish with TLM Mass...
And parents an teachers really should have the No. 4 version it is excellent.
I'm afraid I can't endorse going to the SSPX for confirmation. I know they're not a schismatic bunch of nutjobs, but their priests are under suspension, which makes it illicit to go to them for sacraments in the ordinary course. That's the reason I don't go to their Masses, even though they have a chapel relatively near where I live. I hope and pray they will be regularized very soon, so that I will no longer have to travel 300 miles to attend an EF Mass.
That said, I agree it's hard to beat the Baltimore Catechism. I also look for the TAN label, as their books are doctrinally sound. There's too much kookburgery out there masquerading as Catholicism.
Anita -
Pope Benedict and Ecclesia Dei have stated that it is licit for a faithful Catholic to attend an SSPX chapel in order to have convenient access to the Traditional Latin Mass. There is no problem with you attending the SSPX chapel near your home if you are only going in order to benefit from the fruits of the Mass.
I am sure you know this, but just in case you didn't I just wanted to clarify what the actual position of the Church is on the SSPX situation.
Hell I say get rid of the dang nervous disorder all together. But what do I know?
Thank goodness for the fortitude and perseverance of the SSPX. I use to teach at one of their schools, and I can honestly say they are second to none. The children know more about the Catholic faith than I even did attending Catholic school way back when. They have kept our Catholic tradition alive, and for that I am entirely grateful.
The Batimore Catechism - I highly endorse its use. I can not say enough good things about it.
Anita,
Let not your heart be troubled. Stop the 600 mile round trip nonsense. Go to the SSPX chapel and do as Rome as said many a time: Pray the Mass with them!
I've been wanting to pick up a copy. I received a copy of the US Catholic Catechism for Adults when I was confirmed this past year.
PJ wites:
I received a copy of the US Catholic Catechism for Adults when I was confirmed this past year.
So what do you think of it? I bought a copy a while back and read it. Nice vignettes of saints and other holy people at the beginning of each chapter. Good doctrinal summaries at the end of each chapter and in side bars/exhibits. Very easy to understand. Still not my favorite--I really prefer Fr. John Hardon's Catholic Catechism and Pocket Catholic Catechism--but it will do in a pinch. I would, however, not limit my study or understanding of Catholic teaching to this one (CC for Adults) book alone, or even the CCC itself, due to some ambiguities in the CCC.
I also recommend Fr. Hardon's "Modern Catholic Dictionary." Excellent articles with lots of information, but not so much as to make it a chore to read. Again, Fr. Hardon and his Catholic dictionary are thoroughly orthodox in the faith.
Fr. Hardon's books are the basis for two Catholic correspondence courses: the Marian Basic Catholic Catechist and Advanced Catholic Catechist courses. Apb. Burke is the chaplain for the Inter Mirifica society and Real Presence Association which sponsors these two courses and another course on the saints. I completed the two Marian catechist courses myself several years ago. A bit of a challenge (especially the Advanced course), but well worth the effort.
See: http://www.therealpresence.org/edu.htm
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