The New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism (No. 2)

Perfect for prayer warriors at all levels. Short concise explanations for parents and children to share the faith in those important formative years. Highly recommend.

I am a catechist and I have found that the kids preparing for Confirmation know almost nothing about their faith. There are so few catechist volunteers that there are only classes for First Communion and Confirmation. I tried using the materials provided by the parish for confirmation prep but I found that they would be helpful for kids who grew up going to faith formation each year. I went to catechism twice a week all during grades K-6 and we memorized the questions and responses in Volume 1. People criticize this method of learning, but most of my peers can recall essential teachings 40 years later. "Who made you? God made me. Why? To know Him, to love Him and to serve Him in this world and to be happy with him forever in heaven." Knowing the purpose of my existence at age 5 is a wonderful gift. So many search for meaning their whole life. Another example "What is a sacrament? A sacrament is an external sign instituted by Christ to confer grace." I received permission from my parish to teach my confirmation class using Volume 2. It is a 2 year preparation and so we spent the first year learning the tenets of the faith. Because literacy is so poor in our public schools, I have to explain basic words such as oblige, reverence, martyr. I also give examples from the popular culture to explain blasphemy, heresy, indifferentism, etc. I expand on the 5th commandment to cover abortion, euthanasia using the CCC and the USCCB documents to teach the sanctity of human life. Abortion and euthanasia were not legal when this catechism was written, much less espoused by the president and speaker of the house among others who claim to be devout Catholics.

When I saw this catechism book, I had to buy it. I use this when I was younger or when I went to catechism. I loved these books so I had to buy one. It has all the prayers that I needed to make my first holy communion and now I share this book with my grandchildren that need to make their first holy communion. The book is easy to read, and it’s not all flocked and for the price it was perfect.

Pristine! Just what I was looking for, great for pre school and school age children. Thank you

As described.

The Baltimore Catechism is the "grand slam" of Catholic instruction that should have NEVER neen removed from Catholic Schools. This book is written for 6th to 8th grade students of the 1950s and 1960s but is perfect for adults because of it's simplicity, clarity, completeness and doctrinal soundness. The only thing outdated about this book is the artwork (so what?). It is a must own for anyone who wants to firm up their understanding of Catholic teaching. This is "old school" Catholicism at it's finest. This catechism even teaches about Hell, Purgatory, Indulgences, Penance, Devotions (how to pray) and even "MORTAL SIN". Yes, the church still teaches these things, we just don't hear about them anymore because modern catholic educators don't want anyone to be..... heaven forbid.... "uncomfortable". None of this "feelgoodism" and "new age" confusion that has permeated some catholic schools in the last 30 years. This book is perfect for anyone who grew up in the confusing "Post Vatican II" era and wants to learn their catholic faith the way it should have been taught all along. It is also perfect for catholic parents who want to instruct their children in the fundamentals of catholicism.

Not sure how old you are – but the Volume 1 was what was used in my childhood. For writing research purposes - I ordered both. Vatican II happened as I dawned adolescence (1963-1965). My father was career military and we were extremely transient. ALL the Catholic schools I attended used volume 1. All catholic schools’ told us ‘when you get confirmed the bishop will ask you any question in this catechism, and you better be able to answer it’ – well no questions were asked – but someone possibly 30 years older than me said when he got confirmed the bishop ASKED QUESTIONS OUT OF THE CATACHISM. My Catholic priest cousin explained volume 1 catechism was put together for American Catholics around the turn of the century of 1900 (adult version and kids version) Volume 1 – is a little entertaining as words are dramatically different in the first couple of pages than volume 2. Volume 1 is shorter than volume 2! I did three school changes in one academic year twice – two schools a year was the norm for us (Cold War military families were extremely transient) We would be at a school – and whatever question number we were on – I’d get to the next school and sometimes I’d be ahead – and breathe easy for a while – OR BE SO BEHIND at the next school – then frantically attempt to catch up! Post Vatican II application of the Baltimore Catechism softened substantially, and Volume II is a lot wordier than Volume I, and personally not as clear. BTW – in second grade - my very first confession I had three venial sins - I GOT TEN HAIL MARYs and TEN OUR FATHERs – the biggest penance in my ENTIRE time participating in confession . . . the monsignor was anti-military and we were the ONLY military family in that Catholic school . . . did not miss it leaving that school.

As someone trying to understand what the Catholic Church teaches, i found this book to be extremely helpful and concise. The book does not really spend much time defending or supporting its assertions with church documents or scripture. So, I'm not certain how useful this would be to someone wanting to dig deeper into why the Church believes what it believes. That said, it did not claim to be a defense but a concise summary and it did that very well.