The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-06-22
ton Society and are able to pro-
duce this documentary evidence of
good faith when called upon to do
so.
BACK TO THE CATECHISM.

The ordinary Catechism, as
every one knows, contains brief
outline Of Christian doctrine in it's
simplest form. It does not pur-
port to give more than an ele-
me1tary exposition of what the
Church teaches in a form suited
to the child mind. This may be
said to furnish framework upon
which will be disposed in after
life that fuller knowledge of
Catholic truth in all it's phases
which comes with mature years
and a fuller realization Of the
value Of more intimate acquaint-
ance with the deposit of faith en-
trusted to the Church.
The compilers of the Cathechism
tried to accommodate it to the
average mental capacity Of chill
dren. The lessons are short and
their contents set forth in simple
language. Those who have tried
to put the Church's teaching into
the accents of childhood know
how difficult is the task and hence
it is not to be wondered at that
here and there the Catechism is
not as simple as the learner would
wish it to be. It leaves much to
be explained and illustrated by
the competent teacher.
Notwithstanding it's simplicity
it is safe to say that the majority
Of children look upon the study
Of the Catechism as a drudgery
to be escaped from as soon as pos
sible How many there are who
give sigh of relief on the day
of Confirmation and rejoice that
the bond between them and the
catechism is at last broken.
They feel it relief to be rid of
the burden which the catechism
imposes on those who have not
mastered it's contents. Even though
they realize that they are not as
familiar with it's contents as they
ought to be, they feel that they
are no longer expected to scan it's
pages after they have left the
Sunday school.
No greater mistake than this
could be made. The catechism
should not be cast aside forever
when recourse to it's chapters is
no longer enforced by the demands
of Sunday school. It should be a
companion through life because
for the majority Of Catholics there
is an ever-present necessity to
refresh their minds with it's simple
and direct teaching. Why should
a Catholic be ashamed to be seen
reviewing it's lessons from time to
time after his graduation from the
Sunday school class? For most
OF us it is the textbook of reli-
gion. 1t is true we are expected
to supplement it's teaching by the
study of more complete works
dealing with the doctrines of the
Church: but, nevertheless, the
Cathechism always remains the
textbook of religion.
Professional men, doctors, law
yers, etc., do not cast aside their
textbooks at the close Of their
university courses. They are
ever on the alert to add to the
store of knowledge cleaned from
this source. IL they did not do
that, if they did not strive to keep
in touch with the latest develop
ments in their respective profess
sions, they would soon fall behind
in the race for position and compe-
tence. So also it must be with
Catholics, who do not refresh their
minds with the principles of relig-
ion learned in their youth and add
to their store Of knowledge year
after year. They, too, will fall
below the standard of intelligence
! demanded of those who should
take part in that great battle for
God and truth which the Church
is waging among the sons Of men,
and become incapable Of doing a
} layman' s share in the task of
preaching the Gospel "to every
creature" which was assigned to
the Church by the Savior Him
J self.
Back to the Cathechism, then,
If not in reality, at least in spirit
Drink in once more it's simple ex-
: position Of Christian doctrine and
by adding to the store of present
, knowledge, obtain frmer grasp
Of the truths Of eternal moment
| Back to the Cathechism in order
! that each one, by familiarity with
it's concise teaching, may be able
to set before non-Catholics the