The Catholicism Answer Book: The 300 Most Frequently Asked Questions

by John Trigilio, Kenneth Brighenti

Overview

Discover the profound wisdom and timeless teachings of Catholicism with The Catholicism Answer Book

This authoritative and accessible guide presents the answers to the 300 most commonly asked questions about the Catholic faith, making it the ultimate resource for both believers and seekers.

Readers will discover:

1. 300 Thoughtfully Selected Questions: Delve into the heart of Catholicism as this book addresses a wide array of questions that encompass theology, history, traditions, practices, and more.
2. Expertly Crafted Answers: Written by seasoned scholars and theologians, the responses provide accurate, reliable, and well-researched information.
3. Easy-to-Navigate Format: Organized in a user-friendly Q&A format, locating answers to specific inquiries has never been easier.
4. Inclusivity and Relevance: The book caters to both long-standing believers seeking to deepen their understanding and newcomers in search of a clear introduction to Catholicism.
5. Rich Historical Insights: Explore the fascinating history and development of the Catholic Church, from its early roots to its modern-day significance.
6. Contemporary Application: Learn how Catholic teachings remain relevant in today's world, addressing current moral, ethical, and spiritual challenges.

Why Choose The Catholicism Answer Book?

• Comprehensive and Trustworthy: Unravel the complexities of Catholicism with confidence, knowing you have accurate information at your fingertips.
• Accessible to All: Whether you are a devout Catholic or someone curious about the faith, this book welcomes everyone on their spiritual quest.
• Perfect Gift: An ideal present for family, friends, or colleagues exploring their faith or seeking to gain a deeper understanding of Catholic beliefs.
• Ideal for Study and Discussion: Enhance group discussions, Bible studies, and catechism classes with this invaluable resource.
• Unlock the depths of Catholicism and immerse yourself in the timeless wisdom, traditions, and teachings that have guided countless believers for centuries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402208065
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	01/01/2007
Series:	Answer Book
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	523,538
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Rev. Fr. John Trigilio, Jr., PhD, ThD, a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, is pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel (Marysville, Pennsylvania) and St. Bernadette Catholic Churches (Duncannon, Pennsylvania). He is the current president of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, and also cohosts two weekly television and radio series on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).

Rev. Fr. Kenneth D. Brighenti, PhD, a native of New Britain, Connecticut, is pastor of Saint Ann Catholic Church (Raritan, New Jersey). He is the managing editor of Sapientia magazine and cohosts the weekly TV and radio series on EWTN, Crash Course in Catholicism, with Father Trigilio.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1
Who is God?

Question 1. How do we know there is a God?
The most obvious question anyone asks a believer is "How do you know God exists?" It's a simple question that has both a simple and a complicated answer. First, the easy part: faith is believing in something or someone you cannot see or believing in what cannot be proven. In other words, faith depends on not having any evidence; otherwise, it would not be faith. So those who believe in God or in a supreme being are taking the word of others or just trusting their own instincts that such an almighty divinity does exist. Many people, whether they are Jewish, Christian, or Muslim, whether Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or Protestant, believe in God because they believe in the revealed Word of God, called Sacred Scripture or the Bible.
A more complicated answer is that Catholic Christianity does believe you can prove the existence of God. Reason can conclude that a supreme being exists and is necessary, but only faith (believing what cannot or is not known) tells us that there is but one God (monotheism). Judaism, Christianity, and Islam believe in only one God, and Christianity is the only of the three to believe that there are three Divine Persons in that one God. Human reason could never figure out the mystery of how there can be three persons but not three gods. Faith is needed to believe that doctrine, and some people never embrace that faith.

The fact that God exists can be known by reason alone, or it can be believed by faith. The ancient Greeks and Romans used philosophy (logic and reason) centuries before Christ to prove the existence of God or a supreme being. Saint Thomas Aquinas was a Catholic philosopher and theologian in the thirteenth century AD who used that same ancient reasoning to demonstrate the reasonableness of anyone "knowing" that God exists, regardless of whether or not they have faith. He showed that the existence of God can be proved by reason, but after that, one needed supernatural faith to believe the supernatural revelation about the nature of God (for example, the Trinity).

Table of Contents

Section One: Creed-Catholic Doctrine
Chapter 1: Who Is God?
Chapter 2: Where in the Bible?
Chapter 3: Who Is Jesus?-
Chapter 4: What about Mary, the Mother of Jesus? -
Chapter 5: Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell-

Section Two: Why Seven Sacraments?-Catholic Worship
Chapter 6: Divine Grace -
Chapter 7: Baptism and Confirmation -
Chapter 8: Penance and Anointing -
Chapter 9: Holy Orders and Matrimony -
Chapter 10: Eucharist and Communion-
Chapter 11: Sacramentals-

Section Three: Which Ten?-The Ten Commandments
Chapter 12: Moral Questions from a Catholic Perspective -
Chapter 13: Vice and Virtue -
Chapter 14: Sin-
Chapter 15: Controversial Moral Issues -
Chapter 16: Honoring God -
Chapter 17: Honoring Your Neighbor -

Section Four: Our Father-Our Prayer
Chapter 18: Prayer -
Chapter 19: Our Father or the Lord's Prayer-
Chapter 20: Hail Mary-
Chapter 21: Piety and Devotions -
Section Five: Yesterday and Today: Church History and Common Questions
Chapter 22: Church History -
Chapter 23: This and That -

Index