Pope Benedict’s Catechesis
(On March 15, 2006 the Pope announced the beginning of a new series of catechetical talks which would focus on “the mystery of the relationship between Christ and the Church, reflecting upon it from the experience of the Apostles, in light of the duty entrusted to them.” Below you will find links to the talks that have been given so far. Beneath some of these talks you will find suggested readings)
Update: On Wednesday, March 7 2007 the Pope began teaching on the Fathers of the Church. These are listed below the talks on the Apostles.
Update #2: On July 2, 2008 the Pope began a series of Catechetical talks on St. Paul as part of the “Year of St Paul.” These are listed below the talks on the Fathers of the Church.
On The Apostles And New Testament People:
suggested readings:
- a) The Spirit of Catholicism (esp. chapter 2) by Karl Adam
- b) Mystici Corporis (On the Mystical Body of Christ) By Pope Pius XII
- c) The Ecclesiology of Vatican II by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
- d) Catechism links to Christ and the Church:
- beginning, foundation and Head of the Church, 2, 424, 551-53, 771, 778, 807, 864, 874
- bestows qualities on the Church, 811, 889-90
- leads the Church, 551, 852, 1547
- only gateway, 754
- origin of the Church, 424, 763-67
- origin of the Church’s Magisterium, 88
- pillar of the Church, 820, 822-24, 830, 837, 869, 1076, 1547
- presence in the Church, 775, 779, 1119
- priesthood, 941, 1544-45
2. APOSTLES AS WITNESSES OF CHRIST.
Suggested readings:
- a) Ad Gentes (Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church) Vatican II
- b) Redemptoris Missio (Mission of the Redeemer) Pope John Paul II
- c) Catechism links: mission of the apostles, 2, 551, 858-60, 1122, 1223
Suggested reading:
- a) Some Aspects of the Church Understood As Communion. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (difficult)
- b) Catechism links: Communion of man
with Christ, 533, 725, 787, 790, 1331
with the divine persons, 259, 732, 737, 850, 1107
with God, 27, 45, 54, 154, 613, 780, 1489, 1804
with the mysteries of Jesus, 519-21 - c) Baptism Is the Foundation of Communion. Pope John Paul II
4. SAFEGUARDING THE GIFT OF COMMUNION.
Suggested readings:
- a) The Spirit of Catholicism, chapter 7 by Karl Adam
- b) St Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, 4:1-16.
- c) St Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy, 1:6-4:5.
5. COMMUNION IN TIME: TRADITION.
Suggested readings: Please note that I could not find anything on the net regarding specifically the relationship between Tradition and communion. The readings below concern the validity of Tradition. It should be noted that the Pope’s 6th and 7th addresses, found below, are closely connected to the current address. The 4th address prepared for them.
- The two Canons: Scripture and Tradition by Jimmy Akin
- Oral Tradition in the New Testament by David Palm
- Tradition and Living Magisterium from the Catholic Encyclopedia
6. APOSTOLIC TRADITION AND THE CHURCH.
7. HAVING A VISION FROM ON HIGH.
- The Fathers of the Church from Catholic Answers
- Successors of the Apostles from Catholic Answers
- Apostolic Authority and Succession from scripturecatholic.com
- The Apostolic Church by Dwight Longnecker, from The Coming Home network
22. JUDAS ISCARIOT AND MATTHIAS.
29 Barnabas, Silas, Apollos.
30. Priscilla and Aquila.
31. Women serving the Gospel.
On The Fathers Of The Church:
32. St Clement, Bishop of Rome.
37. Origin of Alexandria.
38. Origin on Prayer and the Church.
39. Tertullian.
41. St Cyprian on Unity and Prayer.
46. On St Basil 2.
47. On St Gregory Nanzianzus 1.
48. On St Gregory Nanzianzus 2.
53. On St Cyril of Alexandria.
55. On St Eusebius of Vercelli.
58. On St Jerome 1.
59. On St Jerome 2.
61. On St Ephrem.
62. On St Chromatius of Aquileia .
64. On St augustine of Hippo (1)
65. On St Augustine of Hippo (2)
66. On St Augustine of Hippo (3)
67. On St Augustine of Hippo (4)
68. On St Augustine of Hippos (5)
70. On Boethius and Cassiodorus
72. Pseudo-Dionysius
74. Pope St Gregory the Great (1)
75. Pope St Gregory the Great (2)
76. St Columban
Catechesis for The Year of St Paul: