I have not read the series in its entirety, but from what I have read it is quite technically complete and as the “Catholic Faith: A Catechism,” I think, is the best question and answer type 3 book catechism I have seen, the Religious Essentials Series for high school is the best readable prose type Catechism I think I’ve seen. It states the Catechism in a continuous readable paragraph by paragraph form. At the end of each section there are review questions as well as points for discussion. From the preface of the Book “Service” we read the following:
“With this volume we bring to a conclusion the series of textbooks on the essentials of religion designed for use in high schools. Book One, entitled POWER, lays the foundation by presenting the facts concerning the nature of man and the purpose of human life. Man was created by an infinitely powerful, wise, and loving God, who gave to His creature some of His own powers by elevating him to a supernatural state. These powers, lost to the human race by the sin of Adam, were regained through the redemptive sacrifice of Christ. Baptism opens this supernatural life to man, the Eucharist sustains it, and penance can restore it if it has been lost by personal sin. One who sees himself so much loved by God immediately asks himself how he can best make a return of love. The answer is, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” book two, entitled LOYALTY, therefore presents the commandments more as a summarization of all that the law of love requires than as mandates to be observed under pain of hell. But at all times, and especially in an age so full of pagan and materialistic ideas, men need a leader to whom they can turn for inspiration and for solutions of the problems of live. Book Three, entitled GUIDANCE, shows that this leader can be none other than Christ, who proved His divinity in ways excluding doubt and who left behind Him an infallible and indefectible Church with power to rule, to sanctify, and to teach mankind.
The high-school senior, closer now to the time when he must assume the responsibilities of adulthood, needs to know how he can apply Christian principles to the life of SERVICE that he has already chosen or that he must shortly choose. In the present book Father Ellard writes on confirmation, the sacrament that strengthens us for service, and on service in the priesthood. Sister M. Anne Burns writes on service in marriage, service in the parish, service in the religious life, service as a worker, and service as a citizen responsible for doing his share to bringing about the establishment of the ideal Christian society. The general editor writes about the final scene in life and the reward of service that will be ours when the Master comes to render unto every man according to his works.
The following is an enumeration of the main headings of the table of contents by book to give you some idea of how it is assembled to see if the series, the way it is laid out and the way it covers particular subjects is of interest to you:
- Units from the book POWER:
Unit 1: God the Creator of the Universe
Unit 2: The Great Plan that Man Spiled
Unit 3: Our Supernatural Powers
Unit 4: The Channels of Grace
Unit 5:The Sacrament of Baptism
Unit 6: The sacrament of Penance
Unit 7: The Blessed Eucharist
Unit 8: The Sacramentals
- Units from the book LOYALTY:
Unit 1: The Law of Love
Unit 2. Love and the Gift of Life
Unit 3: The Material Needs of Our Neighbor
Unit 4: The Goods of the Mind
Unit 5: Shares in God’s Creative Act
Unit 6: The Greatest Commandment
Unit 7: Love Shown by Worship
Unit 8: Love Shown by Respect
Unit 9: Keeping Holy the Lord’s Day
Unit 10: Warfare and Victory
Scripture Texts for Memory Work
Index
- Units from the book GUIDANCE
Unit 1: The Existence of God
Unit 2: Religion
Unit 3: The Gospels
Unit 4: The Life of Christ
Unit 5: The Divinity of Christ
Unit 6: The Church of Christ
Unit 7: The Church and civilization
Epilogue. The Holy Shroud
Scripture Texts for Memory Work
Index
- Units form the book SERVICE
Unit 1: Strength for Service
Unit 2: Service in Marriage
Unit 3: Service in the parish
Unit 4: Service in the Priesthood
Unit 5: Service in the Religious Life
Unit 6: Service on a Worker
Unit 7: The Ideal Christian Society
Unit 8: The Reward of Service
Epilogue. Our Lady of Fatima
Scripture Texts for Memory Work
Index
These books were of interest to me and I learned some new things and they might be of interest to you if you wish to grow in the faith.
The descriptions of the publishers, Imprimaturs etc. of these books will be given in the list of suggested catechisms in the next post.
Traditional Thomistic Catholic 