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Any study of Catholicism must begin with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Officially promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1997, it is the first “universal” Catholic catechism since the Reformation, and only the second in history. It is an epochal work that expresses the tenets of the … more
Nearly a century after the First Vatican Council, the Second Vatican Council, commonly known as Vatican II, was held between 1962–1965. This assembly, invoked by Pope John XXIII, met to discuss matters of faith and Church discipline. Over 2,000 Patriarchs, Cardinals, residing Bishops, … more
The Roman Missal is a collection of prayers, chants, and rubrics for celebrating the Latin Rite Catholic mass. The Missals of the Roman Catholic Church (3 vols.) includes the 1962 Missale Romanum, in addition to the Latin and English versions of the current Roman Missal, Third Edition, … more
The Code of Canon Law and the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, along with the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Vatican II Documents, are some of the foundational works of the contemporary Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is a society governed by law, and since the … more
Pope Francis offers this apostolic exhortation as a proclamation to the Church on the gospel. Written in his characteristic straightforward style, The Joy of the Gospel offers teaching on what the gospel truly means, and exhorts the Church to begin a new chapter in evangelization. In the … more
Any study of Catholicism must begin with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Officially promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1997, it is the first “universal” Catholic catechism since the Reformation and only the second in history. It is an epochal work that expresses the tenets of the … more
The Congregation for the Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is responsible for upholding the Church’s traditions, teachings, and disciplines concerning the Sacraments—especially as they are performed through the Mass and the liturgy of the Church. These documents, … more
For nearly 500 years, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has defended the Catholic Church from internal heresy—whether by false teaching or malpractice of faith. It is the oldest of the Curia’s nine congregations, and is made up of cardinals, bishops, priests, lay … more
For nearly two thousand years, popes have communicated to the world primarily through their letters. In the premodern world, the papal chancery turned out tens of thousands of letters a year. On occasion, a letter dealt with broad concerns and was intended to circulate through the … more
The Apostolic Constitutions and Exhortations of John Paul II and Benedict XVI (51 vols.) contains the most important writings of the two pontiffs, next to their encyclical letters. The papal office holds the highest teaching authority in the Catholic Church, and the popes realize this … more
Lumen Fidei is the first encyclical of Pope Francis after being elected to the papacy in 2013. Lumen Fidei covers the virtue of faith, and follows the encyclicals written by Francis’ predecessor, Benedict XVI, on the virtues of hope and charity. Francis claims, “There is an urgent need, … more
The Nova Vulgata is the official Latin version of the Bible for the Catholic Church. It has its origins in the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), which put forth the mandate for a revision of the Latin Psalter in order to bring it in line with modern text-critical research. Then in 1965, … more
Pope Francis’ second encyclical, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, calls all Christians to a greater responsibility in stewardship of the planet. Criticizing the rampant consumerism and irresponsible development of the modern age, Francis says, “This encyclical is aimed at … more
Since the announcement of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, this collection will now contain all of the writings of Benedict during his pontificate, between 2005 and 2013. Overview The Homilies, Audiences, and Other Writings of Pope Benedict XVI collection (19 vols.) contains the … more
The Pontifical Biblical Commission has defended the authority and interpretation of the Holy Bible for over 100 years, convening to study, analyze, and discuss the interpretation of Scripture in the modern world, or to evaluate a potentially controversial interpretation or pronouncement … more
