I started following the Catechism in a Year podcast around the same time I began RCIA early last year. I agree it would be tough to read the Catechism straight through on your own. Thankfully, I had some preparation from reading German philosophy in college and working through Faulkner novels in a grad class. Fr. Mike Schmitz’s commentary (and occasional goofiness) definitely helps make it more approachable. I don’t listen every day, so I’m only about a third of the way through after a little over a year. Still, it’s been incredibly helpful in beginning to grasp what it means for me to take the next steps in the rites of initiation next week.
Ah, but also remember that any statement in the Catechism is only as authoritative as the cited document. Quotes from a council are authoritative, quotes from a papal Angelus are the teaching of the Holy Father subject prudential judgment. See the changes on Capital Punishment, for instance. Despite the change in the catechism, the recently changed paragraph is not an authoritative statement. Peter Kreeft explains this well.
@Ray Alex Williams check out this helpful post by my friend @Donald Paul Maddox on the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
I started following the Catechism in a Year podcast around the same time I began RCIA early last year. I agree it would be tough to read the Catechism straight through on your own. Thankfully, I had some preparation from reading German philosophy in college and working through Faulkner novels in a grad class. Fr. Mike Schmitz’s commentary (and occasional goofiness) definitely helps make it more approachable. I don’t listen every day, so I’m only about a third of the way through after a little over a year. Still, it’s been incredibly helpful in beginning to grasp what it means for me to take the next steps in the rites of initiation next week.
Ah, but also remember that any statement in the Catechism is only as authoritative as the cited document. Quotes from a council are authoritative, quotes from a papal Angelus are the teaching of the Holy Father subject prudential judgment. See the changes on Capital Punishment, for instance. Despite the change in the catechism, the recently changed paragraph is not an authoritative statement. Peter Kreeft explains this well.