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Do you want to write for Catholic readers? Do you want to communicate, accurately and effectively, the perspective of the Roman Catholic Church? Do you want to write about Catholicism or write materials used to teach others in the Church? For the latter, your manuscript will need Church approval from your local Bishop. (See “The Permission To Publish” posted by the USCCB.) For almost every type of writing though, it’s vital for a Catholic writer or Catholic poet to become familiar with the Bible and the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church.
Most Christians, including lifelong Catholics, seem to have trepidation about reading this hefty volume of 800 or so pages! However, Christian writers and Christian poets who write for Catholic readers and/or about Catholicism might want to keep this major resource nearby on the desk next to the Church’s primary reference, Holy Scripture. To show the companionship intended for those two books, an opening letter from Pope John Paul II quoted the main goal (theme and purpose) established for the Catechism: “The presentation of doctrine must be biblical and liturgical. It must be sound doctrine suited to the present life of Christians.” In that same opening letter, Pope John Paul II went on to explain, “The Liturgy itself is prayer; the confession of faith finds its proper place in the celebration of worship.”
The Catechism fully discusses worship too, but the general outline for the book goes like this:
- Prologue
- Part One: The Profession Of Faith
- Part Two: The Celebration Of The Christian Mystery
- Part Three: Life In Christ
- Part Four: Christian Prayer
- Index Of Citations
- Subject Index
- Abbreviations
To give you a quick peek inside, the Prologue begins with a quote from Jesus’ prayer in John 17:3, immediately followed by I Timothy 2:3-4. Together, they read: “ `FATHER, ...this is the eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. God our Savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’ than the name of JESUS.” But who are these “men” (meaning both male and female) who need saving? Article 1701 of “Life In Christ” on “The Dignity of the Human Person” explains, “It is in Christ, Redeemer and Savior, that the divine image, disfigured in man by the first sin, has been restored to its original beauty and ennobled by the grace of God.”
As a Christian, that’s who you are in Christ! Whether you’re a Catholic writer and poet or a catholic writer and poet, Christ’s redemption, grace, and beauty can be the good news you carry to readers around the world.
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Need help in writing for Catholic readers, writing about Catholicism, or writing from a catholic perspective? For a professional critique or manuscript evaluation of your work, see information and pricing for the Critique Service.
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