By PEGGY MOEN
A Catechetical Dictionary for the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Joseph A. Fisher, Ph.D., paperback: 662 pages. Publisher: Academy of the Immaculate (February 11, 2017). Single book price: $22.50 each; 6-19 books — 25 percent off — $16.88 each; 20-29 books — 50 percent off — $11.25 each; 30 + books — 60 percent off — $9 each. To order, call 508-966-0953 or visit https://academyoftheimmaculate.com/.
We don’t usually grab a dictionary and read it for enjoyment, but serious Catholics might pick up A Catechetical Dictionary for the Catechism of the Catholic Church and not be able to put it down.
Its author, Joseph A. Fisher, Ph.D., an experienced catechist and professor emeritus of Drake University, says this dictionary “is designed as an aid in the study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It offers definitions of important words in the CCC which were found to be poorly understood by typical students.”
That explains its purpose. But the quality of the writing and the wise choice of material are what make the book compelling.
While primarily intended to facilitate students’ grasp of the CCC, the Catechetical Dictionary is also useful for those involved in apologetics. And we all are in apologetics, since non-Catholics and/or non-believers will challenge us on any number of predictable points.
One example is the alleged injustice of original sin, which we all inherit from Adam.
The Catechetical Dictionary defines it, in part, like this:
“Original sin is the sin incurred when our first parents disobeyed the commandment of God not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. By their sin they lost the grace of original holiness or justice.
“Original sin also refers to the sinful state into which all the children of Adam, except Mary, are born. The essential consequence of original sin was the loss of sanctifying grace in the soul. This condition is inherited from our first parents by virtue of the solidarity of the human race under the headship of the first Adam. Because of it, man is radically wounded and turned from his true purpose, union with God.”
The italicized words are terms that are necessary to understand the definition. And the italicized words in all the entries are defined in this Catechetical Dictionary. Dr. Fisher notes: “By providing definitions for the italicized words used in these definitions, the dictionary provides insights into the organic unity of the CCC.” (The book also cross-references the CCC by citing relevant paragraph numbers with the definitions.)
As another example of a contentious teaching: Non-Catholics invariably confuse — sometimes mockingly — the Immaculate Conception with the Virgin Birth.
Here is what the Catechetical Dictionary says about that dogma:
“The Immaculate Conception is the doctrine that the Blessed Virgin Mary was, in the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of God in virtue of the foreseen merits of Christ, preserved from all stain of original sin. This is called the Immaculate Conception and must not be confused with the birth of Christ or the Incarnation. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on December 8.”
Also worthy of note is the definition of Crusade/Crusader, which explains that the much-maligned Crusades began as “a series of wars undertaken to free the Holy Places from the hands of the infidels who refused Christians access to sacred sites.”
In short, A Catechetical Dictionary for the Catechism of the Catholic Church fulfills its stated purpose and does much more to cultivate knowledge of and love for the Catholic faith.
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