Essentials for Christian Living

by Catholic Church

What do Catholics believe? How are we supposed to act?

In this compact little book, Essentials for Christian Living summarizes the core of what Catholics must know and put into practice.

Rediscover the traditional prayers and formulas of Catholic doctrine as well as the basic pillars of the faith-the Creed, sacraments, and commandments-in this pocket-sized volume. Encourage yourself to reflect...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1601370202
• ISBN13: 9781601370204
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
• Length: 132 Pages
• Weight: 0.37 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.9" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

A great book containing the important items of the Catholic faith

This book is excellent. It provides a nice summary and explanation of the basics of the Catholic Faith. There is amply space on each day to reflect one's thoughts on the information contained on that page.

Compact Resource for Individuals and Groups

The Essentials of Christian Living, from the official publisher of the Holy See in Rome, is a neatly packaged, pocket-sized handbook summarizing the core of what Catholics must know and put into practice. All entries throughout the book follow the same format: statement of the topic with space for making notes and a facing page with brief historical background, a reflection, a quotation, or a statement from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The first part contains traditional prayers, including the Mass, Rosary, and Stations of the Cross. The Angel of God entry in the prayer section is a good example of how the format works. On the page opposite the prayer we learn that (1) the Angel of God is "a brief synthesis of ancient prayers," (2) St. Thomas Aquinas taught that everyone is given an angel at birth, and (3) the Catechism of the Catholic Church qualifies belief in angels as "a truth of faith." The prayer section is followed by formulas of Christian Doctrine. The majority of these are presented in numbered lists, as the four cardinal virtues and the four last things; and the seven capital sins, sacraments, gifts of the Holy Spirit, and spiritual and corporal works of mercy. In the final section of the book, the statements of the Creed, the sacraments, and the Ten Commandments are treated individually. The simplicity and compactness of this book make it an ideal resource for individuals and groups, especially those involved religious education and evangelization.