Purpose of the Catechism"The whole concern of doctrine and its teaching must be directed to the love that never ends.Whether something is proposed for belief, for hope or for action, the love of our Lord must always be made accessible, so that anyone can see that all the works of perfect Christian virtue spring from love and have no other objective than to arrive at love." (CCC,prologue,#25) The theologians who wrote the Catechism states clearly the entire purpose of the Catechism and all its contents in the prologue to the Catechism. It can be understood that the theologians of the Church are concerned that all Christians must understand that the entire Christian life can be sum me dup in love, which is the new commandment given to us by Christ. This is a profound statement, which rings truly the message given to us by Christ himself for we are called to be imitators of God as his very dear children. God is love and that is the only way we can truly become his children is thru the love he has poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Notice that the writers of the Catechism also provide a wide sweep of all Catholic "doctrine and its teaching," under the one umbrella which is to "arrive at love." In other words, as St. Paul said:Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. For we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things. At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor. 13:8-13)The Bishops, theologians, St. John Paul II, and the writers of the Catechism want all Christians to keep their minds and hearts on attaining the greater gifts.
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