Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

The essentials of the Catechism in question-answer format

This abbreviated version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church presents the entirety of Catholic moral teaching and the doctrine of the faith in a manner accessible to all.

Pope Benedict XVI describes the Compendium as "a faithful and sure synthesis of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It contains, in concise form, all the essential and fundamental elements of the Church's faith, thus constituting, as my Predecessor had wished, a kind of vademecum which allows believers and non-believers alike to behold the entire panorama of the Catholic faith."

A sure and universal benchmark
An essential reference for all Christians, the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is also a user-friendly tool for all who wish to know the foundations and the moral precepts of the Catholic faith. Using the practical and lively dialogical approach, the Compendium follows the same structure as the Catechism - The Profession of Faith, The Celebration of the Christian Mystery, Life in Christ, and Christian Prayer. Reference numbers to relevant paragraphs of the Catechism are indicated in the margins for each question and answer.

A beautifully designed book
The Compendium comes in attractive paperback or hardcover editions featuring

• 598 questions and answers
• high-quality colour reproductions drawn from our rich Christian art heritage 
• an appendix of common prayers and formulas of the Catholic doctrine
• a complete analytical index