Baltimore Catechism No.1: A Catechism of Christian Doctrine

 (4 customer reviews)

I use this book for instructing my third grader and I am very pleased with the both the content and format of this book. It combines solid Catholic doctrinal teaching with meaningful exposure to Scripture and practical application. For my 3rd grader, every week we read the chapter together and we create flash cards for all the questions in a chapter, plus one applicable Scripture verse. He practices these for about 10 minutes every day (almost) so that he has them memorized. As a result, he is very confident in his ability to know the truths of the Faith.
I personally wish the pictures were a little more up to date, but my boy doesn't seem to mind them. Also, occasionally, they use a word that is beyond the knowledge of the average third grader, so I have to simplify it. Overall, however, I cannot think of a single better way for young Catholics to get a solid grounding in the Faith.

Most people who studied from this Catechism as children can freely quote from it, even when they do not know they are quoting.
Reading from it as an older person is a trip down memory lane. It also reminds me that the "Truth" never changes, only some of the constructs we build around it.

I thought I was getting another "version" of the noted "Baltimore Catechism," but this was nothing like that. It was just a small handbook, and not for children, as the St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism is, and which also comes in graded levels (Book 1, Book 2, etc.).