title: Gospel, Catechesis, Catechism: Sidelights on the Catechism of the Catholic Church
author: Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
description: Text: English (translation)<br /> Original Language: German
zlib_text: Titlepage
  p i
  The
  Catechetical Instructions
  of
  St. Thomas Aquinas
  Translated with a Commentary by
  Rev. Joseph B. Collins, S.S., D.D., Ph.D.
  Introduction by
  Rev. Rudolph G. Bandas, Ph.D., S.T.D. et M.
  New York City
  JOSEPH F. WAGNER, INC.
  LONDON: B. HERDER
  p i
  Nihil Obstat:
  E. A. CONNOLLY, S.S., J.C.D
  Censor Deputatus
  Imprimatur:
  MOST REVEREND MICHAEL J. CURLEY, D.D.
  Archbishop of Baltimore
  BALTIMORE, FEBRUARY 9, 1939
  p i
  COPYRIGHT, 1939, BY JOSEPH F. WAGNER, INC., NEW YORK CITY
  PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
  INTRODUCTION
  
  p iii
  Some are of the opinion that the teaching of religion requires no preparation and that anything is good 
  enough for the child. Asking catechism questions and listening to the child's recitation of the memorized 
  answers—exercises which are considered as constituting the whole process of catechization—are in their 
  estimation, after all, very simple tasks. And if the child stumbles and hesitates, a little prompting will elicit 
  the desired answer. Unfortu