The published catechism of the Catholic Church can easily be traced to the Council of Trent. This English version from the reformation era has been subsequently reprinted many many times through the work of councils, synods and popes. Although the language has changed over the years to appeal to the audience, the message and content has remained the same. Finding the roots of the Catholic Church from the time when Abram became Abraham, we can see the constant conversion of humanity’s world view growing from the fragmentation of a world dominated by many gods to this post-modern era. How different this world view is today from ancient times is a debate for another day. The Church knows the faithful of todays’ societies are certainly grateful for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is this gift which has led the laity and the Church in today’s continuing conversion.

The Baltimore Catechism of 1885 is certainly a product of the continuing conversion, a deepening of the faith and an ever-broadening scope of understanding in the cherished pages of the Catechism. Like Holy Scripture, the Catechism can be taken at face value. And like Holy Scripture, on each reading a deeper and more richly textured picture of love, meaning and understanding emerges. It is within this frame of reference that I offer you this continuing conversion.

The Catechism opens with “Lesson First” in which the questions and answers concerning God, who He is,  and how He relates to the world and the humanity He created are presented. And again, if we are to receive, accept and obey the Catechism on face value, it must be based on the objective dogma and doctrines of the Church as given in those pages. Broadly speaking exegesis is the process of drawing out the objective explanation from the text without the subjective bias of the reader. In the same manner, eisegesis would be bringing the readers bias into the text. Both of these situations, this author is painstakingly trying to avoid. It is my intention to show there are dual, reciprocal and complimentary interpretations. When the Catechism asks, “Why did God make you?”; the definitive answer is, “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.” From the created ones’ point of view, this certainly fulfills the purpose and function for each of us. I offer you this: God made us because He loves us.