Magisterium

Summaries of Magisterial Documents

The Magisterium has been promulgated by the Catholic Church throughout 2000 years. Our Catholic Literacy Series (CLS) are distilled summaries of these Council documents, Papal letters, encyclicals, publications by the dicasteries.

These official church documents are condensed to core content, referenced by document and paragraph number. Originally we published in 13 volumes comprising 4.000 pages contained in 5 by 8 inch volumes.

Redesigned summaries are being made available in digital format to provide the learning resources necessary for future generations of Catholics.

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The Magisterium is the Church’s teaching authority

It is vested in the bishops, as successors of the Apostles,
under the Roman Pontiff, as successor of St. Peter.

It is also vested in the Pope, as Vicar of Christ
and visible head of the Catholic Church.
(Etym. Latin magister, master.)

Concern for Human Life

“So often we find ourselves in situations where we see that what is valued the least is life. That is why concern for human life in its totality has become in recent years a real priority for the Church’s Magisterium, especially for the most defenseless, i.e. the disabled, the sick, the newborn, children, the elderly, those whose lives are most defenseless.”

Pope Francis – Public Address, International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations ((September 20, 2013)

Cultivate an Adult Faith

“We must do everything possible for catechetical renewal. To do this we need an ‘adult faith.’ This does not mean… a faith detached from the Magisterium of the Church. When we abandon the Magisterium, the result is dependency ‘on the opinions of the world, on the dictatorship of the communications media.”

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI – Public Address, to priests in Rome (February 23, 2012)

Service to the Truth

“This is the context in which the conviction that theology needs the living and clarifying word of the Magisterium becomes fully understandable and perfectly consistent with the logic of the Christian faith. The meaning of the Church’s Magisterium must be considered in relation to the truth of Christian doctrine.”

Saint John Paul II Address to Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (November 24, 1995)

Three Truths

Though his Savior walked the earth for 33 years, Pope John Paul I, as the Vicar of Christ, served his Savior for only 33 days.

“You will say further: how can this happen? It happens because one is attached to three truths: God is almighty, God loves me immensely, God is faithful to promises. And it is he, the God of mercy, who kindles trust in me; so that I do not feel lonely, or useless, or abandoned, but involved in a destiny of salvation, which will lead to Paradise one day.”

Pope John Paul I – General Audience (September 20, 1978)

Natural MoraL Law

“No member of the faithful could possibly deny that the Church is competent in her Magisterium to interpret the natural moral law. It is in fact indisputable, as our predecessors have many times declared, that Jesus Christ, when He communicated His divine power to Peter and the other Apostles and sent them to teach all nations His commandments, constituted them as the authentic guardians and interpreters of the whole moral law, not only, that is, of the law of the Gospel but also of the natural law.”

Pope Paul VI – Humanae Vitae (July 25, 1968)

Until the end of time

“In calling this vast assembly of bishops, the latest and humble successor to the Prince of the Apostles who is addressing you intended to assert once again the Magisterium (teaching authority), which is unfailing and perdures until the end of time, in order that this Magisterium, taking into account the errors, the requirements, and the opportunities of our time, might be presented in exceptional form to all men throughout the world.”

Saint John XXIII – Opening Address at Vatican II (October 11, 1962

A Few Words

“It is essential to respect the traditions and teachings comprising the Magisterium of the Church. These summaries of the magisterial documents are designed to be accessible, understandable, and memorable.”

John D. Hipsley
CUSP Publishing, President, Refounder

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ADULT CATECHESIS

Scripture and tradition form the core content of all adult catechesis, for the Church has always considered them the supreme rule of faith.

CATHOLIC FAITH

The Catholic faith is like a symphony in which the unity of faith finds expression in richly diverse formulations and manifestations

SCOPE & CONTENT

Catechetical content is cognitive, experiential and behavioral developed in: (1) Word (doctrine); (2) Memory ( celebration); AND (3) Witness (commitment)

PASTORAL PLAN FOR ADULT FAITH FORMATION

The maturation of the Christian life requires that it be cultivated in its six dimensions

[General Directory for the Catechesis]

6 Dimensions of Christian Life

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Magisterium