Understanding Catholicism

by Monika K. Hellwig

Book Overview

The Classic Work Simplified and Updated Written by one of the country's most respected Catholic theologians, for twenty years this book has been the standard in explaining the major doctrines of the faith. Here now is a fully revised edition, updated throughout by Hellwig herself. The result offers solid, trustworthy answers to questions that trouble most thinking Catholics. This concise overview of the Catholic faith-- --uses inclusive language for...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0809140632
• ISBN13: 9780809140633
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Paulist Press
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Still #1

Thirty years ago I did a survey of Catholic theology teachers to identify what texts they used in Introductory Courses. The first edition of Monika Hellwig's "Understanding Catholicism" was the top selection of over 50% of the respondents. Her revised edition is even better. The only thing I could have wished for is more recent books in her chapter bibliographis.

ONLY THE LATE PROFESSOR HELLWIG OPENS TO US THE PORTALS TOWARDS A LIFETIME UNDERSTANDING OF OUR CATH

Forget triglio's Catholicism for Dummies and the water downed rest. Only the great Catholic Theologian and professor Monika Hellwig can, like Dante's Beatrice, open unto us the portals towards understanding our faith in under 200 pages, with substantial indications for further study. To do so, of course, she structures her entire work upon the essential and infinite Catholic mystery of the Holy Trinity, the Triune God of three Persons in One God who unfolds itself to deeper mystery and understanding the more we contemplate and seek to comprehend. Hellwig here opens the way for us to a lifetime of active Faith. Her first section then speaks to God as Powerful Compassion, the Creator, and the sinfulness which separates us. The second section therefore speaks of Jesus, our Redeemer, our Saviour, our Liberation and Foundation for Our Hope. The Third Section necessarily discovers the Spirit in our Church, in Communion and Institution, in the Sacraments and the gifts of the Spirit. Finally Professsor Hellwig speaks of the end times and the world which is to come, and final words on our Triune God. As noted above, throughout this brief yet comprehensive text, Professor Hellwig indicates very solid sources for further study as a path towards an impossible to complete understanding of Catholicism, a path which nevertheless we Catholics must take towards unity with our Triune God and one another in love. Highly recommended for seasoned Catholics as well as initiates and other seekers.

Read this if Catholicism a la EWTN comes up short

I was writing reviews of some other books and a notice on this book popped up on the page. I am surprised to see that it is still published. It is one of the books which helped me to reconnect with the Catholic tradition in 1990 after a time away as a born again fundamentalist. Hellwig awakened me to the sense that understanding Catholicism (or any tradition) is indeed a lifelong process. Catechesis is ongoing, at least in my experience, and this is very much unlike the idea, increasingly found in conventional Catholicism, that we somehow have managed to fully articulate the Christian vision.