A compact guidebook to the basic tenets of the Catholic faith, this resource is an introduction as well as an invaluable reference for individuals and families who want a topical summary of 'what it means to be Catholic.' The first section covers the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church and keys each to the comprehensive Catechism of the Catholic Church. The second section presents the Church's practices, including among other topics, the commandments, holy days of obligation, the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, and the cycle of the liturgy. The third section describes the life of Catholics in a post-Vatican II era. The fourth section, an alphabetical glossary, provides the most essential definitions of Catholic terms and topics. A fifth section gives a month-by-month calendar of saints.
