Without proper religious and moral instruction, “every form of intellectual culture will be injurious; for young people not accustomed to respect God will be unable to bear the restraint of a virtuous life.” — Pope Leo XIII

Due to poor catechesis, too many Catholics — including those in positions of teaching authority — are oblivious to what the Church actually teaches and how to live virtuous lives. We are reaping the fruits of “the catastrophic failure of modern catechesis,” explained Pope Benedict XVI.

Reality check: It’s time to get back to the basics.

In these potent words, courageous herald of the Faith Bishop Athanasius Schneider instructs the flock with carefully selected wisdom from Holy Fathers of modern times to help you grow in knowledge of the truth and share it with others. This special edition, which includes relevant headings and annotations, is designed for easy reference. With these highlights, Bishop Schneider — witnessing in the role of a chief shepherd of souls — breaks open:

• What the Faith is and how we know it with certainty
• The definition of true catechesis and how it should be implemented
• Guidance from St. Pius X on teaching and preserving the Faith, and rejecting heresies
• Encouragement from Pope Benedict XIV on catechesis amid challenges
• Practical advice from Pope Clement XIII about safeguarding the faithful from error
• The scandal, according to Pope Pius XI, of teaching children spiritual errors, including immorality
• Why distributive justice demands that Catholics have a right to their own schools
• The grave duty of parents to educate their children to prepare them for Heaven

Drawing from the example of the saints, including Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Charles Borromeo, and Gregory the Great, priests, consecrated, parents, and lay teachers will learn how to impart the Faith more zealously and effectively to those in their care.