Catholicism For Dummies
by John Trigilio & Kenneth Brighenti
Yes, the yellow-and-black series has one on Catholicism, and two priests wrote it: Fr. John Trigilio and Fr. Kenneth Brighenti. In true For Dummies fashion, it assumes nothing and explains everything.
It covers what Catholics believe (Creed, Trinity, Jesus, the Church), how they worship (the Mass and the sacraments) and how they live (the commandments and moral teaching). It also covers the customs that leave newcomers scratching their heads: rosaries, saints, holy water and the liturgical year. Headings, sidebars and plain definitions make it easy to jump straight to what you need, and there's no vocabulary test at the door.
It suits absolute beginners, curious non-Catholic spouses, and anyone who wants a quick, friendly answer to “What does that mean?” It isn't built for depth and won't replace the Catechism. Keep it within reach during your first months in OCIA. Think of it as a friendly phrasebook for a new country.
Key Takeaways
- What Catholics believe, in plain language.
- How the Mass and sacraments work.
- The customs that puzzle newcomers.
- A reference you can dip into anywhere.
It covers the basics with no assumed knowledge, and you can dip in anywhere.
