This is the Faith
by Francis J. Ripley
Canon Francis Ripley was an English priest who spent years instructing converts and working with the Legion of Mary. In the early 1950s he put that experience into one book: a complete course in the Catholic religion, built for the people knocking on the rectory door.
Ripley covers the faith systematically: God and creation, Jesus Christ, the Church, grace, the sacraments, the commandments, prayer and the last things. His style is orderly and confident. Each point is stated, explained and backed up. It reflects the catechesis of its era, so some examples and emphases feel distinctly pre-Vatican II, but the doctrine is sound and the exposition is lucid. There's no throat-clearing. He tells you what the Church teaches and why.
It suits inquirers who want a thorough, structured course they can work through alone, readers who appreciate a traditional approach, and catechists looking for a model of clear explanation. Pair it with the Catechism of the Catholic Church for more recent teaching and language.
Key Takeaways
- The whole faith in a systematic order.
- Clear, confident explanations of each doctrine.
- A traditional, pre-Vatican II style of catechesis.
- A self-study course you can work through alone.
It is a complete, traditional course of instruction long used with converts.
