YOUCAT

Gerard Gallagher

Search for God

“The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for.” CCC27

Why – a Catechism?

The Church has always used short documents such as New Testament texts, creeds and liturgical prayers, to state the faith. Over recent centuries, catechisms have also been used in the Church as universal or local texts, giving a comprehensive treatment of the faith.

Catechism of the Catholic Church – makes clear that those who seek to deepen the understanding of Christian faith must develop “catechetical methods required of different cultures, age, spiritual maturity, and social and ecclesial condition.”

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“seeks to lay down a framework and principles, suited to local needs in Ireland.” It continues, “It contents itself, instead, in pointing to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the complete statement of the Catholic faith.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church

“statement of the Church’s faith and of Catholic doctrine, attested to or illuminated by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium.”

Broken into the following sections:

Profession of Faith (the creed) Celebrating the Christian

Mystery (the Sacraments) Life in Christ (The Beatitudes

and Ten Commandments) Prayer in the Christian Life

(the Lord’s Prayer)

So, everything a Catholic Christian needs to know is hiding behind these four digits:

12 articles of the faith 7 sacraments of the Holy Church 10 Commandments 24 hours be connected to God in prayer

Catechism & Compendium

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“designed to assist in considering how to engage with lifelong education in faith within our local and national context.”

“The Catechism, when studied and unpacked, can invigorate all those involved in faith development processes, giving them new momentum.” (SGN50)

What is YouCat

“Today I recommend for your reading an unusual book. It is unusual both because of its content and because of the way it came to be.” (Intro)

Pope Benedict & YOUCAT

“Today I recommend for your reading an unusual book. It is unusual both because of its content and because of the way it came to be.” (Intro)

“So I invite you: Study this Catechism!” Pope Benedict XVI

“This Catechism was not written to please you. It will not make life easy for you, because it demands of you a new life. It places before yu the Gospel message as the “pearl of great value” Mt 13:46.

“So I beg you: Study this Catechism with passion and perseverance. Make a sacrifice of your time for it! Study it in the quiet of your room, read it with a friend; form study groups and networks; share with each other on the Internet. By all means talk with each other about your faith.”

Pope Benedict.

What is the Catechism?

The most important book of the Church is the Sacred Scripture. In second place comes the Catechism. In the Catechism you find the reliable knowledge about the faith of the Catholic Church, accumulated during more than 2000 years – in precise formulations approved by the Holy Church herself.

Multiple Versions

The Big One The Smaller One The Younger One

The name YOUCAT hasn't got anything to do with "yellow cats".

It is the abbreviation of YOUTH and CATECHISM.

First of all, YOUCAT is a real catechism, which means a reliable book for teaching faith. It has thus been approved by the Austrian bishops' conference and examined by the congregation of faith in Rome.

Here are the four basic principles - in the words of Pope Benedict XVI.:

YOUCAT - Youth Prayer Book

“The book is supposed to help you on this prayer path of friendship with God. It is a collection of old and new prayers for good bad days and nights. You will find in it prayers from Sacred Scripture and prayers of experienced people of prayer from history and of people living today.” (Into)

YOUCAT Confirmation

“The aim of this book is to be your coach and go with you right up to the big day of your confirmation. You will find many tips in it for leading an exciting life with God, but above all you’ll find lots of sidebars pointing you to two books you’ll be using during this course – the Bible and YOUCAT.” (Intro)

“I invite all Christian everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them” Joy of the Gospel 3

Official Website

http://www.youcat.org/home

The YOUCAT prayer book is excellent. I keep buying copies and giving them away.

Used it for confirmation prep and discussion starters in older youth groups

I've used it to prepare curriculum materials and also when i need another insight in addition to the Irish adult catechism and general catechism

Bought a copy to make discussions on Catechism more accessible with the children (now 13, 9 and 6).

I bought it and used it frequently when I was working with young adults in RCIA preparation. Now I still use it but not as frequently when working with school retreat groups. I find it gives a better understanding of the catechism rather than giving them the more academic language of the adult version.

I think it's a great resource for teaching RE. Was lucky enough to get a free set of them at the Eucharistic Congress. Gave a copy to my own young adult children as well. Now I'm working through the YOUCAT Prayer Book which is a great companion to the first book.

I bought it and used it frequently for college assignments, particularly for the quotes given in the margins. Now I use it in homily preparation

Got it at WYD Madrid 2011. Have to admit I haven't used it much but when I do I find it an easier reference guide than the regular catechism. (And I love flicking the corners with the little cartoons!)

I got a copy at Knock Youth festival (I think) I sometimes use it for personal reference but often recommend it to RE teachers or people I know in ministry.

Got it WYD 2011 & have used it both for college and to run YOUCAT study sessions with young adult group.

I have a YOUCAT, got it as a present in my WYD pack in Madrid, a gift from the Pope if I remember rightly. I have read through it all and refer to it from time to time, can be easier to get an answer from that than my Catholicism

at the end of every school mission we do we hand them out free to any students that want them!

YOUCAT In 45 SECONDS…..