Catechism Of Saint Pius X

Paperback: The Catechism of Saint Pius X is a 1908 short book, issued by Pope Pius X with questions and answers regarding the essentials of Christian faith. A shortened version was published in 1930 with the addition of illustration.

The Fathers of the Vatican Council (1869-1870) desired a Catechism for the faithful similar to the Roman Catechism that came as a fruit of the Council of Trent. The Roman Catechism is also known as the Catechism of the Council of Trent.

The Fathers of the Vatican Council desired a uniform catechism for the whole world. Early during the sittings of the Council, forty-one of the assembled Fathers devoted six sessions (10-22 February) to an examination of the question; and the report which they drew up occupied the attention of the whole Council during the sittings of 29 and 30 April. 

They question being put to a vote on 4 May, an immense majority was found to be in favour of the compilation of a small uniform Catechism, to be compiled in Latin, translated into every language, and made obligatory in every diocese. But the approach of the Italian troops towards the walls of Rome brought the Council to an untimely end and there was no time to promulgate the constitution on the proposed uniform Catechism, so that it has not the force of law. The idea, however, has never been lost sight of.

During the sitting of the first Catechetical Congress in 1880, the then Bishop of Mantua (later St Pius X) proposed that the Holy Father be petitioned to arranged for the compilation of a simple, plain, brief and popular Catechism for uniform use all over the world. 

Shortly after his elevation to the Chair of Peter, Pius X at once set about realising, within certain limits, his own proposal of 1880, by prescribing a uniform Catechism - the Compendium of Christian Doctrine - for use in the dioceses of the ecclesiastical province of Rome, at the same time indicating that it was his earnest desire to have the same manual adopted all over Italy. The text selected was, with slight modifications, that which had been adopted for some years by the united hierarchy of Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, Emilia and Tuscany.

The Catechism of St Pius X was printed on the command of the pontiff in order to combat the poor catechesis of his day. How much more has this lack of knowledge spread since his own times? There is a pressing need for this catechism to be widely available once again, so that Catholics might be well-grounded in the truths of the Faith.