Exploring The Catholic Church: An Introduction to Catholic Teaching and Practice, a great 2001 book by Marcellino D’Ambrosio. Exploring The Catholic Church: An Introduction to Catholic Teaching and Practice will appeal to those who are Catholic or want to learn about the Catholic church. This is a clear introduction to the Roman Catholic Church. Exploring The Catholic Church: An Introduction to Catholic Teaching and Practice will appeal to those who want to understand what a big difference Catholicism makes. Do you think Catholicism makes a big difference?
Summary of Exploring The Catholic Church: An Introduction to Catholic Teaching and Practice
Exploring The Catholic Church: An Introduction to Catholic Teaching and Practice is a short (only 137 pages) and readable book that informs its readers about the value of the Catholic Church. This book is perfect for Catholic post-Alpha courses as the next stage on from Christian commitment. Author Marcellino D’Ambrosio, already known for his instructional videos and otherwise noteworthiness, invites his readers to unlock the gifts of Catholicism.
The chapters in Exploring The Catholic Church: An Introduction to Catholic Teaching and Practice are, in order, are, Who Needs the Catholic Church?; Baptism: The Gateway to Life; Confirmation: Empowered to Serve; Personal Prayer; Pathway to Joy; What is the Mass?; Getting More out of the Mass; Keeping a Pure Heart; Mary and the Saints.
Apart from being an overview written by an expert, Exploring The Catholic Church: An Introduction to Catholic Teaching and Practice, one of the useful things it does is highlight important issues that people should know about. One of the prayers Catholics pray is called the Litany of the Saints. If D’Ambrosio says in Exploring The Catholic Church: An Introduction to Catholic Teaching and Practice Mary is the key to the saints, it is good to learn their litany.
The Litany of the Saints
The Litany of the Saints is an ancient prayer used by Catholics. It is often recited on All Saints’ Day (which is November 1st) and during various liturgical occasions. It is one of the six public litanies of the Church and includes invocations of various saints, asking for their intercession. The prayer typically begins with “Lord, have mercy” and continues with a series of petitions to different saints. V is the response. The litany is often led by a Catholic Priest.
Lord, have mercy on us.
v. Lord, have mercy on us
Christ, have mercy on us.
v. Christ, have mercy on us
Lord, have mercy on us.
v. Lord, have mercy on us
Christ, hear us.
v. Christ, hear us
Christ, graciously hear us.
v. Christ, graciously hear us
God the Father of heaven,
v. Have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
v. Have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit,
v. Have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, one God,
v. Have mercy on us
Holy Mary, Holy Mother of God, v. pray for us
Holy Virgin of virgins, v. pray for us
St. Michael, v. pray for us
St. Gabriel, v. pray for us
St. Raphael, v. pray for us
All you holy Angels and Archangels, v. pray for us
All you holy orders of blessed Spirits, v. pray for us
St. John the Baptist, v. pray for us
St. Joseph, v. pray for us
All you holy Patriarchs and Prophets, v. pray for us
St. Peter, v. pray for us
St. Paul, v. pray for us
St. Andrew, v. pray for us
St. James, v. pray for us
St. John, v. pray for us
St. Thomas, v. pray for us
St. James, v. pray for us
St. Philip, v. pray for us
St. Bartholomew, v. pray for us
St. Matthew, v. pray for us
St. Simon, v. pray for us
St. Thaddeus, v. pray for us
St. Matthias, v. pray for us
St. Barnabas, v. pray for us
St. Luke, v. pray for us
St. Mark, v. pray for us
All you holy Apostles and Evangelists, v. pray for us
All you holy Disciples of the Lord, v. pray for us
All you holy Innocents, v. pray for us
St. Stephen, v. pray for us
St. Lawrence, v. pray for us
St. Vincent, v. pray for us
SS. Fabian and Sebastian, v. pray for us
SS. John and Paul, v. pray for us
SS. Cosmas and Damian, v. pray for us
SS. Gervase and Protase, v. pray for us
All you holy Martyrs, v. pray for us
St. Sylvester, v. pray for us
St. Gregory, v. pray for us
St. Ambrose, v. pray for us
St. Augustine, v. pray for us
St. Jerome, v. pray for us
St. Martin, v. pray for us
St. Nicholas, v. pray for us
All you holy Bishops and Confessors, v. pray for us
All you holy Doctors, v. pray for us
St. Anthony, v. pray for us
St. Benedict, v. pray for us
St. Bernard, v. pray for us
St. Dominic, v. pray for us
St. Francis, v. pray for us
All you holy Priests and Levites, v. pray for us
All you holy Monks and Hermits, v. pray for us
St. Mary Magdalen, v. pray for us
St. Agatha, v. pray for us
St. Lucy, v. pray for us
St. Agnes, v. pray for us
St. Cecilia, v. pray for us
St. Catherine, v. pray for us
St. Anastasia, v. pray for us
All you holy Virgins and Widows, v. pray for us
All you holy Saints of God,
v. intercede for us.
Be merciful,
v. Spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful,
v. Graciously hear us, O Lord.
From all evil, O Lord
v. Deliver us, O Lord
From all sin,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
From Your wrath,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
From sudden and unlooked-for death,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
From the snares of the devil,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
From anger, hatred, and every evil will,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
From the spirit of fornication,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
From lightning and tempest,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
From the scourge of earthquakes,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
From plague, famine, and war,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
From everlasting death,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
Through the mystery of Your holy Incarnation,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
Through Your Coming,
v. Deliver us, so Lord
Through Your Birth,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
Through Your Baptism and holy Fasting,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
Through Your Cross and Passion,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
Through Your Death and Burial,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
Through Your holy Resurrection,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
Through your admirable Ascension,
v. Deliver us, O Lord
Through the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
v. Deliver us, O Lord
On the day of judgment.
v. Deliver us, O Lord
We sinners,
v. We implore you to hear us
That you would spare us,
v. We implore you to hear us
That you would pardon us,
v. We implore you to hear us
That you would bring us to true penance,
v. We implore you to hear us
That You would vouchsafe to govern and preserve Your holy Church,
v. We implore you to hear us
That You would vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate,
v. We implore you to hear us
and all orders of the Church in holy religion,
v. We implore you to hear us
That You would vouchsafe to humble the enemies of holy Church,
v. We implore you to hear us
That You would vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes,
v. We implore you to hear us
That You would vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to the whole Christian world,
v. We implore you to hear us
That you would call back to the unity of the Church all who have strayed from her fold, and to guide all unbelievers into the light of the Gospel,
v. We implore you to hear us
That You would vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Your holy service,
v. We implore you to hear us
That you would lift our minds to heavenly desires,
v. We implore you to hear us
That You would render eternal blessings to all our benefactors,
v. We implore you to hear us
That You would deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relations, and benefactors, from eternal damnation,
v. We implore you to hear us
That You would vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth,
v. We implore you to hear us
That You would vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,
v. We implore you to hear us
That you would vouchsafe graciously to hear us,
v. We implore you to hear us
Son of God,
v. We implore you to hear us
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, v. spare us, O Lord
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, v. graciously hear us, O Lord
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, v. have mercy on us
Christ, v. hear us
Christ, v. graciously hear us
Lord, have mercy, v. Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy, v. Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy, v. Lord, have mercy
Pray The Lord’s Prayer (inaudibly)
Conclusion
Exploring The Catholic Church: An Introduction to Catholic Teaching and Practice is a useful book that introduces those who want to learn about the Catholic church an introduction. The book is perfect for those who are studying to become Catholic in the rite of Christian initiation (RCIA), which usually occurs during Lent and culminates on Easter Sunday. This book is valuable because it is short and explains things clearly.
