Product Description

Ready Winter 2009 Recognized as the greatest summary of Catholic dogma ever put between two covers. A one-volume encyclopedia of Catholic doctrines. Tells exactly what the Church teaches on any particular topic. Tells when the pronouncement was made and gives the sources from Scripture, Church Councils, Papal statements and the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. Essential for priests, seminarians, parents and teachers. Easily one of our most important books. 560 pgs, PB

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #78398 in Books
• Published on: 2009-01-01
• Original language: German
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 560 pages

Customer Reviews

required reading for all Catholics
If I were the apostolic nuncio to the United States I would command all Catholic high school graduates in America to receive training in Ludwig Ott's book. It's the clearest, most concise, and yet comprehensive study of the dogmas of the faith.

The dogmas are given in a clear statement, with the level of certainty to which they are held in the Church, and must be therefore held by the Faithful. (eg. `De Fide' is `of the Faith' and must be believed by all Catholics. `Sententia Fide Proxima' is a doctrine generally recognized by theologians but not formally pronounced by the Church, etc.)

While the other reviewers have repeatedly mentioned the brevity of Ludwig Ott's book, be assured that his presentations are thorough and theologically deep. Each doctrine is given with its scriptural basis, its historical development in the writings the Fathers, the statements of the councils of the Church, the heretical counter arguments against each dogma, and the theological and philosophical arguments that form the Church's basic arguments for each doctrine. I was gratified to find that many of the clever and less than obvious scripture arguments for our Faith used by popular apologists like Scott Hahn, Gerry Matatix, and Tim Staples, are found in this old classic book, which draws its arguments from classical Catholic lines of thought dating from Trent and the Fathers and the Doctors of the Church.

One essential feature of Ludwig Ott's writing is his forthright clarity. He openly and clearly states if a doctrine has no explicit scriptural reference and has only implicit support. He states openly when the Fathers are divided on a doctrine, and states the philosophical arguments through which the Church resolves the issue. It seems to me that this book uses the only approach that can be truly ecumenical. Clarity in understanding the true Catholic position and the history leading up to it is the only way to proclaim the truth with respect for our smartest separated brethren. The new catechism, though beautifully and spiritually written, can often be vague in its attempt to avoid offending, and can sometimes mislead the lazy reader.

Be warned; Ludwig Ott's book is written in technical philosophical language and can be very hard to read if you don't know Catholic theological jargon. You have to know the meaning of words like: essence, nature, necessary, efficient cause, instrumental cause, simple, being, person, actual grace, sanctifying grace, etc.

In short, if you've ever been asked `what does the Church believe' this book is the finest one volume answer you could ever get.

An excellent book which fulfills. . .
. . .the purpose for which it was written. Another reviewer correctly commented that this work is not a systematic theology. If you are looking for a Catholic systematic theology, begin with Hans Urs von Balthasar. But if you are looking for an orthodox reference book which outlines what the Church teaches, and why, and supplies you with defenses from the Scriptures, from the Church Fathers, from Sacred Tradition, and from Reason, then this is your book.

As the forward indicates, this work is an excellent guide for busy parish priests who wish to refresh themselves on the reasonings and justifications for particular doctrines or themes. It is also accessible to the informed layman. The volume is also of potential value to the honest Protestant, seeking to understand the teachings of the Catholic Church.

I highly recommend this book.

What Roman Catholics are Required to Believe
During my spiritual journey to find a home, I came to rely on this excellent compendium of solid catholic theology during a time when I found most clergy and laity unsure of what it was they did believe -- or believed anything they wanted, despite centuries of belief to the contrary. As a resource document, it is without parallel after the Documents of Vatican II.

The documents of Vatican II are a clearer, wider, and more spiritual exposition of what the Church today believes. But sometimes, with so many mixed messages from pulpit and revisionists, the Documents of Vatican II can present difficulties to those uncertain of core beliefs.

That's where this book comes in. This book is systematic theology at its best. It posits the dogmas of the Church in a clear and unequivocal manner, and then goes about supplying the historical foundations for these dogmas. These foundations include ecumenical councils as well as writings of the saints. If a certain proposition is "de fide," it is of unquestioned belief. But there are other propositions that are not "de fide," that are provided to sharpen the core deposit from speculative ideas.

I refer to this book often when I come across propositions I find either doubtful or equivocal. Not only does it provide the clear and unadulterated truths of the catholic faith, but it provides the raison d'etre for those truths, making it a wealth of clear exposition of why catholics believe what they believe.