Pope announces new youth catechism

"Dear friends, young people! Today I counsel you to read an extraordinary book." So begins Benedict XVI's preface to 'Youcat' the new catechism for young people being prepared ahead of World Youth Day in Madrid this summer. Ignatius Press is publishing the English version, due out on 1 March. L'Osservatore Romano has published the Holy Father's preface.

The Pope said Youcat was extraordinary "because of its content but also because of its format," which he goes on to explain is based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The Holy Father said: "Young people want to know what life truly consists of … This book is fascinating because it speaks to us of our very destiny and that is why it concerns each one of us very closely. Because of this I invite you: Study the Catechism! This is my heartfelt wish."

The Pope said: "It does not offer easy solutions … Because of this I ask you: Study the Catechism with passion and perseverance! Sacrifice your time for it! Study it in the silence of your room, read it together, if you are friends, form groups and study networks, exchange ideas on the Internet. In any case remain in dialogue on your faith".
"You must know what you believe; you must know your faith with the same precision with which a specialist in information technology knows the working system of a computer; you must know it as a musician knows his piece; yes, you must be much more profoundly rooted in the faith of the generation of your parents, to be able to resist forcefully and with determination the challenges and temptations of this time."

You cat will be distributed by CTS in the UK.

Source: OR