Year of Faith: Let's get this party started

We're just days away from the start of the Year of Faith, a time of renewal, prayer, and study for Catholics around the world.

Pope Benedict XVI has specifically asked that Catholics spend time studying the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which, as you may recall, I covered page-by-page in my book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Catholic Catechism.

Here's what the pope had to say on the matter in his apostolic letter announcing the Year of Faith:

“From Sacred Scripture to the Fathers of the Church, from theological masters to the saints across the centuries, the Catechism provides a permanent record of the many ways in which the Church has meditated on the faith and made progress in doctrine so as to offer certitude to believers in their lives of faith.

“In its very structure, the Catechism of the Catholic Church follows the development of the faith right up to the great themes of daily life. On page after page, we find that what is presented here is no theory, but an encounter with a Person who lives within the Church."

So I'm pretty psyched to get back on the catechism bandwagon and maybe bring some new folks along with me. Here's what I'll be doing to get the Year of Faith party started:

On Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, at 8:10 a.m. EST, I'll be talking about the catechism and the Year of Faith with Brian Patrick on the Son Rise Morning Show. You can catch that on Sacred Heart Radio 740 AM and 89.5 FM in Cincinnati, Ohio, or you can go to this link and listen online. 

Then on Thursday, Oct. 11, the official start of the Year of Faith as well as the 20th anniversary of the publication of the catechism and the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, I'll be kicking off a weekly series here on Not Strictly Spiritual.

Throughout the year, I plan to post some of my favorite catechism-related excerpts. Do you find it hard to believe I could actually have "favorites" from the catechism? It's true. Despite how it looks in its intimidating, almost 1,000-page form, it's actually a super cool read. Of course, if you don't have time for 1,000 pages of catechism, there are always shorter, easier-to-read versions, like, oh, I don't know, the Complete Idiot's Guide to the Catholic Catechism, which has an imprimatur, meaning it is all kosher according to the Church.

Finally, I'm happy to tell you that I'll also be sharing posts occasionally throughout the Year of Faith over at Catholic Moms Talk. Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle was nice enough to invite me to join a cast of impressive Catholic moms who will be offering their take on the catechism as it relates to family life. Be sure to visit there regularly to see what we're saying. (I'm sure I'll find a way to let you know when I'm appearing over there.)

There will be more tantalizing catechism goings on in the months ahead, some I'm not at liberty to talk about just yet (doesn't that sound intriguing?), so stay tuned. And make sure you have your catechism or your Complete Idiot's Guide -- or, better yet, both -- on hand for the Year of Faith.