Book Review: Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine-Sheehan
Matthew J. Bellisario O.P.
Introduction
For those of you who want a book that is easy to understand and yet not like many of the watered-down theology books that cover the Catholic faith these days, I think you will enjoy Archbishop Sheehan’s classic, ‘Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine.’ Originally penned in two volumes between 1918 and 1923, the work became the norm to teach and defend the Catholic faith in high schools across the US. It is now printed by Baronius Press and has had some recent updates added by Father P.M. Joseph. In reading the text, however, you would never know that anything has been updated. Aside from a few additions tying in some references to some other material such as the CCC and some modern books or documents from the Church that are helpful, it retains the same original structure, prose and form.
The work is based upon a Thomistic foundation which makes it very clear and easy to understand. If there is one book to lay alongside the Catechism of Trent for basic study, which can be used to explain and defend the essentials of the Catholic faith, this is a great choice. This book far surpasses any modern pop-apologetics book on the market. At 686 pages it may look intimidating, but do not let that deter your purchase. The book is written in such a way that you do not have to go cover to cover to get a comprehensive use of it. The book is laid out in two parts. Part I being Apologetics, further broken down into three subsections, Natural Apologetics, Christian Apologetics, and Catholic Apologetics, broken into 14 chapters, or 301 pages. This first part argues the existence of God to the signs of Revelation, to the historical proofs of the Gospels, to the person of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the one Catholic Church.
Part I
The first chapter gives a summary explanation of the ways of knowing God, from order and law in nature, from motion, from change, from causality, and from dependence. After giving this summary explanation it then gives a fuller treatment of the subject complete with objections and further rebuttals to the objections. So you can use the summary text to gain a simple understanding, and then later study the more detailed explanation of the particular subject giving you the ability to defend the arguments. Most of the chapters in part one give a summary of the material, then a more detailed explanation, and then further addresses objections. For example in chapter 10, ‘The Identification of the Church of Christ: The Catholic Church is the True Church’ it summarizes the four marks of the Church: 1. It must be universal, 2. It must be one, 3. It must be Holy, 4. It must be apostolic. It then explains these principles and then moves on to examine the Protestant sects and how none of them bear even one mark of the true Church. It then covers the history of the Protestant rebellion and proves that “Protestantism, as a doctrinal system, is perhaps the weakest heresy ever proposed.” The chapter then marches forward to cover the Orthodox Churches in the same manner.
Another example, chapter 11 covers the papacy and answers common objections that we often hear from the Protestant pop-apologists on the internet. For example, the Galileo controversy, as well as the Pope Liberius and Honorius controversies, are clearly addressed. They are shown that they are not strong arguments against the papacy. I find it quite alarming how Protestant pop-apologists like James White keep bringing up these same failed arguments in their debates. The Spanish Inquisition is also covered over several pages. It was not the monstrosity that the Protestant spin machine has cracked it up to be.
Part II
The second part, which covers Catholic Doctrine, is broken down into five subsections and then into 19 chapters or 385 pages including the subject index. This second part covers subjects such as God and His Divine Essence, the Trinity, the Angels, the Fall of Man, Jesus Christ, and the Incarnation, the Church, Grace, Worship, the Eucharist, the Sacraments, and the Last Things. The book is concrete in its teachings. For example, it lays out the argument against Darwinian evolution very clearly and in great detail, using some modern sources to question the fossil records and the lack of proof for the evolutionary change of species, etc. It makes clear the teaching of the Church which holds that God directly created Adam and Eve. This is where the modern additional material not found in the original really benefits the book. Footnotes in this section refer to scholars such as Michael Behe and other modern scientists or biologists.
Thankfully grace is covered in the traditional manner, which has been a lost art in recent decades. The work explains sanctifying grace, actual grace, external graces, merit and perfection, and then explains common errors such as Pelagianism, semi-Pelagianism, Lutheranism and Calvinism and the heretical “Faith alone” heresy. Chapter 14 covers Transubstantiation and the Real Presence of Christ in great detail, explaining substance and accidents properly, which must be understood in light of Thomism in order to follow Trent’s infallible dogma. It then offers a rich defense of the dogma as well as answering some difficulties. All seven Sacraments are also richly covered and defended.
It must be noted that the book also contains great footnotes referencing many Church documents, Church Councils such as Trent and Lateran, the CCC, Sacred Scripture, Aquinas, the Church Fathers, and other Catholic works. This is one extensive yet easily understood work that can be used to teach your children the faith while you brush up on the basics yourself. I am convinced that if you work through this book no trickster is going to be able to talk you out of your Catholic faith. I have classified this book on my essentials list. You can get it in paperback or hard cover.
Matthew J. Bellisario O.P.
Introduction
For those of you who want a book that is easy to understand and yet not like many of the watered-down theology books that cover the Catholic faith these days, I think you will enjoy Archbishop Sheehan’s classic, ‘Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine.’ Originally penned in two volumes between 1918 and 1923, the work became the norm to teach and defend the Catholic faith in high schools across the US. It is now printed by Baronius Press and has had some recent updates added by Father P.M. Joseph. In reading the text, however, you would never know that anything has been updated. Aside from a few additions tying in some references to some other material such as the CCC and some modern books or documents from the Church that are helpful, it retains the same original structure, prose and form.
The work is based upon a Thomistic foundation which makes it very clear and easy to understand. If there is one book to lay alongside the Catechism of Trent for basic study, which can be used to explain and defend the essentials of the Catholic faith, this is a great choice. This book far surpasses any modern pop-apologetics book on the market. At 686 pages it may look intimidating, but do not let that deter your purchase. The book is written in such a way that you do not have to go cover to cover to get a comprehensive use of it. The book is laid out in two parts. Part I being Apologetics, further broken down into three subsections, Natural Apologetics, Christian Apologetics, and Catholic Apologetics, broken into 14 chapters, or 301 pages. This first part argues the existence of God to the signs of Revelation, to the historical proofs of the Gospels, to the person of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the one Catholic Church.
Part I
The first chapter gives a summary explanation of the ways of knowing God, from order and law in nature, from motion, from change, from causality, and from dependence. After giving this summary explanation it then gives a fuller treatment of the subject complete with objections and further rebuttals to the objections. So you can use the summary text to gain a simple understanding, and then later study the more detailed explanation of the particular subject giving you the ability to defend the arguments. Most of the chapters in part one give a summary of the material, then a more detailed explanation, and then further addresses objections. For example in chapter 10, ‘The Identification of the Church of Christ: The Catholic Church is the True Church’ it summarizes the four marks of the Church: 1. It must be universal, 2. It must be one, 3. It must be Holy, 4. It must be apostolic. It then explains these principles and then moves on to examine the Protestant sects and how none of them bear even one mark of the true Church. It then covers the history of the Protestant rebellion and proves that “Protestantism, as a doctrinal system, is perhaps the weakest heresy ever proposed.” The chapter then marches forward to cover the Orthodox Churches in the same manner.
Another example, chapter 11 covers the papacy and answers common objections that we often hear from the Protestant pop-apologists on the internet. For example, the Galileo controversy, as well as the Pope Liberius and Honorius controversies, are clearly addressed. They are shown that they are not strong arguments against the papacy. I find it quite alarming how Protestant pop-apologists like James White keep bringing up these same failed arguments in their debates. The Spanish Inquisition is also covered over several pages. It was not the monstrosity that the Protestant spin machine has cracked it up to be.
Part II
The second part, which covers Catholic Doctrine, is broken down into five subsections and then into 19 chapters or 385 pages including the subject index. This second part covers subjects such as God and His Divine Essence, the Trinity, the Angels, the Fall of Man, Jesus Christ, and the Incarnation, the Church, Grace, Worship, the Eucharist, the Sacraments, and the Last Things. The book is concrete in its teachings. For example, it lays out the argument against Darwinian evolution very clearly and in great detail, using some modern sources to question the fossil records and the lack of proof for the evolutionary change of species, etc. It makes clear the teaching of the Church which holds that God directly created Adam and Eve. This is where the modern additional material not found in the original really benefits the book. Footnotes in this section refer to scholars such as Michael Behe and other modern scientists or biologists.
Thankfully grace is covered in the traditional manner, which has been a lost art in recent decades. The work explains sanctifying grace, actual grace, external graces, merit and perfection, and then explains common errors such as Pelagianism, semi-Pelagianism, Lutheranism and Calvinism and the heretical “Faith alone” heresy. Chapter 14 covers Transubstantiation and the Real Presence of Christ in great detail, explaining substance and accidents properly, which must be understood in light of Thomism in order to follow Trent’s infallible dogma. It then offers a rich defense of the dogma as well as answering some difficulties. All seven Sacraments are also richly covered and defended.
It must be noted that the book also contains great footnotes referencing many Church documents, Church Councils such as Trent and Lateran, the CCC, Sacred Scripture, Aquinas, the Church Fathers, and other Catholic works. This is one extensive yet easily understood work that can be used to teach your children the faith while you brush up on the basics yourself. I am convinced that if you work through this book no trickster is going to be able to talk you out of your Catholic faith. I have classified this book on my essentials list. You can get it in paperback or hard cover.
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