This Is the Faith: A Complete Explanation of the Catholic Faith [Paperback]

Canon Francis Ripley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1999

This Is the Faith covers everything the convert or inquirer needs to know about the Catholic faith, and does so with a thoroughness that is at once completely satisfying, but never trying. Moreover, its approach is always dignified, reverent and commanding of respect. The result is that the reader will garner a true picture of the reasonableness, thoroughness and beauty of the Catholic religion that - with grace - will all but guarantee the assent of his will if he approaches the book with honesty and integrity. This book belongs in every Catholic home. It is unparalleled as a review, as a catch-up course for the poorly informed, or as an introduction to the truth of the Catholic Faith for converts. Great, sadly needed and destined to do great good in our time!

Product Details

• Paperback: 405 pages
• Publisher: Tan Books and Publishers (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895556421
• ISBN-13: 978-0895556424
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #280,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Catechism Around!!, August 6, 2002

By 

D. J. Gabler "Software Man" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This Is the Faith: A Complete Explanation of the Catholic Faith (Paperback)

My wife saw this book and said, "Here's a book even I can read!" -- she has a VERY short attention span. She browsed through the book for hours.

I have YET to pick it up and not find something that I'm learning about my Catholic Faith. It's not only a page-turner, but VERY INSTRUCTIVE.

Amazon.com has a great price, too. Direct from the publisher costs more!

Here's what Tan says, (and I AGREE):

"A priest friend brought us a copy of This Is the Faith with the endorsement that this is the best book he had ever seen for instructing people in the Faith - whether converts or those whose education in the Faith has not been complete, or who just want a review. Once we read it, we had to agree! This book is at once complete and thorough, but also easy to read and very intelligible. Here is a book you can confidently give to friends and relatives inquiring about what the Church teaches and know it is excellent and will not be dry, long-winded or over their heads.

Originally published in 1951, the book covers the nature of God, the nature of man, the meaning of life, the nature of religion, the sources of Faith, the necessity of prayer, the duty of belief, the consequences of sin, the Commandments of God, the Holy Trinity, belief in Christ, the Redemption, the nature of the Church, the supremacy of the Pope, his infallibility, the Commandments of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, the Sacraments, the Mass, the priesthood, devotion to Mary and the Saints, what happens after death, the devotional life of a Catholic, etc.

This Is the Faith covers everything the convert or inquirer needs to know about the Catholic faith, and does so with a thoroughness that is at once completely satisfying, but never trying. Moreover, its approach is always dignified, reverent and commanding of respect. The result is that the reader will garner a true picture of the reasonableness, thoroughness and beauty of the Catholic religion that - with grace - will all but guarantee the assent of his will if he approaches the book with honesty and integrity. This book belongs in every Catholic home. It is unparalleled as a review, as a catch-up course, or as an introduction to the truth of the Catholic Faith for converts. Great, sadly needed and destined to do great good in our time! "

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best explanation of the Catholic Faith, November 24, 2002

By 

Funksoulbrother "funksoulbrother" (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Is the Faith: A Complete Explanation of the Catholic Faith (Paperback)

I have to agree with the other reviewer! This book is truly a gem! Not only is it thorough in its presentation, but it is easy to understand and it's interesting. This book makes an excellent apologetics text as well with topics on the supremacy of the Pope and an in depth discussion on the sacraments, complete with all relevant scriptural references. There are also some special chapters on the devotional life of a Catholic, the reformation, and Catholic social principles. The appendix includes a run-down of the Church through the ages, and the principle heresies. Every person inquiring about the Catholic faith should own this book! 5 stars!

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An easy-to-read mini-catechism, February 1, 2004

By 

Kevin G. Whitty "Kevin Whitty" (Oak Park, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This Is the Faith: A Complete Explanation of the Catholic Faith (Paperback)

One who wants to learn about the Catholic faith would do very well to read this classic book. The chapters start out in the question-and-answer format that those who are familiar with the Baltimore Catechism will recognize, and continues with easy-to-read text on the subject of that chapter. At 40 chapters, one short chapter per day, this book could make an excellent six-week course on the Catholic Faith.

In reading through the pages of this book, all I found was orthodox magisterial Catholic teaching, and none of the modernism that infests our Church today. It is written in very readable language, and would make a great first book to read on the faith. Commandments, Sacraments, Disciplines, everything is presented here.

Well worth the price. Five stars.