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40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
required reading for all Catholics, July 30, 2000
By A Customer
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.
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by Henry Denzinger
by F. J. Sheed
by Council of Trent
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