This Is the Faith: A Complete Explanation of the Catholic Faith

Giving this book to my 50 year old daughter because, even though she and her children all went to Catholic schools, they received hardly any Catholic doctrinal teachings. The sad state of the Catholic church these days is due in part to poor catechesis. Can the church tell us where the tens of thousands of teaching Sisters of the 1950s are? Did they take the Baltimore Catechism with them when they disappeared? Our Archbishop wrings his hands over losing the youth. The answer is simple...go back to what worked even if they have to go back 52 years. Excellent book for sure and I highly recommend it.

There seems to be a growing body of Roman Catholic apologetic literature out there. Some of it is better than others. None, in my reading, quite matches the wide range of questions or provides a more thorough treatment of any one of them than this classic work (originally published in 1951). Chapters are provided for virtually every topic questioned by non-Catholics about the faith - Mary, the Saints, the Pope, and so on. Each topic is discussed with great depth and careful exegesis of scripture in support. The size of the book may intimidate casual searchers but it is ideal for the more demanding challenger.Due to the arrangement of chapters by topic, they can easily be read out of sequence to follow a specific interest or in order to gain a solid base of understanding. You will want a copy to keep as a reference to the specific topics.There are two very helpful Appendixes included with the work. The first is a brief timeline of the history of the church. The second is a summary of major heresies that have challenged the church in that history.Keep your volume close at hand for handy reference in defending the faith and strengthening your own understanding as well. Indeed a classic that continues to age with grace and clarity. Well worth the investment to keep it handy.

Canon Ripley's book is a helpful explanation of many tenets of the Catholic faith, written for a mid-20th Century audience. He is faithful to the Magisterium of the Church and effectively draws out the essential implications of the catechism in a way that is relevant for a contemporary audience. As I recall, the chapters on the Sacrament of Marriage were particularly good.The real problem with this book, however, is that the editor has chosen to modify the original text in some decidedly obnoxious ways. First is the policy of highlighting (in bold type) portions of the text that the editor considers especially important. That is properly the job of the reader, armed with a pen or pencil of his own. This is an unfortunate decision that can skew one's reading of the text.Second, the text has been updated to reflect the current disciplinary practices of the Church. This should have been relegated to footnotes (or, at the very least, the older disciplines should have been mentioned in the notes!).Finally, and most irritatingly, the editor acknowledges that Canon Ripley's section on the Social Doctrine of the Church has been almost entirely re-written. Apparently, the original section, written about 1950, advocated substantial state ownership of some large industries. Because the editor didn't think this applied anymore, he replaced it with his own interpretation of Catholic Social Teaching. The editor is certainly entitled to his own view, but he should have allowed Canon Ripley to speak for himself. This choice in particular lacks integrity.I'm torn between giving this book 3 or 4 stars. The information in the book is excellent, but I was so distracted by the poor editing that it nearly ruined it for me. If only I could locate Canon Ripley's "original" text.

As a non-practicing Catholic, who believes that Vatican 2 destroyed the church, I found this book to be a look at many aspects of the church as it was pre-Vatican 2. Many things about the Catholic Church at that time, might be somewhat unnerving to young people today. But when comparing the traditions of the earlier church with the church the way it is today we can easily see how Vatican 2 destroyed many of those traditions that made the church what it was. The last chapter sounded like it was written by the government, but overall Catholics under 50 would do well to read this and compare today's false church with what was the real Roman Catholic Church -that pre-Vatican 2 church, was.

It explains the Catholics faith from a more traditional perspective in an easy to understand, but comprehensive way. Highly recommend to anyone that want to learn about it or just to refresh it.

Great for Catholic study !

If you want a straight-up, orthodox, unshrinking explanation of Catholicism, look no further. Canon Ripley was a street-corner evangelist for the Catholic faith (sometimes literally), as well as an expert in dogmatic theology, and it's clear that he never backed down from an argument.The work is a bit old-fashioned, but that never did anybody any harm, in fact it is a good thing to read older works for perspective and balance. Fortunately when the editors interject commentary, they keep it plainly separate from the original text. (They are not nearly as good at this job as Canon Ripley was!)Too often modern apologetics tends to soft-pedal controversial matters in order to try to 'keep the peace'. But He came not to bring peace, but a sword.Fasten your seatbelt, and read with an open mind.

Every Protestant or anti-Catholic should know what they protest and are against by reading this book which will open the eyes of those who want the facts.

Excellent for re affirming our faith and clarifying our precious faith. Needs to be read by all Catholics to keep us on the true and straight and narrow road to salvation.

Wonderful

Excellent

Book EXACTLY as described, like new! Doesn't even look like it's been read, the spine/pages are perfect! Came super quick, thanks!!

Excellent book, great reference, all catholic households should have a copy.