New Handbook Provides a Compact Collection of Catholic Church Teachings

Fr. Wade Menezes, CPM. Catholic Essentials: A Guide to Understanding Key Church Teachings. Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press, 2022. Paperback $18.95. Ebook $9.99. Available from the publisher.

Catholic Essentials by Fr. Wade Menezes, CPM features timely faith lessons for easy access.

Dr. Scott Hahn, Founder and President of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, enthused, “I highly recommend Catholic Essentials for its solid doctrine, moral clarity, and compact practicality. It addresses real questions that ordinary people ask today. It examines real problems that we're all facing. It brings out aspects of the Catholic Faith that the modern world finds vexing and perplexing. And it presents clear answers, explanations, and solutions with admirable brevity.”

Perfect for personal or parish use, it provides concise and relatable teachings on the basics of the faith and moral theology, in addition to answers on topics ranging from religion and reason to how the Church is governed and answers about contemporary concerns. Each chapter includes a relevant Scripture passage, quote from a saint, and compelling reflection.

Teresa Tomeo, EWTN talk-show host, motivational speaker, and best-selling author, reflected, “As my husband and I made our way back to the Catholic Church some thirty years ago, we were both thrilled and bewildered — thrilled that we were discovering the depth and beauty of Catholic teaching for the first time in our lives as cradle Catholics; bewildered as we wondered how we missed so much for so very long. That’s why Fr. Wade’s book Catholic Essentials is truly an essential resource for Catholics. If your relationship with God, or your understanding of Scripture or doctrine, needs adjusting, look no further than this book. Given the challenges believers are facing from today’s toxic culture, Catholic Essentials is like a toolbox of truth at your side, helping you implement key elements of the Faith in your everyday life.”

Relevant teachings on the Sacraments, developing virtue and a rightly-formed conscience are presented, along with explanations of an examination of conscience, a daily examen, types of sin and their consequences. It also contains a wealth of teachings on the Blessed Sacrament from reverence to Eucharistic miracles.

Fr. Menezes further explains what Church teachings are permanent and notes the distinction between priestly, consecrated, and lay vocations. Marriage and parental roles are clearly defined as well.

Readers will also discover teachings about private revelation, the afterlife, the Antichrist, and much more.

Catholic Essentials is truly a “toolbox of truth” for our fast-paced, modern culture.

Members of the media may send an email to Sophia Institute Press’ Director of Publicity, Sarah Lemieux at slemieux@SophiaInstitute.com to receive a physical or digital copy of Catholic Essentials, and/or to schedule an interview.