The Catechism starts as all good stories do: at the beginning. “God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life” (CCC §1). In the first semester, we study the story of the Father’s plan of blessing as outlined in the twelve articles of faith in the Apostles Creed. This summary of the story of salvation provides the scriptural context for our study of the doctrines of the Church. Knowing the faith we profess will shed light on the rest of our path up the Ladder of Ascent.

The faith we profess in the Creed is celebrated in the liturgy and sacraments. What God has promised and accomplished in history is made present and efficacious now: “In the Church’s liturgy the divine blessing is fully revealed and communicated” (CCC §1082). In the second semester, students will study each of the seven sacraments in order to gain a better understanding of them both scripturally and theologically. By better knowing what the sacraments are and why Christ has given them to us, we will be equipped for a deeper, more fruitful participation in them.

Our profession of faith in the Creed and our celebration of it in the sacraments is meant to transform every area of our life and conform us to Christ. In the third semester, students will explore what this life lived in imitation of Christ looks like. We will begin with a look at our goal–fulfillment in beatitude–and then examine the main points of moral theology: free will, conscience virtue, sin, grace, merit, and law. The second part of the semester will be devoted to a study of each of the Ten Commandments and the profound guidance they offer living a life of holiness. In studying the moral life we discover that “the gift of the Commandments is the gift of God himself and his holy will” (CCC §2059) and that we are invited to offer our obedience as “a response to God’s loving initiative [and] a worship of thanksgiving” so that we may cooperate in every way with his plan (CCC §2062).

Our journey through the Catechism concludes with a study of the one thing needful (cf. Luke 10:42): the “vital and personal relationship” of prayer (CCC §2558). In this fourth and final semester students will be introduced to the mystical life. We will examine the tradition of prayer in the Old Testament, study not only what our Lord taught about prayer but also what he modeled for us, and explore the different kinds of prayer in the age of the Church. The semester concludes with an in-depth consideration of the seven petitions of the Our Father–what St. Thomas Aquinas called “the most perfect of all prayers.” Thus our climb up the Ladder of Ascent in the Catechism brings us to the summit of resting “in the presence of the thrice-holy God and in communion with him” (CCC §2565).