What is the Didache Series

Written in the first century, the Didache [DID-uh-kay] is the first known Christian catechesis and the earliest known Christian writing outside of Scripture. The name of the work, Didache, is appropriate for such a catechesis because it comes from the Greek word for "teaching" and indicates that this writing contains the teaching of the Apostles and, as such, it is the teaching of the Church.

Today, the most comprehensive catechesis is the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Didache Series presents the life and doctrine of the Catholic Church in the context of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the teachings of Vatican II as witnessed by the pontificates of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. The series also draws from Sacred Scripture, the lives of the Saints, and the Doctors and Fathers of the Church.

The Didache Series has been published since 2003 at the invitation of Francis Cardinal George of the Archdiocese of Chicago, who requested a series of "texts that would set out clearly and adequately the teaching of the Catholic Church." Each textbook of the Didache Series has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church by the USCCB.

**The Didache Series is comprised of three separate sub-series:**

the Complete Course,
the Semester Edition,
and the Parish Edition.

The Didache Series: Complete Course

The Didache Complete Course is comprised of four books, each designed to be covered in the course of one academic year. At the request of many schools, Midwest Theological Forum will continue to offer this series in addition to the new Didache Semester Course prepared in accordance with the USCCB Curriculum Framework.

Introduction to Catholicism: 2nd Edition

An introduction to the teachings of the Catholic Church and an in-depth explanation of what it means to be Catholic. The Universal Call to Holiness is the main theme throughout the book. Topics include the Blessed Trinity, the Church, the Creed, Sacred Scripture, the Seven Sacraments, the Ten Commandments, and the lives of the Saints.

Understanding the Scriptures

Authored by Dr. Scott Hahn, this book presents a thorough examination of the history of salvation as presented in Sacred Scripture, which finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. It studies Divine Revelation through its sources in Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. An excellent resource for biblical studies.

The History of the Church

This book presents the story of God's intervention into human history from the Incarnation until the present day. It emphasizes God as the Lord of history and his actions that demonstrate his love for his People. An excellent resource for anyone seeking to know more about the history of the Catholic Church.

Our Moral Life in Christ

A detailed study of the moral life in Christ-based on his teachings in the Gospels, the Ten Commandments, and the Beatitudes-which enable Christians, with God's grace, to imitate the life of Christ in their lives, to make correct moral decisions, and to spread the Kingdom of God on earth in their journey toward eternal salvation. This book presents the life of Christ and his teachings as the basis of moral theology.

Didache Series: Semester Edition

The Didache Semester Course, published by Midwest Theological Forum, has been designed to help students come to know Jesus Christ-true God and true man-and his teachings as transmitted through the Catholic Church. This Series presents a comprehensive study of the Creed, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the sacraments, and Christian morality focusing on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Sacred Scripture, the teachings of the Magisterium, and the Fathers of the Church. Its Christological approach examines the Church as an encounter with Christ and provides the students with apologetical tools and practical means for living the Catholic Faith. Prepared in Accordance with the USCCB curriculum Framework (2007). Student Workbooks and Teacher's Manuals are also available for all titles.

Six Core Subjects

I. FAITH AND REVELATION:
Knowing God Through Sacred Scripture

This book, authored by Dr. Scott Hahn, presents a basic understanding of Sacred Scripture as the inspired Word of God and how it conveys God's Revelation to his People, as well as teaching the students how to read the Bible. Particular attention is focused on the Gospels as the message of Jesus Christ, who is the fullness of Revelation.This book corresponds to Book I: The Revelation of Jesus Christ in Scripture in the curriculum framework.

II. THE BLESSED TRINITY
and Our Christian Vocation

Analyzes the Divine Life of God-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-as revealed in Sacred Scripture. It studies the Christian vocation and how God invites us to be in communion with him, so that we can share in the divine life that he has prepared for us from all eternity. It also helps the student to understand what it means to be a disciple of Christ. This book corresponds to Book II: Who Is Jesus Christ? in the curriculum framework.

III. THE MYSTERY OF REDEMPTION
and Christian Discipleship, 2nd Edition

Examines the need for Redemption after the Fall; the promise of Redemption renewed throughout the Old Testament; and the Redemption achieved by the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as its application in the life of each Christian. It also shows how the Holy Mass is a perpetuation of the Paschal Mystery in our lives. This book corresponds to Book III: The Mission of Jesus Christ (The Paschal Mystery) in the curriculum framework.

IV. THE CHURCH:
Sacrament of Salvation

This book, authored by Dr. Scott Hahn, shows how the Church continues the salvific ministry of Christ in the world today, guided by the Holy Spirit. As the Sacrament of Salvation, the People of God, and the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church is the point of encounter between the faithful and the risen Lord and the beginning of the communion that will reach its fulfillment in Heaven. This book corresponds to Book IV: Jesus Christ's Mission Continues in the World Today (The Church) in the curriculum framework.

V. THE SACRAMENTS:
Source of Our Life in Christ

Through his great love for us, Jesus Christ suffered and died for our redemption, and he desires to share the grace he won for us with every person. Christ entrusted the sacraments to the Church as one of the primary means by which we receive God's grace. This book examines each sacrament as a source of grace and an intimate encounter with Jesus Christ and the liturgy as the public worship of the Church. This book corresponds to Book V: Sacraments as Privileged Encounters with Jesus Christ in the curriculum framework.

VI. OUR MORAL LIFE IN CHRIST
(Semester Edition)

A semester edition of the Complete Course textbook, this book presents a study of the moral life in Christ-based on his teachings in the Gospels, the Ten Commandments, and the Beatitudes-which enable Christians, with God's grace, to imitate the life of Christ in their lives, to make correct moral decisions, and to spread the Kingdom of God on earth in their journey toward eternal salvation. This book corresponds to Book VI: Life in Jesus Christ in the curriculum framework.

Electives

UNDERSTANDING THE SCRIPTURES
(Semester Edition)

This book, authored by Dr. Scott Hahn, presents a thorough examination of the history of salvation as presented in Sacred Scripture, which finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. It studies Divine Revelation through its sources in Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. An excellent resource for biblical studies. This book corresponds to Elective A: Scripture in the curriculum framework.

THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
(Semester Edition)

A semester edition of the Complete Course textbook, this book presents the story of God's intervention into human history from the Incarnation until the present day. It emphasizes God as the Lord of history and his actions that demonstrate his love for his People. An excellent resource for anyone seeking to know more about the history of the Catholic Church. This book corresponds to Elective B: History of the Catholic Church in the curriculum framework.

THE SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
(Semester Edition)

This course will introduce students to the social teaching of the Catholic Church. The student will learn how Christ's concern for others, especially the poor and needy, is present today in the Church's social teaching and mission. Topics include: the unity of the whole human race, social teachings in Scripture, distributive, legal, commutative, and social justice, the necessity of the moral law, a sampling of recent pastoral letters, the dignity of human life, and the social dimension of the Commandments. This book corresponds to Elective C - Living as a Disciple of Jesus Christ in Society in the curriculum framework.

VOCATIONS & THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS
(Semester Edition)

This course examines the universal call to holiness and its importance in the Christian life. It also analyzes the unique plan that God has for every person in the vocations to Marriage, Holy Orders, the consecrated life, or the committed single life. Finally, it explains how each person can prayerfully discern the will of God in his or her own life. This book corresponds to Elective D: Responding to the Call of Jesus Christ in the curriculum framework.

ECUMENISM AND INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
(Semester Edition)

This course will assist the student in understanding the manner in which the Catholic Church relates to non-Catholic Christians as well as to other religions. Building on the foundational truth that Jesus Christ established in the Catholic Church and entrusted to her the fullness of God's Revelation, this course is intended to help students to recognize the ways in which important spiritual truths can also be found in non-Catholic Christian churches and ecclesial communities as well as in non-Christian religions. This book corresponds to Elective E - Ecumenical and Interreligious Issues in the curriculum framework.

Didache Series: Parish Edition

Created in accordance with the USCCB Curriculum Framework for Parish and Youth Ministry Programs, Midwest Theological Forum has adapted its well-known Didache Semester Series textbooks for Catholic High Schools into an easy-to-use format for parishes and home study programs. Each of the eight Didache Semester titles has been divided into individual weekly lessons intended to be covered over the course of one semester. The full-color, illustrated text provides ample column material, which includes:

Vocabulary terms, Focus Questions,
Guided Exercises,
Discussion,
Questions,
and quotes from the YouCat.

Presenter Guides are available for all Didache Parish Edition titles.

Faith And Revelation: Parish Edition

This first book of the Didache Parish Series, authored by Dr. Scott Hahn, presents a basic understanding of Sacred Scripture as the inspired Word of God. It examines both the Old and New Testaments with particular attention focused on the Gospels as the message of Jesus Christ. This text also explains how to read and reference the Bible.

The Blessed Trinity: Parish Edition

This second book of the series examines the mystery of the Blessed Trinity - The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - as revealed in Sacred Scripture. Themes include discussion of the Blessed Trinity as one God in Three Divine Persons, Pentecost, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, the intercessor for mankind.

The Mystery of Redemption: Parish Edition

This text examines our need for Redemption, and presents how the salvific promise made to our first parents is fulfilled by Jesus Christ. It discusses the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ and its application in the life of each Christian. It also discusses how the Holy Mass is a perpetuation of the Paschal Mystery in our lives.

The Church: Parish Edition

This text, authored by Dr. Scott Hahn, presents how the Church, established by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, continues the salvific ministry of Christ in the world today. Themes include the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, the Universal Call to Holiness, the Marks of the Church, and the teaching authority of the Church.

The Sacraments: Parish Edition

Jesus Christ, through his great love for us, instituted the Sacraments and entrusted them to the Church. This book examines each Sacrament as a primary source of grace and an intimate encounter with Jesus Christ. Each of the Seven Sacraments is presented in its own chapter.

Our Moral Life in Christ: Parish Edition

A study of living the moral life in Christ based on teachings in the Gospels, the Ten Commandments, and the Beatitudes. The text shows how we, as Christians, with God's grace, can imitate the life of Christ, making correct moral decisions, and spreading the word of the Kingdom of God on earth.

Understanding the Scriptures: Parish Edition

Based on the highly popular original Didache textbook, authored by Dr. Scott Hahn, this text presents an examination of the history of salvation as presented in Sacred Scripture, which finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Covering both the Old and New Testaments, it studies Divine Revelation through its source in Sacred Scripture.

The History of the Church: Parish Edition

In the last of the Parish Edition titles, this text discusses the rich history of the Catholic Faith, from the Incarnation until the present day. It shows how the Christian Faith, throughout pivotal points in history and in various parts of the world, has shaped society.

Student Workbooks and Teacher's Manuals are only available for titles of the Complete Course Edition and the Semester Edition.