Father Hardon’s Catholic Home Study Courses
Father John A. Hardon, S.J.’s home study courses may be taken by anyone. They are ideal for the training of catechists in parish religious education programs, for parents and for anyone who is interested in deepening his or her understanding of the Catholic Faith. The courses were developed at the request of Saint Pope John Paul II, who asked Father Hardon to organize a catechetical training program for Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. Later, Father Hardon founded the Marian Catechist Apostolate, using these same courses in the formation of Marian Catechists, catechists consecrated to our Blessed Mother who strive to obtain an everdeeper relationship with Jesus Christ through the practice of prayer, study, and catechetical service.
Course One: Basic Catholic Catechism Course
Revised and Updated by Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke
“Father Hardon…proves himself in this present book to be a master of catechetical pedagogy.” – Silvio Cardinal Oddi, Late Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Clergy
This basic course is a concise presentation of the essentials of the Catholic Faith. It explains what the Church teaches, drawing heavily upon her Magisterium and on Sacred Scripture to explain these teachings. The 16 lessons pertain to Salvation History, the Apostles’ Creed, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Sacraments, and the Lord’s Prayer.
The tuition includes all course materials and the grading of tests.
16 Lessons | Recommended Pace: 1-2 lessons / month
Course Two: Advanced Catholic Catechism Course
By Father John A. Hardon, S.J.
“This manual is a clear exposition of the teachings of the Church. Written in simple style, it is easy to understand and it leaves no doubt in the mind as to what is required of us by the Church.” – Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Foundress of the Missionaries of Charity
This advanced course is available to those who have successfully completed Course Number One, The Basic Catholic Catechism Course. It is a thorough, practical home study program which systematically prepares people to understand and to teach the fundamentals of the Catholic Faith.
The 36 lessons pertain to the Creed (what we believe), the Ten Commandments (Christian Morality), the Sacraments (Channels of Grace), and The Lord’s Prayer (Learning to Pray).
The tuition includes all course materials and the grading of tests.
36 Lessons | Recommended Pace: 1-2 lessons / month
Masters of the Spiritual Life Course
By Father John A. Hardon, S.J.
“It is important for all in the Church to know the fundamental principles which are to direct the work of teaching the Faith, and to know the basic truths and virtues to be communicated through that teaching.” – Then-Archbishop Raymond L. Burke
The Masters of the Spiritual Life Course strengthens the catechist’s resolve to develop and sustain a lifetime of faith formation. This home study course introduces Father Hardon’s Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan, an anthology of 104 authors who, together, have published over 4000 books. The seven Masters studied in this course are St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, Thomas à Kempis, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Louis de Montfort, St. Peter Julian Eymard, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux. These authors should serve as an introduction to and an incentive for further study, with the two-fold goal of understanding each author and his or her spiritual doctrine.
Maximum benefit from this course will be obtained in accordance with the amount of prayerful reflection given prior to answering each lesson’s questions in the Question Book. At the end of the course, students are asked to write a reflection on the spiritual wisdom of one of the Spiritual Masters studied.
The tuition includes all course materials and the grading of tests.
7 Lessons | Recommended Pace: 1 lesson/month
Commentary on the General Directory for Catechesis
By Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke
The Commentary is a well organized tool to aid catechists in effectively teaching the Catholic Faith. Study of the Commentary, required in the formation of every Marian Catechist, is usually completed after the Basic Catholic Catechism Course.