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Reference work
Catechism of the Catholic Church
A good first stop for questions about Catholic teaching. Its four parts cover the Creed, the sacraments, the moral life, and prayer.
Good place to begin · Prologue and the table of contentsThe reading room
Read the Church
in its own words.
Each short introduction points to an official Vatican document and suggests a place to begin. The introductions are simply reading aids written for Valtrexa.
When you can, read the whole document. Its structure, date, and footnotes often answer questions that a single quotation cannot.
Read at the Vatican ↗
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Dogmatic constitution · Vatican II
Dei Verbum
A clear place to begin with revelation, Scripture, Tradition, inspiration, and the place of the Bible in the Church.
Good place to begin · Sections 2–10 and 21–2603
Constitution · Vatican II
Sacrosanctum Concilium
Read how the Church understands the liturgy as the work of Christ and his people.
Good place to begin · Sections 5–14, 83–101, and 112–12104
Dogmatic constitution · Vatican II
Lumen Gentium
Begins with the Church as mystery and the People of God, then turns to hierarchy, the laity, holiness, religious life, and Mary.
Good place to begin · Chapters I, II, and V05
Apostolic exhortation
Evangelii Gaudium
Pope Francis writes about missionary discipleship, joy in the Gospel, care for the poor, and habits that can get in the way of evangelization.
Good place to begin · Sections 1–18 and 259–288Find more in the Holy See archive ↗. Valtrexa is independent and is not endorsed by the Holy See.