The Apostles and the First Christians: Benedict XVI's Catechesis on the early Church

Here is the series of catecheses on the Apostles and the Early Church from Pope Benedict XVI. This series follows his Catechesis on Vespers and precedes his Catechesis on the Early Church Fathers. It began on March 15, 2006 and concluded on February 14, 2007.

This catechesis is available in book form from Our Sunday Visitor and Ignatius Press. Our Sunday Visitor has also published a corresponding Study Guide which is available for purchase and as a free downloadable .pdf file. Recently, OSV has also published a beautiful Illustrated Edition of The Apostles.


The Origins of the Church

1. Christ and the Church (March 15, 2006)
2. ‘Witness of Christ’ (March 22, 2006)
3. The Gift of ‘Communion’ (March 29, 2006)
4. ‘Safeguarding the Gift’ (April 5, 2006)
5. Communion in Time: Tradition (April 26, 2006)
6. The Apostolic Tradition of the Church (May 3, 2006)
7. Having a ‘Vision from on High’ (May 10, 2006)

The Apostles

1. Peter: The Fisherman (May 17, 2006)
2. Peter: The Apostle (May 24, 2006)
3. Peter: The Rock (June 7, 2006)
4. Andrew: The Protoclete (June 14, 2006)
5. James, the Greater (June 21, 2006)
6. James, the Lesser (June 28, 2006)
7. John: Son of Zebedee (July 5, 2006)
8. John: The Theologian (August 9, 2006)
9. John: The Seer of Patmos (August 23, 2006)
10. Matthew (August 30, 2006)
11. Philip the Apostle (September 6, 2006)
12. Thomas the Twin (September 27, 2006)
13. Bartholomew (October 4, 2006)
14. Simon and Jude (October 11, 2006)
15. Judas Iscariot and Matthias (October 18, 2006)

The First Disciples

1. Paul of Tarsus (October 25, 2006)
2. St. Paul’s New Outlook (November 8, 2006)
3. St. Paul and the Spirit (November 15, 2006)
4. St. Paul and the Church (November 22, 2006)
5. Timothy and Titus (December 13, 2006)
6. Stephen: The Protomartyr (January 10, 2007)
7. Barnabas, Silas, and Apollos (January 31, 2007)
8. Priscilla and Aquila (February 7, 2007)
9. Women at the Service of the Gospel (February 14, 2007)

Back to The Catechesis of the Popes.