Education through print

a study on the reformulation of the First Catechism of Christian Doctrine (1964)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7213/1981-416X.25.086.AO02

Abstract

This article aims to analyz the edition of the Primeiro Catecismo da Doutrina Cristã (First Catechism of Christian Doctrine) published by the Vozes publishing house in 1964 which presents significant alterations in relation to editions published in previous decades. It seeks to present evidence regarding the role it played in the formation of the audience to whom it was addressed. Catechisms are religious printed materials that have withstood the test of time with relative stability in relation to the content they convey and have served the purpose of disseminating the doctrines that underpin. Considering that this catechism had high print runs and a large number of editions, this study sought to understand the motivations for the changes undertaken and how, in a critical period of the history of the Catholic Church and Brazilian society itself, the catechism sought to adapt to new demands from the public and the publishing market. The research sources included 13 editions of the catechism published throughout the 20th century; magazines and newspapers available in the Digital Newspaper Library of the National Library of Rio de Janeiro; catalogs from the Vozes publishing house; and official documents resulting from Catholic councils and conferences. The analysis revealed several changes in materiality, mainly through the increase in the book's size, the presence of color illustrations, and the use of a simplified vocabulary; however, the questions and answers remained consistent over time, revealing the preference for tradition due to the success of the official text.

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Author Biographies

Aline Marie De Simone, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

Graduada em Pedagogia (2019) e mestre em História da Educação (2023) pela Faculdade de Educação da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (FaE/UFMG).

Ana Maria de Oliveira Galvão, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

Professora titular da Faculdade de Educação da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (FaE/UFMG) onde atua na graduação e no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação. Bolsista do CNPq.

Maria José Francisco de Souza, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)

Doutora em Educação.

Published

2025-09-11

How to Cite

De Simone, A. M., Galvão, A. M. de O., & Souza, M. J. F. de. (2025). Education through print: a study on the reformulation of the First Catechism of Christian Doctrine (1964). Revista Diálogo Educacional, 25(86), 1406–1422. https://doi.org/10.7213/1981-416X.25.086.AO02