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 I have heard and read from a number of sources that all the catechisms in the last 2 centuries teach BOD, BOB, etc. and I myself took it on the word of others that this has been the case.


Until now.



I endeavored to start working backwards and acquiring either through ebay or other antique book resources original copies of catechisms and put it to the test. I did not want reprints to remove the issue of tampering. Interestingly, as I worked backwards from Vatican II, the definitions got narrower. I definitely found it mentioned in a 1904 catechism called "The Beautiful Teachings of the Holy Catholic Church", but the verbiage is not as loose as what you get from the modern day supporters.

I then acquired a rather common catechism from 1884 (copyright) called the TEACHINGS of The CATHOLIC CHURCH & Her DIVINE FOUNDER (1886) S.B. Smith

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TEACHINGS-of-The-CATHOLIC-CHURCH-Her-DIVINE-FOUNDER-1886-S-B-Smith-1st-Ed/264622220266?hash=item3d9cb6a3ea:g:t7wAAOSw~5ReOF3L

This is a pretty common catechism and you can see, there are several copies on ebay and I found many of them online.

Lo and behold, not a mention anywhere, and in fact it's pretty emphatic about the need and in it's treatment of St. John 3:5 mentions the canons of Trent about it's necessity. Not a peep about following up on that in regards to BOD, Invincible Ignorance or BOB like the 1904 catechism. This 1884 catechism is in depth and quite substantial as you can see in the link. So after scouring the entire copy cover to cover, not one mention of this teaching anywhere.

I have a catechism from 1876 on the way to me and I will share my findings at that point. I am going to continue to move further back chronologically until I can't find any older English language catechisms.


So at least in this case, no, NOT ALL catechisms taught these things. To be continued.....

Whether one or several 19th century catechisms do or do not teach BOD proves nothing. What matters is the teaching of the Church(as explained by the Popes) Here is a catechism by Fr. Michael Muller( 19th century) which teaches a form of BOD( following St. Thomas) I take this position 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwjop-O34MrnAhUblHIEHTqeDtYQFjAAegQIARAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcatholicism.org%2Fquestions-answers-salvation-muller.html&usg=AOvVaw1--0vqt6ZCiVFsJoEnsP_K

Thank you. I have that. And Fr. Muller was persecuted for teaching it just as Fr Feeney was, so it shows the downward spiral took place long before Fr Feeney.
I agree about the popes. And not one of them as far as I can see taught BOD ex cathedra.

Fr. Müller DID teach a form of BOD( albeit rigorous) He would not have agreed with Fr. Feeney