Rating: 
Summary: An excellent book which fulfills. . .
Review: . . .the purpose for which it was written. Another reviewer correctly commented that this work is not a systematic theology. If you are looking for a Catholic systematic theology, begin with Hans Urs von Balthasar. But if you are looking for an orthodox reference book which outlines what the Church teaches, and why, and supplies you with defenses from the Scriptures, from the Church Fathers, from Sacred Tradition, and from Reason, then this is your book.As the forward indicates, this work is an excellent guide for busy parish priests who wish to refresh themselves on the reasonings and justifications for particular doctrines or themes. It is also accessible to the informed layman. The volume is also of potential value to the honest Protestant, seeking to understand the teachings of the Catholic Church. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: extremely useful reference work
Review: As one of the previous reviewers correctly noted, this book is somewhat dry. However that is not necessarily a fault in a reference work. One doesn't expect excitement from a dictionary, for instance. If you want to know what the Church has authoritatively declared on a certain issue, and with what degree of authority it has declared it, this is the place to turn. Is a certain teaching "de fide" (of the faith), or "theologically certain", or "the common opinion of theologians", or something in between? Here is a place where one can find out. One also learns something about the Scriptural, patristic, and theological evidence for teachings. There is just no book like it --- readily available in English anyhow. I have consulted it innumerable times. As a physicist, I appreciate its clarity, precision, and logic.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Reference
Review: Being published in the 1950's in no way diminishes the "up to dateness" of this work. While the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" should be the first teaching reference point for the modern Catholic, Ott's Fundamentals provides additional reference material and a much more indepth exposition of the Faith. Errors as well as truths are presented in their proper contexts of historical developement. This is not a devotional work, yet it is invaluable for "renewing the mind."
Rating:
Summary: A Must Reference
Review: Being published in the 1950's in no way diminishes the "up to dateness" of this work. While the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" should be the first teaching reference point for the modern Catholic, Ott's Fundamentals provides additional reference material and a much more indepth exposition of the Faith. Errors as well as truths are presented in their proper contexts of historical developement. This is not a devotional work, yet it is invaluable for "renewing the mind."
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Summary: What Roman Catholics are Required to Believe
Review: During my spiritual journey to find a home, I came to rely on this excellent compendium of solid catholic theology during a time when I found most clergy and laity unsure of what it was they did believe -- or believed anything they wanted, despite centuries of belief to the contrary. As a resource document, it is without parallel after the Documents of Vatican II. The documents of Vatican II are a clearer, wider, and more spiritual exposition of what the Church today believes. But sometimes, with so many mixed messages from pulpit and revisionists, the Documents of Vatican II can present difficulties to those uncertain of core beliefs. That's where this book comes in. This book is systematic theology at its best. It posits the dogmas of the Church in a clear and unequivocal manner, and then goes about supplying the historical foundations for these dogmas. These foundations include ecumenical councils as well as writings of the saints. If a certain proposition is "de fide," it is of unquestioned belief. But there are other propositions that are not "de fide," that are provided to sharpen the core deposit from speculative ideas. I refer to this book often when I come across propositions I find either doubtful or equivocal. Not only does it provide the clear and unadulterated truths of the catholic faith, but it provides the raison d'etre for those truths, making it a wealth of clear exposition of why catholics believe what they believe.
Rating: 
Summary: A very good reference for the sources of Catholic dogma.
Review: Every Catholic apologist needs to have this book on their shelf for reference. It covers the breadth of Catholic dogma well. Explanations are concise but what they lack in depth is made up with abundant references. Most questions can be answered with the content contained in the book. When more information is desired, the references are good starting points for exploring the more subtle aspects of a particular dogma.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Superb
Review: I can't recommend this book highly enough. This is the definitive reference manual for the Catholic faith. Excellent references are made to both the Sacred Scripture as well as church fathers, popes and councils.
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Summary: required reading for all Catholics
Review: If I were the apostolic nuncio to the United States I would command all Catholic high school graduates in America to receive training in Ludwig Ott's book. It's the clearest, most concise, and yet comprehensive study of the dogmas of the faith. The dogmas are given in a clear statement, with the level of certainty to which they are held in the Church, and must be therefore held by the Faithful. (eg. 'De Fide' is 'of the Faith' and must be believed by all Catholics. 'Sententia Fide Proxima' is a doctrine generally recognized by theologians but not formally pronounced by the Church, etc.) While the other reviewers have repeatedly mentioned the brevity of Ludwig Ott's book, be assured that his presentations are thorough and theologically deep. Each doctrine is given with its scriptural basis, its historical development in the writings the Fathers, the statements of the councils of the Church, the heretical counter arguments against each dogma, and the theological and philosophical arguments that form the Church's basic arguments for each doctrine. I was gratified to find that many of the clever and less than obvious scripture arguments for our Faith used by popular apologists like Scott Hahn, Gerry Matatix, and Tim Staples, are found in this old classic book, which draws its arguments from classical Catholic lines of thought dating from Trent and the Fathers and the Doctors of the Church. One essential feature of Ludwig Ott's writing is his forthright clarity. He openly and clearly states if a doctrine has no explicit scriptural reference and has only implicit support. He states openly when the Fathers are divided on a doctrine, and states the philosophical arguments through which the Church resolves the issue. It seems to me that this book uses the only approach that can be truly ecumenical. Clarity in understanding the true Catholic position and the history leading up to it is the only way to proclaim the truth with respect for our smartest separated brethren. The new catechism, though beautifully and spiritually written, can often be vague in its attempt to avoid offending, and can sometimes mislead the lazy reader. Be warned; Ludwig Ott's book is written in technical philosophical language and can be very hard to read if you don't know Catholic theological jargon. You have to know the meaning of words like: essence, nature, necessary, efficient cause, instrumental cause, simple, being, person, actual grace, sanctifying grace, etc. In short, if you've ever been asked 'what does the Church believe' this book is the finest one volume answer you could ever get.
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Summary: Great amount of Information
Review: Leaving no stone unturned, Ludwig Ott gets down to the basics and tells us everything. Using the Bible, Church Fathers, Popes, Councils, Theologians, and many other sources, he gets to the heart of Catholic Dogma. Wonderful book, but a very thick read. I recomended it highly!
Rating:
Summary: A Must for Every Catholic
Review: Ludwig Ott's book is the type of book all Catholics need to have within their homes besides the Bible and the Catechism. It explains, goes into history, gives quotes from the Fathers an Popes of the Church, and other useful information.
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