John Hardon - Work

Work

Father Hardon was a very prominent member of the Jesuit community, which is known for its academic rigor, and wrote over forty books on religion and theology, including Catholic Catechism: A Contemporary Catechism of the Catholic Church (1975), a defining volume of Catholic orthodoxy; and the Modern Catholic Dictionary (1980), a major Catholic reference dictionary published after the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965). In addition to his own works Hardon contributed to six encyclopedias.

Hardon had a close working relationship with Pope Paul VI, engaging in several initiatives at the Pope's request, including his authoring of The Catholic Catechism. Paul VI apparently displeased with the controversial Dutch Catechism and in line with his letter Solemni Hac Liturgia (Credo of the people of God) requested that Hardon produce a volume to synthesize what Catholics must believe and present it in the English language.

Father Hardon's work The Catholic Catechism was a significant post–Vatican II work in the sense that it essentially brought modern Catholic teaching and faith into one book, unlike any other before. At the time of his death it had sold over 150,000 in hardback, and as a 623-page paperback had reached its 26th printing selling over one million copies. It served as the normative standard until the publishing of 1992's Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is the official codified teaching of the Catholic Church, promulgated by Pope John Paul II. Hardon served as a consultant for the drafting of that document.

Hardon kept to a demanding work schedule, especially during the creation of the 1992 Cathecism. At that time, once daily demands for his advice as a local spiritual director lessened (around five or six pm), he would write and organize material and continue to work into the night (where upon it would be morning in Rome). He often received phone calls at this time from Cardinal Ratzinger who sought his advice and input to fine tune the Cathecism. Ratzinger had a good relationship with Hardon which included sending him notes of thanks for his assistance in the faith.

Hardon had sympathy for those attracted to schismatic Catholic groups (such as the Society of St. Pius X) that rejected the documents of Vatican II, "but he never for a moment accepted the premise that a schismatic act was ever justified."

Hardon was also a major contributor to Catholic newspapers and magazines and was executive editor of The Catholic Faith magazine.

Hardon founded several Catholic organizations, which include Inter Mirifica (a name taken from Vatican II's decree on social communication), the Marian Catechists (a catechist formation program following the teachings of St. Ignatius), and Holy Trinity Apostolate. He also served as an adviser to many Catholic organizations, including Catholics United for Faith.

Father Hardon participated in various apostolates to religious communities. In the early 1980s, Pope John Paul II instructed Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta to have her order evangelize the poor in addition to looking after their material needs. When she stated she didn't know where to begin such an endeavor, the Pope referred her to Cardinal Ratzinger, who called upon Hardon to instruct her Missionaries of Charity. To fill this need Hardon wrote a catechetical course for Mother Teresa's order. The course later was adapted and used to create two catechetical home study courses for lay Catholics. In 1985 Hardon founded the Marian Catechist Apostolate, an organization that uses these home study courses to provide catechetical formation to lay people in order to prepare them for catechetical ministry.

Hardon also assisted Catholic home schoolers, and worked with Eternal Life of Bardstown, Kentucky, where he recorded several audio lectures on Catholic topics beginning in 1988. His first series for Eternal Life was against contraception which he viewed, in line with other conservative Catholics, as what "greased the skids for the culture of death" - seeing it as the source for acceptance of abortion and assisted suicide, all of which are condemned by Catholicism. After that series he recorded lectures on the Ignatian Exercises, followed by other programs "including The Apostles’ Creed, The Eucharist, Catholic Sexual Morality, and Angels and Devils." Due to problems with his voice, including long pauses, the recordings were digitally remastered to make him more audible by Ed Wolfrum who previously worked as a Motown music engineer.

He was known to be devoted to the Catholic practice of Eucharistic adoration, spending at least three hours a day praying before the Blessed Sacrament.

Hardon was a major force in establishing the "Call to Holiness" conference, which was held annually in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. The initial conference was held in the late 90's to counter a nearby conference held the same weekend by the liberal Catholic group Call to Action. Hardon also played a key role in the conversion of Dave Armstrong who went from being a Protestant to becoming a Catholic apologist.

Hardon spent his last years working from an office on the grounds of the Assumption Grotto in Detroit serving as a spiritual director.