Against The Grain

The first word of the Catechism is God. I am also tempted to say that the first statement of the Catechism is a cry of jubilation: "God is infinitely perfect and blessed in himself." Adoration resounds through this first foundational confession: God is infinitely worthy of worship. Praising him requires no justification. He is infinitely worthy of praise.

Father Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P., used to give a public lecture every Saturday in Rome. These lectures were attended by large numbers of people, including lay people from the city. One Saturday Father Garrigou-Lagrange was just beginning his lecture. The first word was "God". He said the word -- and then fell silent. After a while he began again, but, having said the word "God", he was unable to utter another syllable. Everyone waited, tense and silent. Then he closed his book, stood up, and went away . . . The eyewitness who reported this to me -- he is still alive -- concluded the story with this comment: "It was the most impressive theology lecture I have ever heard."

Christoph Schönborn.
Loving the Church [pp. 19-20].