'''John A. Hardon, S.J.''' (June_18, 1914 - December_30, 2000) was a Catholic Priest, writer, and Theologian.
Hardon was born into a devout Catholic family in Midland, Pennsylvania and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He obtained his bachelor's degree at John_Carroll_University before entering the Society_of_Jesus in 1936. He obtained a master's degree in philosophy at Loyola_University_Chicago, studied theology at West Baden College in West_Baden,_Indiana and was ordained a priest on June 18, 1947 on his 33rd birthday. He received his doctorate in theology from the Pontifical_Gregorian_University in Rome.
Father Hardon was a very prominent member of the Jesuit community, which is known for its academic rigor, and wrote dozens of books on religion and Theology, including: ''The Catholic Catechism'' (1975), a defining volume of Catholic orthodoxy; and the ''Modern Catholic Dictionary'' (1980), the first major Catholic reference dictionary published after the Second_Vatican_Council (1962-1965). Hardon was also a major contributor to Catholic newspapers and magazines and was executive editor of ''The Catholic Faith'' magazine. 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''.
Father Hardon's ''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, and was a precursor to the ''Catechism_of_the_Catholic_Church'', which is the official codified teaching of the Catholic Church, written by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope_Benedict_XVI) and promulgated by Pope_John_Paul_II in 1992. Hardon served as a consultant for the drafting of that document.
Father Hardon died in Clarkston,_Michigan, on December_30, 2000 after suffering from several illnesses. Having been known throughout his life as a holy man, there is interest among some Catholics for his Beatification and a Church-sanctioned prayer for that cause has been written. According to Church law, Father Hardon could have his cause for beatification opened by the Church as early as December_30, 2005. If that happens it would place him on the path towards possible Sainthood. An effort is underway to establish a Father Hardon library and study center at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA.
==References==
* Tribute page
==External links==
* Inter Mirifica, publisher of Fr. Hardon home study courses
* Eternal Life, publisher of Fr. Hardon audio courses
* List of on-line articles
==Bibliography==
* ''A Prophet for the Priesthood''
* ''The Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan''
* ''All My Liberty''
* ''Modern Catholic Dictionary''
* ''Catholic Prayer book''
* ''Marian Catechist Manual''
* ''Theology of Prayer''
* ''Spiritual Life in the Modern World''
* ''Salvation and Sanctification''
* ''Holiness in the Church''
* ''The Faith''
* ''With Us Today: On the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist''
* ''The History of Eucharistic Adoration''
* ''History and Theology of Grace: The Catholic Teaching on Divine Grace''
* ''The Question and Answer Catholic Catechism''
* ''The Catholic Catechism: A Contemporary Catechism of the Teachings of the Catholic Church''
* ''Retreat with the Lord: A Popular Guide to the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola''
* ''The Pocket Catechism''
==Audio Courses==
* ''Angels and Demons''
* ''The Blessed Sacrament''
* ''The Sacraments and the Marian Catechist''
* ''The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola''
* ''The Profession of the Roman Catholic Faith''
* ''Catholic Sexual Morality: A challenge—A solution''
* ''The Truth Crusade Series I''
* ''The Truth Crusade Series II''
* ''Ten Commandements: Moses Anger Flares Up!''
* ''The Truth Crusade Series III''
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