The Catechism of Christian Doctrine is also known as the Catechism of Pope St. Pius X, a 1908 summary of Catholic doctrine written by Pope Pius X for the public, intended as a brief and authoritative resource for lay Catholics and a standard reference for teaching the faith. The catechism is divided into four parts—The Creed, The Sacraments, The Commandments, and Prayer—and is known for its clear, simple language and question-and-answer format. While intended for the faithful and widely used in pre-conciliar Catholic education, it was preceded by another, shorter catechism he prescribed in 1905 and was followed by a new, even shorter one in 1912, both for use in the Diocese and Province of Rome.