A method of making a porous cordierite ceramic article using chlorite raw material is described herein. The method includes mixing materials to form a cordierite-forming mixture. The cordierite-forming mixture includes a chlorite raw material in an amount of about 5% to about 60% by weight and a platy aluminum silicate raw material in an amount of 0% to about 30% by weight of the total inorganic content of the cordierite-forming mixture. The cordierite-forming mixture is then formed into a green body and fired to form the porous cordierite ceramic article. In some cases, the porous cordierite ceramic article exhibits a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), which provides the article with high thermal shock resistance.