sister elizabeth -cathedral_091110[1]

8/6/2019 Sister Elizabeth -Cathedral_091110[1]

1/34

Modern Catechetical Documents

1. Handing on the Christian Doctrine byTeaching (Acerbo Nimis), Pope St. PiusX, 1905

2. On Better Care for CatecheticalInstruction (Provido Sane Consilio),Pope Pius XI, 1935

3. The Credo of the People of God(Sollemnis Professio Fidei), Pope PaulVI, 1968


2/34

Catechetical Documents,continued:

4. General Catechetical Directory, Congregationfor the Clergy, 1971

5. Evangelization in the Modern World (Evangelii

Nuntiandi), Pope Paul VI, 19756. Sharing the Light of Faith, National CatecheticalDirectory, USCC, 1979

7. On Catechesis in Our Time (Catechesi

Tradendae), Pope John Paul II, 1979

8. Catechism of the Catholic Church, Pope JohnPaul II, 1992 (1994 in English)


3/34

Catechetical Documents, cont.:

9. General Directory for Catechesis,Congregation for the Clergy, 1997

10. National Directory for Catechesis,USCCB, 2005

11. Compendium of the CCC, Congregationfor the Doctrine of the Faith, 2005

12. United States Catholic Catechism forAdults, USCCB, 2006


4/34

Acerbo Nimis, St. Pius X, 1905

Written in response to vast spread of religiousignorance: While we should not overlook otherconsiderations..the chief cause of the present

indifferenceis ignorance of things divine. (n.1)Called for establishment of Confraternity ofChristian Doctrine in every parish

Urged frequent & systematic instruction ofchildren, youth and adults

Gives practical advice on how to teach the Faith


5/34

Provido sane consilio,Pius XI, 1935

In 1924, Pius XI consulted every bishop of theworld on the state of catechetical teaching in hisdiocese and the needs of the Church for greatereffectiveness in carrying out this teaching.

(Kevane, xlv)

Provide sane consilio was result of and responseto that consultation

-contains several practical directives, includinganother call for est. of CCD in every parish, and acatechetical office in every diocese, regularcatechist training


6/34

The Credo of the People of God

Pope Paul VI, 1968

Written at the closing of a world wide Yearof Faith in which Catholics renewed theirbaptismal faith by use of the Apostles Creedin teaching and prayer

A modern summary of the Deposit of Faith,specifically worded to combat current errors& false thinking


7/34

Catechesi Tradendae

1977 Synod of Bishops on the theme ofcatechesis

1979, Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi

Tradendae (On Catechesis in Our Time)issued by Pope John Paul II on the firstanniversary of his election as Pope. Stressplaced on Christ centered catechesis, and

the need to present an organic andsystematic instruction in the faith(From a presentation by Most Reverend Leonard Blair, Bishop of Toledo)


8/34

General Directories of 1971 & 1997

The Second Vatican Councils Decree onthe Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church,Christus Dominus (CD) calls for the creation

of a directory for the catechetical instructionof the Christian people in which thefundamental principles of this instruction and

its organization will be dealt with and thepreparation of books relating to it (CD, no.44)


9/34

First Catechetical Directory

Preparation of a worldwide catechetical directorywas unprecedented

Project involved fundamental reflection on thenature and purpose of catechesis in the life andmission of the Church

The Roman Catechism, issued in 1569 after theCouncil of Trent, was the only other worldwidecatechetical document produced prior to 1971. It

was intended as a doctrinal reference for bishopsand priests in creating catechetical materials(From a presentation by Most Reverend Leonard Blair, Bishop of Toledo)


10/34

Why a General Directory?

The purpose of the General CatecheticalDirectory, was toprovide the basic principles of pastoral theology so that theministry of the word could be more fittingly directed andgoverned

The text addressed errors frequently encountered incatechesis

Bishops were encouraged to develop national and/orregional directories in order to apply the principles anddirectives of the General Catechetical Directoryto theconcrete situations of their own people

(From a presentation by Most Reverend Leonard Blair, Bishop of Toledo)


11/34

General Directories, continued

General Catechetical Directorywasdeveloped and published in 1971

General Directory for Catechesis waspublished in 1997


12/34

Significant Developments of theGDC

Focus on divine pedagogy, that is, the pedagogy of divinerevelation, how and what God teaches us. This reminds usthat what we believe as Catholics has its origin in God

Both objective truth and subjective appropriation,

education and formation, orthodoxy and orthopraxis--allneed to be brought into balance in a symphony of faith

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) presentedas the paradigm for all catechesis: i.e., catechesis is alifelong experience. There is never a point in our lives whencatechesis is complete

(From a presentation by Bishop Blair)


13/34

National Directories

Sharing the Light of Faith: the NationalCatechetical Directoryapproved by Holy See inOctober of 1978 and published in 1979

National Directory for Catechesis approved byU.S. bishops in June 2003, recognized by HolySee in December 2004, published in 2005



14/34

Catechism of the Catholic Church

1985, Synod of Bishops propose that a newuniversal catechism be created

After international consultation Catechism of

the Catholic Church (CCC), published inFrench, German, Spanish and Italian in 1992,and in English in 1994

Catechism seen as a sure guide for thepreparation of other national or regionalcatechisms and catechetical materials



15/34

Compendium

Proposed at the International CatecheticalCongress of October 2002

Published in 2005

A faithful and sure synthesis of the Catechism ofthe Catholic Church. It contains, in conciseform, all the essential and fundamental elementsof the Churchs faith.

(From the Motu Proprio)


16/34

United States Catholic Catechismfor Adults

Approved by U.S. bishops in November2004

Sent to Vatican in January 2005

Published in 2006

Created as a catechetical text for adults



17/34

Aims & Principles

of Catechesis


18/34

Survey of the Documents

Catechesi Tradendae, nos. 19 25

General Directory for Catechesis (GDC): ChapterII, Catechesis in the process of evangelization,

nos. 63-67; Chapter III, The nature, object and theduties of catechesis, nos. 77 91

National Directory for Catechesis (NDC): ChapterII, Catechesis Within the Churchs Mission ofEvangelization, nos. 19 20


19/34

Catechesi Tradendae, 20:

The specific aim of Catechesis is to bring faith tomaturity. Catechesis accomplishes this aim bydeveloping

Understanding of the mystery of Christ in the light ofGods Word, and

Change in order to follow Him

The Christian thus sets himself to follow Christ and learns

more and more within the Church to think like Him, to judgelike Him, to act in conformity with His commandments, and

to hope as He invites us to. (20)


20/34

CT 20, continued:

Within the whole process of evangelization,the aim of catechesis is to be the teachingand maturation stage, the period in which

the Christian, having accepted by faith thePerson of Jesus Christ as the one Lord andhaving given Him complete adherence bysincere conversion of heart, endeavors toknow better this Jesus to whom he hasentrusted himself.


21/34

CT 5

The definitive aim of catechesis is toput people not only in touch but incommunion, in intimacy, with JesusChrist: only He can lead us to the loveof the Father in the Spirit and make usshare in the life of the Holy Trinity.


22/34

GDC 63 67:

Catechesis is an essential moment in theprocess of evangelization

The aim of catechetical activity consists in

precisely this: to encourage a living, explicitand fruitful profession of faith. (66)

To accomplish this aim, it must be (67):

Comprehensive and systematicAn apprenticeship of the entire Christian life

Basic and essential


23/34

GDC 77 86:

Catechesis is an ecclesial act: it is theChurch who catechizes, continuing themission of Jesus with the help of the Holy

Spirit (78)The object of catechesis is communion withJesus Christ (80)

The fundamental tasks of catechesis helpthe believer to know, celebrate andcontemplate the mystery of Christ (85)


24/34

GDC on the Fundamental Tasks ofCatechesis:

N. 85:

Promotes knowledge of the faith

Liturgical education

Moral formation

Teaches to pray

Other Fundamental Tasks (86):Educates for community life

Educates for mission


25/34

GDC 89 91:

The Baptismal catechumenate is the modelfor catechesis in the Church

Recognizing the fundamental difference

between pre-baptismal and post-baptismalcatechesis (the reality of Baptism), post-baptismal catechesis nonetheless drawsinspiration from the catechumenate as a

process of formation anda true school ofthe faith


26/34

How do we fulfill these aims?


27/34

The Organic Unity of the Deposit of Faith(CT 30, GDC 111-112, NDC 25 G)

The relationship of each doctrine to theothers to form a living whole is the organicunity of the Deposit of Faith.

Demonstrated in the Catechisms cross-references

It is only when we show our students the

interrelation and harmony of the truths of theFaith that they are able to grasp the whole.


28/34

Learning & Teaching Organically(Craft, pg. 34 38)

1. Identify the topic

2. Find selection & read through it slowly(sequential reading)

3. Follow cross-references to the four partsof the CCC (organic reading)

Read the cross-references next to each paragraphin the selection and /or

Follow the cross-references forward


29/34

Hierarchy of Truths (CT 31, GDC 114 115;NDC 24, 25 G; CCC 90, 234)

The hierarchy of truths refers to the fact that sometruths of the Faith are foundational, while others arebased on them.

There are four foundational doctrines:

God, a unity of three Persons, and his plan of salvation

The Person of Christ, true God and true man

The Paschal Mystery, the work of our redemption, handed onin the Church through the work of the Holy Spirit

The human person, created and graced

Golden threads running through each Pillar andeach section of each Pillar (NDC 24; Craft, pg. 47)


30/34

Foundational Truths In CCC

1. The Blessed Trinity & plan of salvation:

What to look for: the names of the 3 Persons anddescription of their role in the plan

2.

Person of Christ, true God and true man What to look for: Jesus words and deeds as

embodiment of truth shows reality of Incarnation

5. The Paschal Mystery

What to look for: mention of the Passion, Death,Resurrection or Ascension of Christ, and/or need forgrace


31/34

Foundational Truths in CCC, continued:

4. Church What to look for: direct mention of the visible

Church or the mystical Body of Christ, or by specific

connections to one or more sacraments; wordsChurch, mystical body, and/or sacraments

5. Dignity of the Human Person

What to look for: Impact of being made in Gods

image, call to and struggle for likeness to God inpursuit of holiness, glory of being destined for unionwith God


32/34

Analyzing DoctrineWhat must I teach? What do they have to know?

The secret of selecting teaching points isconcerned with two things:

Discovering the identity of a doctrine (the

WHAT)Discovering its meaning (the WHY)

The foundational personal realitiesprovide

the perspective we need on all the topicsthat we teach.

(Craft, Chapter 6)


33/34

Christocentricity

CT 5 9: in catechesis it is Christwho istaught.and it is Christ alone whoteaches

GDC 97-99: Jesus Christ not onlytransmits the Word of God: He is the Wordof Godwhat must characterize themessage transmitted by catechesis is,

above all, christocentricity.NDC 25 A & B


34/34

Teaching for Conversion

What we see in the Catechism, then, is that thefundamentals of the Faith, enshrining initial orprimary proclamation, are placed at the heart ofevery section, so that, in and through thetransmission of catechesis, there can also be areawakening of the call to conversion at this mostfundamental levelin selecting the fundamentalpersonal realities that lie at the heart of the Faithto provide the key meaning of a topic or doctrine,one will also be selecting for conversion. (Craft,pg. 107)