Modern Catechetical Documents

1.

2.

3.

Handing on the Christian Doctrine by Teaching (Acerbo Nimis), Pope St. Pius X, 1905 On Better Care for Catechetical Instruction (Provido Sane Consilio), Pope Pius XI, 1935 The Credo of the People of God (Sollemnis Professio Fidei), Pope Paul VI, 1968

Catechetical Documents, continued:

4. General Catechetical Directory, Congregation for the Clergy, 1971 5. Evangelization in the Modern World (Evangelii Nuntiandi), Pope Paul VI, 1975 6. Sharing the Light of Faith, National Catechetical Directory, USCC, 1979 7. On Catechesis in Our Time (Catechesi Tradendae), Pope John Paul II, 1979 8. Catechism of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II, 1992 (1994 in English)

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, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 2005 12. United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, USCCB, 2006

Acerbo Nimis, St. Pius X, 1905

Written in response to vast spread of religious ignorance: While we should not overlook other considerations..the chief cause of the present indifferenceis ignorance of things divine. (n.1) Called for establishment of Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in every parish Urged frequent & systematic instruction of children, youth and adults Gives practical advice on how to teach the Faith

Provido sane consilio, Pius XI, 1935

In 1924, Pius XI consulted every bishop of the world on the state of catechetical teaching in his diocese and the needs of the Church for greater effectiveness in carrying out this teaching. (Kevane, xlv) Provide sane consilio was result of and response to that consultation -contains several practical directives, including another call for est. of CCD in every parish, and a catechetical office in every diocese, regular catechist training

The Credo of the People of God

Pope Paul VI, 1968 Written at the closing of a world wide Year of Faith in which Catholics renewed their baptismal faith by use of the Apostles Creed in teaching and prayer A modern summary of the Deposit of Faith, specifically worded to combat current errors & false thinking

Catechesi Tradendae
1977 Synod of Bishops on the theme of catechesis 1979, Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi Tradendae (On Catechesis in Our Time) issued by Pope John Paul II on the first anniversary of his election as Pope. Stress placed on Christ centered catechesis, and the need to present an organic and systematic instruction in the faith
(From a presentation by Most Reverend Leonard Blair, Bishop of Toledo)

General Directories of 1971 & 1997

The Second Vatican Councils Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church, Christus Dominus (CD) calls for the creation of a directory for the catechetical instruction of the Christian people in which the fundamental principles of this instruction and its organization will be dealt with and the preparation of books relating to it (CD, no. 44)

First Catechetical Directory

Preparation of a worldwide catechetical directory was unprecedented Project involved fundamental reflection on the nature and purpose of catechesis in the life and mission of the Church The Roman Catechism, issued in 1569 after the Council of Trent, was the only other worldwide catechetical document produced prior to 1971. It was intended as a doctrinal reference for bishops and priests in creating catechetical materials
(From a presentation by Most Reverend Leonard Blair, Bishop of Toledo)

Why a General Directory?

The purpose of the General Catechetical Directory, was to provide the basic principles of pastoral theology so that the ministry of the word could be more fittingly directed and governed The text addressed errors frequently encountered in catechesis Bishops were encouraged to develop national and/or regional directories in order to apply the principles and directives of the General Catechetical Directory to the concrete situations of their own people
(From a presentation by Most Reverend Leonard Blair, Bishop of Toledo)

General Directories, continued

General Catechetical Directory was developed and published in 1971 General Directory for Catechesis was published in 1997

Significant Developments of the GDC

Focus on divine pedagogy, that is, the pedagogy of divine revelation, how and what God teaches us. This reminds us that what we believe as Catholics has its origin in God Both objective truth and subjective appropriation, education and formation, orthodoxy and orthopraxis--all need to be brought into balance in a symphony of faith The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) presented as the paradigm for all catechesis: i.e., catechesis is a lifelong experience. There is never a point in our lives when catechesis is complete
(From a presentation by Bishop Blair)

National Directories
Sharing the Light of Faith: the National Catechetical Directory approved by Holy See in October of 1978 and published in 1979 National Directory for Catechesis approved by U.S. bishops in June 2003, recognized by Holy See in December 2004, published in 2005
(From a presentation by Bishop Blair)

Catechism of the Catholic Church

1985, Synod of Bishops propose that a new universal catechism be created After international consultation Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), published in French, German, Spanish and Italian in 1992, and in English in 1994 Catechism seen as a sure guide for the preparation of other national or regional catechisms and catechetical materials
(From a presentation by Bishop Blair)

Compendium
Proposed at the International Catechetical Congress of October 2002 Published in 2005 A faithful and sure synthesis of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It contains, in concise form, all the essential and fundamental elements of the Churchs faith. (From the Motu Proprio)

United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

Approved by U.S. bishops in November 2004 Sent to Vatican in January 2005 Published in 2006 Created as a catechetical text for adults
(From a presentation by Bishop Blair)

Aims & Principles of Catechesis

Survey of the Documents

Catechesi Tradendae, nos. 19 25 General Directory for Catechesis (GDC): Chapter II, Catechesis in the process of evangelization, nos. 63-67; Chapter III, The nature, object and the duties of catechesis, nos. 77 91 National Directory for Catechesis (NDC): Chapter II, Catechesis Within the Churchs Mission of Evangelization, nos. 19 20

Catechesi Tradendae, 20:

The specific aim of Catechesis is to bring faith to maturity. Catechesis accomplishes this aim by developing
Understanding of the mystery of Christ in the light of Gods 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 judge like Him, to act in conformity with His commandments, and to hope as He invites us to. (20)

CT 20, continued:
Within the whole process of evangelization, the aim of catechesis is to be the teaching and maturation stage, the period in which the Christian, having accepted by faith the Person of Jesus Christ as the one Lord and having given Him complete adherence by sincere conversion of heart, endeavors to know better this Jesus to whom he has entrusted himself.

CT 5
The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only He can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity.

GDC 63 67:
Catechesis is an essential moment in the process of evangelization The aim of catechetical activity consists in precisely this: to encourage a living, explicit and fruitful profession of faith. (66) To accomplish this aim, it must be (67): Comprehensive and systematic An apprenticeship of the entire Christian life Basic and essential

GDC 77 86:
Catechesis is an ecclesial act: it is the Church who catechizes, continuing the mission of Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit (78) The object of catechesis is communion with Jesus Christ (80) The fundamental tasks of catechesis help the believer to know, celebrate and contemplate the mystery of Christ (85)

GDC on the Fundamental Tasks of Catechesis:

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

GDC 89 91:
The Baptismal catechumenate is the model for catechesis in the Church Recognizing the fundamental difference between pre-baptismal and post-baptismal catechesis (the reality of Baptism), postbaptismal catechesis nonetheless draws inspiration from the catechumenate as a process of formation anda true school of the faith

How do we fulfill these aims?

The Organic Unity of the Deposit of Faith (CT 30, GDC 111-112, NDC 25 G) The relationship of each doctrine to the others to form a living whole is the organic unity of the Deposit of Faith. Demonstrated in the Catechisms crossreferences It is only when we show our students the interrelation and harmony of the truths of the Faith that they are able to grasp the whole.

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

1. 2.

Identify the topic Find selection & read through it slowly (sequential reading) Follow cross-references to the four parts of the CCC (organic reading)

3.

Read the cross-references next to each paragraph in the selection and /or Follow the cross-references forward

Hierarchy of Truths (CT 31, GDC 114 115; NDC 24, 25 G; CCC 90, 234)
The hierarchy of truths refers to the fact that some truths of the Faith are foundational, while others are based 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 on in the Church through the work of the Holy Spirit The human person, created and graced

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

Foundational Truths In CCC

1.

The Blessed Trinity & plan of salvation:

What to look for: the names of the 3 Persons and description 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 The Paschal Mystery What to look for: mention of the Passion, Death, Resurrection or Ascension of Christ, and/or need for grace

5.

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; words Church, mystical body, and/or sacraments What to look for: Impact of being made in Gods image, call to and struggle for likeness to God in pursuit of holiness, glory of being destined for union with God

5. Dignity of the Human Person

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

The secret of selecting teaching points is concerned 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 topics that we teach. (Craft, Chapter 6)

Christocentricity
CT 5 9: in catechesis it is Christwho is taught.and it is Christ alone who teaches GDC 97-99: Jesus Christ not only transmits the Word of God: He is the Word of Godwhat must characterize the message transmitted by catechesis is, above all, christocentricity. NDC 25 A & B

Teaching for Conversion

What we see in the Catechism, then, is that the fundamentals of the Faith, enshrining initial or primary proclamation, are placed at the heart of every section, so that, in and through the transmission of catechesis, there can also be a reawakening of the call to conversion at this most fundamental levelin selecting the fundamental personal realities that lie at the heart of the Faith to provide the key meaning of a topic or doctrine, one will also be selecting for conversion. (Craft, pg. 107)