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Magisterial Documents: Catechesi Tradendae

Magisterial Documents: Catechesi Tradendae

Apostolic Exhortation on Catechesis in Our Time Pope John Paul II
16 October 1979

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Brief History

In 1977, the synod of bishops met in Rome to discuss the theme, "Catechesis in our time, with special reference to the catechesis of children and young people." This synod was a follow-up of the synod on evangelization that had taken place three years earlier with its ensuing document on evangelization, Evangelii Nuntiandi, which was to spark new zeal in the spread of the Christian message. The two synods, 1974 and 1977, are twins in the ministry of the Word. Due to the work of the synods, the terms, evangelization and catechesis, were clearly defined.

Evangelization is the beginning stage, the first encounter and decision to embrace the faith; catechesis is the deepening, the instruction in the doctrine once the faith-decision has been made.

The work of 1974 and its resulting apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Nuntiandi, became the study material in preparation for the catechesis synod. Two documents prepared by the bishops resulted from the catechesis synod. One, Message to the People of God, was publicly presented at the end of the sessions on October 29, 1977. The second document, consisting of thirty-four propositions and ca. One thousand amendments to the propositions, was sent privately to Pope Paul VI. As had been the case at the 1974 evangelization synod, the bishops requested that a magisterial document be written in summary of the deliberations.

The Message to the People of God first established the distinguishing elements between evangelization and catechesis. The starting point, evangelization, is ideally followed by, as the message states, "continued growth and maturation in faith."[1] Catechesis should assist this process. The bishops of the synod defined catechesis as "every ecclesial activity which seeks to bring about growth in faith."[2]

In regard to Marian catechesis, an American contribution at the synod was presented by Cardinal Carberry of St. Louis. Carberry's theme was, "The Role of the Blessed Virgin Mary In Catechetics." It is from this talk that Pope John Paul II eventually picked up the phrases: Mary, a "compendium of catechetics," and she is "a living catechism."[3]

Pope John Paul II stated that the General Catechetical Directory of 1971 was to remain the norm for catechesis, and specialists were to be called upon to define the various meanings and branches of catechesis.

Archbishop Joseph L. Bernardin, "Introduction," Synod of Bishops- 1977: Message to the People of God and Interventions of the U.S. Delegates, Washington, DC: USCC, 1978, 2.
Bernardin, 2.

John Joseph Carberry, "The Role of the Blessed Virgin Mary In Catechetics," Synod of Bishops-1977: Message to the People of God and Interventions of the U.S. Delegates, Washington, DC: USCC, 1978, 23.

Outline

I. We Have But One Teacher, Jesus Christ 5-9

II. An Experience as Old as the Church 10-17

III. Catechesis in the Church's Pastoral and Missionary Activity 18-25

IV. The Whole of the Good News Drawn from Its Source 26-34

V. Everybody Needs To Be Catechized 35-45

VI. Some Ways and Means of Catechesis 46-50

VII. How To Impart Catechesis 51-55

VIII. The Joy of Faith in a Troubled World 56-61

IX. The Task Concerns Us All 62-71

Conclusion 72-73

Core Marian Passages

Mary, Mother and Model of the Disciple

May the Virgin of Pentecost obtain this for us through her intercession. By a unique vocation, she saw her Son Jesus "increase in wisdom and in stature, and in favor."(133) As He sat on her lap and later as He listened to her throughout the hidden life at Nazareth, this Son, who was "the only Son from the Father," "full of grace and truth," was formed by her in human knowledge of the Scriptures and of the history of God's plan for His people, and in adoration of the Father.(134) She in turn was the first of His disciples. She was the first in time, because even when she found her adolescent Son in the temple she received from Him lessons that she kept in her heart.(135) She was the first disciple above all else because no one has been "taught by God"(136) to such depth. She was "both mother and disciple," as St. Augustine said of her, venturing to add that her discipleship was more important for her than her motherhood.(137) There are good grounds for the statement made in the synod hall that Mary is "a living catechism" and "the mother and model of catechists.

May the presence of the Holy Spirit, through the prayers of Mary, grant the Church unprecedented enthusiasm in the catechetical work that is essential for her. Thus will she effectively carry out, at this moment of grace, her inalienable and universal mission, the mission given her by her Teacher: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."(138) 73

Source

AAS 71-10-16 (1979):1278-1340
St. Paul Editions
This source: L'Osservatore Romano, English Edition


© This material has been compiled by M. Jean Frisk and Danielle M. Peters, S.T.D.
Copyright is reserved for The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute.
Most recently updated in 2018.

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