Catechesis



OF CATECHESIS, the Catechism says that it "is intimately bound up with the whole of the Church's life" (7).

Yes, the "whole of the Church's life," and yet how much of catechesis is being done nowadays?

We look around, and we see right now in this month of May in many parish churches only some catechetical classes given to small boys and girls. Talk about catechesis, and this is usually what people say it is all about.

But they are actually puny efforts, hardly anything, compared to the goal catechesis is supposed to have. This, as the Catechism tells us, is none other than:

"An education in the faith of children, young people, and adults which includes especially the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted, generally speaking, in an organic and systematic way, with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life." (5)

That's a tremendous task to undertake, of course. Imagine, initiating people into the fullness of Christian life! Imparted in an organic and systematic way!

This means catechesis is not just a matter of teaching in a class, or giving a set of modules to students. It is a living process, involving everything. Not only words and lessons, but also actual examples and concrete deeds. And constantly, not just a few moments or even hours in a day.

And yet again, how many are actively involved in this task?

Of course, the main responsibility falls on the bishops, and then the priests, but I am sure they have strained their voices hoarse encouraging everyone to participate actively in the process.

But how many are corresponding? And how are they corresponding?

I believe that no amount of genius on the part of bishops and priests in terms of laying out plans and strategies would have any effect if there is a wall of indifference, a sea of complacency and passivity on the part of the people.

Unless people start making it a habit to pick up the catechism, read and study it a little every so often, impart it to others, especially to the young, we will not go far in our Christian life.

And given the challenges, the issues and questions, problems and difficulties we have around now, and which for sure will continue to grow and complicate, that Christian life in our society might just disappear!

Catechesis is actually a task for everyone, for all Christian believers, including that vast majority who are immersed in worldly, mundane and temporal affairs.

The bias has to be overcome that considers catechesis a specialized task for some people only. It involves everyone, it should involve everyone.

This is because all Christian believers have to nurture their spiritual lives, and one indispensable element for such nurture is doctrine, thus, the need for continuing catechesis.

We have at hand a lamentable problem, quite generalized in our society and culture, which is crying for urgent relief and solution. Everyone should be alerted to this horrible situation, and should try to do something.

There are many who are supposed to know better since they are well-educated and quite accomplished in their professions. Yet they are shockingly ignorant, for example, of the creed, they don't understand what the sacraments are, what makes a human act moral and immoral. Some cannot even recite the commandments and basic prayers. What a disaster!

Many of these people are public figures. And so their words and actuations are brought out into public view. That's where you realize they are not thinking with faith, they in fact announce their ignorance, confusion and error with respect to their faith.

Worse, public scandals are becoming so common that less and less people get bothered by them. This is where evil can become good, vices assume the appearance of virtues, and sin becomes the norm or standard of behavior. Lamentable!

Catechesis has to be undertaken by everyone! People will have endless excuses not to get involved. But in the end, they are just excuses that do not excuse one from their duty to do catechesis.