III.
CATECHESIS
IN THE CHURCH'S PASTORAL AND MISSIONARY ACTIVITY
Catechesis as a
Stage in Evangelization
18. Catechesis cannot be dissociated from
the Church's pastoral and missionary activity as a whole. Nevertheless it has a
specific character which was repeatedly the object of inquiry during the
preparatory work and throughout the course of the fourth general assembly of
the synod of Bishops. The question also interests the public both within and
outside the Church.
This is not the place for giving a rigorous
formal definition of catechesis, which has been sufficiently explained in the
General Catechetical Directory.(47) It is for specialists to clarify
more and more its concept and divisions.
In view of uncertainties in practice, let us
simply recall the essential landmarks-they are already solidly established in
Church documents-that are essential for an exact understanding of catechesis
and without which there is a risk of failing to grasp its full meaning and
import.
All in all, it can be taken here that catechesis
is an education of children, young people and adults in the faith, 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. Accordingly, while not being
formally identified with them, catechesis is built on a certain number of
elements of the Church's pastoral mission that have a catechetical aspect, that
prepare for catechesis, or that spring from it. These elements are: the initial
proclamation of the Gospel or missionary preaching through the kerygma to
arouse faith, apologetics or examination of the reasons for belief, experience
of Christian living, celebration of the sacraments, integration into the ecclesial
community, and apostolic and missionary witness.
Let us first of all recall that there is no
separation or opposition between catechesis and evangelization. Nor can the two
be simply identified with each other. Instead, they have close links whereby
they integrate and complement each other.
The Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii
nuntiandi of December 8, 1975, on evangelization in the modern world, rightly
stressed that evangelization-which has the aim of bringing the Good News to the
whole of humanity, so that all may live by it-is a rich, complex and dynamic
reality, made up of elements, or one could say moments, that are essential and
different from each other, and that must all be kept in view
simultaneously.(48) Catechesis is one of these moments-a very
remarkable one-in the whole process of evangelization.
|