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The historical character of the mystery
of salvation
107. The confession of faith
of the disciples of Jesus Christ springs from a pilgrim Church which has been sent
on mission. It is not yet that of the glorious proclamation of the journey's
end; rather, it is one which corresponds to the "times of the
Church". (356) The "economy of Salvation" has
thus an historical character as it is realized in time: "...in time
past it began, made progress, and in Christ reached its highest point; in the
present time it displays its force and awaits its consummation in the future.
(357) For this reason, the Church, in transmitting today the Christian
message, begins with the living awareness which she carries of it, has a
constant "memory" of the saving events of the past and makes them
known. In the light of these, she interprets the present events of human
history, where the Spirit of God is continually renewing the face of the earth,
and she awaits with faith for the Lord's coming. In Patristic catechesis, the
narration (narratio) of the wonderful deeds of God and the awaiting (expectatio)
of Christ's return always accompanied the exposition of the mysteries of faith.
(358)
108. The historical character
of the Christian message requires that catechesis attend to the following
points:
– presentation of salvation history by means
of Biblical catechesis so as to make known the "deeds and the words"
with which God has revealed himself to man: the great stages of the Old
Testament by which he prepared the journey of the Gospel; (359) the
life of Jesus, Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary who by his actions and
teaching brought Revelation to completion; (360) the history of the
Church which transmits Revelation: this history, read within the perspective of
faith, is a fundamental part of the content of catechesis;
– in explaining the Creed and the content of
Christian morality by means of doctrinal catechesis, the Gospel message should
illuminate the 'today' of the history of salvation; indeed, "...in this
way the ministry of the Word not only recalls the revelation of God's wonders
which was made in time...but at the same time, in the light of this revelation,
interprets human life in our age, the signs of the times, and the things of
this world, for the plan of God works in these for the salvation of men";
(361)
– it should situate the sacraments within
the history of salvation by means of a mystagogy which "...re-lives the
great events of salvation history in the 'today' of her liturgy";
(362) reference to the historico-salvific 'today' is essential to such
catechesis, and thus helps catechumens and those to be catechized "to open
themselves to this 'spiritual' understanding of the economy of
Salvation..."; (363)
– the "deeds and words" of
Revelation point to the "mystery contained in them";
(364) catechesis helps to make the passage from sign to mystery; it
leads to the discovery of the mystery of the Son of God behind his humanity;
behind the history of the Church, it uncovers the mystery of her being the
"sacrament of salvation;" behind the "signs of the times",
it encounters the traces of God's presence and plan: catechesis, thus, shall
exhibit that knowledge which is typical of faith, which "is knowledge
through signs". (365)
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