FUNCTIONS 0F CATECHESIS

21 Within the scope of pastoral activity, catechesis is the term to be used for that form of ecclesial action which leads both communities and individual members of the faithful b maturity of faith.

With the aid of catechesis, communities of Christians acquire for themselves a more profound living knowledge of God and of his plan of salvation, which has its centred in Christ, the incarnate Word of God. They build themselves up by striving to make their faith mature and enlightened, and b share this mature faith with men who desire to possess it.

For every man whose mind is open to the message of the Gospel, catechesis is a particularly apt means for him to understand God’s plan in his own life and to examine the highest meaning of existence and history 50 that the life of individual men and of society may be illumined by the light of the kingdom of God and be conformed to its demands, and the mystery of the Church as the community of those who believe in the Gospel may be able to be recognised.

Ail these things determine the functions proper to catechesis.