THE NECESSITY 0F ECCLESIAL WITNESS

35 Catechesis, finally, demands the witness of faith, both from the catechists and from the ecclesial community, a witness that is joined to an authentic example of Christian life and to a readiness for sacrifice (cf. LG, 12, 17; NA, 2).

Man encounters Christ not only through the sacred ministry, but also through individual members of the faithful and their communities (cf. LG, 35), and these accordingly have a duty b give witness. if such witness is lacking, there arises in the listeners an obstacle b the acceptance of God’s word.

Catechesis must be supported by the witness of the ecciesial community. R speaks more effectively about those things which in fact exist in the community’s external life as well. The catechist is in a certain way the interpreter of the Church among those who are to be instructed. He reads the signs of faith and he teaches others how to read them. The chief of these signs is the Church herself (cf. First Vatican Council, Dogm. Const. Dei Filius, Dz.-Sch. 3014).

Hence it 15 clear how necessary it is that the ecclesial community, according to the mind of the Church and under the guidance of her bishops, remove or correct things that mar the appearance of the Church and constitute an obstacle for men to embrace the faith (cf. GS, 19).

Catechists, therefore, have the duty not only 10 impart catechesis directly, but also 10 offer their help in making the ecciesial community come alive, 50 that it will be able 10 give a witness that is authentically Christian.

Catechetical action, therefore, fits into that general pastoral action in which ail elements of ecclesial life are properly ordered and bound together (cf. GS, 4, 7, 43).