Chapter I

Norms or Criteria

THE CONTENT 0F CATECHESIS IN RELATION TO THE VARIOUS FORMS 0F ECCLESIAL LIFE, IN RELATION TO DIFFERING CULTURES, AND IN RELATION TO DIFFERENT LANGUAGES 0F MEN

37 Revelation is the manifestation of the mystery of God and of his saving action in history. It takes place through a personal communication from God to man. The content of this communication constitutes the message of salvation which is to be preached to all men.

It is, consequently, the supreme and absolutely necessary function of the Church’s prophetic ministry to make the content of this message intelligible 10 men of all times, in order that they may be converted to God through Christ, that they may interpret their whole life in the light of faith, having considered the special conditions of events and limes in which that life develops, and that they may lead a life in keeping with the dignity which the message of salvation has brought them and that faith has revealed to them.

To achieve this end, catechesis, as a most excellent opportunity for the prophetic ministry of the Church, must not only foster a strong and continuous contact with the various forms of life in the ecciesial community, but it must strive 10 promote a greater accord between the possible formulations of the divine message and the various cultures and diverse languages of peoples.