Quotable Quotes

QUOTABLE QUOTES on the Goal of Catechesis –  from Directory for Catechesis (DC, 2020).

The quotes highlight the central aim that the 5 tasks of making missionary disciples serve:

• The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only He can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity. (DC #75)
• Catechesis makes the initial conversion ripen and helps Christians to give a complete meaning to their existence, educating them in a mentality of faith in keeping with the Gospel, to the point of gradually coming to think, feel and act like Christ. (DC #77)
• This pedagogy of Jesus then moulded the life of the Christian community: “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42, DC #79)

The 5 Fundamental Tasks of Making Missionary Disciples through Catechesis

Here are quotable phrases that summarize the importance of each of the five tasks.

1. Leading to knowledge of the faith [DC #80]

Catechesis has the task of fostering the knowledge and exploration of the Christian message. (DC #80)

In this way, it helps the believer to know the truths of the Christian faith, introduces him to the knowledge of Sacred Scripture and of the Church’s living tradition, fosters knowledge of the Creed (Symbol of the faith) and the creation of a coherent doctrinal vision that can be used as a reference in life. (DC #80)

2. Initiating into the celebration of the Mystery [DC #81- 82]

Through this task, catechesis helps the believer to understand the importance of the liturgy in the Church’s life, especially the sacrament of the Eucharist, source and summit of the life and mission of the Church. (DC #81)

3. Forming for life in Christ [DC #83-85]

The catechetical task of educating the believer to the good life of the Gospel involves the Christian formation of the moral conscience, so that in every circumstance he may listen to the Father’s will in order to discern, under the guidance of the Spirit and in harmony with the Law of Christ, the evil to be avoided and the good to be done and putting this into practice with diligent charity. (DC #84)

4. Teaching prayer [DC #86-87]

Catechesis has the task of educating the believer for prayer and in prayer, developing the contemplative dimension of Christian experience. (DC #86)

When catechesis is permeated by a climate of prayer, the assimilation of the entire Christian life reaches its summit. (DC #86)

This task implies the teaching of both personal prayer and liturgical and community prayer, initiating the believer into the permanent forms of prayer: blessing and adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise. (DC #87)

5. Introduction to community life [DC #88-89]

Catechesis, in reference to preparation for community life, therefore has the task of belonging to the Church; teaching the sense of ecclesial communion, promoting the acceptance of the Magisterium, communion with pastors, fraternal dialogue; forming believers in the sense of ecclesial co-responsibility, contributing as active participants to building up the community and as missionary disciples to its growth. (DC #89)