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)