杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

杏MAP导航 Francis called on catechists to 鈥減ray and think creatively about a catechesis centred on the kerygma, which looks to the future of our communities, so that they may be ever more rooted in the Gospel, communities that are fraternal, and inclusive.鈥�

The Holy Father was speaking to members of the National Catechetical Office of the Italian Bishops鈥� Conference (CEI). The Office, founded in 1961, this year celebrates the 60th anniversary of its foundation. 鈥淭his anniversary is a precious occasion for remembering, giving thanks for gifts received, and renewing the spirit of proclamation,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, before offering several points of reflection 鈥渢hat I hope will help you in your work鈥� in the coming years.

Catechesis and kerygma

First, 杏MAP导航 Francis emphasized the relationship between catechesis and kerygma, the proclamation of the Word of God. 鈥淐atechesis,鈥� he said, 鈥渋s the echo of the Word of God.鈥�

At the heart of the kerygma is a Person, Jesus Christ; catechesis, therefore, 鈥渋s a privileged space for a personal encounter with Him.鈥� And so, the 杏MAP导航 said, catechesis 鈥渕ust be interwoven with personal relationships.鈥� Catechists are witnesses who have themselves encountered Jesus, and wish to lead others to encounter Him. 杏MAP导航 Francis emphasized, too, that catechesis must be given in the language of the people, 鈥渋n dialect, that is the language that comes from the heart.鈥�

To do so, he said, we must remember elements of catechesis that are most needed today: expressing God鈥檚 saving love, appealing to freedom, marked by joy. Similarly, this demands 鈥渃ertain attitudes鈥� on the part of catechists, including approachability, openness to dialogue, patience, warmth, and welcome.  

Catechesis and the future

The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 second point had to do with catechesis and the future. In 2020, the church in Italy marked the 50th anniversary of the 鈥渞enewal of catechesis鈥� following the Second Vatican Council. 鈥淭he catechesis inspired by the Council,鈥� said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渋s continually listening to the heart of the man, always with an attentive ear, always seeking to renew itself.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis insisted: 鈥淭his is the Magisterium. The Council is the Magisterium of the Church. Either you are with the Church and therefore you follow the Council, and if you don't follow the Council or you interpret it in your own away, as you desire, you do not stand with the Church.鈥� He asked that there be "no concessions to those who seek to present a catechesis that does not agree with the Magisterium of the Church.鈥�

As in the post-conciliar period, so also today the Church is called to read 鈥渢he signs of the times," 鈥渢o offer a renewed catechesis that inspires every sphere of pastoral care.鈥� Catechesis 鈥渋s thus an extraordinary adventure,鈥� the 鈥渧anguard of the Church,鈥� which calls for 鈥渋ntelligence and courage to develop up-to-date tools that can transmit the richness and joy of the kerygma to people today.鈥�

Catechesis and community

Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis noted the importance of belonging to a community, especially in a year marked by isolation and a sense of loneliness. Community, he said, 鈥渋s not an agglomeration of individuals, but the family into which we are integrated, the place where we take care of each other.鈥�

Catechesis, therefore, and the proclamation of the kerygma, must have this communal dimension at its heart, the 杏MAP导航 said. He emphasized once more his desire that the Church be especially close to 鈥渢he abandoned, the forgotten, the imperfect.鈥� It is time, he said, 鈥渇or communities that, like the Good Samaritan, know how to draw near to those wounded by life, to bind up their wounds with compassion.鈥�