tmpDaCD8Z the Catechism of the Catholic Church
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What is catechism? A catechism (pron.: /ˈkætəkɪzəm/; Ancient Greek: κατηχισμός from kata = "down" + echein = "to sound", literally "to sound down" (into the ears)), is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present. What is Catechesis? Catechesis [/ˌkætəˈkiːsɪs/ —WP] is an education in the faith of children, young people and adults which includes especially the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted, generally speaking, in an organic and systematic way, with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life. Who is a Catechist? A catechist is one who engages in such religious instruction. Typically, it is a lay minister trained in the art of catechesis. It might also be a pastor or priest, religious teacher, or other individuals in church roles (including a deacon, religious brother or sister, or nun). METHODS OF CATECHESIS I. INTRODUCTION I have been assigned the topic of “Methods of Catechesis”. After the historical overview of the catechumate and of catechism throughout the life of the Holy Church, which we have already been given, I do not wish to deal with the question of how catechesis was done in the past. Rather, I would like to consider with you, my brothers, the question of how we can be doing catechetical instruction today.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH One of the things that I insist upon with catechumens in our parish is that they be faithful in attending the services of the Church.
LEX ORANDI LES EST CREDENDI – ‘THE LAW OF PRAYER IS THE LAW OF FAITH” To my mind, this is the paramount method of teaching. There is no better way to learn the faith of the Holy Church than to listen attentively to the hymns and prayers of Her Divine Services. This absolutely crucial means of catechesis is equally important for our faithful as it is for those preparing for reception into the Church.
Methods 1. STICHERON FROM “BIRTH OF THE THEOTOKOS”: “Today God who rests upon the spiritual thrones has made ready for Himself a holy throne upon earth. He who made firm the heavens in His wisdom has prepared a living heaven in His love for man. (Virgin Mary as the abode of God) For from a barren root He has made a life-giving branch spring up (Barrenness of Joachim and Anne – miraculous conception of Theotokos) for us, even His mother. God of wonders and hope of the hopeless, glory be to Thee, O Lord.”
2. APOSTICHON FROM “EXALTATION OF THE CROSS”: “Hail! Cross of the Lord: through thee mankind has been delivered from the curse (atonement). Shattering the enemy by thine exaltation, O Cross all-venerable, thou art a sign of true joy. Thou art our help, thou art the strength of kings, the power of righteous men, the majesty of priests. All who sign themselves with thee are freed from peril. (teaching about the value of the sign of the Cross). Thou art a rod of strength under which we like sheep are tended, thou art a weapon of peace round which the angels stand in fear. Thou art the divine glory of Christ, who grants the world great mercy.”
3. STICHERON FROM NATIVITY OF OUR LORD: “Come, let us greatly rejoice in the Lord as we tell of this present mystery. The middle wall of partition has been destroyed, the flaming sword turns back, the cherubim withdraw from the tree of life, and I partake of the delight of paradise from which I was cast out through disobedience. (The Incarnation reverses the curses of the fall). For the express image of the Father, the imprint of His eternity, takes the
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form of a servant and without undergoing change He comes forth from a mother who knew not wedlock. For what He was, He has remained, true God: and what He was not, He has taken upon Himself, becoming man through love for mankind. Unto Him let us cry aloud:
“God born of a virgin, have mercy upon us.” 4. APOSTICHON FROM TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD: “David the ancestor of God, foreseeing in spirit from afar the sojourn with men of the Only-begotten Son in the flesh, called the Creation together to rejoice with him, and prophetically lifted up his voice to cry: “Tabor and Herman shall rejoice in Thy name.” For having gone up, O Christ, with thy disciples into Mount Tabor, You were transfigured, and hast made the nature that had grown dark in Adam to shine again as lightning, transforming it into the glory and splendor of Your own divinity. (The reality of the deification of our humanity in Christ). Therefore, we cry aloud unto Thee: “O Lord, and Creator of all things, glory to Thee.”
5. GUIDED FORMAL TRAINING THE CLASSROOM WITHIN THE CHURCH “Contemplate therefore the Bread and Wine not as base elements, for they are, according to the Lord’s declaration, the Body and Blood of Christ; for though sense suggests this to thee, let faith establish thee. Judge not the matter from taste, but from faith is fully assured without misgiving, that thou has been vouchsafed the Body and Blood of Christ.” (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, on the Sacraments, pp. 68-69)
6. GUIDED INDEPENDENT STUDY Through the use of books and other writings. It is good that the catechumens begin to read some of the writings of the Fathers of the Church and some of the collections of the Lives of the Saints.
ST. EPHREM THE SYRIAN: “Blessed is he who plants in his soul good plants, that is, the virtues and the lives of the saints.” AGAPIOS LANPROS OF MT. ATHOS: “A person is touched more profoundly and benefits more by reading one beautiful life of a saint than by discourses and philosophies.” I recommend THE PROLOGUE OF OCHRID in this regard – in particular so that the catechumen can discover a patron saint with whom he/she specially relates.
CONCLUSION I believe a combination of these three methods of teaching Catechism is best: 1.
Attendance at the services of the Church.
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Attention paid to the hymns and prayers. Lectures – Formal Training Guided study of books and other writings, including basic
3. 4.
theological writings and the Lives of the Saints.
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