17 April 2023 · 2023-04 newsletter
As a catechist for the RCIA, I have found myself referring to the catechism more recently than ever before and I believe it’s because our elect and catechumens for a few years now have been predominantly schoolteachers. By contrast if I mention the Catechism at my Bible Study Group who are mainly in their mid-80’s their replies often centre around “What was wrong with the ‘Green Catechism’ we grew up with – it served us well enough?” Many older people I believe would say the same thing. They are scared of the new Catechism believing that it is far too complex for them to come to grips with.
This is a shame because in reading Pope John Paul’s comments in the introduction (page 3) I believe that this new Catechism is completely misunderstood. As he says, “The principal task entrusted to the Vatican Council was to guard and present better the precious deposit of Christian Doctrine in order to make it more accessible to the Christian faithful and to all people of good will”.
Pastors and the Christian faithful alike were given directives for a “renewal of thought, action, practices, and moral virtue, of joy and hope, which was the very purpose of the Council” (Paul VI, Discourse at the closing of the 2nd Vatican Council Dec 7th 1965). The Catechism is a reference text, arranged systematically to present, the teaching of sacred scripture; the living Tradition of the Church and the authentic Magisterium, as well as the spiritual heritage of the Fathers, Doctors, and saints of the Church to allow for a better knowledge of the Christian Mystery and for enlivening the faith of the people of God (page 3).
Throughout the introduction the Pope speaks of understanding the doctrinal value of the Catechism and this is where the largest misunderstanding lies because those whom I speak to about this new Catechism see it as a ’law book’ where everything in it is dogmatic. There is no understanding of Paragraph 314 of the Catechism which enlightens the problem a little, and it says:
“We firmly believe that God is master of the world and of its history. But the ways of providence are often unknown to us, Only at the end, when our partial knowledge ceases, when we see God ‘face to face’ (1 Cor:13:22) will we fully know the ways by which – even through the dramas of evil and sin – God has guided his creation to that definitive Sabbath rest (Gen 2:2) for which he created heaven and earth.”
Do you ever have questions about:
- Did the Father create heaven and earth or did the Trinity? Paragraph 316 answers this;
- Did God alone have any help creating the universe? Paragraph 317 answers this;
- Does Divine Providence have dispositions? See Paragraph 321.
The catechism in many ways is like a map. Today coming home, I set the car GPS system to guide us to Mudgee via Gulgong from Dubbo. My ‘doubting Thomas’ other half was doubtful we were going the right way. His doubt sent us off on a strange tour of outer north Dubbo till we came back to the point at which we started. His doubt was not satisfied until picking up and reading an actual paper map that showed that the original GPS knew which way it was going!
As an analogy that story shows how people need to view the catechism – like a paper map it can answer your questions about Angels, Baptism, Charisms, Death, Euthanasia, Freedom, Grace, Hope, Islam, Journalists, Knowledge, Law, Mary, Neighbours, Obedience, Poverty, Rites, Signs, Truth, Understanding, Vocation, and War. Note Q and Z have no categories. Simply put it is an ABC reference book that can keep you occupied and at the same time show you how much you don’t know and how much you do.
So as Pope John Paul states,
“Some in Christ are as newborn babes, others as adolescents, and others, adults in full command of their powers. Hopefully this is an example of suiting the words to the maturity and understanding of the hearers.”
Time to get referencing!
Angela
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