Food for Thought

Catechesis aims to communicate the message of Christ, leading others toward Christ, the Father and Holy Spirit. "Every catechist should be able to app

Aug 31, 2017

The root of the word "catechesis" is "instruction by word of mouth" or "to resound." St. John Paul II wrote in the apostolic exhortation "Catechesi Tradendae" ("Catechesis in Our Time") that "at the heart of catechesis, we find, in essence, a person, the person of Jesus of Nazareth" (No. 5).

Catechesis aims to communicate the message of Christ, leading others toward Christ, the Father and Holy Spirit. "Every catechist should be able to apply to himself the mysterious words of Jesus: 'My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me,'" reads the Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 427).

The catechist's goal is foster others' relationship with Christ. "From this loving knowledge of Christ springs the desire to proclaim him, to 'evangelize,'" the catechism continues.

Speaking to the International Congress on Catechesis in 2013, Pope Francis said, "Catechesis is a vocation: 'Being a catechist,' this is the vocation, not working as a catechist ... because this is something that embraces our whole life."

Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis reminded the audience of catechists that "the church does not grow by proselytizing; she grows by attracting others."

Pope Francis instructed the catechists to "start anew" with Christ in three ways. "The first thing for a disciple is to be with the Master, to listen to him and to learn from him," he said.

The second way is the imitate Christ by going out and encountering others. And the third way, to "start anew" with Christ, "means not being afraid to go with him to the outskirts" and go beyond our comfort zone, Pope Francis said.