“Let the bishop… exert even greater care and diligence…”

Aug 16, 2024

Echoing the Faith - Dr Steven Selvaraju
In the previous article, I examined briefly the role of the bishop in catechesis, from the period of the early Church to the Protestant Reformation. What is clear is that regardless of the changes in the ministry of catechesis, two key functions of the bishop become more evident, namely, the bishop as teacher and guardian of the Faith. In this article, I will discuss the development of the role of the bishop in catechesis, from the First Vatican Council to the early 20th century, in particular, as described in the documents, Acerbo Nimis and Provido sane concilio.

First Vatican Council (1869 – 1870)
Between the 16th to 19th centuries, the Catholic Faith began to spread to Asia, Africa and Latin America. As a result, there was a need for catechisms to teach the Faith to the people in the mission lands. Individuals and religious congregations, missionary groups and theological schools, began to produce their own catechisms. Many were translated into the local languages. In addition, catechisms were also written by catechetical experts on the orders of bishops for their dioceses. This led to a large and varied number of catechisms in the Church.

Concerned that the different versions of catechism may confuse the faithful, many bishops who gathered at the First Vatican Council expressed the need for a universal catechism. They argued that Catholics were confused about the Faith since there were too many catechisms. A uniform text would overcome the increasing ignorance and indifference among the people.

Some bishops, however, were not agreeable to the introduction of a universal catechism, since a single catechism would not be able to take into consideration the diverse pastoral needs in the local churches. Others thought that a universal catechism would take away the right of the bishop to produce his own catechism or that it would confuse the people who were used to the existing catechisms.

After much discussion, the Council decided that a universal catechism should be produced. With the approval of Pope Pius IX, a new catechism was to be written and translated into different vernacular languages, with the approval of the local bishops. However, work on the catechism was put on hold when the Council ended abruptly due to the Franco- Prussian war. After the Council, attempts were made to revive the preparation of a universal catechism but it did not materialise.

Acerbo Nimis (1905)
An important event in the modern history of catechetics was the publication of the encyclical Acerbo Nimis (Handing on the Christian Doctrine) on April 15, 1905. In this document Pope Pius X attributes, the religious crisis in the Church to the “widespread ignorance of Divine truth” and lays down strict regulations concerning the duty of catechising. In addressing the bishops, the Pope reminded them of their responsibility for catechesis. These include:

1. On every Sunday and holy day, with no exception, throughout the year, all parish priests and all those having the care of souls, “shall instruct the boys and girls, for the space of an hour from the text of the Catechism on those things they must believe and do to attain salvation.”

2. At certain times throughout the year, they shall prepare boys and girls to receive properly the Sacraments of Penance and Confirmation…”

3. In every parish, the society known as the ‘Confraternity of Christian Doctrine’ is to be established. Through this Confraternity, the pastors, especially in places where there is a scarcity of priests, will have lay helpers in the teaching of the Catechism, who will take up the work of imparting knowledge both from a zeal for the glory of God...”

4. Since adults also require instructions in the faith, all pastors and those having the care of souls “shall explain the Catechism to the people in a plain and simple style adapted to the intelligence of their hearers.”

The Pope concludes the document by pointing out to the bishop that:

“You have no doubt accomplished many useful and praiseworthy works in your respective dioceses for the good of the flock entrusted to your care, but before all else, and with all possible zeal and diligence and care, see to it and urge on others that the knowledge of Christian doctrine pervades and imbues fully and deeply the minds of all”.

Provido sane concilio (1935)
About thirty years later, the document on catechesis entitled Provido sane Consilio (On the Better Care and Promotion of Catechetical Education) was published by the Catechetical Office of the Holy See, at the directive of Pope Pius XI in January, 1935. It highlights the responsibility of bishops as follows:

“In the first place, let the bishop, mindful of the duty and office entrusted to them, exert even greater care and diligence than theretofore has been their custom, to encourage greater efforts and labour to spread catechetical instruction.”

Among the responsibilities of the bishop, the following are included:

1. To ensure that the “food of Christian doctrine be given to the faithful, especially to the children and the uninstructed, and that the schools and education of children and youth be carried out according to the principles of the Catholic religion.”

2. To legislate in his diocese in all matters that pertain to the instruction of people in Christian doctrine. The bishop should consider “what preparations are to be made, what laws should be laid down for this most important and necessary work, and by what means he can most easily and effectively carry out his plans in this matter”.

3. If possible, to set up a diocesan catechetical office, which under their supervision will direct all catechetical education in the diocese.

Conclusion
In this article, the role of the bishop in the development of catechesis in the Church from the First Vatican Council up to the early 20th centuries was briefly examined. It is evident that as new developments take place in the Church and in the world, the role of the bishop in catechesis also means new and added responsibilities and tasks. In the next article, I will examine the role of the bishop in catechesis from the Second Vatican Council onwards.

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The key ideas of the article are presented in simple illustrated format below. The illustrations and text are by Dr Steven Selvaraju. 



(Dr Steven Selvaraju, STD, STL, holds a Doctorate in Theology with Specialisation in Catechetics and Youth Ministry from Pontifical Salesian University, Rome. He serves as Director of the Archdiocesan Catechetical Centre, Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.)