 In
1971, Pope Paul VI published the General
Catechetical Directory which provided a framework on which a
great deal of catechetical renewal was built. This directory reflected
all the work done to that point at the various study weeks and at the
Council. This
first general directory was enculturated in the United States by way of
a pastoral message issued by the US Catholic Bishops in 1972, called "To
Teach as Jesus Did," which provided impetus for much
growth in
catechesis in the United States.
In
1974, an international synod of bishops dealt in great depth
with the question of evangelization raised at Medellin,
but they did not publish any outcomes.
Instead, they encouraged Pope Paul VI to reflect on their findings
which he did,
publishing
an apostolic exhortation in 1975, Evangelii
Nuntiandi or, in English, On Evangelization in the Modern
World. It was received with tremendous grace by the Church. At the
time, it was certainly the most important document issued in the Church
since the close of Vatican II.
It is concise (only five chapters long),
vibrant, readable, and profound.
In
article four he posed his leading question: "At this turning point
of history, does the church or does she not find herself better equipped
to proclaim the Gospel and put it into people's hearts with conviction,
freedom of spirit and effectiveness?"
Notice
this question. It is a thoroughly modern concern, rooted in today’s
situation. It is challenging. It is Christocentric and focused on the
Gospel, the kerygma. And it is powerful: Do we have conviction? Is there
freedom of spirit? And, mainly, are we effective?
In
1977, a second international synod of bishops met in Rome with
catechesis as its focus, no doubt preparing to draw up that directory
which had been called for in article forty-four of the document on
bishops at the Council.
As
the synod ended, the bishops issued a message to the people of God
regarding their findings, and they also sent a set of resolutions to
Pope Paul VI. Two years later, in 1979, Paul John Paul II issued the
apostolic exhortation, Catechesi
Tradendae, or in English, On
Catechesis in Our Time.
This
exhortation laid the groundwork for a high level renewal of catechesis
in today’s church. It begins by reiterating what Paul VI had said
earlier, catechesis is Christocentric and it is rooted in tradition.
Evangelization is the overarching activity, and catechesis is one
dimension of that. The main sources, as directed by Vatican II’s Dei
Verbum, or in English, The
Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, are
Scripture and tradition. It also treats various practical aspects of
catechesis and concludes by saying, in essence, that catechesis
isn’t just for children; it’s
for everyone.
The
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults restored through documents
published in 1972 and 1988, has been a groundbreaking movement,
articulating ancient beliefs of the church about catechesis and becoming
a Christian which have had a profound impact on all catechesis
since. Catechesis, this movement reminds us, is
a process. It is not a program with an end to it, a graduation
ceremony. Baptism is not the end of the process of initiation, but a
landmark moment along the way.
And
likewise, the importance of The
Catechism of the Catholic Church in 1992 cannot be overstated.
It is a reliable summary of the content of the message of salvation, and
is to be used for any and all resources that are provided to the people
of God for formation and catechesis.
Then
in 1997, with the approval of Pope John Paul II, the General
Directory for Catechesis was published. Drawing on the wisdom
and spirit of all the work mentioned above, and much that is not
mentioned here for the sake of brevity, the GDC provides sound, workable
principles on which we can base our current work in catechesis. ...more
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