J
JOE_OBERR
Guest
As the CCC says the written word of God supports and nourishes the preached oral word of God. So 360 years before the Church defined the books of the bible as we have it today the Apostles began preaching the good news. This is why St Paul said faith comes by hearing and St John Paul II said faith is born of preaching. While being preached scripture can be used to nourish and support the particular teaching, e.g., when teaching the Eucharist scriptures from John 6 can be used and when teaching Baptism the various scriptural verses such as 1 Pet 3 can be used.
If I were tasked with teaching the faith, especially those not very knowledgeable, I would follow what the Popes teach and begin with the initial proclamation. That is, preach that God became man for our happiness and salvation. Our salvation is accomplished by His passion and death which fully and authentically liberates us from evil, sin and death. He came for our salvation which is liberation from sin or, in today’s language, to free us from our harmful/dangerous addictions which lead to misery, sickness, broken relationships and (often) premature death. When we are saved, i.e., freed from slavery to sin, we are then able to experience joy and happiness resulting from loving God and neighbor, something which is very difficult to do if one is not saved from the various addictions afflicting the human race. Again, scripture can be used to nourish and support this teaching. The angel told Joseph to name Him Jesus “…for he would save His people from their sins”. “He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed…”. “…even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Those enslaved to sin, miserable and unhappy were purchased or ransomed from this slavery by His passion and death.
After hearing this initial proclamation some may want to hear more and that is when catechesis comes into play. As the CCC states catechesis is an education in the faith in an organic and systematic manner. Unless it is done this way very little in the understanding of the faith will make sense. The liberation from sin/addiction and resulting happiness by loving God and neighbor must be presented organically and systematically or else the Gospel will not make sense and one will not be strongly inclined to repent and be saved from his addictions.
The best way to catechize those interested in the faith or those already in the Church is to use the written summary of the oral word of God, either the Roman Catechism or preferably the CCC as it is newer. It has many references to scripture to support and nourish its teachings. It explains all of Jesus’ teachings, not only the few found in scripture, while also assisting in getting to know the person of Jesus better through both the catechism and scripture. But since the CCC is so big and many would feel overwhelmed by its size I would strongly suggest the use of the CCC’s Compendium. This publication is also without error as Pope Benedict XVI described it as “a faithful and sure synthesis of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.”, and it “contains, in concise form, all the essential and fundamental elements of the Church’s faith.” In other words it presents the Gospel which is the Catholic Faith in all its purity but simply in a shorter version. I would use the Compendium as primary and the Roman and CCC catechisms for support.
By using documents approved by the Popes one is sure of faithfully presenting the teachings of Jesus as He speaks through Peter, regardless of the age.
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