When we speak of catechesis, almost everyone associates the term with an activity of faith formation with children. However, 44 years ago the Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi tradendae (n. 43) defined adult catechesis as a “central problem” and the “principal form of catechesis”. This teaching was later confirmed and recalled in the Directory for Catechesis (n. 77).
St. John Paul II explained some of the reasons for this teaching:
“It is adults, in fact, fathers and mothers of families, once educated in the faith, who will give the first and fundamental religious instruction to their children in the intimacy of the “domestic church”; it is adults who can give a valid Christian witness to young people in the process of searching and maturing (Apostolicam actuositatem, 12); finally, it is they who, having discovered the validity of the Christian vocation rooted in baptism, will participate in the salvific mission of the Church, as precious active subjects (…. )” (John Paul II, VI Plenary Session of the International Council for Catechesis, 24-29. X.1988)
The faith of the charcoal burner
It has to be admitted that, after almost half a century, the teaching has taken relatively little root in the Catholic world. In practice, the vast majority of the faithful are content with what they learned as children or adolescents. Moreover, there are those who propose as the Christian ideal “the faith of the charcoal burner” – an expression so often repeated by Unamuno in the Agony of Christendom: the simple and firm faith of the simple of heart, the faith of those who do not demand proof or know about arguments.
In the present cultural context, it is urgent to pay attention to the phenomenon of “religious ignorance”. This is what Benedict XVI said in a meeting with the Swiss bishops in 2006:
“I believe that we must all commit ourselves seriously, as always, to a renewal of catechesis in which the courage to bear witness to one’s faith and to find suitable ways to make it understood and welcomed is fundamental, for religious ignorance has reached an appalling level [die religiöse Unwissenheit ist heute erschreckend groß geworden]. In Germany, however, children receive catechesis for at least ten years, so they should know a great deal. For this reason, of course, we must give serious thought to our ability to find ways of communicating knowledge, albeit in a simple way, so that the culture of faith is present”. (Address of Benedict XVI, 7 November 2006).
The fact mentioned by Pope Benedict is certainly cause for reflection: how is it possible that the faith situation in a country like Germany is as it is despite 10 years of catechesis for children? Is it possible to be content with the faith of the coalman, when ideologies and the secularising current are sweeping away so many unsuspecting Catholics?
Shifting the focus
It may be appropriate to direct the effort of renewal of catechesis towards the field of adult catechesis. Everyone should be aware that catechesis is addressed to mature people, just as it was mature people who received the teaching of Christ, the first catechist, directly from his lips. And this, for many reasons:
- Because only adults are “capable of fully responsible adherence” (ref. Directory for Catechesis, n. 77).
- Because the faith is transmitted in the family: neither the parish nor the school should assume a responsibility which is not theirs. It is proper to help parents to fulfil their task, without substituting for them (ref. Directory for Catechesis, n. 124), and to do so they need to be re-catechised.
- Because many received their religious formation as children, but adult life presents challenges and complex questions that require a deep and mature understanding of the faith.
- Because adult catechesis helps to contextualise faith in everyday life. By addressing relevant issues and contemporary challenges from a Christian perspective, adults can better integrate their faith into all areas of their lives, such as work, family and personal relationships.
- Because group formation fosters the building of strong faith communities. When adults share experiences, doubts and reflections, they strengthen their connection to the community and provide mutual support on their faith journey.
- Because it enables them to respond to contemporary challenges from a Christian perspective. Issues such as ethics, bioethics, social justice and others are to be discussed and analysed in the light of the fundamental principles of the Catholic faith.
- Because it strengthens the Catholic identity of adults. As they better understand the teachings of the Church, they can live their faith in a more conscious and committed way and contribute to Christian witness in society.
- Because facilitates greater participation and understanding of the liturgy and especially the Eucharist, which greatly enriches the spiritual experience and helps to overcome lukewarmness and mediocrity.
- Because the new evangelisation is inspired by the first evangelisation, in the times of catechumenal catechesis, when Christians were a minority in a hostile social environment and infant baptism was not widespread
Is this possible?
The reader of this article will surely wonder whether it is realistic to pose such a challenge, when interest in religion has fallen to minimal levels and, moreover, the pace of life has accelerated and seems to leave no time for anyone to take on more obligations.
The only battle that is lost before it is fought is the one that is not fought. As difficult as it may seem, I am convinced that many Catholics are ready to wake up, to learn more and to deepen the content of their faith.
The progress of educational sciences, the universal acceptance that education has become necessary “for life”, the opportunities offered by educational technologies, the stubborn realisation that the evangelisation of a society cannot be achieved if we only take care of children, and the reasons mentioned above are sufficient arguments to stimulate initiatives in this direction, as necessary for the Church to fulfil its mission as are the works of charity (care for the sick, the poor and the suffering).
Personally, I feel involved in the challenge of training catechists and educators (#BeCaT project) and parents (https://familiayfe.org). There are more and more activities along these lines. Hopefully, little by little, we will be able to change the usual perception of catechesis as something aimed at children. The first and foremost catechesis is for adults.
