Catechetical Sunday:
teaching the faith

The light of faith
During the Baptismal Liturgy, the celebrant hands a candle to a parent or godparent and says: “Receive the light of Christ.” He then goes on to say: “Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ. He (she) is to walk always as a child of the light. May he (she) keep the flame of faith alive in his (her) heart. When the Lord comes, may he (she) go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom” (Rite of Baptism for Children).

This is a marvelous summary of the responsibility which is undertaken, especially on the part of the parents, on the day of their child’s Baptism into Christ. Just as they are given the privilege of sharing in God’s work of creation when they conceive a child, they are also called to share in the privilege of transmitting to their child the gift of supernatural life and eternal salvation by bringing their child to receive the first of all the Sacraments. The giving over of the lighted candle recalls the words of Jesus: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Jesus enlightened the world by His teaching and warmed it by His perfect charity but He also told us that, having heard and professed our faith in Him, we too are to be as a light in the world. “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16). Children cannot know what this relationship with Christ involves unless they are taught what it means to be His follower.

The reception of the grace of Baptism is the first step in what is meant to be a personal relationship with Jesus. This is one of the reasons why the celebrant of Baptism repeats the name of the child to be baptized over and over again during the Baptismal Liturgy. Just as a name is a very personal thing and just as loving parents look upon their child and never tire of repeating his or her name, so in this sacrament by which the child begins a personal relationship with Jesus, who has loved this child from all eternity, the child’s name is repeated over and over again. If this relationship is to grow, the child must be taught what responsibilities and privileges were assumed for him or her on that day of Baptism. From the first moment of the child’s earthly life, loving parents are concerned with the physical health of the child. Many tests are now taken even before the child’s birth and, in our own city of Philadelphia, as well as in other parts of the country, there are marvelous hospitals that care for the special needs of infants and children. In the midst of this wonderful manifestation of love for the physical well-being of a child, parents are also called to fulfill their responsibilities for the spiritual well-being of their child. It is only in this way that these children will be able to fulfill the responsibilities their parents and godparents assumed for them on the day of their Baptism.

Brought up in the faith
We have recently begun a new school year. Parents are rightfully concerned about the quality of education their children receive. To this end, we frequently see the results of studies which seek to monitor the quality of education children are given. In addition to paying the general school taxes for public schools, many parents make additional sacrifices in order to send their children to private schools. Of course, we know the great sacrifices made by parents and parishes to support our own Catholic schools.

The “marketing” of schools and school systems has become a reality today because parents want to be assured of the quality of the facilities, the qualifications of the teachers and the amenities of the school buildings to which they will send their children. All of this is praiseworthy. However, it must not be forgotten that just as children must be properly educated according to the needs of the mind and the body, they must also be brought up in the faith. That same energy that goes into providing for the body and mind of the child must also go into the bringing up of the child in the faith of Christ into which he or she has been baptized. Just as children are gradually introduced into their surroundings and their responsibilities in life, we are also called to present to them gradually the Person of Jesus Christ: His great promises, the reality of the supernatural life of grace, His consoling and challenging teachings and His promise of eternal life to those who love and follow Him. The Baptismal Liturgy, which we cited above, references this again during the Blessing given to the father of the newly baptized child. After referring to the parents as the “first teachers of their child in the ways of faith,” the prayer continues that “they may also be the best of teachers.” Just as the physical and intellectual care of a child is serious and sometimes almost frightening, so the responsibilities of the Christian parent in the spiritual formation of the child must be viewed in the same manner. “To be brought up in the faith" is an inestimable blessing for the child and a grave responsibility for that child’s parents.

Systematic catechesis
Every age has its own difficulties and challenges. One of the dangers of our age is that of reducing religion to a mere sentiment or fulfillment of an inner need. This becomes destructive of God’s Revelation to us, which is the sharing with us of the truth about Himself. The receiving of and responding to God’s truth by means of a true relationship with Him is sometimes replaced by mere sentiment or feeling, which requires little response or, if it does require a response, it is erratic and disjointed. This is one of the reasons why the proper catechetical formation of children and young people is so very important. In this manner, the truths revealed to us by a loving God will be opened to them in a gradual and orderly manner, showing them that these truths make up a marvelous unity of revelation which calls for a confident response in faith.

This is why the Church has always insisted on what is called a systematic catechesis: the presentation in a systematic and orderly way of the truth of God’s Revelation to us. If we respond to this in faith and love it will also result in our fulfilling God’s expectations by our leading a good Christian life. In 1979, Pope John Paul II published an Apostolic Exhortation which took up the theme of catechetics that had been addressed in a 1977 Synod of Bishops. The late Pope Paul VI had entrusted this theme to the Synod as a means of highlighting the importance of sound and complete Christian instruction. Pope John Paul II took the observations of the Synod, along with those of Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul I, who was himself a great catechist, and reflected upon them in this exhortation. Speaking of the need for a systematic presentation of the truths of the faith, the Holy Father wrote: “In his closing speech at the fourth general assembly of the synod, Pope Paul VI rejoiced ‘to see how everyone drew attention to the absolute need for systematic catechesis, precisely because it is this reflective study of the Christian mystery that fundamentally distinguishes catechesis from all other ways of presenting the word of God.’ In view of practical difficulties, attention must be drawn to some of the characteristics of this instruction:

It must be systematic, not improvised but programmed to reach a precise goal.

It must deal with essentials, without any claim to tackle all disputed questions.

It must be sufficiently complete, not stopping short at the initial proclamation of Christ.

It must be an integral Christian initiation, open to all the other factors of Christian life” (Catechesi Tradendae, 21).

Preparing children and young people to receive the truth
Jesus tells us: “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). The ability to know God as He is and things as they are is a great gift that we have received from our Creator. Because of the reason and intelligence we have been created with, we are able to know reality through our experiences. Through God’s Revelation to us, especially in Jesus Christ, we are able to know God as He is. A basic element of catechesis, especially catechesis of the young is transmitting the truth to them. This truth will only help them in their lives and will prepare them to live lives filled with hope and clear direction and not a rudderless life of confusion. Very recently, during our Holy Father’s pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine of Mariazell in Austria, he addressed this question, so important for us in today’s society. He said: “Our faith is decisively opposed to the attitude of resignation that considers man incapable of truth — as if it were more than he could cope with. This attitude of resignation with regard to truth lies at the heart of the crisis of the West. If truth does not exist for man, then neither can he ultimately distinguish between good and evil” (Homily, September 8, 2007).

In catechizing their baptized child by bringing that child up in the faith, both at home and through properly organized religious education programs, parents are not only fulfilling a responsibility. They are transmitting to their children the tools for a clearly directed, joy-filled life as opposed to a life of confusion and lack of direction. The peace that Jesus promises us, even in this life, is linked to our knowledge of Him. What a marvelous heritage for parents to pass on to their children! Thank you, dear faithful parents and thank you, faithful teachers and catechists for fulfilling this glorious mission.

September 13, 2007