1

9-1-2006
Read:
St Patricks Summer
Dei Verbum
do questionnaire
Catechesis: whatd they say?
Matt 28:16-20 the Great Commission; go make disciples of all the nations; the Church
passes on the Deposit of Faith
1 Corinthians 12:27 first apostles, second prophets, third teachers
James 3:1 not many should become teachers; we will be judged more strictly (because
of our added responsibility of those we teach)
Matt 18:6 whoever causes one of these to sin, it would be better to be cast into the sea
w/a millstone
Eternity is at stake!
Catechesis: katechein: to echo or pass down; we got it from Greek; Acts 18:25 and Gal
6:6 instruction in the Way
Catechesi Tradendae
Catechetics: the science, skill, or discipline related to handing on the Faith
Catechetical: of or having to do with Catechesis
Catechist: one who hands on the Faith
Catechism: an instrument of torture for catechetics students... no, its an instrument
used for handing on the Faith
Catechumen: one to whom the Faith is being handed on; specifically, one who is unbaptized and is preparing for baptism; one who is already validly baptized and is preparing to become Catholic is not a Catechumen, but is a candidate for completion of
initiation, such as Confirmandi; a la RCIA
Catecumenate: process or institution by which catechumens are prepared for the
Sacraments of Initiation (RCIA)
9-4-2006
next time:
Dei Verbum quiz questions 27-50
St Patrick Ch 3
Catechumenal Process: a model for catechizing within which all catechetical teaching
should take place; It is a pastoral process, a liturgical process, and a catechetical
process (the content of the Deposit of Faith is delivered in an organic way)
One of the weaknesses of this program is the lack of field experience, and the lack of
catechesis opportunities for small children. There is an internship available (CAT
400). Ask Candice? Suzanne Louis (Lewis?) is the coordinator
Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation: Dei Verbum Vatican Council 2: 1962-1965,
Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI (also Bishop Carol Wojtyla); Liturgy: Sacrosanctum Concilium; Church in Modern World Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope); Church Lumen Gentium

9-8-2006
History of Catechesis: questions we should consider on behalf of our students
1. Why does this matter to me?
2. What does it have to do with catechesis today?
in the begginig, there was fish...
beginning of catechesis: Revelation: Mediator and Fullness: Jesus, first catechist
of the Catholic Church; before He left, He left some instructions for His apostles (MT 28:16-20, the Great Commission)
Guard the Deposit: the job of the Church throughout history
Apostolic Succession: 1 Timothy 6:20, 2 Timothy 1:6
Age of the Martyrs: what does it have to do with us today? What do the martyrs confront
in todays culture? INDIFFERENCE. Martyrs were accused of many things, but indifference was not one of them.
Catechumenate of the Fathers
313: Edict of Milan; really good news, but it brought with it some difficulties.
9-11-2006
Forgot the reading log. In fact, I havent read at all this week.
The Edict of Milan
Dark Ages; result from the secular events surrounding the collapse of the Roman Empire
Faith preserved through:
Monasteries in the European wilderness
Families
Mendicants
St Francis, Franciscans
St Dominic, Dominicans
given to begging
Scholastics
University
St Thomas Aquinas
St Bonaventure
Passed on the Faith through a focus on the union of faith and reason
Protestant Reformation
Sola Scriptura - Scripture alone
Sola Fides - Faith alone
Political expediency: German princes wanted to be independent of Rome
Counter (Catholic) Reformation
St Ignatius of Loyola (Jesuits, or SJ)
Theresa of Avila
Borromeo SJ
Canisius SJ
Cardinal Robert Bellarmine
Francis Xavier
Enlightenment
social troubles of the time were not properly addressed by the Church

Atheistic philosophy, Rationalism

often associated with the American and French Revolutions
this era also eventually gave rise to communism
Nineteenth Century
Vatican I
critical methods Biblical scholarship
20th century
Pope St Pius X: great battle with modernism
1914 WWI
1917 Russia, Ireland, Fatima
1929 Depression, crash, Black Thursday
33 Hitler
39 WWII; Holocaust; Communism
1950 Assumption
1962 Vatican 2
Modernism resurfaces
Gabriel Moran - denying Revelation as we know it
Thomas Groome - attacks traditional methodology of the Church, replaces
with Faith sharing
1968 Encyclical by Pope Paul VI: Humanae Vitae
prohibition of artificial means of contraception
not well received, because:
sexual revolution
vietnam
race riots
there was an aura of revolt about the country
Charles Curran - CUA - Catholic Univ. of America
Msgr. Eugene Kevane - support of the Church cost him his job
1970 - est. Notre Dame Catechetical Institute in northern VA
Fr. Michael Scalan at College of Steubenville
1980 - Sr. Johanna studies under Kevane
1990 - Barbara Morgan to NDI
1993 - Morgan invited to FUS to establish a Catechetics program
1995 - former jet pilot and mech. engineer studies under Morgan, then gets sent
off to Peoria
2000 - Sr Johanna comes from Peoria to attend to the needs of growing number
of Cat students
2002 - CAT becomes its own major
2004 - Bolster
2006 - us?
9-13-2006
Msgr. Eugene Kevane
Love of Wisdom
Jesus the Divine Teacher
et al

Feast of St. John Chrysostom, golden-mouthed

grading questionnaire today (Teaching the Catholic Faith Today, Introduction)
CCD - Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
PSR - Parish School of Religion
Catholic School
9-15-2006
On Catechesis in Our Time CT 1-20
Catechesi Tradendae JP2 1979
9-18-2006
On Catechesis in our Time (Catechesi Tradendae) 1979 JP2
1. What is Christocentricity?
GDC 98 (CT 5) fundamental task
CT 5 definitive aim of Catechesis
CT 6 teacher & taught
GDC 53 conversion to Jesus
Sheed - an influence on St. Patricks Summer; indispensable minimum: devotion
to Jesus Christ: THIS IS WHAT WILL MATTER! how many did you lead to
Him in your Catechesis career?
Prologue of CCC
1 Cor 2:2 Jesus Christ Crucified
2. How do we make our catechesis Christocentric?
What does this have to do with Jesus?
If its not clear to you, its not gonna be clear to your students.
five-page paper (at least 5, no more than six) due a week from Wednesday
questions to answer:
what is Christocentricity?
quoted sparingly, cited heavily
may be relatively informal
dont need works cited, cuz we know what docs to cite
this will demonstrate that we can articulate a fundamental aspect of catechesis
(bulk of grade)
what does the Church say about it?
why does this matter?
how do I make my teaching Christocentric?
What do the dinosaurs have to do with Jesus?
In short, they are the gasoline we expended to come here to learn about Jesus.
9-20-2006
3. Jesus is the Teacher and the Taught
ideally, He teaches through us, about who He is
we teach on His behalf
we teach Jesus, and everything in reference to Him
introduce them to the One Teacher
4. Relationship with Christ is necessary for a Christocentric Catechesis (CT 9)

If youre going to introduce them to the One Teacher, youd do well to know Him
yourself
GDC 142: teachers must be disciples
9-22-2006
Aims of Catechesis
Catechesi Tradendae 1979 JP2
CT 1: Catechesis is one of the Churchs primary tasks
and so is making disciples (CT 1)
CT 4 Mystery of Christ in the World
CT 5 Primary and essential object (more Scripture!)
Mystery: God can be known with certainty through the natural order in the light of
human reason
There are other things (Revelation) which we could not know without His having
told us
It makes sense
We can understand it, but not fully
What we teach is what Christ taught; if we cannot teach Mystery to the satisfaction of our students, the fault is with us, not with Christs teaching.
Communicating the Person of Jesus Christ is our primary task as Catechists.
Jerusalem Bible: Church is the Dispenser of the Mysteries
on a gumball machine: Mysteries: 1
Col 1:26-27: Christ in you
Aims of Catechesis: CT 20: The aims of catechesis include developing an understanding of the Mystery of Christ in light of Gods Word
He lives within us, and thus He changes us
We teach for conversion
9-25-2006
Fri CT 35-55
CT 21: need for systematic catechesis
CT 22: orthopraxis and orthodoxy: practice and belief
Systematic Catechesis is the solution to many of the failings in catechesis today, esp. in
the high school classroom
CT 32c: an ecumenical element is expected in your catechesis, but only with a very delicate balance; it must never mean a reduction to a minimum
9-29-2006
Monday: GDC 1-33; St Patrick 14
Wednesday: CT 56-73; St Patrick 15
Hell in engineering terms: T & P increase until all hell breaks loose; or, T & P decrease
until hell freezes over
Catechesis of adults is the primary age group
How are we going to catechize adults?

Catholic adults are in dire need of being catechized on a great many topics concerning
the Faith
10-2-2006
GDC dated 1997; 97 was a good year in the Bolster family
Catechetical institutes
Promulgator is Congregation for the Clergy
Why would they promulgate something of this sort? The clergy have primary responsibility for the catechetical work; we represent the clergy when we teach in the name
of Jesus and his Church
GDC was revision of the General Catechetical Directory, 1971.
National Directory for Catechesis, 2005; revision of National Catechetical Directory,
1977 (Sharing the Light of Faith)
National directories follow their universal counterparts
By nature, a catechetical work must be adapted to its audience
Confer Directory to Catechism
CCC: a statement that answers the What of catechesis: content
GDC: the How of catechesis: method, addresses and discusses the audience, addresses and discusses the catechist
GDC 120: the two are distinct but complimentary instruments
basic principles of pastoral theology; methodological norm for the application of
the teaching
71-97: Why a revision?
1. Inculturation: a very fine Balance; GDC 202-214
2. Catechism had been promulgated; GDC 121ff
3. Evangelization: Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, 1975
Audience for catechesis is usually also in need of evangelization
GDC 60ff
4. Catechumenal model: restoration of the ancient catechumenate, RCIA 1972 GDC 88ff
reflection on this by the Church recognizes that, because of the culture, all
catechesis must be conducted within a catechumenal model
5. Formation of Catechists (233ff)
needs to consider as its primary task the preparation and formation of catechists
6. Correction of errors - address challenges which the Church encounters in the
field and a gentle correction of those errors
10-4-2006
GDC 33; CT 73
St. Patricks Summer paper due Oct 20th, if you so choose to write. Otherwise, Yes or
No? on Dec 1.
Perfect Joy: Little Flowers of St Francis
CT: I didnt read it, and could not have, if I had remembered.

For each class gives me so much work to do that when I try to do it, I am left with no
time to do that of any of the others, let alone itself.
Theology is an invention by those who no longer believe in order to teach what they no
longer believe and still remain employed by the Church. - Bolsters pastor
CT 69 We must provide a moral structure without forcing it upon our students
We are not merely a group of people who share common theological questions, but we
have the same answers, too!
Bishops as primary catechists
It is true that catechesis can be given anywhere, but I wish to stress, in accordance with
the desire of very many Bishops, that the parish community must continue to be the
prime mover and pre- eminent place for catechesis.
Living, pliant instrument of the Holy Spirit
10-6-2006
Sr. Johanna is lecturing in Prof. Bolsters stead today.
Why is Revelation so important? Catechetics transmits Revelation; we hand on Gods
Revelation
Gabriel Moran - Doctoral dissertation at Catholic U;Theology of Revelation, then Catechesis of Revelation; he said that Revelation comes from the Christian community.
He had a very low Christology (His divinity)
If you dont pay attention to the humanity of Christ, you become a docetist (docetism
was an early heresy)
Groom has a low Christology as well; he is an Arian
Read Dei Verbum every three months or so
Tradition came before Scripture: not all doctrine is contained in Scripture, but all doctrine is contained in Tradition
Life, Teaching, Worship: Tradition is handed on through these
Do you get this point, that Revelation is really, really important?
Gods plan of revealing Himself in Love
Modernism: the synthesis of all heresies - Pius X, Condemning the Errors of Modernism
GDC 36
They [the press] would rather have you going out for blood [as opposed to forgiving].
Are you ready for the responsibility of this major and line of work? Examine your conscience! - Sr. Johanna
10-9-2006
Evangelization and Catechesis
1. What is evangelization? EN says: bringing the Gospel to all of humanity - you Good
News them;
Galatians - how quickly youve abandoned the Gospel that has been proclaimed
to you! GDC 48 - the process by which the Church spreads the Gospel

throughout the world; EN 14 - evangelization is Her deepest identity; Acts 2 Peter at Pentecost
A forceful first proclamation (GDC 51)
2. Aspects of Evangelization
GDC 48
- Charity
- Witness
- Proclaims the Gospel explicitly
- Initiates
- Nourishes communion
- Arouses mission
3. Stages/components/moments
Pre-evangelization
establishing a relationship
meeting them where they are
Evangelization Proper
primary proclamation - get them to make a decision/commit themselves
wholesome shock
Catechesis Proper
Instruction in the Way
4. Catechesis as a moment in the process of evangelization GDC 63, CT 18-19, specifically in 19: the twofold objective of catechesis proper is 1. maturing in an initial faith,
and 2. educating the disciple
5. Evangelization and Catechesis
GDC 62 - ensure conversion
Catechesis proper - presumes that conversion has begun
10-11-2006
Next week: GDC 92-118; GDC 119-136; FD (Fidei Depositum) in CCC
Theology & Catechetics
1. Catechetics is a teaching discipline
grossly oversimplified...
a. Theology is the study of the things of God
b. Catechetics is the teaching of the things of God
Catechetics is the discipline related to teaching the faith
We will correct the erroneous perception that Catechetics is dumbed-down theology
Not a step down: it is a different discipline
Catechesis is for all, theology is for some
CT 14: Catechetics is a right of all baptized persons; GDC 74, 167
CT 45: Nobody excused
2. Catechetics deals with precise limits of deposit
The Benign Plurality

a determining factor in whether to include something in our classroom discussions is, will this bring them to want to know and love the One who instituted
this?
Some theologians say...
Theology on our knees: is it a theology we can pray?
Teach doctrine, not theology
use Catechism as guide
if its not in the CCC...
GDC 68 essential: not what is disputable within the Church
GDC 124 CCC as guide
CT 61
3. Method: Catechesis is in plain talk, but the language still needs to be precise
CT 59
4. Purpose: Catechesis aims to make salvation possible
dealing in grace = we teach for conversion
Apologetics
Defending the Faith - 1 Peter 3:15
Christian Apologetics
Kreeft Yes or No?
CS Lewis Mere Christianity
More than a Carpenter Josh McDowell
Catholic Apologetics
What Catholics Really Believe Keating
Dr. Shreck Catholic and Christian
10-16-2006
St Margaret Mary Alacoque, Visitation Sister; and St Hedwig
The methods for teaching Jesus
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Jn 19: 31-37 - anagogical typology - looking toward what is to come
from the side of Adam, God took the rib into which He made Adams spouse
from the side of the New Adam, the blood and water flow out on the cross, and
nourish His spouse, the Church
CCC 478 - God loves us with a human Heart
Behold the heart that has loved so much, and is loved so little in return.
Jansenism - God is distant
Matthew 11:28 - come to me, all you who are meek and humble of heart.
Pius XII Hauriatus Aquas 1956
On Devotion to the Sacred Heart
Reference to Isaiah 12:3 - joyful waters from the Saviors fountain
Feast of the Sacred Heart - third Friday after Pentecost (second Friday after Trinity
Sunday)
9 first fridays accompanied by holy hour of reparation on Thursday Night
Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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10-18-2006
Vocations Fair 10/27 11-5; GDC 92-118
Next week GDC 119-136 on CCC; FD on CCC
A catechist ought to say this: Do not think as the world would have you think! It is one
of the greatest obstacles to your understanding of the Faith. that is, you need to see
the Church as She is, not at the world sees Her.
Apocalypse - apocalypsus: the unveiling (wedding analogy); God unveils Himself and
His will
We have some fancy words...
1 Tim 6:20: Guard what has been entrusted to you/ Guard the Deposit (Paul to Timothy)
- Deposit of Faith; Paratheke - something valuable committed to a trustee
2 Thess 2:15: Hold fast to the Tradition
Vatican II: The primary task of Vat 2 is to guard the Deposit of Faith
Fides Qua: Faith by which we believe
Fides Quae: Faith which we believe
1. Deposit of Faith comes from Christ
We are part of what Christ started
Guard the Deposit by
studying it
entrusting it to others
We teach what Christ taught
we teach with authority and conviction
...to overcome indifference
10-20-2006
Fr. Thomas Weinandy Doctrine USCCB Sun Oct 29 @ 7 in Gallery
Next time GDC 119-136, FD, dialogue 3
Deposit of Faith
Tradition - traditio - that which has been passed down
2 Thess 2:15 (again) - hold fast to Tradition
Mark 7:8 human tradition; Col 2:8
GDC 96 Living Tradition
CCC 83 distinction
there are many worthy traditions that are set up for use by us but are not contained in
the Deposit of Faith
Doctrine v. Dogma
Doctrine - an individual of the unchanging elements of the Divine Deposit
Prov 22:17
Titus 2:1, 1:9
Dogma - generally, doctrines which have been challenged or misunderstood, which the
Church defines in order to preserve them in the Tradition
specifically defined doctrine
Discipline - a teaching that applies to a specific time and place to address a specific situation, and that teaching may change as the situation changes

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10-23-2006
GDC on CCC 119-136
Certainly, graduates of the finest catechetical program in the world should be intimately
familiar with this [CCC]
2nd ed. CCC has the glossary and expanded index (new green); some revisions since
1st ed. (brown hardcover); 2nd ed. trans from latin, 1st ed. trans from french
Recent emphasis on such topics as the death penalty, etc. in the 2nd ed.
10-25-2006
Senator Brownbeck came to town yesterday 9PM; really good
Yes or No dialogue 4: Faith and science; next time: dial 5, GDC 137-147 Divine Pedagogy
GDC on CCC 119 and following
1. distinct but complimentary GDC 120
method & content
2. legitimate right to know GDC 121
3. believed, celebrated, lived, and prayed (four pillars)
Acts 2:42 - classic catechesis
4. Christocentric GDC 123
two-fold orientation
toward God, toward humanity
5. literary genre GDC 124
reference; authoritative, precise, universal
6. source of inspiration GDC 128
7. basis for local catechisms GDC 124, 131
Fidei Depositum Deposit of Faith
Apostolic Constitution on the Publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
1. Catechism of Vatican II - Guard the Deposit - 1 Tim 6:20
2. also outlined in FD: structure
3. Sure norm for teaching the Faith
1st & 2nd edition
1st French
2nd Latin; glossary, expansion of index and recent teachings(e.g. death penalty)
How to read the CCC
1. read it
2. get them to read it - testimony
3. use the footnotes to determine the scriptural driving force
why does the Church teach that? (mortal sin - 1 John 5:16)
10-27-2006
Using the Catechism
3. use footnotes (above)
4. use the scriptural index

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5. use cross references

the catechism is heavily Cross-referenced
6. use the glossary
Dialog 5 of Yes or No - Problem of Evil
Pedagogy of Revelation and the Response of Faith
God teaching
-art or science of teaching
specifically about methodology
GDC 137 - Jesus the Teacher
GDC 138 - we do what Christ does
1. Pattern:
God reveals
grace accompanies revelation
we respond
GDC 139 - salvation is the goal
GDC 140 - Pedagogy of Jesus: we imitate the teacher
2. GDC 129 - gradual and in stages
3. GDC 138 - driven by grace
4. GDC 146 - accommodated to the audience
5. promotes a response - response of Faith
10-30-2006
Dialogue 7; Typology CCC 115-119 (FD); GDC 148-214 for Friday
In what context are we supposed to teach Jesus?
We see in dia. 6 a typical response from someone who does not know Him well.
Teach Jesus: Prof. Bolsters Big 3+1
1. Incarnation
2. Paschal Mystery
3. Second Coming/parousia
+1. Need for personal relationship
1. Incarnation
Jn 1:14 - The Word became Flesh - God in the Flesh
Who is Jesus? That is the question. The Incarnation is the answer.
Carnival - goodbye meat
Christmas - Angelus
CCC 456-460: 4 reasons for the Incarnation
True God and True Man - Hypostatic Union: one Person, two natures
we are saved by the human decision of the Divine Person
2. Paschal Mystery
What did God do for me?
Easter

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Four moments: Passion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension

Ex 12 - Passover
Sacrifice - to make up for wrongs
Mass- our participation in the Paschal Mystery
Crucifix
3. Second Coming
Its not the end of the story: Hell be back
He will come as judge, and every knee will bend and every tongue confess
Advent
First to suffer and invite
Second to judge and to compel
We already know what the answers to the final exam are
11-3-2006
next time: dialogue 8; GDC 148-214; Archbishop Daniel Buechlein OSB, Archbishop of
Indianapolis: read his articles, I & II, posted on the... website?
Second Coming/Parousia; first time He came as a slave to invite, second time He will
come in Glory to judge
Advent - liturgy is oriented toward the Messianic promise of the Saviors coming
Third Coming - His coming into out lives (not the rapture)
MT 25 - General judgement - final exam
What happens at the end? CCC 673-677
Need for a relationship with Him
GDC 142 Teachers must be disciples; obviously, you cannot give what you cannot have;
the effectiveness of your catechesis will be directly related to your relationship with
our Lord Jesus Christ
CT 9 Only in deep communion with Him
1. Invite Him in
2. Teach the supernatural; Sal in Y/N has trouble with the Resurrection because Sal denies the existence of the supernatural
3. Use prayer - teach them to pray, not just to use prayer; lead them to the Eucharist,
foster in them Sacramental living
4. Teach from scripture: use that wonderful Book that God wrote, the Word of God
5. Make it personal; we teach for conversion, lead by example: the most effective
teachers are witnesses
Typology
Temple
literal
temple in Jerusalem
spiritual
allegorical - relates to Christ
destroy this Temple...
moral how to act
our bodies as Temples
anagogical - our Destiny; What is to come
Heavenly Jerusalem
bride of Adam was taken from his side as he slept; so too as Jesus slept the sleep of
death on the cross, a sword pierced His side, from which blood and water flowed
and we are born into the Church, His Bride.
11-6-2006

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More reading to do... too much reading.

Buechleins articles - havent read them: Is our catechesis politically correct?; the scary
vocabulary of Dogmatism
Creed-less Christianity and Content-less Catechesis
Id rather have two bottles in front of me than a pre-frontal lobotomy
Ten Deficiencies (doctrinal deficiencies in the material)
1. Trinity
inclusive language: two types: horizontal and vertical (men and women/man and
God); look at Psalm 1 in a given translation
Creator/Redeemer/Sanctifier in Baptisms, etc. - makes Baptism invalid
2. Divinity of Christ
our focus is more on the human nature of Christ; not so much an error as it is an
imbalance
3. Indistinct treatment of the ecclesial context
accommodations for relativism: everybodys belief is good enough; misconception of ecumenism
4. Christian anthropology
experiential methodology
overemphasis on self-esteem
5. Gods initiative
6. Grace
insufficient recognition of the transforming effects of grace
7. Sacraments
8. Original sin/sin
9. Meager exposition of the Christian moral life
10. Inadequate presentation of eschatology
hell is scary!
11-8-2006
Catechumenal Model GDC 88-91; dialog 10; remainder of GDC
Eight Tendencies (more methodological)
We continue to note... ad-hoc committee... established catechetical leadership in our
country is not exactly jumping up and down that the bishops are teaching on these
things; mentions the national catechism and the national directory, both of which are
on the streets and hopefully on their way to your Christmas tree
Tendencies
1. Personal pronouns for God
inclusive language, esp. in Psalms and songs
the persons who do this are products of their formations; let us kindly, and with
charity, reorient this language
2. Hebrew/Christian Scriptures
Testament language: Covenant language; if we abandon this language, we lose
something from the meaning of our Faith
3. BCE & CE
Before Common Era, Common Era v. Before Christ, Anno Domini - In the
year of our Lord

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Even our geography is Christocentric! Jerusalem is the center of the east and
west hemispheres
4. Reception of the Sacraments of Initiation must correspond with the Catechism and
Canon Law (CCC 1457 and Code of Canon Law 914)
11-10-2006
What Catholics Believe - Keating intro-Q8; Dial 11 Y/N Trinity
Catechumenal Model: GDC 88-91
GDC 59, 90: model for all Catechesis
in the early Church, it had to be intense: your graduation present for being Baptized
was usually martyrdom
GDC 91: school of discipleship
neocatechumenal way - movement of renewal, very effective exercise
Liturgical, Pastoral, and Catechetical process
historically, distinction between the baptized and the unbaptized
punctuated by a series of significant liturgical rites: periods and gateways; periods of
formation that are set apart by significant liturgical events
more and more publishers are marketing Confirmation within a catechumenal model
RCIA
Stages and Rites
First Period: Pre-Catechumenate (pre-cat)
candidates are known as inquirers or sympathizers
First Rite: Rite of Acceptance (into the Order of Catechumens)/Rite of Welcoming (for
those who are already baptized)
formally become catechumens or candidates, respectively
Second Period: Catechumenate Proper
Second Rite: (series of rites)
1. Rite of sending (preceding the big one) - parish sends them to the bishop
2. Rite of election (major one) - they write their names in the Book of the Elect in
the presence of the bishop
yes, you get both.
Third Period: Purification and Enlightenment
Lent was invented as a period for those who wished to enter the Church for purification and preparation
Third Rite: Sacrament of Initiation
Easter Vigil
Fourth Mystagogy
Neophytes
11-13-2006
one week from today: catechesis of your choice due
Jenna: this book is, like, freakishly accurate
Modern Catechumenal Model
I had coffee at 9 and again at 11; it was an OD. I just bottomed out. 2:33
Liturgical aspects of the model
- Make Liturgical people

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- Gradually introduce liturgical activity

- Punctuated by rites
- GDC 85 Permeate catechesis in a climate of prayer
- intercessors: least utilized resource in the Church today, the LOLs: little
old ladies
- use sacramentals
- teach to and from the rite
- celebrate the liturgical year
Catechetical aspects of the model
- use the language of the Catechism
- gradual and in stages
- GDC 107 Biblical catechesis
narratio - the story
Pastoral aspects of the model
- teach people, not topics
- know your audience
- be willing to suffer on their behalf
Christian Charity
this is not a 9-5 job
- get the parish involved
11-15-2006
the final stage of catechetics
Keys of Catholic Doctrine: what do they HAVE to know?
we have to deliver the keys and empower them to explore on their own
the central doctrine: The Trinity; the Trinity answers the question, Who is God?
it also answers the question of what we were created for: Trinitarian (communal) life
we profess our belief in the Sign of the Cross: Who God Is, and What God Did for us:
the Trinity and the Paschal Mystery
...interesting facts about Byzantine Catholics and the Sign of the Cross
its too bad we dont have a depiction of the Trinity, that made Halloween very difficult for
the Bolster family
So heres how we teach the trinity
The first of the keys, or the premise, from the divine perspective: Why did God tell us
about the Trinity?
A: Because He loves us and wants us to know about Him! Why else would God
want us to know all this boring Catholic trivia?
It is perhaps the most difficult for a rookie catechist to articulate or grasp
We can never outdo God in the honor He gave to Mary when He chose her to be the
mother of His Beloved Son.
It was Gods intention that we find our existence and livelihood in a family; this is intended to prepare us for Trinitarian life
The family is an image of the Trinity: a child is the incarnation of the unity of husband
and wife; the family is an analogy to the Trinity
Even our money is Trinitarian
Teach the essentials: that which cannot be left to chance that they will get on their own

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Leave the rest to the LORD

Catechetical essentials: what is essential for your audience might not be essential for
mine
Satan: that he is, who he is, what he does, and what to do about him
11-17-2006
Dia 14; Q 22-26; finish Catechism reading from first pillar; Revelation
Keys of Catholic Doctrine (Use this in your catechesis paper!!!)
1. Divine Perspective/Premise
Why does God want us to know?
Not necessarily the definition
2. Essentials
that which cannot be left to chance that they will get on their own
not everything will be essential
everything cant be essential
3-5 main points
catechetical essentials; what is essential for this particular audience may
not be essential for another
teaching for conversion
1. Mystery, Transcendence, and Immanence
2. God wants to share His life with us (CCC 260, 1721)
3. Each Person of the Trinity has a role, a work (CCC 257, 258, 259)
Andy: I wrote it down!
3. What is commonly misunderstood
relevance
we are made to share Trinitarian Life
4. Scriptural Driving Force
not prooftexting; thats kinda backwards
5. Related Doctrine
organic unity of doctrine
making connections
adventure of putting the pieces together
6. Liturgy
where do we celebrate it?
the Church prays what She believes
Trinity Sunday
11-20-2006
we have turned in our catechesis; now to finish our exegesis. it shall take us all night.
tonight in the International Lounge: Br. Devil DeLord, @ 5 & 9
Dialog 15, Q 27-29
life of sin, then moment of conversion on the deathbed: salvation
life of repentance, then moment of grave sin on deathbed: damnation
Is salvation partly up to chance on our part?
some attachments to sin are so deeply rooted in us (whether the sins are relatively large
or small) that we can never say that we are completely free from sin in this life

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Purgatory is suffering because these deep-rooted attachments have to be dug out of

our persons
Revelation: How do we know what God wants?
From God, not from a bunch of old guys in Rome trying to make our lives miserable
The Divine Perspective: God has shown Himself and given Himself; He has definitively
answered the fundamental questions regarding the meaning and purpose of life
The Essentials
1. created in Gods image and likeness; we can know of Gods existence with
certainty in the light of natural reason
2. God has revealed what we could not know (CCC 51-52)
definition of mystery
3. Revelation is summed up and personified in Jesus
Heb 1:1-2
11-27-2006
Next time: Dia 16; Catholics 30-28; Response Fri (Yes or No, doesnt apply to me)
Keys of teaching Tradition: Divine Perspective; 3-5 Essentials; 2 Scriptural references; 1
commonly misunderstood; 2 related; 1 liturgy
Revelation
4. There will be no further Public Revelation
CCC 66
5. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God has delivered His word by oral and
written means, using human agents: Scripture and Tradition
Transmission of Divine Revelation (CCC 76, 2 Thess 2:15)
6. Faith is our response to Gods invitation to enter into relationship with Him
Lk 24:34-35; Jn 8: ; Jn 15:26-27; Jn 16:12-14; Rom 1:19-20
Commonly misunderstood
Revelation is ongoing
Revelation is contained only in Sacred Scripture
Public v. Private Revelation
Revelation only pertaining to the End Times
Sacred Scripture
Divine Perspective CCC 101 & 105
God wants us to know that we can hear Him
Essentials
1. God is the Author - Divine Authorship
2 Tim 3:16-17
The Church has always venerated the Bible as she venerates Our Lords
Body
2. It is a living Word (CCC 108)
Heb 4:12 - the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any twoedged sword
CCC 133 Frequent reading
Christocentricity Luke 24

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CCC 104 - what do you want for your students?

3. Inerrant CCC 107
4. Human authors are true authors - dual authorship
we must be scriptural theologians
5. Authentic Interpretation has been reserved to the Magisterium (CCC 119)
Criteria CCC 112-114
Misunderstandings
Church Teaching contradicts Scripture
Relativism: we cannot know what God intends to communicate
Liturgy
Ordination of the Deacon
11-29-2006
Keys of teaching Tradition
Divine Perspective
Tradition was oral in the early Church, the same as Jesus' ministry
Not everything we believe is held in Scripture
"Through a living transmission (Sacred Tradition) within "the believing and praying
Church," the Holy Spirit teaches the children of God how to pray." (CCC 2650)
Essentials (3-5)
Deposit of Faith is contained in Sacred Scripture and Tradition (CCC 84)
Tradition of prayer (CCC 2651)
Liturgy is a constitutive element of the holy and living Tradition (CCC 1124)
Oral Tradition in handing on the Gospel (CCC 126, DV 19)
One and the same content of Tradition worldwide (CCC 174)
Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, then, are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other....flowing out from the same divine well-spring (CCC 80)
Scriptural Foundations (2)
1 Tim 6:20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid profane babbling
and the absurdities of so-called knowledge.
2 Thess 2:15 Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were
taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.
Common Misunderstandings (1)
Our Protestant brothers and sisters deny an oral or written Tradition apart from Scripture; this is perhaps the most widespread error concerning Tradition in existence today.
One problem lies in interpretation: many points of view, but those points of view often
contradict one another. The solution? That point of view which was influenced directly
by Jesus is the one which must be accepted, since he is the fulfillment of all Scripture,
the point of view promulgated by the Apostles and handed down through the Church:
Sacred Tradition
Related Doctrines (2)

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The apostles entrusted the "Sacred deposit" of the faith (the depositum fidei), contained
in Sacred Scripture and Tradition, to the whole of the Church.
(CCC 84)
from the beginning Christians have celebrated the Eucharist and in a form whose substance has not changed despite the great diversity of times and liturgies
(CCC 1356)
Liturgical Practices of Tradition (1)
lex orandi, lex credendi: "the Church, in her doctrine, life and worship, perpetuates and
transmits to every generation all that she herself is, all that she believes." (CCC 78)
CCC 1342: From the beginning the Church has been faithful to the Lord's command. Of
the Church of Jerusalem it is written: "And they devoted themselves to the apostles'
teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.... And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food
with glad and generous hearts..." (Acts 2:42, 46)
Jesse tree
pink candle: normally, halfway done, this year halfway
Divine Perspective
Why does God want us to know about Sacred Tradition?
God graciously arranged that the things he had once revealed for the salvation of all
peoples should remain in their entirety, throughout the ages, and be transmitted to all
generations. (CCC 74)
Essentials
1. Revelation comes to us through two channels, oral and written: single Sacred Deposit (CCC 97, DV 10)
Equal sentiments of devotion and reverence (82)
Word of God entrusted to the Apostles, and the speech of God which has been
put down in writing (81)
2. Holy Spirit is guarantor CCC 78
Jn 16:13
3. Apostolic Succession CCC 77; 857-865 -> 3 ways
Acts 1:29, Jn 20 21-23
4. Magisterium - Teacher CCC 85, 100
5. Living Tradition
Doctrine, Life, and Worship of the Church
Next time: Yes or No, you said no; Dia 17; Keating 39-43; keys for original sin
12-1-2006
Original Sin
Q: Why am I so messed up?
If Id known how many people were going to be mad at me for all of history, Id have
just said no.
Divine Perspective
man let trust in his Creator die in his heart

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we separate ourselves from God by our own free will

knowing that there would be a price for the freedom that He gave us, God willingly paid that price.
CCC 396 (exultet), 412
Essential
1. An actual event: the account of the Fall uses figurative language for a primeval
event
tell the story of the fall
disobedience
(the impact of Satan and the demons would be helpful as well)
why so bad
With great power comes great responsibility, thats the catch-phrase of
old Uncle Ben - freedom put to the test CCC 396
2. Pathos of the Human Condition
Rom 7
Screwtape Letters C.S. Lewis - a demon-in-training learning how to claim
souls for Satan
3. Contracted, not committed
distinction between Original Sin and Actual Sin
Steven: Its like in the cafeteria: when one person talks too loud, then nobody is allowed to talk.
Reverse of the Good news CCC 389; Rom 5:15-x
4. Consequences CCC 400, Gen 3; Baptism 403
5. Concupiscence
1264, 975, 2514, 1426
we can be cured of pneumonia, but were gonna be a weak soul for a very
long time after being cured
discipline
penance
12-4-2006
St Francis Xaviers feast was bumped yesterday by First Sunday of Advent: souls are
falling into hell simply because there is no one to Baptize them!
today: St. John Damascene
Image and Likeness Genesis 1:20
there is an attack on the dignity of the human person: despair/self-image, humana vitae,
sexuality
Q: Who am I?
Divine perspective
CCC 357 called to relationship; we are able to enter this relationship freely and
more deeply than any other creature
Our Father
Essentials
Image God individually as children
Genesis 5:3 Seth in [Adams] image, after his likeness

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we image God as a communion of Persons CCC 372

Procreation - the crown of the way in which we participate in Gods work; we add
to eternity
Last Day of Class
due with the final: keys on the Church
Catechesis paper
dont start on the defensive
draw your audience in by the beauty of the doctrine
Angels
God made spiritual beings to share His glory and be part of His life; they unceasingly
serve and adore God; throughout salvation history, angels participate in Gods work
to redeem us 350
1. Characteristics
spiritual non-corporeal 328
personal and immortal 330
possess intellect and will
do not procreate
angels decide once 391ff
Kreeft, Anselm, Aquinas
Frank Peretti This Present Darkness Eph 6
Catholic Treasure Book
2. Angels are servants of God 329
3. Work of the angels - our salvation; Christ is in the center of the angelic world
archangels - specifically mentioned by name (Gabriel, Raphael, Michael)
guardian angels Mt 8:10
evangelizers
4. Satan & demons
that he is,
who he is,
what he does,
and what to do about him