What does it mean to be "sufficiently catchecized?"

[Semper Zelare]

This thread reminds me a lot of something I read on the National Catholic Register (which is owned by EWTN) earlier this month. Here's the part of the article I'm thinking of:

Originally Posted by National Catholic Register

Likewise, when it comes to the Internet and social media, [professor and screenwriter Barbara] Nicolosi believes too many Catholics see and use it as a tool for catechesis rather than evangelization.

“It’s lots of inside baseball,” she said. “If you’re already in the program, it’s good stuff. But most people aren’t in the program. Right now 90 percent of what we do is geared toward catechesis and 10 percent to evangelization. It needs to be the other way around.”

I just thought I'd post this here. In a thread about being "sufficiently catechized" posted in the Evangelization forum (which isn't as active as it should be methinks).

Anyways, I agree with the people that said we will keep learning about our faith as long as we're alive. It's continual.

The point I want to make is that if we want to teach/ preach/ evangelize in whatever way we think of, we shouldn't be scared of not being catechized well enough. In the words of my deacon he always says, "I was scared to become a Deacon, even after years of classes I was scared that someone would ask me something and I wouldn't know the answer. That I wouldn't know enough. But, then I realized that I would never know enough. No one knows everything. I realized it was something that I was going to have to trust God for. That hopefully the Holy Spirit would give me the words... or I could just help them in whatever way I could and if that wasn't good enough, I could always get back to them on it"

The point is, we're all going to be learning for the rest of our lives. But, here we're all part of a Catholic forum. We all presumably go to Mass regularly and participate in our parishes and are active Catholics. We're all more than qualified to share at least something about the Catholic faith to other people.

So, while not being well catechized was a major problem. I think all the Catholics still interested in becoming well catechized have been able to do so recently (through the internet, more orthodox priests, etc.). Now we need to slowly shift towards more evangelism. Because catechesis isn't going to get a lot of lapsed Catholics back in the pews. It's going to take a NEW EVANGELISM.

[Sorry if that turned out to be a small sermon lol I really felt the need to tell that to someone. So why not to y'all?]

[arkwright]

Originally Posted by grasscutter

I'm not sure any average person is ever sufficiently catchecized. Speaking only for myself, I am continuously learning and growing in my faith and I expect and hope to continue to do so until the moment of my death.

You speak for me as well .

[jmcrae]

Originally Posted by grasscutter

I'm not sure any average person is ever sufficiently catchecized. Speaking only for myself, I am continuously learning and growing in my faith and I expect and hope to continue to do so until the moment of my death.

I think there is a distinction between being "sufficiently catechized" for a particular purpose (First Holy Communion at the age of seven, for example) and being "perfectly catechized," which I would agree is the project of an entire lifetime, with much review and repetition involved.

We should continue to learn as much as we can - but we cannot wait for a child to become perfectly catechized before giving him his First Holy Communion - he needs to know, "This is not ordinary bread; it's actually Jesus," and he needs to understand that the Mass is God's great gift to him that he should partake of at least every Sunday of his life. He should probably also know how to say his prayers, and how to participate with full attention at Mass. He might also become familiar with some Bible stories, especially the story of the Last Supper.

But he isn't going to know the hidden symbolism of the Book of Revelation concerning the Mass, and nor is he going to be able to define "Transubstantiation" in any meaningful way - and that's okay. He is "sufficiently catechized" when he meets the first criteria. He can perfect his understanding as time goes on - and maybe when he is a young man, he can study philosophy and discern for the priesthood.

[AthenaC]

Originally Posted by jmcrae

I think there is a distinction between being "sufficiently catechized" for a particular purpose (First Holy Communion at the age of seven, for example) and being "perfectly catechized," which I would agree is the project of an entire lifetime, with much review and repetition involved.

Originally Posted by Corki

What is not "sufficient" is for a Catholic to truncate his learning at the level needed to receive the Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation.

These two quotes sum up what I think as well.

However, I think the important question is more broad than that. My catechesis growing up was very thorough and very technical, but it was empty. It was delivered in an environment devoid of charity. It was like giving a plant tons and tons and tons of water and no sun, and then wondering why the plant doesn't grow / has no will to live. Sadly, my experience seems to be far from abnormal.

Kids can learn ABOUT the Faith all day long (and no doubt that is important), but what they really need is for their parents and role models to exemplify what it means to live the Faith with the type of charity and passion that encompasses their entire being.

THAT is the meaning of being "sufficiently catechized," when you understand the soul of Catholicism.

[PJM]

=Richard320;9071147]Another thread gave the idea for this topic.

So....What does it mean to be "sufficiently catchecized?"

I suggest

• Understanding that the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus
• That all religions are not equal
• The Eucharist is not a symbol. It is, in fact, Jesus
• Sex outside of marriage is a sin
• Attending Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation is not optional

Let's see what others add

How about:

Only One God, Only One set of beliefs and Only One Church
John.10: 16 “And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd”

Eph. 4: 1-7 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Eph. 2:19-20 “So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

Eph. 3: 9-10 “And to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church [singular] the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

God Bless you,
pat/PJM

[kkollwitz]

I teach my 6th graders that 'sufficient catechesis' is a moving target, that what suffices when they are confirmed in 8th grade will be fabulously insufficient when they are 21. So it'll be up to them to take charge of their own growth in faith, just as it'll be up to them to grow in all the ways of responsible adulthood.

[PJM]

=kkollwitz;9339979]I teach my 6th graders that 'sufficient catechesis' is a moving target, that what suffices when they are confirmed in 8th grade will be fabulously insufficient when they are 21. So it'll be up to them to take charge of their own growth in faith, just as it'll be up to them to grow in all the ways of responsible adulthood.

VERY PRUDENT!

Be sure to guide them specifically on how they MIGHT do just that.

THANKS for your ministery!

pat/PJM