Benedict's Great Gift
an ongoing study of the Catechism
by Pat Gohn
in Faith
on Thursday, August 20, 2009 6:00 AM
John Paul II left an amazing legacy to the Catholic Church. But, in my humble opinion, the Catechism of the Catholic Church is one of the greatest gifts. Like a seismic wave, its ripple effect has touched millions. Its reach will teach future generations the truths of the Faith.
Benedict XVI’s work, both publicly and behind-the-scenes, played a pivotal role in the development of the Catechism as we have it today. Tracing the history of the Catechism, we owe a debt of gratitude to both John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
Extraordinary Synod
In 1985, John Paul II called together the world’s bishops to celebrate the milestone of the 20th anniversary of Vatican II. This was known as the Extraordinary Synod (an assembly or council of Church officials). The Synod’s central task was to examine how well the Church had implemented the teachings of the Documents of the Second Vatican Council. The Synod’s final report called for a deeper reception of the themes of the Council, plus suggested the formulation of an updated catechism as “a source of life” for the Church.
In church history, a new catechism is, well, earth-quaking. The last “universal” Church catechism was compiled back in 1566. Known as the Roman Catechism, it was produced under Pope Pius V after the Council of Trent. (That period is sometimes called “the Catholic Reformation” or “Counter Reformation” ––as it responded to answering the “Protestant Reformation”.)
The 1985 Extraordinary Synod requested “that a catechism or compendium of all Catholic doctrine regarding both faith and morals be composed…[as] a point of reference for the catechisms or compendiums that are prepared in the various regions. The presentation… must be biblical and liturgical. It must be sound doctrine suited to the present life of Christians.”
This suggests the difference between a major catechism and a minor catechism. American Catholics growing up in the early or mid-20th century may fondly remember the Baltimore Catechism—a compendium of memorized questions and answers that allowed one to learn the tenets of the faith by heart. The Baltimore Catechism was a locally developed minor catechism drawn from the Roman Catechism, a major catechism.
When I came of age in the post-Vatican II era of eclectic religious education, the handy Baltimore Catechism had long disappeared from religious education classrooms. From my current vantage point, the 1985 Synod remedied the situation for modern Catholics by proposing a new major universal catechism.
Important Appointment
Enter Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the future Benedict XVI. He was an impressive young theologian present at Vatican II. He went on to a distinguished career as a professor, author, and bishop. In 1981, John Paul II appointed him to the Number Two position at the Vatican: Prefect (or chief magistrate) of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). This important office of the Roman Curia (the Vatican’s administration offices) promotes and safeguards the Church’s doctrine on faith and morals. Joseph Ratzinger held that post until John Paul II died in 2005.
In 1986, Cardinal Ratzinger, was tapped by John Paul II to lead a special commission of Cardinals and Bishops to draft the new universal Catechism. It was a tremendous undertaking. Prepared over 6 years, 1000 bishops worldwide responded to the drafts prepared by the commission. It exemplifies the work of the Holy Spirit guiding the Church.
The updated Catechism of the Catholic Church was an extensive collaboration. Its represents the unchanging Faith of the Church handed down through the centuries. Yet since the light of faith is ever new, it is presented in new ways for modern readers.
The Catechism’s final version was approved and published in 1992, complete with over 24,000 revisions! John Paul II declared that the harmony of so many voices expresses the “symphony” of the faith. (Apostolic Constitution, Fidei Depositum, 1.) Of the Catechism, one might say that if John Paul II was the maestro who conducted the symphony, Joseph Ratzinger was the concertmaster who kept the whole orchestra in tune.
Want to read more? Try CCC 8 – 10.
8 Periods of renewal in the Church are also intense moments of catechesis. In the great era of the Fathers of the Church, saintly bishops devoted an important part of their ministry to catechesis. [Examples are: St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. John Chrysostom, St. Ambrose and St. Augustine.]
9 The ministry of catechesis draws ever fresh energy from the councils. The Council of Trent is a noteworthy example of this. It gave catechesis priority in its constitutions and decrees. It lies at the origin of the Roman Catechism, which is also known by the name of that council and which is a work of the first rank as a summary of Christian teaching. . . .
10 It is therefore no surprise that catechesis in the Church has again attracted attention in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, which Pope Paul VI considered the great catechism of modern times… The Extraordinary Synod of Bishops in 1985 asked “that a catechism or compendium of all Catholic doctrine regarding both faith and morals be composed.” The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, made the Synod’s wish his own, acknowledging that “this desire wholly corresponds to a real need of the universal Church and of the particular Churches.” He set in motion everything needed to carry out the Synod Fathers’ wish.
—Pat Gohn is a wife & mother celebrating 27 years of Catholic family life. Her Catholic writing, podcasting, and ministry life are found at PatGohn.com.
Resources:
By submitting this form, you give Faith And Family Magazine permission to publish this comment.
Comments will be published at our discretion, and may be edited for clarity and length. For best formatting, please
limit your response to one paragraph and don't hit "enter" to force line breaks.
Print Blog
Email a Friend