Early Church - Middle Ages

Catechesis = "Instruction"

    Catechesis [from the Greek word καταχεω] is the act of handing on the Word of God intended to teach the People of God (and those interested in becoming Christians) about the teachings of Christ that He gave to the Apostles either orally or in writing (cf. 2 Thess. 2.14; 1 Cor. 11.2). Catechesis involves the lifelong effort in educating and forming people into witnesses to Christ and opening their hearts to the spiritual transformation given by the Holy Spirit. 

   Instruction in faith and morals is laid out in many books of the Bible we call "Wisdom" books (Proverbs, Sirach, Wisdom of Solomon, etc.).  This tradition we inherit from both the synagogue and Greek and Roman classical education.  Catechesis was necessary to prepare those interested in becoming Christians for baptism and the other sacraments that followed, which in some places was a three year process.

     Catechesis in the Middle Ages was largely limited to the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer, the 10 Commandments, the Sacraments, Beatitudes, etc.  These lessons were largely taught four times a year in homilies. By AD 1368, a formal catechism containing instruction for the teaching of Catholc Doctrine was published for priests.  

Late Middle Ages - Premodern Era

The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD)

     After the Protestant "Reformation," the Council of Trent (1545-1563) stated that church reform must begin with religious instruction of the young. The Council decreed that throughout the Universal Church instructions in Christian doctrine should be given by priests on Sundays and festivals. 

      The priests of the Fathers of Christian Doctrine and the laity of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine began a campaign of catechesis with the support of Pope St. Pius V and was officially moved to Rome by Pope Paul V in AD 1607.

     From Rome, it spread rapidly over Italy, France and Germany. It was supported by Crd. Robert Bellarmine, Fr. Francis de Sales, and Crd. Charles Borromeo, who established it in every parish of his diocese.  As Christendom was fracturing into various splinters, CCD served to counteract the Protestant movement by insulating God's Vineyard against the various opinions, new doctrines and contradictions leading people out of the Church.

Modern Era

In Our Times

     CCD spread thorughout Europe to France and thorugh the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and later to Belgium. A movement of voluntary catechists in France formed to assist priests in providing religious instruction to children in primary schools.  By 1902, CCD was organized in the Archdiocese of New York. by 1905, Pope St. Pius X mandated CCD be a formal instuitution in every parish.  Unlike Protestant Sunday Schools, CCD is not merely instructional but more practically prepare children to fully participate in adult spiritual and sacramental life.

     CCD is taught by volunteer catechists (teachers). Attendance is vital to children’s faith formation as Catholics. Grades 3 - 6 are devoted to instruction in the faith and morals of the Church, which aid the children in our care to further grow in their faith, and participate in the Mass -- with the goal of attaining Heaven.

Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are seven: Baptism, Confirmation (or Chrismation), the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian's life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life (CCC 1210)

     Sacramental Preparation is at the heart of catechesis. The gift of the Sacraments of the New Covenant to the Church nourishes, empowers, and strengthens the Christian on the journey to Heaven.  For our little ones, parents should be responsible to make sure their children are cetchized and receive the initial sacraments of the Church.

The sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist - lay the foundations of every Christian life. "The sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishing of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity" (Pope St. Paul VI, Divinæ Consortium Naturæ, CCC 1212)

     CCD Classes meet in the Education building of St. Bernadette Hall.  Registration begins in August.

1. Grades 1 - 2 prepare baptized youth for their First Confession and First Communion.  


2. Grades 7 - 8 prepare baptized candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation with the Bishop of Charleston.

 

     While the normal route of initation for Faithful Catholic families is CCD, the Second Vatican Council (1962 - 1965) recognized a growing problem of a loss of conversion within the Church, for both adults and children.  The Fathers addressed this problem by re-instituting the Catechumenate in which unbaptized adults and children would recieve catechesis toward reception of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmaiton and Eucharist).  This is the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) - formerly RCIA

     Unbaptized children of Catholic parents and baptized but uncatechized children of Catholic parents (between 3rd and 7th grades) are not enrolled in the usual CCD process, but enroll in the Order of Christian Initation of Children (OCIC) toward reception of Baptism and Eucharist at ther Easter Vigil.

     Faithful Catholic parents should enroll their children in CCD the following year toward reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation in the 8th grade year.  The Diocese of Charelston requires a two year period of catechesis in prepation for Confirmation.  
 

"The Seven Sacraments continue the saving work of Jesus until he comes again and form the center of the celebration of the Christian mystery. Through the ministry of the Church, all are invited to hear the Good News, follow Christ and share in these saving mysteries: mysteries that symbolize, make possible, realize and nurture the grace of the sacraments in the baptized. 

Participation in the sacraments ... is foundational to sustain the faithful in union with the very life of the Trinity.Participation in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, is not simply an option; rather, it is foundational to sustain the faithful in union with the very life of the Trinity and to strengthen them for the rigors of living their faith as committed disciples."

-- The US Conference of Catholic Bishops

"The Christian family is the first place of education in prayer. Based on the sacrament of marriage, the family is the "domestic church" where God's children learn to pray "as the Church" and to persevere in prayer. For young children in particular, daily family prayer is the first witness of the Church's living memory as awakened patiently by the Holy Spirit." (CCC 2685)

"The catechesis of children, young people, and adults aims at teaching them to meditate on The Word of God in personal prayer, practicing it in liturgical prayer, and internalizing it at all times in order to bear fruit in a new life. Catechesis is also a time for the discernment and education of popular piety.  The memorization of basic prayers offers an essential support to the life of prayer, but it is important to help learners savor their meaning." (CCC 2688)