Reviving the catechism

MANY of us may still remember the catechisms that we studied and tried to memorize in our grade school and high school. The usual memory we have of those days is that of simply rattling off what was memorized if only to pass the quizzes and long tests. But understanding what was said or written, and much less, living them, was another story.

The catechism puts together in some organic way the salient points of the sources of our faith—sacred scripture, tradition, citations from fathers, doctors and other saints of the Church and Church magisterium. And it has been made by people with both authority and competence. It is not just a personal project of some individuals or private institutions.

Thus, reading and studying it, meditating on it and putting it into practice is like having a living encounter with Christ who is the fullness of divine revelation. It certainly would help us to live our life with Christ in the Holy Spirit. In that light, it is to be considered as necessary and always relevant to us. It can never be passé.

The catechism may not give us the technical answers to our questions, the practical solutions to our problems, but it certainly will give us the proper way or spirit with which we have to tackle these questions, issues, problems, etc., that we will have in life.

The study of the catechism encourages us to probe more deeply and extensively the breadth and length of our faith which can lend itself to limitless considerations without losing consistency. This is going to be an on-going, lifelong affair.