Vatican examines handing on faith in time of great change

Venite ad Me: Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change was published on October 22. It bears the signatures of Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Msgr Armando Matteo, Secretary for the Dicastery’s Doctrinal Section.

The document states that, in a time of epochal change marked by a crisis in passing on the faith, “believers should embark on a renewed period of proclaiming the Gospel”, placing the first proclamation, the kerygma, at its heart, as noted by Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium in paragraph 164: “Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.”

The document has eight chapters, an introduction and a conclusion. They draw extensively on the teaching of the Popes, particularly Pope Leo XIV and Pope Francis, the Second Vatican Council and other documents. Many bishops conferences made contributions and there were testimonies – submitted by the bishops – of people who discovered or rediscovered the Lord Jesus. These accounts appear in the final chapter.

The text also clarifies that it is a set of considerations, rather than a doctrinal note

The document’s starting point is Jesus’ invitation in Matthew’s Gospel: “Come to me, all you who labour and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest.”

Faith, the document stresses, “is not transmitted primarily as a body of doctrinal content or religious information”, but “as a form of ecclesial life into which the believer is gradually introduced”.

In examining how the faith is handed on, the document highlighted that the Church “grows by attraction”, how the family is the “first and most essential place for the transmission of the faith” and the importance of cooperation between the Church and the family in this process.

It acknowledged, however, that the transmission of the faith within families “has been interrupted in many parts of the world”.

The transmission of the faith today requires, in a particular way, the evangelisation of adults and a move beyond pastoral ministry focused solely on the catechesis of children and adolescents, the document noted.

There is a need for “a profound kerygmatic renewal of catechesis”. This also requires attention to language, which must be characterised by “an appeal from the heart”, and to an engaging interpersonal relationship.

Proclamation of the kerygma must “be capable of presenting the good news of God’s love and mercy in such a way that those who receive it can truly understand that it is precisely to them that this love and mercy are directed”.

The document also called for a rediscovery of the importance of the community in welcoming and accompanying new members of the faithful.

Among topics addressed in the document are the Word of God, the liturgy and witness, as well as inculturation, popular piety, preaching and the Church’s social doctrine.

FULL STORY

Doctrine of the Faith: Returning to kerygma amid crisis in passing on faith (By Debora Donnini/Vatican News)

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Venite ad me. Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change