Catechists Called to Holiness and Truth

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Bishop of Arlington
(From the issue of 11/20/03)

The following homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde at the Diocesan Catechetical Institute Mass on Saturday, Nov. 15.

How good it is for me to be with you this day! I am given the opportunity to thank each of you for being involved in the Church’s mission to catechize, that is, the Church’s mission to transmit God’s Word in order to invite people to personal faith in Jesus Christ within the community of His disciples, His Church. I realize that you are involved in this ministry of catechesis at considerable personal sacrifice — the sacrifice of your time and energy. As the Chief Catechist of this diocese, I echo my profound gratitude to you even as I also thank Father Paul deLadurantaye for his leadership as the Secretary for Religious Education and Sacred Liturgy. You know, as I know, what a real blessing he is to this diocesan church. Today also gives me the opportunity to thank the Lord for calling each of you to share in this apostolic work of forming young people in their Catholic faith as you collaborate with their parents in transmitting the faith — a privileged responsibility which is principally, though not solely, theirs as the first teachers of the Faith.

Your participation in this apostolic work of catechesis is far more than a career or a livelihood or even a generous gesture of volunteerism. Your participation is indeed an actual sharing in the Church’s mission to form people into the image and likeness of Christ, who is the visible sign of the Invisible God since He is truly Son of God as well as Son of Man. Permit me to repeat words already familiar to you — indeed, words that you treasure. "‘At the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, the only Son of the Father…’ To catechize is to reveal in the Person of Christ the whole of God’s eternal design reaching fulfillment in that Person… Catechesis aims at putting ‘people...in communion with Jesus Christ: only He can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity’" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 426). What a privilege you are given by the Lord to lead His people closer to Him in living communion through your witness of life and your teaching the faith. I would like to reflect with you on both these aspects: your witness of life and your teaching the faith.

Your witness of life is primary in your apostolate of catechesis. Why? Because people are more convinced by witnesses than by teachers, and if they are convinced by teachers, it is because first they are witnesses. So, your witness of life is truly powerful. However, you and I can witness in this powerful and effective way only if we are holy. This is why our Holy Father states so clearly that "First, I have no hesitation in saying that all pastoral initiatives must be set in relation to holiness" (Novo Millennio Ineunti, no. 30). Holiness demands our ongoing conversion. "Conversion is directed to holiness, because conversion ‘is not an end in itself but a journey towards God who is holy. To be holy is to be like God and to glorify his name in the works which we accomplish in our lives’ (cf Mt 5:16)" (Ecclesia in America, no. 30) .

Yes, you must be holy according to your state in life. Some among us this morning are priests, deacons and religious. Many others are married while some others are single or widowed. Regardless of our individual state, each of us is called to be holy. Daily prayer; reception of the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation; reflection on God’s Word; deeds of charity; these enable us to become holy and God-like.

In addition to witness of life, I also ask us to reflect on teaching the faith. Your apostolic work of catechesis does necessarily involve transmitting — passing on — the Catholic faith which we all so treasure. Yours is both the privilege and the responsibility to pass on the Catholic faith in its integral fullness. One part of that faith is the Church’s teaching on justice and peace. In fact, an earlier Synod of Bishops clearly stated that social justice is a constitutive element of the Gospels.

All three scripture readings just proclaimed speak about peace and justice. The theme of today’s first reading is summed up by this sentence: Justice will bring about peace. This reminds us of Pope Paul VI’s memorable and unforgettable words: "If you want peace, then work for justice." In today’s second reading, we are reminded that the peace of God will guide our hearts and minds. Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus greets the disciples with the gift of peace — a peace rooted in the acknowledgement of sin and in its absolution by the priest acting in the name of Christ and the Church.

I am delighted that your theme clearly highlights the importance of justice and peace in the transmitting of the Catholic Faith. "Commitment to global justice and peace is an important goal for the catechist at this point of history. Fostering this commitment, however, will require teaching wholly new attitudes that may be at variance with much of what this consumer society values" (Msgr. Francis Kelly, The Mystery We Proclaim: Catechesis of the Third Millennium).

As I echo my gratitude to you for your generous and faithful participation in Catholic Catechesis across this diocese, I commend you to the Lord, asking Him to breathe into you, giving you the fullness of peace through the Holy Spirit, so that you may be sowers of God’s peace through this diocesan church. Yes, by keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus and by welcoming the Holy Spirit who is being sent by the Father and the Son to forgive all your sins, may you speak of peace to God’s people. Even more, may you witness to His peace and thereby lead others to Him, who stands at the heart of catechesis, Jesus the Lord, our Way, our Truth and our Life.

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