Teaching the linguistic communication of faith: 1

When our Catholic schools endeavor to instruct religion, in addition to specifically the Catholic faith, they seem upwardly a employment that is non frequently recognized. The textile based on the Catechism is perfectly fine every bit far every bit it goes, in addition to the Compendium of the Catechism in addition to YouCat are of course of instruction readily available for role inwards schools. But at that spot is a serious disconnection betwixt these splendid summaries of doctrine, the teaching in addition to role of Scripture inwards R.E., the school’s Catholic liturgy, in addition to the curriculum inwards general.

The secular parts of the curriculum are to a greater extent than frequently than non regarded every bit dissever from the to a greater extent than recognizably religious elements. Indeed how could geography or history or mathematics hold upwardly taught inwards a agency that "connects" with R.E. except yesteryear turning these subjects into an excuse for religious propaganda? (The
example of so-called “creation science” comes to mind.) The disconnect betwixt Catechism, Scripture, in addition to Liturgy is of a dissimilar sort. These iii religious elements clearly own got an intrinsic human relationship alongside themselves, every bit the Catechism itself makes plain. But the agency they are taught or celebrated, commonly for reasons of convenience in addition to efficiency, frequently does non brand this human relationship obvious to the pupil, nor is it sufficiently taken into employment organisation human relationship when teaching in addition to liturgical resources are beingness prepared.

The separation of these religious elements of the school, taken every bit a group, from the everyday life of the community is likewise a problem. In theory, this separation should hold upwardly overcome yesteryear the “ethos” of the schoolhouse – its values in addition to moral tone. But the Definition of ethos is itself inwards a acre of confusion. The ethos of a Catholic schoolhouse is frequently reduced to a mere listing of Gospel values in addition to pious sentiments, compiled into a mission contention to which no 1 tin hold upwardly held accountable because no clear important tin hold upwardly assigned to it. (The interrogation of ethos has been discussed elsewhere.)

Into this rather confused province of affairs I tentatively advise an approach that mightiness offering a possibility of integration betwixt these disparate elements. It draws from the Church’s earliest sense of religious instruction in addition to formation, which was fundamentally mystagogical (by which is meant “leading into the mysteries”). In this approach at that spot is a key to a healing of our schools in addition to a closer human relationship betwixt its diverse elements in addition to dimensions.

Mystagogy is that phase of Catholic catechesis devoted to a deeper agreement of the sacraments in addition to symbols of the Faith. It has e'er been a necessary business office of the instruction offered to neophytes in addition to converts preparing to hold upwardly received (or presently afterwards they are received) into the Church. But its potential for encouraging a continuing lively appointment in addition to commitment to faith has non even in addition to therefore been realized. We tin role mystagogy to fighting the inroads of a secular agency of thinking into our schools in addition to parishes. More adjacent time. For to a greater extent than on mystagogy inwards general, see likewise here.

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