|
OVER VIEW Drawing on a background as a cradle Catholic, with 25 years of CCD instructing, and 40 years of active involvement in the spiritual life within the parish and parish financial and council administration, I am aware that a great many Catholics are in a 'status quo' position. Their status quo relates to some intermediate position between what was or wasn't taught, learned and retained in their childhood, and the myriad of good intentioned information, misinformation, rumors, and in many cases, outright lies and misrepresentations regarding the many facets of being a Catholic Christian. Since much of today's information explosion can be classified as 'Answers to questions that nobody is asking!' or, 'This new nuclear age doesn't need much of an in-depth spirituality', the first step in this type of program or undertaking would be to establish a belief and understanding as to the absolutely positive need and requirement that we are living according to His will and purpose, 'now and at the hour of our death'. It seems fairly obvious that, although the level at which the status quo kicked in is different in every person, the level is far less than optimum in most cases. Ordinarily this would mean that instruction and teaching, i.e. evangelization, should be geared to different levels. Experience and observation has shown that this is not the usual case. Starting with individuals' very basic concept of God and His majesty and perfect attributes, there seems to be a vagueness and/or an unrealistic personalized image of God that we form to 'our own image and likeness'. The matters of 'knowing Him, loving Him, and serving Him in this world and spending eternity with Him in the next, " have become a distant concern when compared to the immediate concerns of survival in the world. A viable program would have to take into account that ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is common to: almost everyone when the interest or expediency is not maintained. One of the best ways to maintain interest is to have a good lively presentation that creates excitement. Fortunately, God and salvation are the epitome of excitement when properly understood and we have an ally, comparable to none, to help maintain teachable spirits and continued understanding in the Holy Spirit. The program, while maintaining a certain pace, would also have to provide enough subjective proof and peripheral explanation so that moving to the next segment would not tend to leave unanswered questions and/or objections. There is a good solution to this aspect that will become apparent later within the program. There should also be an overriding theme or mission. This might well be, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, then all these things shall be added unto you.” FORMAT In an undertaking such as this, considerations as to the viability, economics of production and distribution, the mode of creating interest and involvement and the assurance of an unequivocal adherence to Catholic Doctrine and teaching are the main ingredients. Audio and/or videotapes could be the primary medium to present the material. This would allow for replaying and reinforcing the various points as well as making the program available to others. The presenter on the tape should be personable, articulate, well grounded and believing in the material presented and non-controversial nor threatening to the audience nor to the people who may be responsible for implementing the program at individual locations and parishes. The tape could also be presented to a group that would ideally be under the guidance of a moderator who would also be well grounded in the Faith. A moderator type should also be available to anyone who is listening to or studying the tape, so that points could be clarified and the hearer could be directed to further spiritual direction. This brings up a point about 'follow-up'. Since the scope of our God is far vaster than can be contained on a single, or 'even a whole world of tapes', this would be an extension of the journey of Faith which started at Baptism. The validity and accurateness of the information is assured by the Catholic Catechism. CONTENT Almost anyone who is involved in the shepherding and teaching of the general Catholic population will agree that the level of continuing spiritual education is inadequate to say the least and practically non-existent in fact. Following are some observations that led to thinking about this endeavor. A Doctor of Philosophy at a Catholic college, who is a convert after 10 years as an ordained minister of the Church of Christ and a vehement anti-Catholic, commented that almost all of the 'facts' that fostered his anti-Catholicism were based upon rumors and untruths about Catholicism which he had never taken the time or had the occasion to confirm, but simply accepted. Much in the same way, many Catholics have been 'taught’ folklore and half-explained facts as being the basis of faith. Obviously, not all of the teaching was bad; there were some bad listeners and learners. These people have obstacles to continued growth. With good information and motivation, 'The Truth will set them free' to know, love and serve Him. As a teacher of seventh grade CCD students, most of whom had completed grades 1 through 6 of CCD, I found that I could not take for granted that any statement about God or spiritual life would be accepted and understood for truth based upon the knowledge and experience that the students brought to class. E.g., a simple statement that started out, "God says-or did" usually brought out an undercurrent of comments like, "How did He know?" "Who made Him boss?" "How could He?" and, how did I know what he said or did? Over and over again, I challenged them by asking whether God is perfect. Very few could accept the fact wholeheartedly without reservations and 'what-ifs'. It was difficult to go on to new teaching when the basic facts supporting the new material wasn't understood, or worse yet, not believed as fact. One other area that affects spiritual growth is a sort of peer pressure. This manifests itself in a number of ways. The obvious one is the' goody two-shoes' put down. The peer pressure that drives adolescents and teens overrides the weak foundations of faith formed in their earlier years. It follows that most pretty-well-adjusted children, if they want something bad enough, they don't usually place too much stock in what the others will say. If they could understand God to a greater degree, He would become their influence. To understand now, the gift of grace 'which is sufficient to thee', would build faith for the later years. The materialism and needs of the 20's to the 50 year olds or so, simply put the Real Provider of the real needs on the back burner. They seem to say, "When I get things in good order, then ... ... ..". They forget that our God is the 'God of order' and that the 'then ... ..." that they are talking about may never come about. The last age group, I can address from the positive side. Many of the elders look out over their progeny and worry. Many pray and worry. Some know the comfort of Jesus and the peace He brings, which is not the 'peace, as the world knows'. There is a program on each week on EWTN, the Catholic network, entitled, "The Journey Home", hosted by Marcus Grodi, a former Protestant minister, who converted to Catholicism. His guests are people who have converted to the Catholic faith. There are common threads that run through each of their conversion stories: Religious fervor, personal relationship with Jesus, a negative understanding of the Catholic Church and its teachings and doctrine, and most importantly, an openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit as He led them home. In many cases the cost in their personal lives was shocking. Although the program is only a 'sampling' of conversion stories, the guests have all become significant in the Catholic Church as priests, teachers, theologians and witnesses to an abiding and real growing faith. Once again, the separating factor was a non-understanding of Catholic truth and doctrine. The real edification comes from their faith and zeal for the sacraments. With their ability and willingness to study and discern the reality of the sacraments, they have become immersed in the graces and benefits. They do not simply accept them and take them for granted; they cherish them. Just observing the controversies among Catholics who are vested with the teaching authority to the Church, we see questioning about the real presence, Mass attendance, contraception, God as a female, etc. When the faithful pick up on bits and pieces on subjects like these, they don't seek out truth. Even if they wanted to question, there doesn't seem to be accessibility to teachers or perceived authorities who have it right, themselves. One of the mental spiritual blocks that I have seen a number of times is the concern that outward spirituality is somehow a Protestant trait, and thus as somewhat invalid. For example, the term 'born again' gets bandied about as in, "Are you born again", or "Born Again Christian". Protestants, particularly those who have no valid concept of the efficacy of Baptism need to have an entry into the family of God. When they accept God, and more specifically, Jesus, into their lives, their terminology is, "Born Again". When Catholics are validly baptized they become members of the family of God. Scripture calls it, "Reborn of water and the Spirit". That is our faith and belief. A theological problem for Protestants is that since they choose the time and circumstances of their 'rebirth', their rebirth is real, while an infant cannot choose and therefore has not specifically asked to become a member of the family. The reason why this subject is germane to this project is that there is a valid aspect to spiritual growth that is questioned and debated within the Catholic Church. The Church teaches that our relationship and belief in the Lordship of Jesus Christ is of the highest calling. Any person's belief and adherence to valid doctrine and teaching is a work of the Holy Spirit. Confession or Reconciliation restores our relationship as a member of the family of God, a different type, but never the less a 'rebirth', properly understood. There is still another 'rebirth' within the Church. It is similar to the Protestant acceptance of Jesus as Lord in that it is a chosen decision. To those who have partaken of the work of the Holy Spirit in this particular manner, there is an experience of rebirth into a spiritual life that hitherto they have not yet experienced. For many, it becomes a new life (rebirth) which marks the beginning of a new life. The many aspects of this experience are varied from person to person. The point of including this example is that some Catholics shy away from any connotation of 'born again' because they have not understood the Catholic teaching and Biblical base for it. There are many such points about doctrine and belief which are not understood and which hinder spiritual growth. It would seem an awesome task to move Catholics into an active pursuit of Scripture. The caveats against Catholics reading Scripture appear to be an invention of some 'authority' within the Church, but three recent Popes have disavowed those caveats, but the teaching segment of the Church has somehow failed to convey this. A recent directive of the Pope announced the Year of the Holy Spirit. Most Catholics have relegated the Holy Spirit to an 'also ran' as our God. This relegating is not only by the laity, but also by priests and teachers who apparently have not experienced an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Since Scripture teaches, "How much more will He give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him", the lack of outpouring is either a failure to ask or a failure to know and understand. This is not to imply that the Holy Spirit is not at work in and through an individual, but to have experienced more is to know and be able to share that there is more! A MODEST PROPOSAL An audiotape, which may be the first of more, would last about 90 minutes. Since it would be a 'teachable moment', and the opportunities may be few and far between, we call upon the Holy Spirit to be the Guide and Inspirer, and the Preparer of the hearts. The greater the counsel of right-minded people, the greater the prospects of this being a work in the Will of God. A videotape, while it has greater distribution problems, would probably hold greater attention and could contain as much as six hours of material. The production costs would be greater. The tapes could be in a narrative form that would not only give answers, but explain how and why a clear knowledge of the individual points is essential to spiritual growth and following more closely God's perfect will. This would also provide a way of summarizing, which would reinforce the material. Another approach might be, to include with the tape a written 'survey' where the person could privately answer questions beforehand about the material on the tape. E.g., "Is the Holy Spirit actually God or more like the 'force or grace of God in action?" As the tape covers this subject, the listener will be brought to a fuller knowledge of a point to which he had made a personal response. SOURCE OF MATERIAL The peripheral instructions with the New Catholic Catechism seemed to anticipate that ‘sub-Catechisms’ would emerge out of the total Catechism. These would be directed toward a specific topic or audience. My own observation is that a ‘reader’ of the Catechism would have to bring a lot of foreknowledge and familiarity to follow the flow from one point to another. Since most of the footnotes are either Scripture or from the writings of the Fathers, it is essential that the authority and accuracy of the two are established in the minds of the hearer. One might be concerned that, if the material would seem too elemental, the listener would be inclined to get distracted and lose the continuity from one point to another. A good presenter and presentation should alleviate this concern, especially if the pre-questioning plan were included. Not necessarily by verbatim nor by rote, but the 'penny catechism' approach served generations of Catholics well as a learning foundation for their faith. DISTRIBUTION The validity and value for growth in spirituality and firming up of the 'Blessed Assurance' of eternity in heaven will be actively presented and attested. Parents and grandparents and friends would probably relish the opportunity to get this evangelization tool into the hands of those they know and care about. This would be a way to circumvent the fear most people seem to have of 'seeming like they are intruding upon their loved ones privacy'. They would just be giving a gift. A mailer sleeve for the tape would be provided and a standard letter of 'invitation to listen'. If warranted, an 'in-house' duplicating system would hold costs to a minimum. And if the taping is somewhat professional, the larger Catholic audience might also be served.
Back To Home Page
|