Świadectwo wiary w katechezie

Abstract

The catechesis which aims at leading people to amature faith or a personal relation a man towards Jesus Christ having its expression in the submission of one’s whole life to Him, must itself be a testimony and must bring up to give a testimony. In the Church two mutually complementary testimonies can be differentiated. The testimony of the ,.Jonh’s” type is concerned in the historical character of Jesus’ person (cf 1 J 1,1‒3), and tho testimony of the „Pauline” type is concerned with a meeting of a person giving the testimony with the now living and acting Christ (cf 9,3‒8). The latter type of testimony especially important in catechetic work since it has a fundamental importance in awaking the faith and leading to a meeting with Christ as the Lord. Certainly a testimony of the first type i.e. relaying the knowledge about Christ and God must go together with it. Since ineffectiveness of our catechesis in leading children, youths and adults to the mature faith expressing itself in life by the words of God, by a personal prayer, by meeting Christ in sacraments, by experiencing Christ’s presence in the Church community, by giving a testimony to Christ can be observed, some suggestions can be put forward, which would strengthen its effectiveness; 1. Catechesis should be proceeded by or complemented with a form evangelization, i.e. preaching the most fundamental Christian rules, the acceptance of which is only implicitly contained in the present catechesis. 2. Cathechesis should take place in circles giving a testimony of tho mature faith (for children this is mainly the family circle). 3. In catechists a synthesis of these two forms of testimony should be done: all forms of preaching should be permeated with the inner testimony about our living contact w ith Christ.