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Handout #86 |
Catechizing with joy |
| A deacon from Carthage,
Deogratias, had difficulties in teaching the rudiments of faith to adults
who were not envisaging baptism in the immediate future. He talked about
this to Augustine, who gave him some advice in On Catechizing the
Uninstructed.
Remember that we are listened to with much greater satisfaction when we ourselves are enjoying our work; for what we say is affected by the very joy of which we ourselves are aware, and it proceeds from us with greater ease and with more acceptance. Consequently, in respect of teaching those things which are commended to us as articles of faith, it is not hard to give instructions as to where to begin from and where to end a narration, or how it is to be varied, so that at one time it may be briefer and at another longer, yet at all times full and perfect: and again the times when it may be right to use the shorter form and those when it will be better to use the longer. The important thing is that everyone should enjoy catechizing; for the better we succeed in this the more attractive we shall be. The rule which is to be our guide is not difficult to find. For if in material matters God loves a cheerful giver (I Cor. 9:7), how much more will he in spiritual matters? But the certainty that this joy will be with us at the right time is something that depends on the mercy of the one who had given us this teaching. The teaching is complete when it has begun from the text 'In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth' and ends with the present times of the church. This does not imply, however, that we ought to repeat by memory the entire Pentateuch ... the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles. What we ought to do is to give an overall summary, so that certain of the more wonderful facts and be selected which are listened to with uncommon pleasure and which have been ranked so remarkably among the exact turning points of history. I must tell you how to acquire the joyfulness I have mentioned .. It is a serious demand to make upon us to continue discoursing on to the appointed end when we fail to see our hearers in any way moved.. We have to try anything that may be of some use in stirring them up and drawing them forth as it were from their place concealment. We must speak gently, and by reminding them that we are brothers, we should temper their reverence for us, and by questioning them we should ascertain whether they understand what is addressed to them. We must refresh their minds by saying something seasoned with an honest joy and adapted to the matter that is being discussed, or something of a very wonderful and amazing order, or even something of a painful and mournful nature. Augustine, On Catechizing the Uninstructed 4,5,14,18 |
