We have been exploring the many sources of catechesis, and in this article, I would like to focus on the magisterium.

Why is the magisterium important as a source of catechesis?

The truth about Jesus and about our faith is always the same and unchanged since the moment of creation. However, our human understanding of that truth and the way we talk about it in different eras and cultures changes. So, in every age and every place, we need an updated clarification of how the truths of the faith are expressed and applied.

Pope Francis, early in his papacy, said that “humanity is experiencing a turning-point in its history” (Joy of the Gospel, 52). He said this is a time of “epochal change” that poses new challenges that are difficult to understand (Nov. 10, 2015).

A little more than a decade later, Pope Leo XIV said we are once again “facing a pivotal choice,” which has been caused by the explosion of artificial intelligence in recent years. The question before is, will we choose to safeguard the dignity of every human person or will we allow the “technocratic paradigm” to continue “creating an inhumane and more unjust world”? (Magnifica Humanitas, 1).

The leadership of the magisterium is essential in guiding us in our role as missionary disciples in this time of unprecedented change.

What is the magisterium?

The magisterium is the college of bishops in union with the pope, who is also a bishop. The Magisterium derives its teaching authority directly from Jesus who entrusted “the Apostles and their successors the enduring mandate of proclaiming the Gospel to the ends of the earth, promising them the assistance of the Holy Spirit” (Directory for Catechesis, 93).

The successors of the apostles are the bishops. In another sense however, every Christian is a successor to the apostles and therefore, “the whole people of God is bound to guard and propagate the deposit of faith, it being the task of the entire Church to proclaim the Gospel to all peoples” (Directory for Catechesis, 93).

However, when it comes to the authoritative interpretation of the truth of Jesus Christ in any given era, it is only “the Roman pontiff and the bishops in communion with him [who] are the custodians of the Magisterium of the Church” (Directory for Catechesis, 93).

The leadership of the magisterium is essential in guiding us in our role as missionary disciples in this time of unprecedented change.

How to use the teaching of the magisterium as a source of catechesis

Early in his papacy, Pope John Paul II called for and oversaw the creation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This is, in a sense, an encyclopedia of the teaching of the magisterium. And while the truth of the teaching in the catechism is eternal and unchanging, we cannot simply place it in front of the seekers and tell them that it is the final and definitive statement of what the Catholic Church believes.

The underlying truth of revelation is unchanging, but the time and circumstances in which we apply that truth does change. So, as Pope Leo writes, “Each generation inherits the task of shaping its own era, of guiding history to become a place where the dignity of every person is safeguarded, justice is promoted and fraternity is made possible” (Magnifica Humanitas, 1).

The full teaching of the magisterium would fill a large library. However, for those of us accompanying catechumens today, there are five documents in particular that we need to be familiar with.

• Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — this is the foundational teaching for understanding the church’s vision for accompanying seekers on a journey of faith and conversion. In particular, we need to constantly examine our formation process in light of the six principles identified in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the OCIA.
• Catechism of the Catholic Church— this is “an organic synthesis of the essential and fundamental contents of Catholic doctrine.” The primary audience for the catechism is “first of all the bishops, as teachers of the faith and pastors of the Church…. Through the bishops, it is addressed to redactors of catechisms, to priests, and to catechists. It will also be useful reading for all other Christian faithful” (CCC 11-12).
• Joy of the Gospel — this is Pope Francis’s foundational blueprint for a missionary church. For catechumenate teams, this apostolic exhortation shifts the accompaniment process from mere academic instruction to a joyful, personal encounter with Jesus Christ. It challenges us to foster an outgoing, welcoming parish culture, prioritizing the kerygma as the “first” or “core” proclamation of God’s saving love.
• Vademecum for the Synod on Synodality — Pope Francis transformed synodality from an occasional meeting of bishops into a permanent, decentralized way of being church that requires a broad practice of listening to those at all levels of the church as well as those outside the visible boundaries of the church. The Vademecum is the official handbook for developing a local synodal process. It provides concrete tools to foster a culture of listening and prayerful discernment for your seekers.
• Magnifica Humanitas — Pope Leo XIV addresses today’s “pivotal choice” between building a civilization of love or descending into an inhumane and unjust world. He critiques the “technocratic paradigm,” specifically the development of artificial intelligence, through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching. This encyclical provides a framework for safeguarding human dignity against the risks associated with unregulated technology.

The full teaching of the magisterium would fill a large library. However, for those of us accompanying catechumens today, there are five documents in particular that we need to be familiar with.

The choice before us

The pace of change today is rapid and destabilizing. Each generation has always faced change, but the gap between your grandparents’ world and your parents’ was nothing like the gap we experience. Our world is already substantially different from either of theirs, and your children and grandchildren will inherit worlds we can barely comprehend.

This relentless, exponential change can be dehumanizing and unjust, especially for those on the margins. Often, those who are feeling unmoored, unloved, or unseen are the seekers who show up in our parishes. If we can learn and apply the guidance of the magisterium, particularly through the teachings of Pope Francis and Pope Leo who interpret the truth of Jesus Christ for the digital age, we can help accompany our seekers to a civilization of love and also contribute to the safeguarding of humanity.

Your turn

Which feels more urgent in your ministry of accompaniment right now — the pace of technological change, or the isolation that digital culture produces?