The Catechetical Review - Communicating Christ for a New Evangelization

Inspired Through Art: The Miraculous Draught of Fishes By Jacopo Bassano, 1545

Authored by Jem Sullivan in Issue #3.2 of Catechetical Review
Put Out Into the Deep – The Call of Missionary Discipleship Missionary discipleship begins and grows in union with the person of Jesus Christ. This reality of faith comes to life in vivid color and dramatic movement in this the 16th century large-scale masterpiece painting titled, The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, by Venetian artist, Jacopo Bassano. Completed in 1545, Bassano’s canvas is a visual catechesis on the source and inspiration of missionary discipleship as it finds rich and varied expression in the Christian community. “Duc in altum”—“put out into the deep” (Lk 5:4). Jesus’ call to discipleship addressed to Simon Peter and the disciples is recounted in a familiar Gospel story. The disciples had fished all night on the Lake of Gennesaret with little success. Understandably, the fishermen were exhausted from their physical labors, and drained mentally and spiritually. “Duc in altum”—“put out into the deep” (Lk 5:4). Jesus’ call to discipleship addressed to Simon Peter and the disciples is recounted in a familiar Gospel story. The disciples had fished all night on the Lake of Gennesaret with little success. Understandably, the fishermen were exhausted from their physical labors, and drained mentally and spiritually. At one time or another, every Christian disciple has shared in the wearied condition of those first disciples. Daily work can be both fulfilling and wearisome, rewarding and draining. Catechists also know well both joy and discouragement in ministry and in the hearts of those being catechized. Jesus addresses his call to his wearied disciples then and to us today.

The rest of this online article is available for current subscribers.

Start your subscription today!


This article is from The Catechetical Review (Online Edition ISSN 2379-6324) and may be copied for catechetical purposes only. It may not be reprinted in another published work without the permission of The Catechetical Review by contacting [email protected]

Articles from the Most Recent Issue

Children's Catechesis: The ABCs of Children’s Catechesis
By Sr. Mary Michael Fox, OP
As children, many of us learned the “Alphabet Song.” It is a universally known jingle that helps small children learn the ABCs of the English language. Other cultures use a different tune but the purpose is the same. At the start, a child merely repeats the sounds sung to him. In due time, he gradually learns that the sounds have corresponding... Read more
Youth & Young Adult Ministry: The Intentional Community of WorkCamp
By Christine Najarian
“Whenever you are united, you have marvelous strength. Whenever you are enthused about life in common, you are capable of great sacrifices for others and for the community.” [1] Immediately upon reading Pope Francis’ words in Christus Vivit (“Christ Is Alive”), I had them highlighted and underlined, with “WORKCAMP!” written emphatically in the... Read more
Applied Theology of the Body: Gender Ideology and Homosexuality
By Dr. Donald P. Asci
Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed the theology of the body (TOB) as perennial truths revealed by God through ancient biblical texts, but he also noted that this pedagogy of the body “takes on particular importance for contemporary man, whose science in the fields of bio-physiology and bio-medicine is very advanced” (TOB 59:3). [i] While he... Read more

Pages

Watch Tutorial Videos

We've put together several quick and easy tutorial videos to show you how to use this website.

Watch Now