Carole Eipers carefully explores the complementary work of liturgy and catechesis in the mission of the Church.
As God’s grace continually invites us to deeper conversion and a more intimate embrace of Jesus Christ, liturgy and catechesis play interrelated roles. The National Directory for Catechesis says, “What the Christian faith confesses, the Christian sacraments celebrate and the Christian life animates. Christ calls his disciples in every age to live lives ‘worthy of the gospel.”1 Liturgy and catechesis form God’s people for living lives worthy of the gospel, for the dance of discipleship -- the mission of Jesus Christ carried on by his Church. In this context of mission we see liturgy and catechesis as complementary and concentric-focused on Jesus Christ—but not coterminous.
Evangelii Nutiandi reminds us the Church ‘exists in order to evangelize.’2 Within this mission are both liturgy and catechesis, for evangelization ‘Is the totality of the Church’s efforts to bring the Good News into all strata of humanity, and through its influence transforming humanity from within and making it new.’3 The dance of discipleship is one of witness and proclamation—witnessing to our beliefs, proclaiming Jesus Christ.
Fidei Depositum refers to our Catholic Beliefs and practices as the ‘symphony’ of the faith. We dance to the symphony of the faith. Oriental dancer Morocco wrote, “The audience’s ears hear the music and their eyes see you being the music. Dance is the music made visible. You are the music.’ How do liturgy and catechesis enable disciple-dancers to embody the beliefs that we hold and celebrate?
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