{"id":2066,"date":"2011-06-21T10:38:07","date_gmt":"2011-06-21T16:38:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marccardaronella.com\/?p=2066"},"modified":"2011-08-22T20:49:31","modified_gmt":"2011-08-23T02:49:31","slug":"st-pauls-central-mystery-for-connected-catechesis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marccardaronella.com\/blog\/2011\/06\/21\/st-pauls-central-mystery-for-connected-catechesis\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Paul’s Central “Mystery” for Connected Catechesis"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

[This is a part of the\u00a0Fundamentals of Effective Catechesis<\/a> series.]<\/p>\n

We’ve seen how the Catholic Faith is a network of connected doctrines with a central theme<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And, that the Faith is only fully understood within this context.<\/p>\n

So…how do you structure your catechesis to be connected?<\/p>\n

St. Paul understood this problem all too well. To communicate a message made up of many different parts, you\u00a0need to concentrate on the heart<\/a>–the central theme of that message!<\/p>\n

The key to the\u00a0central, organizing theme of catechesis is the “mystery” at\u00a0the heart of St. Paul’s message.
\n<\/p>\n

The mystery of\u00a0Christ<\/h2>\n

St. Paul is the model for connected catechesis. His letters are full of deep theology yet they’re clearly unified.<\/p>\n

Over and over he returns to a few key themes. But ultimately there’s one doctrine, a central mystery, that is all-comprehensive.\u00a0It’s his special insight into “the mystery of\u00a0Christ.”<\/p>\n

In Ephesians 3, Paul lays out his catechetical mandate.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given,\u00a0to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ<\/strong>, and to make all men see\u00a0what is the plan of the mystery <\/strong>hidden for all ages in God…that through the Church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known<\/strong>.” (3:8-10, emphasis added)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What is St. Paul saying?<\/strong><\/p>\n