When I was child back in the 1960s, rules were a thing. My grandparents, my mother, my teachers (many of whom were nuns), and my pastor all spent a lot of time telling us the rules for being a good Catholic and monitoring us to be sure we followed the rules.
Today, while rules continue to hold importance, being a good Catholic is no longer solely defined by rule-following. Pope John Paul II said that the first task of the church is to preach the gospel to those who are far from Jesus Christ (see “The Mission of Christ the Redeemer,” 34).
Inspiring a constant desire
Pope Francis echoed this teaching when he wrote:
I dream of a “missionary option”, that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation. The renewal of structures demanded by pastoral conversion can only be understood in this light: as part of an effort to make them more mission-oriented, to make ordinary pastoral activity on every level more inclusive and open, to inspire in pastoral workers a constant desire to go forth and in this way to elicit a positive response from all those whom Jesus summons to friendship with himself. As John Paul II once said to the Bishops of Oceania: “All renewal in the Church must have mission as its goal if it is not to fall prey to a kind of ecclesial introversion.”
Joy of the Gospel, 27
To be a good Catholic means to have a “missionary impulse” that is so strong that it is “capable of transforming everything.” To cultivate this missionary impulse, it is essential to revisit how we teach the faith, drawing inspiration from the early disciples who went out to share the good news beyond the confines of their Upper Room.
The church has changed, but that does not imply a rejection of rules; rather, it calls for a return to the ancient way of teaching the faith. The Second Vatican Council, initiated by Pope John XXIII, aimed for an aggiornamento—a refreshing openness that breathes new life into the church.
To be a good Catholic means to have a “missionary impulse” that is so strong that it is “capable of transforming everything.”
Adapting our approach
Unfortunately, much of our current formation remains fixated on rules-based instruction. However, it is crucial to emphasize that rules alone cannot encompass the richness and depth of the Catholic faith. We must rediscover the forgotten path of engaging in the world, spreading the gospel, and avoiding an inward-focused “ecclesial introversion.”
As times change, the Catholic Church recognizes the need to adapt its approach while preserving the fundamental principles of faith. The transformation of the church entails placing greater emphasis on preaching the gospel and developing a strong missionary impulse. By reimagining catechumenate formation and embracing the ancient ways of our ancestors, we can ensure that the faith is transmitted in a manner that engages both the hearts and minds of believers.
The Second Vatican Council teaches:
The catechumenate is not a mere expounding of doctrines and precepts, but a training period in the whole Christian life, and an apprenticeship duty drawn out, during which disciples are joined to Christ their Teacher…. And since the life of the Church is an apostolic one, the catechumens also should learn to cooperate wholeheartedly, by the witness of their lives and by the profession of their faith, in the spread of the Gospel and in the building up of the Church.
“The Mission Activity of the Church,” Ad gentes, 14
Let us open the windows of the church, breathe in the fresh air of evangelization, and strive to be a dynamic and inclusive force in the world, echoing the message of Christ’s love and salvation.
Can you help me out?
I’d love to know how this is landing. Can you share a word or a phrase about how this article resonates with you? Does it speak to your experience? Share your thoughts in the comments box below. Thanks for being part of the conversion!
This is a powerful reflection especially in light of our soon celebration of Pentecost. I love the emphasis of Pope Francis that we are to eveangelive the Gospel and not just out of fear for self – preservation . So much energy and angst is spent on , ” will they close my parish” or such that we lose the sight of why a parish exists in the first place. I guess the next step is how do we move to a more outreach Church and away from our confines. Thanks for this great reflection.
Hi Deacon Frank. Thanks so much for your comment. I agree that we have to really start focusing on outreach. Thanks for your commitment to this work.
The challenge for us was that many seekers were seeking a stable and predictable process-church-life a situation reinforced by many of the faithful and some religious/clergy. The opening line, “It takes as long as it takes,” threw most people off, but as Easter approached it was forgotten. Ultimately people are people.
Hi Bill. I’m sorry to hear that it is challenging for your community. Thanks for your dedication to accompanying others on the journey.
Thank you for the reminder of why we are here as Church – to spread the Good News to those who most need to hear it. In these days of polarization inside and outside the Church, we so often lose focus on mission. This is a great temptation – the pain of division is real; the concern is pressing. However, our greatest concern needs to be the suffering of our world and our communities, giving a word of hope and a pathway to joy. Rules will not do that, only relationship.
Hi Judy. There is soooooo much suffering these days. If we don’t go out to those who are hurting, who will? Thanks for emphasizing that important point.
Love this….there is still so much misunderstanding of what it means to be a missionary for the gospel! We as Catholics are so afraid of that word!
Is there a way to provide a printer friendly version of your articles so they can be shared? They are so good, and some people still would rather read on paper than on a screen. Just a thought!
Thanks!
Hi Rosie. I’m glad you loved it! I’m not sure if there is an easy way to print the articles from the website. Maybe another reader does and can chime in? I’ll look into it.
I too was bought up in the Catholic faith in the sixties and through the years of Vatican 11. I too feel that my Catholic upbringing was all about the rules but I now focus on what the rules were trying to achieve and that those rules (of practice) should change with the needs and culture and times that we live in. We need rules, but they must work with the needs of evangelisation and in the case of RCIA, with the way in which we lead candidates on their path to a relationship with God – in and through a vibrant missionary church.
Hi Peter. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. And thanks for all you do to lead others to deeper faith.
I so agree with this article, Nick! Our bishops and the USCCB must be the mission leaders for the church to be missionary. Look at the varying vision and mission statements of parishes and you can easily see if they are living it to the full or not. Many of our parish communities are being filled with missionary priests from other countries and yet the mission field isn’t being tilled and cultivated to grow missionary disciples. Very sadly we as a church continue to miss the boat in Jesus’ message to “Go and make disciples.” Our faith formation process at every level — Catholic schools/universities, parish REs, etc., continues to be a manufacturing factory to make Catholics, either culturally or by name only. So much work to be done and very few workers in the vineyards.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, George. You are right that there is so much work to be done. Thanks for stepping up to the task.
“Make a friend. Be a friend. Bring that friend to Christ.”
That is an age-old saying from Cursillo. You might ask yourself why I thought of Cursillo after reading this article. That’s easy for me to answer. Nearly every paragraph contained references to what Cursillo is all about.
Here are a few examples: “[T]he first task of the church is to preach the gospel to those who are far from Jesus Christ.” “… to elicit a positive response from all those whom Jesus summons to friendship with himself. ” “To be a good Catholic means to have a ‘missionary impulse’ that is so strong that it is ‘capable of transforming everything.'”
Of course, the Cursillo movement is not the only model for evangelization, RCIA being a perfect example of that. For me, Cursillo transformed my life and invigorated my faith. That experience from 30 years ago convinces me that we can be successful in “Spreading the Gospel.”
Hi Deacon Dan. Thanks so much for sharing your insight about the powerful effect Cursillo had in your life and so many other lives. It is encouraging to hear that you continue to have a passion for spreading the gospel. Blessings on your ministry.
Thank you Nick for your article on listening and the Synodal Way!
This art of listening with the heart is a grace filled gift, transforming to service not to power!
Many years ago I heard a wise lecturer saying the main attribute of a Christian is to listeni… Our wonderful Pope says we learn something when we listen to with whom we disagree… Need to learn more !!
Hi Bernie. Thanks for adding your thoughts. I so agree with you about the need to listen more. I don’t always do so well myself, but I keep trying to get better. Thanks for your commitment and dedication.