CBCP
Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines
Catechism
for
Filipino
Catholics
New
Edition
with
expanded Subject Index
and
Primer
ECCCE
Word & Life Publications
MANILA
Philippines
From the beginning of the
Christianization
of the Philippines to the end of the 20th
Century:
Four
Centuries of Catechesis in our Country. One uninterrupted effort to remain faithful
to God, to Man, to the Church. One continuous endeavor
to
make the Catholic Faith relevant
to
the culture and the lives
of our Filipino People.
Vatican City, 6 March 1997
Prot. N.
97000707
Your
Excellency,
The Episcopal Conference of the Philippines,
at the appropriate time, sent to this Dicastery the Catechism for Filipino
Catholics developed by the same Episcopal Conference, requesting the approval
of the Holy See.
The Congregation for the Clergy, after having examined the text and obtained on
the first day of March, 1997 the positive opinion (Prot. N. 64/94-03884)
rendered by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, does hereby grant
the requested approbation, according to the
requirements of canon 775 § 2.
This Dicastery wishes to congratulate the Bishops of the Philippines for providing an
instrument that is truly suitable for transmitting the faith among Catholic
Filipinos and hopes that the Catechism will have the widest possible
circulation.
I take this opportunity to express to Your Excellency and to the entire
Episcopal Conference my sentiments of esteem and with every best wish, I
remain,
Sincerely
yours in Christ,
His Excellency
Most Reverend OSCAR
V. CRUZ, D.D.
President of the CBCP
470 General Luna
Street
Intramuros,
Manila 1002
P.O. Box
3601 Manila, 1099
PHILIPPINES
Preface
1.
This is the official Vatican approved National Catholic Catechism for the Philippines,
entitled Catechism for Filipino Catholics [CFC]. As a national
catechism, one major function of the CFC has been to draw together two major
current sources for our “renewed catechesis.” The first is the official Catholic
teaching of the universal Church as proposed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church
[CCC], promulgated by the
Holy Father in 1992. The second is the
Acts and Decrees of the 2nd Plenary Council of the Philippines [PCP II], with
its supplement, the National Pastoral Plan [NPP], which together present a comprehensive view of the
national culture and specific catechetical situation of the Philippine Church.
2.
This officially approved edition of the cfc is offered by the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines
[CBCP] as a major effort in implementing PCP II’s urgent call
for a triple renewal: a renewed “Catechesis” which in turn will contribute
substantially to a renewed “Worship” and “Social Apostolate.”
Why a New Catechism?
3.
The most basic reason for this new Catechism is simply the mission which the
Risen Christ entrusted to His apostles. “Make disciples of all the nations . .
. . Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19-20).
The practical goal of this Catechism, then, is to provide an effective
instrument for creatively handing on the Catholic Faith to Filipinos. It thus
aims to contribute effectively “Toward a Renewed Integral Evangelization,”
developed in PCP II’s National Pastoral Plan [NPP].
4.
The CFC was actually developed according to the NPP’s flow chart. It was conceived in response to the call for catechetical
renewal experienced in the
Church of the Poor.
It was formed by following NCDP’s orientational principles for Philippine catechesis.
It presents the operational principles and content for an integral renewed catechesis. And it envisions the same goal of a Community of Disciples of the Lord.
5.
Actually there are many catechisms in circulation throughout the Philippines
today. In addition, various religion textbook series have been published for
different levels of school religious instruction. Nevertheless, PCP II’s
call for a renewed integral catechesis has intensified the widely-felt need for
a new, up-to-date, officially approved, exposition of the Catholic Faith. We
need a catechism that is specifically written for Filipinos, in our actual,
concrete Philippine situation. In many parts of our country there are no easily
available Catholic catechisms. Even where some do exist, they are frequently
out-of-date, or partial, one-sided accounts, or foreign works, not written for
Filipinos. Even the Vatican’s Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], “a
sure and authentic reference text for teaching Catholic doctrine,” needs to be
translated into our Filipino context for a truly inculturated catechesis.
6.
Thus there is an urgent demand, first of all, for a catechism that addresses itself to our
Philippine context, with its particular needs, characteristics and crises. The NCDP places great
stress on a truly inculturated catechesis which responds to the concrete situation and culture
of Filipino Catholics and families today, in terms of our own Filipino culture
and values. At the same time, the local and regional contexts must be seen in
terms of the whole Philippine Church, and its catechetical content constantly
related to the CCC’s authoritative presentation of the universal doctrine,
morals, and worship of the Catholic Faith.
7.
The nature and conditions of the Filipino family, and of Filipino value and
belief systems, are undergoing radical changes, amidst our growing
modernization with its economic and political upheavals. This radically affects
the proclamation of Christ’s Good News to today’s Filipino. A national catechism, therefore, prepared by the CBCP and officially approved by the proper
Vatican Congregations, represents a significant advance over the many partial,
regionally-limited expositions of the Faith.
8.
A second demand arises
from the situation of wide diversity and pluralism in the post-Vatican II era. Bible study,
liturgical changes, value education, the thrust for justice — all have
shaped this new “climate.” The sheer number of different groups, often urging
conflicting doctrines and actions, has
confused many regarding even the essentials of the Faith. Some have retreated to a basically fundamentalist
position, in fear of losing their
Catholic Faith. Others have been enticed by new prayer or charismatic sects to
abandon the Catholic Church for more “personable,” warmer socio-religious groups. Many others are
simply disturbed, seeking how they should react to these new challenges (cf. PCP II 216-28).
9.
In such a situation, shared by Catholics all over the world, this new,
up-to-date Catechism for Filipino Catholics responds to three
basic needs. The first is, that in the
face of all the proselytizing and pressure propaganda, Filipino Catholics look
for the reliable Catholic word, especially in family and youth
catechesis. Second, to reject today’s common pursuit of self-centered
freedom and ever richer life-styles, Catholics seek a clear sense of Christian moral values and responsibility. Today’s
morality must be inspired by the Gospel priority of service, especially
to the poor. Third, amidst the anxious search for new prayer forms and
novel faith-experiences, Catholics seek their roots in the Catholic tradition of community worship (cf. NCDP 54).
Characteristics of This Catechism
10.
Given these three basic needs, the mission of the Church to proclaim Christ’s
Gospel calls today for a new type of catechism, adapted to our times. This new
catechism stresses four characteristics.
Focus on the Essentials
11.
The first is its focus on the Essentials of the Faith. The catechism
can not possibly offer a complete, comprehensive account of all aspects and
elements of the faith. Rather, it
aims at presenting the basics of the Church’s faith in Christ by drawing
directly on the Creed, the Commandments, and the Sacraments, not on any
particular theological school or trend.
This faith is proposed in the CCC.
Filipino Catholics professed this Faith in proclaiming the Creed at Sunday Mass. They live out this
Catholic commitment to Christ by obeying the Commandments in their Christian
moral service. And they celebrate it in Catholic sacramental worship. Thus they
express in daily life the greatest of the Christian virtues __
Faith, Hope, and Love.
12.
These essentials of Faith in Christ must be expressed in an organic and systematic manner, which is both concentrated yet attractive (cf. PCP II 163; CCC 5). This involves an integrated approach, which
constitutes the first methodological principle of our catechesis (cf.
NCDP 75, 414-25). Catholic Faith is a living integrated whole both in
its objective content – Doctrine, Morals, and Worship,
as well as in every subject, every believer. To respond to
Christ’s personal call to discipleship means to believe, act, and worship with all the
energies of one’s head, will, and heart, in
Christ’s own community, the Church.
Experiential/Filipino
13. Second, believing in Christ must be related directly to the
daily Filipino human experience of living as Christ’s disciple. Such human
experience is found on every page of the Bible, in Church teaching, in the signs of the times. But it is especially
the typical personal experience,
culture, and values of today’s Filipino Catholic that must be evident in the
Catechism. This follows the second catechetical
principle of stressing experience and inculturation (cf. NCDP 401-4; 426-33).
Catholic
14.
Third, this is to be an explicitly Catholic catechism. This is meant not in any negative sense of questioning the
sincerity or value of other faiths, but positively in terms of its sources, content
and goal. Its sources are Sacred Scripture, Catholic
tradition, especially as presented in The Catechism of the Catholic
Church, and the human experience of Filipinos in their Catholic
community. Its content for a Renewed Integral Evangelization
includes the doctrinal truths, moral principles and values, and liturgical
life of that community. Its goal is to build up
the
Community of Disciples of the Lord. This
constitutes the third basic methodological principle of our catechetical ministry (cf. NPP; NCDP 434-50).
Practical
15. Fourth, this catechism is a book to be used, a source to be
consulted in practical questions about the Faith. Thus it consciously works at integrating doctrine (orthodoxy) with Catholic Moral conduct and attitudes,
as well as with Catholic worship
(orthopraxis). But beyond illuminating the Faith, this catechism
aims at inspiring and motivating its readers to actual personal commitment to
Jesus Christ, within our Catholic community. It invites and challenges the
reader to “come and see” (Jn 1:39), and experience the life of faith,
love, and hope to which Jesus
calls every one who listens to his voice (cf.
Lk 11:28).
For Whom the Catechism Is Intended
16.
The CFC
is expressly directed to all who are actively engaged in communicating or
studying the Faith: priests, religious,
catechists, religion teachers—and perhaps most of all, parents. It is an adult
catechism in the sense that
it provides a source book for those who address the typical Sunday Mass
congregation of an ordinary Filipino parish. Therefore, this is not a parish or
school religion textbook. It is intended to serve as a proximate source
for parish catechesis, and for creating religion textbooks suited to the
primary, secondary or college levels.
17.
This catechism is addressed primarily to committed Filipino Catholics, rather than to winning new converts to the Catholic
Faith. Nevertheless, it can be very useful for anyone desiring to know more
about the Catholic Faith. Because of its Scripturally based exposition of the Faith, and its Creedal structure, the catechism
can foster fruitful ecumenical dialogue with other Christians. Because of its
stress on the living Tradition of the local Catholic Church, it highlights both
the basics of the CCC, especially the teaching of Vatican II, and the
pronouncements of the Catholic Philippine hierarchy [CBCP].
Thus
the catechism provides Filipino
Catholics with a sound apologetic by giving “the reason for the hope”
that Faith instills in them (cf. 1 Pt 3:15). It encourages its readers
to “hold fast to the authentic message, so that [they] will be able both to
encourage men to follow sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it” (Ti
1:9).
Basic Structure of the Catechism
18.
The CFC is structured according to a Trinitarian vision of the Faith that is at the same time truly Christ-centered. Moreover,
the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of our Savior and his perfect disciple, has
served as its inspirational model, just as she has done for countless Filipino
Catholics through the ages. Most important, however, is the need to understand CFC’s basic structure — both WHAT is its structure,
and WHY this structure was chosen.
Like
the Vatican’s
CCC, the CFC is based on “four pillars”: the baptismal
profession of Faith (the Creed), the Sacraments of faith, the life of
Faith (the commandments), and the prayer of the believer (the Lord’s
prayer). (cf. CCC 13)
Unlike the CCC, however, which simply arranges the four pillars one
after another [1) Creed, 2) Sacraments, 3) Commandments, and 4) Prayer], the CFC structures the whole catechism
on the Creed. It
inserts Christian Moral Life (Commandments) following the Creedal section on
Jesus Christ, and combines Prayer with Sacraments immediately after the Creedal
truths on the Holy Spirit and the Church. The CFC’s exposition of the Lord’s Prayer, then, serves as the
Epilogue integrating the whole catechism.
19. This arrangement offers
two advantages:
•
it directly links “keeping the Commandments” with the “following of Christ,”
and
•
it integrates Sacraments with Prayer, and both as flowing from the Holy Spirit
in the life of the Church.
Thus
this arrangement responds to the NCDP’s call to strengthen moral catechesis by linking it
directly with Catholic doctrine and worship. It also takes up PCP II’s challenge for a
renewed catechesis by pushing beyond mere “head knowledge” of doctrinal
formulas on one side, or pious devotional ritualism on the other, to foster a
truly integrated Faith of loving Christian service and worship.
20.
The CFC,
then, is structured in three main Parts, introduced by a Preface and Foundations, and concluding with an Epilogue that summarizes the whole Catechism.
Preface
Foundations
1. The Filipino
Catholic 3.
Our Response: Faith
2. God’s Call: Revelation
4. Our Unbelief
Part
I
Christ, Our Truth
(Doctrine)
5. Catholic Doctrine
6. God, Father Almighty
7. Creator of All
8. The Fall from Glory
9. God Promises a Savior
10. Jesus Christ: Mission/Person
11. Christ Has Died
12. Christ Is Risen and Will Come Again
Part
II
Christ, Our Way
(Moral Life)
13. Living as Disciples of
Christ
14. Following Christ
15. Christian Law
16. Love the Lord Your God
17. Love One Another
18. Respect Life
19. Respect Human
Sexuality
20. Building Justice
21. Respecting Truth
Part
III
Christ, Our Life
(Worship)
22. The Holy Spirit
23. The Catholic Church
24. Catholic Prayer and Worship
25. Baptism/Confirmation
26. Eucharist
27. Healing Sacraments
28. Vocation Sacraments
29. Resurrection and Life
Everlasting
30. Epilogue: The Lord’s Prayer
21.
The three parts of Doctrine,
Moral Life and Worship thus present the Trinity — Father,
Son and Holy Spirit, while at the same time focussing on Christ as our Truth, our Way and our Life (cf. Jn 14:16).
They call for our
Spirit-inspired response of Faith,
Love and Hope, as members of Christ’s Body, our Catholic community, the Church.
Finally, the three Parts respond to the three most basic human questions:
Doctrine answers “What can I know?”, Moral teaching illumines “What should I do?”, and the Sacrament/Worship celebrate “What may I hope for?”
Thus
the CFC’s structure reproduces in an integrative manner the Catholic
Faith’s threefold objective structure of Doctrine (Creed), Morals
(Commandments) and Worship (Sacraments), and its holistic subjective
structure in all believers of Head (believing), Hands
(acting/doing), and Heart (prayerful trusting).
Using This Catechism
22.
To find any particular topic of the Catholic Faith in this Catechism, first
consult the Table of Contents which outlines the whole book. For more precise
location, an Index of all the topics treated in the Catechism is
provided in the back.
23.
In order to facilitate consultation and use of this Catechism, the format of each chapter
follows the same pattern. Each chapter begins with some quote from the
Scriptures or the Magisterium and a brief Opening which identifies the topic to be treated and relates
it to other pertinent topics in the Catechism. This is followed immediately by
the Context which focuses the topic within our specific Filipino
situation, with its particular problems, attitudes, values, and weaknesses.
Thus contextualized, the topic is then developed in the Exposition
which presents the essential content drawn from Scripture and Church teaching,
and related directly to the concrete human experience of today’s Filipino
Catholic.
24. The Exposition is the main
part of each chapter and is followed by a brief section entitled Integration.
This offers one explicit example of interrelating the doctrinal,
moral and worship dimensions of the chapter’s topic. Thus, the Integration
responds to a key directive of the NCDP which proposes the constant interrelating of doctrine, morals and worship to bring out
Faith’s experiential reality more intensely and more vividly. But only one example is usually
presented, precisely as an invitation to compose many other examples of basic interrelationships of the
three dimensions.
25.
Finally, each chapter concludes with a series of Questions
and Answers summarizing the
basic content of the chapter. The style of the Answers is simple, often
arranging the context in schematic form, in order to facilitate its
comprehension and retention.