Catechesis and Modern Media: A Focus on Podcasts

Abstract

Catechesis and Modern Media: A Focus on Podcasts Teofilo Giovan S. Pugeda III (bio) Pope John Paul II described catechesis as an invitation to be in intimate communion with Jesus and, through him, to share in the Trinitarian life.1 Catechesis is, thus, part of the mission of evangelization mandated by Jesus to his apostles. It cultivates faith in the hearts of those who have received and accepted the initial Gospel proclamation in their lives. He added that “catechesis is intimately bound up with the whole of the Church’s life. Not only her geographical extension and numerical increase, but even more, her inner growth and correspondence with God’s plan depend essentially on catechesis.”2 While many people rightly understand catechesis as the education of catechumens on basic Church teachings before their baptism, it can also refer to the lifelong spiritual and intellectual formation of the baptized.3 The Church developed various forms of catechesis according to changes in historical circumstances. By doing so, it used appropriate catechetical tools that delivered the Christian message in a more understandable and accessible manner to those unable to grasp academic explanations of the Church’s doctrines. These catechetical tools also helped integrate the Church’s doctrines into the more concrete realities of people’s lives. Since the ancient period, the Church has used printed works for catechesis. In the contemporary period, it also uses modern media that transmit information through signals. To better understand the relationship between the Church and modern media, this essay [End Page 65] focuses on podcasts by presenting 1) the development of catechesis, 2) Church teachings on modern media, 3) the characteristics of podcasts, and 4) thoughts on using podcasts for catechesis. Although I use the Catholic framework, the insights of this essay may benefit other Christian communities in their catechetical efforts. The Development of Catechesis There was no definitive and regular program of initiation in the first two hundred years of the Church. Christians used faith summaries for the easy socialization of converts into the Church and the legitimation of the faith in the minds of believers.4 By the late second century, a catechumenate institution emerged. The formation process was three years of instruction and conversion from behavior incompatible with the Christian lifestyle, and it culminated with baptism at Easter. The oldest description of this formation process is in the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus of Rome. Variations did exist from one locale to another.5 At this time, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem were major catechetical centers. Early Church fathers provided catechetical foundations to these three cities, with Origen, John Chrysostom, and Cyril of Jerusalem, respectively, giving sermons or lectures there. While in the West, Ambrose of Milan and Augustine of Hippo wrote catechetical works. The early medieval period saw a decline in the catechumenate as fewer adults sought baptism, and the practice of infant baptism grew.6 With the risk of infant mortality, there was greater urgency concerning the reception of baptism. Catechesis gradually shifted from pre-baptism to post-baptism. Parents and godparents would take it upon themselves to educate the children on the faith, assuming they were familiar with Church teachings. Nevertheless, aiding in memorizing the Creed, the Our Father, and the Hail Mary with some basic instruction was often sufficient. The clergy continued to instruct the baptized through [End Page 66] preaching in the liturgy. They sometimes used catechetical handbooks and homilies. Over time, conciliar interventions in the form of ecclesiastical legislation provided organization to the teaching of doctrines and morals. The flourishing of Christian art in the medieval period also played a significant role in communicating the lives of Jesus and the saints to the people. Unfortunately, all these did not prevent the gradual stagnation within the Church. The dire state of the Church at the beginning of the sixteenth century galvanized reformers to re-envision religiosity with greater emphasis on the scriptures.7 This new vision contributed to the emergence of various beliefs. Thanks to the printing innovation of Johannes Gutenberg, reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin disseminated numerous catechisms to advance their theologies. The Church responded by producing catechisms aligned with Catholic doctrines.8 The Society of Jesus...