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The Catechetical heritage of the Syro-Malabar Church is as old as the Church itself. It was the case with all other Churches among the St.Thomas Christians also then existed a system of Catechesis by which faith was handed down from generation to generation.

The aim of catachesis of all Christian Theology is formation in faith.The catechetical formation is the formation of a christian in the mystery of Christ and in the ensuing mysteries of the church.Because at the center of our faith,is a response to God’s full and final revelation in Christ,stand the paschal mysteries of passion-death-resurrection of the Lord.

In the introduction of CCC,the Church categorically stated that,”guarding the deposit of faith is the mission which the lord entrusted to His church.”Earlier to this 2nd Vatican Council declared that,“a christian education does not merely strive for the maturing of a human person,but has as its principal purpose this goal; that the baptized,while they are gradually introduced to the knowledge of the mystery of salvation,become ever more aware of the gift of faith that they have received,and that they learn in addition how to worship God the father in Spirit and Truth[John 4:23], especially in liturgical actions and be confirmed in their personal lives according to the new man created in Justice and Holiness in Truth [Eph 4:22-24]; also that they develop into perfect manhood ,to the mature measure of the fullness of Christ [Eph 4:13], and strive for the growth of the mystical Body;moreover,that aware of their calling,they learn not only how to bear witness to the hope that is in them[1 pet 3:15],but also how to help in the christian formation of the world that takes place when natural powers viewed in the full consideration of man redeemed by Christ contribute to the good of the whole society [2VC Ge.2]. Since it is the aim of christian education,the Church has it’s responsibility to give moral and religious education of all Her children with Her own special affection and help.

So the definitive aim of the catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in  communion,in intimacy,with Jesus Christ; only he can lead us to the love of the Father in Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity[Catechesis Tradendae,Pope John Paul 2,para5]. In the modern world, catechesis should help christians to be,for their own joy and the service of all,’light’ and ‘salt’.