CSDC 529

The formative value of the Church's social doctrine should receive more attention in catechesis.¹¹²² Cf. Congregation for the Clergy, General Directory for Catechesis, 30, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City 1997, pp. 30-32. Catechesis is the systematic teaching of Christian doctrine in its entirety, with a view to initiating believers into the fullness of Gospel life.¹¹²³ Cf. John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi Tradendae, 18: AAS 71AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 71 (1979) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1979), 1291-1292. The ultimate aim of catechesis “is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ”.[1124 ] In this way, it becomes possible to recognize the action of the Holy Spirit, from whom comes the gift of new life in Christ¹¹²⁵ Cf. Congregation for the Clergy, General Directory for Catechesis, 54, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City 1997, p. 54.. Seen in this light, in its service of educating to the faith, the concern of catechesis must not fail “to clarify properly realities such as man's activity for his integral liberation, the search for a society with greater solidarity and fraternity, the fight for justice and the building of peace”¹¹²⁶ John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi Tradendae, 29: AAS 71AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 71 (1979) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1979), 1301-1302; cf. also Congregation for the Clergy, General Directory for Catechesis, 17, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City 1997, p. 21.. In order to do so, the fullness of the social Magisterium must be presented: its history, its content and its methodology. Direct contact with the texts of the social encyclicals, read within an ecclesial context, enriches its reception and application, thanks to the contribution of the different areas of competency and professions represented within the community.