Divine Pedagogy

The Divine Pedagogy is the way that God teaches us. The Divine Pedagogy is demonstrated in the way that God, who loves us perfectly and completely, sent His Son Jesus to reveals Himself and His Plan for our salvation and sanctification. In other words, we can examine how Jesus catechizes and learn how we are to be catechists. Jesus is not only the aim of catechesis, He is also the role model for catechists.

How does Jesus reveal Himself and His Plan? How does the Divine Pedagogy work?

The Divine Pedagogy has several distinctive characteristics that catechists should seek to imitate.

1. God works with how we are made.

2. God works incrementally.

3. God always provides the grace needed.

God works with how we are made.

God knows that we have a human nature. We cannot help but learn in human ways. God gave humans both physical ways of knowing, such as through our senses (taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing) and in spiritual ways of knowing, such as praying, thinking, deciding, emotions, etc.

Human beings have both a body and a soul. In addition, God has made each person to be with Him and His Family, in heaven, forever. To be a saint is to be fully human, it is not just a nice thing for someone to do.

God works incrementally.

He doesn’t let us know everything all at once. God let’s us know what we are capable of knowing, always awaiting for our response of faith. This response of faith is articulated in many ways, i.e. saying yes or I believe, our acceptance of the gifts that God has given, etc.

God always provides the grace needed.

In other words, with every truth that is revealed or put forth, God gives us the help we need to make the response of faith. This “divine help” or “actual grace” is available at every moment.

(Note: “Sanctifying grace” or “divine life” is available in the seven sacraments.)

For further study:

Read CCC 53, 122, 684, 708, 1145, 1950 and 1964.

Read part three of the General Directory for Catechesis or GDC, entitled “The Pedagogy of God” which has also been revised to formulate the main elements of a pedagogy of the faith inspired by divine pedagogy.