Id al mundo entero y proclamad el evangelio. La evangelización en el derecho eclesial by Jaime González Argente (review)

Book III of the 1983 Code of Canon Law on the teaching office of the Church is, unfortunately, often overlooked for its importance to the life of the Church. Covering such topics as the levels of authority of Church teaching and Catholic education, Book III also gives guidance on the Church’s missionary activity and the preaching of the Gospel. In this volume, González addresses Titles I and II of Book III on the Ministry of the Divine Word and the Missionary Action of the Church.

González divides the work into four chapters, each considering an essential component of evangelization. First, he presents certain doctrinal principles with regard to the deposit of faith (45–68). Following a three-stage model for evangelization, González discusses missionary activity in chapter two of the volume as the first stage (69–137). In chapter three, he considers the notion of catechesis as the second stage (139–202). In chapter four, he presents the pastoral action of preaching the Word of God as the third stage in the process (203–244). Each chapter also considers the corresponding canons of the code and select Church documents that relate to the specific topic. For example, at 139–146 on catechesis, there is a discussion of canons 773–778, St. John Paul II’s 1979 apostolic exhortation Catechesi tradendae, and the Congregation for the Clergy’s 1997 General Directory for Catechesis. While the text is primarily a consideration of juridical principles as they relate to evangelization, González necessarily includes certain theological propositions that are applied as juridical statements (41). In addressing these topics, he should be commended for the breadth of resources, both primary and secondary, considered to demonstrate a variety of opinions on the subject matter (15–38).

In his summary, González proposes eight general conclusions supported by his consideration of the relevant canons and related sources. He also acknowledges certain important doctrinal principles found in Book III, namely, that the Church is missionary by nature, and that the deposit of faith, missionary activity, and the members of the Christian faithful who assist with teaching are each configured to and from a sacramental basis (239–240). He then identifies the following eight general conclusions (240–243):

1. 1. He acknowledges that the members of the Christian faithful participate in the Church’s mission by engaging in the proclamation of the Gospel according to their condition.

2. 2. He suggests that the missionary action of the members of the Christian faithful—i.e., the People of God who, in turn, comprise the Church—belongs essentially to the Church’s teaching function.

3. 3. He maintains that the canonical norms that consider the role of evangelization must not only regulate this activity but also be a response to the action of the Church and the diversity of her members.

4. 4. He asserts that, while Book III of the code does not specifically address the missionary responsibilities of priests or members of the laity, these responsibilities can be deduced from other sources and canons dealing with their respective rights and obligations, e.g., canon 225.

5. 5. He argues that the role of the catechist should be more clearly defined since he or she is a necessary collaborator in the ministry of evangelization.

6. 6. He suggests that the lack of guidance in Book III on a candidate’s suitability to be a catechist is provided by the General Directory for Catechesis and other Church documents.

7. 7. He submits that the teaching office of the Church is focused on the manner of transmission of the Word of God, which is proclaimed through the baptized, properly admitted, and those admitted to holy orders.

8. 8. Lastly, González emphasizes the importance of appropriate catechesis, properly supported by canonical legislation, that leads to the deepening of one’s faith.

González provides an engaging...