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Document Details : Title: An Ambitious and Challenging New Document Subtitle: Catechumenal Itineraries for Married Life: Pastoral Guidelines for Particular Churches Author(s): BIEMANS, Ward Journal: Marriage, Families & Spirituality Volume: 28 Issue: 2 Date: 2022 Pages: 285-290 DOI: 10.2143/INT.28.2.3291377 Abstract : This article reviews and comments on the Catechumenal Itineraries for Married Life: Pastoral Guidelines for Particular Churches by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life. With these guidelines, the dicastery intends to establish an itinerary for formation into Christian married life, inspired by the baptismal catechumenate. The approach is not only catechetical but also proposes dialogue, prayer and rituals, and a welcoming into the wider church community. It is argued that the principle of graduality needs to be applied for cohabiting, engaged couples who want to marry in the church. The concrete proposal for this new catechumenal pathway consists of three phases: (1) a pre-catechumenal phase, which is a remote preparation meant for children and adolescents; (2) an intermediate phase, for the welcoming of the candidates for marriage, and (3) a catechumenal phase, subdivided into three stages: (a) forthcoming preparation, (b) immediate preparation, and (c) accompanying the first years of married life. |
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