The course of catechesis in recent decades has been marked by the Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi Tradendae. This text not only represents the journey accomplished starting from the renewal of the Second Vatican Council, it distills the contributions of numerous bishops from around the world gathered at the Synod of 1977. Catechesis "has the twofold objective of maturing the initial faith and of educating the true disciple of Christ by means of a deeper and more systematic knowledge of the person and the message of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

Holiness is the crucial word that can be pronounced in presenting a new Directory of Catechesis. It is the herald of a way of life that catechists are also called to follow with constancy and fidelity. They are not alone on this demanding journey. The Church, in every part of the world, can present models of catechists who have attained holiness and even martyrdom in living their ministry every day. Their witness is fruitful, and makes it still thinkable in our time that each of us can persevere in this adventure even in the silent, laborious, and sometimes thankless work of being a catechist.