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From the earliest days of the Church the instruction of the ignorant, whether adults or children, in the rudiments of the faith has ever been regarded as one of the foremost duties of the pastoral office. This kind of instruction, called catechetical, differs from the more general forms of religious teaching. The Council of Trent carefully marked this difference, and prescribed catechetical instruction as a distinct duty for all who have the care of souls. In his Encyclical on the subject, his Holiness, Pius X., describes the nature of such instruction. He first cites with approbation the words of his predecessor, Benedict XIV.: " Two chief obligations have been imposed by the Council of Trent on those who have the care of souls; first, that they address the people on divine things on feast days; and, second, that they instruct the young and the ignorant in the rudiments of the law of God and of the faith." Then Pius X. says: " It may be that there are some who, to save themselves trouble, are willing to believe that the explanation of the Gospel may serve also for catechetical instruction. This is an error which should be apparent to all. For the sermon on the Gospel is addressed to those who may be supposed to be already instructed in the rudiments of the faith. It is, so to say, the bread that is broken for adults. Catechetical instruction, on the other hand, is that milk which the Apostle St. Peter wished to be desired with simplicity by the faithful as newly-born children."

Three methods are open to the catechist: the historical, the logical, and the liturgical. Divine Revelation