Symbolic Language in Catechesis: Girolamo Maiorica’s Catechism and His Inculturation Initiative

Abstract

This article examines symbolic language in the catechetical writings of Jesuit Girolamo Maiorica (1591–1656), focusing on Thiên Chúa Thánh Giáo Khải Mông, to illuminate his inculturation initiatives when presenting Catholic doctrine to seventeenth-century Vietnamese audiences. Using historical–textual analysis and the question-and-answer format, the study compares the text with St. Roberto Bellarmine’s short catechism and identifies additions made “according to Vietnamese customs.” Findings indicate that Maiorica employed vernacular Vietnamese, familiar symbol systems, narrative exempla, and an organization following Faith–Prayer–Commandments (Tin–Xin–Giữ) to support catechetical learning and practice. His Nôm writings thus served pastoral needs while also providing rare evidence of seventeenth-century Nôm prose, relevant to present-day cultural and evangelization discussions.