This article tries to give an answer to the question: how much did the development of catechetics as a theological discipline have influence on the presence of the Bible in catechesis? Thus we find here presented a history of the changes that have taken place in catechetics from its beginnings up to today. Changes in catechetics went from seeing it as the methodics of teaching religion to catechetics as a theolo- gical discipline. On each stage of the development of catechetics, the Bible was present in catechetical practice, where in the earlier stages it had a ancillary and auxiliary role. The drawing near of catechetics to theology also was the cause of a very substantial change in the assignment of the place of the Bible, which was acknowledged as the source of catechesis. Even though this situation is directly connected to the kerygmatic movement, the Bible is also the source of catechesis today.

The reflection taken up in this article allows to see the close connection between catechesis and biblical theology. Thus a valid assumption emerges that in the pre- paration of catechists of today it is necessary to be more open to a collaboration with theologians working on the Bible and making attempts to carry over the fruit of their studies to the field of pastoral theology, above all to catechetics.

The subject matter dealt with in this article fits into a broader discussion on sovereignty and patriotism, which has intensified since Poland’s accession to the European Union. It is also associated with the topical issue of patriotic education of children and adolescents, in which the Church engages along with the family and the school (e.g. as part of religion lessons, parochial catechesis, specialist pastoral work). When taking up the subject matter described in the title, the author first focused on whether now, in a changed historical context, speaking about patriotism and patriotic attitudes is still sensible and whether a Christian can (should) be a patriot. When seeking an answer to this question, a reference was made mainly to the Letter of the Polish Episcopate On Christian Patriotism, issued on the 200th anniversary of the first partition of Poland, and to the document of the Conference of the Polish Episcopate prepared by the Council for Social Matters, entitled The Christian Shape of Patriotism. It was against this background that an answer was sought to the question about patriotic content in homilies and catechesis. Homilies delivered by St. John Paul II during his pilgrimages to his homeland were used as a model in this regard. The basic assumptions of the religion teaching syllabus for schools and parochial catechesis, which refer at multiple points to patriotism as a value, emphasising the importance of developing an attitude of respect and love for one’s homeland and its cultural heritage, as well as a motivation to actively participate in social life, were also discussed.