Father Joseph Noonan, OFM
The Catholic Church teaches that lay Catholics are responsible for learning the Catholic Faith. This thought is so simple yet so significant that it can hardly be overstated.
Catholics have lived in all parts of the world. Some have had the luxury of having either sisters, priests or brothers teach their children the Catholic Faith. In past years many parishes in the United States had schools where children were taught the catechism for eight years which was followed up with four years of high school Catholic education. For those who went to college, they could have received a total of sixteen years of Catholic education. When none of this was available, the parents were required to do their best and teach the Faith to their children.
Parents, according to Natural Law, are the first educators. They are the ones who will answer to God for what they teach their children as well as what they neglect to teach them. This is simply why it is said that no Catholic will be able to excuse himself before God, claiming he did not know. The Church further states that all Catholics are obligated to know the Faith.
The enemies of the Church know well what they were doing when they changed the catechisms in the 1960’s and took the Sisters out of the parish schools. They accomplished their diabolical goals in such a manner that generations of Catholics over the past fifty-five years know little or nothing of the One True Faith. Unless parents took the time to educate themselves on the Faith, they were truly the blind leading the blind. This explains why Catholic parents are too often a little more than baptized pagans.
Too often Catholic homes know little of Catholic customs or practices. How many families pray together each day? How often do parents sit and discuss what the children are learning in their religion class? Do parents remind their children about the Friday abstinence or Ember Days? Do parents make sure the children are saying their morning and evening prayers? How often is the father monitoring the modesty of his wife and daughters?
When the religion class is taught in a school setting it should not be considered just another subject. This is yet another mistake made by both parents and teachers. Learning the Faith in a school environment was, and still is, setting the foundation for a solid knowledge and practice of the Faith. The Faith is who one is. It determines how you think, how you act, who your friends are and effects all major decisions in one’s life. In a spiritual sense, it is your DNA. Yes, one’s Faith ought to be at the very center of your life. All else should be secondary.
For many years the clergy have either conducted or have had the laity teach weekly classes to the youth. These classes are quite necessary to teach the youth the basics in the Faith. They are not ideal. One hour a week is not really sufficient to teach the Faith well. If the child is attentive, he will learn the fundamentals, but there is so much that is missing. One hour a week does not compare with a class five days a week. It would be ideal to ask the parents to supplement the work in the weekly or daily class, but his rarely possible. The desired destruction of the Faith by the enemies of the Church within its very structure has decimated the proper knowledge of the Faith among adults. Added to this is the lack of motivation of too many parents. Daily attention to the children in matters of Faith seem too often to take a backseat to sports or other worldly distractions. One is grateful if the children say their nightly prayers faithfully.
Then there is the matter of vocations. After making observations of family life over a number of years, one concludes there are so few vocations because the family environment is less than ideal. The focus of the parents is too worldly and there is too little time spent on discussing the Mass, Sacraments, current religion class topics, etc.
It is assumed that parents have little trouble discussing a child’s academic future and goals. How often do they present to their children the most important question of their youth? What is God’s Will for me? Do I need to change my course in life so as to live according to God’s Will and not my own?
The world promotes selfishness and hedonism. When a child grows up believing he may do what ever he wants to in life and God apparently will be pleased with his decision. Nothing could be further from the truth. Materialism and liberalism have engulfed the world for many years. Children are taught to be materialistic and too often this promotes a selfishness that is spiritually harmful to the individual and has its effect upon those near to him. Taken to the extreme, the person becomes quite hedonistic. This sinful paganism has permeated the world in such a way that few families are able to escape its insidious claws.
When parents push children to succeed at all costs in some human endeavor, they are teaching them that this “interest” is the most important thing in the child’s life. How often have I witnessed parents unwittingly “encourage” them down a path which costs the child his salvation? How often has the selfishness of the parents cost the child eternal life?
This is not to be misunderstood. God has given each child a set of talents. He expects the youth to make use of these gifts for His glory. Herein lies the key to properly raising children with the correct supernatural attitude. Yes, the child may pursue a profession, trade or technical field. He should do it, though, keeping in mind to give glory to God as they follow God’s Holy Will.
How many families pray for religious vocations among the children? How often do parents discuss religious vocations with their Catholic children? Do parents provide a child with a book or pamphlet about vocations? Do parents teach the child that not all are meant to marry? When a mother “encourages” a daughter to have a boyfriend when she is not so inclined to do so, she makes a grave mistake. Worse yet, when the mother allows or encourages immodesty, especially among her daughters, she may be sending her children to Hell. If this sounds extreme look at the many women who lived a sinful life because of the bad example of their mothers. Yes, some daughters realize the sinfulness of their actions and change their life, but how many are actually courageous enough to do this? Once the seed is planted, it becomes increasingly difficult to uproot sinful habits.
Catholic parents must take it upon themselves to educate (catechize) their children. Their first concern must be the eternal salvation of their children. All else is secondary. It has been seen that too many Catholic parents do not have their priorities in order. Passing on their worldly ways and sinful habits is the wrong example and the worst kind of legacy for Catholic parents.
If parents wish to truly fulfill their Catholic responsibilities, they will raise their children to become saints. The greatest gift parents are able to give their children is the One True Faith. This is true education. This is true knowledge. Children should be taught to always follow God’s Holy Will, but the parents need to be their good example and do the same first.