An Exhortation on Catechetics
to Catholic Parents and Teachers
by St. Pius X
TEACHING the catechism is instructing in the faith and morality of Jesus Christ. It gives the children of God awareness of their own origin and dignity and destiny as well as knowledge of their duties. It deposits in their heart and mind and develops in their intellects the principles and the motives of religion, of virtue and holiness in living on this earth, and hence of happiness in Heaven.
2. The teaching of the catechism is therefore the most necessary and beneficial thing for the individual, for the Church, and also for civil society. It is the fundamental teaching that stands at the base of Christian life. Where catechetical teaching is lacking or has been poorly done, the Christian life is weak and vacillating and easily becomes even weaker.
3. Since Christian parents are the first and principal educators of their own children, they must be their first and principal catechists. First catechists because it is their duty to instill into their children, as it were with their first nourishment itself, the doctrine which they themselves have received from the Church. And principal catechists, because it pertains to parents to make sure that the principal matters of faith are learned from memory inside the family.
This must begin with the most important prayers. Parents should see to it that they are repeated every day in such a way that little by little they penetrate deeply into the souls of their children.
In most cases parents are constrained to delegate the education of their children to other persons. But they should always recall their sacred obligation of selecting only educational institutions and teachers that know how to fulfill such a grave duty on behalf of themselves as parents, and who conscientiously desire to do so. Indifference in this matter causes the irreparable loss of so many children! What an account parents will have to render to God for this!
4. To teach Catholic doctrine effectively, it is necessary to know it well, and then it must be described and explained in a manner adapted to the capacity of the learner. But above all, since catechesis concerns a doctrine to be practiced, it is necessary that parents and teachers live it in their own lives.
5. We said, Christian doctrine must be known well: for how can one instruct another in something in which he himself is not instructed? Hence it follows that parents and teachers have the duty to review the catechism themselves, penetrating into the depths of truths. To achieve this, they should frequent the more ample explanations of doctrine which parish priests give for adults; furthermore, they should consult competent persons, and, if they can, they should read the right kind of books.
6. Furthermore, we said, they should explain the truths of the faith in a manner adapted to the capacity of the learner. This means that they should do this explaining with intelligence and love, in such a way that the children do not become disgusted or annoyed either at the teacher or at the doctrine taught. Hence one should put oneself at the child's level, using the most commonly known and simple words, revealing the meaning of what one is teaching by the use of apt examples and instances which affect also the sentiments of the child's heart. He who teaches should have the most delicate discretion and balance, in order not to tire the child. Progress should be made little by little. The teacher must be ready to repeat. He should proceed with patience and affection, having sympathy for the restlessness, the distractions, the impertinences, and other defects which are quite natural in the young. Above all the teacher should avoid that mechanical way of teaching which oppresses the spirit and leaves the matter unclear, putting only the memory into play, without enlisting the intelligence and the heart of the learner.
7. Finally, the teacher, or the parent who teaches, must live the faith and morality which he is teaching. Otherwise, how will one have courage enough to teach children a religion which one does not practice, and commandments and precepts which one darkens before their very eyes? And what fruit, in such a case, could one hope for? In fact, they will produce the contrary effect: parents will easily deprive themselves of their own authority, training their children toward indifference and even disdain toward the most necessary principles and the most sacred duties of human life.
Today’s Atmosphere of Unbelief
8. There is a special circumstance today. An atmosphere of unbelief has been created which is most harmful to the interior and spiritual life.
This atmosphere wages war upon
• any idea of a higher authority
• any idea of God
• any idea of revelation
• any idea of the life to come
And so parents and teachers must inculcate with the greatest care the basic truths found in the first questions given in the catechism. Let them inspire in the children
• the Christian concept of life
• the sense of responsibility in each human act
toward the Supreme Judge
• Who is everywhere, knows everything
and sees everything.
Let them develop in the learner, together with the holy fear of God, the love of Christ and love for the Church, a taste for charity and for solid piety. Let them cultivate in the children a love for the virtues and for Christian practices. Only thus will the formation of children be founded on the rock of supernatural convictions not to be overturned throughout their entire life, regardless of the storms that will come. Any other approach is an attempt to build the Christian formation of children on the sand of changeable ideas and mere human respect.
9. To realize all these things, parents and teachers must have a living faith and a profound conviction of the value of souls and of spiritual goods. They must have that wise love which seeks to secure above all the eternal happiness of the souls of their own dear ones. They need also a special grace in order to grasp the character of each child, finding the right way to his mind and heart. Catholic parents by virtue of the Sacrament of Matrimony properly received, have a right to the graces of their own state in life, and hence to the graces necessary for educating their children in this Christian way. Furthermore, by humble prayer they can obtain more abundant graces for this same purpose, for this is a work especially pleasing to God, that they form their children to the worship of God as obedient and devout Christians. Let them do it therefore at the cost of every sacrifice: it is the eternal salvation of the souls of their children which is at stake, as well as their own eternal salvation as parents. God will bless their faith and their love in this work of capital importance, and will repay them with the most desirable reward, that of having their children with them eternally, holy and happy, in Heaven.
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