Every Catholic parent wishes for a happy family where children grow strong in their Catholic faith. But not everyone knows how to do it, or is willing to invest time.
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In the area of spiritual development, some think that their responsibility consists merely of sending their children to Catechism classes in the church. Others think that simply attending the Sunday mass will take care of their family's faith journey.
Sadly, this important parenting task is being outsourced to the church due to the high demands of work or other pursuits.
In my Church Ministry as a Catechist, I have encountered many children who cannot even recite the Lord's prayer. Their parents' defense? "The children are not listening to them anymore."
What they are missing is that, it's up to us parents how our children will turn out to be in terms of their faith in God. We will be accountable for whether they develop a strong or weak faith in God.
The key is to begin teaching the faith to our children while they are young through family prayer, for when they have grown up without a clear grasp on our faith, it will be difficult to introduce God to them.
When we had our first child, Nathaniel, a couple of decades ago, Boy and I began to embrace our calling to parenthood. Our activities, decisions, prayers and dreams revolved around our family, especially our child.
We began reciting our family prayers together even before Niel learned to speak. We first taught him to make the sign of the cross. Then slowly, the Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be and the Grace Before Meals. At three years old, he could lead our Family Rosary and mealtime prayers.
Three and six years later respectively, when Ezekiel and Gabriel came, we continued the family prayer habit. Every night before we go to bed, we will pray together to thank God for all the blessings and to ask for His guidance.
On Sunday nights, we reflect on the scripture readings and homily at mass. Gabriel, the youngest will read the First Reading, followed by Ezekiel with the Second Reading and Nathaniel, our eldest will read the Gospel Reading.
By letting our children read from the bible, they familiarize themselves with the Word of God, not only through hearing them from the mass but through speaking the Word themselves. That way, it is easier for them to remember the teachings of Jesus.
Afterwards, Boy will ask us what word touched us and what we understood from the homily by the priest during the mass. Gabriel even took down notes during homily so that he can share at our prayer time. Boy will also break the the Word in relation to our own family situation. I share appropriate reflections which I read from the Magnificat or Word Among Us.
Afterwards, we will pray the Family Prayer while holding hands. Then we trace the sign of the cross on their foreheads with holy water and, as we lay our hands on them while they bow their heads, we pray to God to bless them to love Him with all their hearts, minds, souls and strengths, and that He will watch over them while they sleep, and allow them to have a restful night to wake up refreshed in the morning ready to bring Him glory. We end with a goodnight kiss and a hug.
Everyday before they go to school, we also bless them with Holy Water on their foreheads and pray that the Lord will watch over them and guide them to choose always the path to Godliness. Somehow, these blessings make them feel secure to face the world as we release all our fears and worries to God with the assurance that He will keep them safe from all danger and harm.
Until now that they have grown up, these habits of family prayer still mark our mornings and evenings. Our children will never leave our home or go to bed without our blessings and prayers. Unless when Boy and I are still outside and it is time for them to sleep, they will call us to check whether it's ok to pray on their own or we want them to wait for us. Usually, we let them pray together without us and then we just bless and pray over them while they are sleeping when we come home.
Even when they have their own busy schedules, we make it a point to attend mass together as a family. They know that Sunday is our family time with the Lord and it cannot be compromised. They can do all other activities during the week except on a Sunday. After mass, we go for lunch together, and sometimes watch a movie or play some games at home.
I believe that the youths are the world’s most valuable resource. But they need strong and loving families to nurture their faith to equip them to become great leaders.
As Mother Teresa said, "The world is laden with problems which come from a common cry, we have no time!". We have no time to pray, no time to teach, no time for dialogue, no time to play, and a lot more things that seem unimportant. Time is always the culprit. Mismanagement of it will bring many problems in family relationships where children can greatly suffer.
Now is the time to set your priorities and reassume fully your educational role. If you missed those precious growing up years of your children, there is still hope. It is up to us parents to make the decision to spend time to pass on the faith to our children.
May God bless your family with a steadfast faith in Him.
"You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. Let these words I urge on you today be written on your heart. You shall repeat them to your children and say them over to them whether at rest in your house or walking abroad, at your lying down or at your rising; you shall fasten them on your hand as a sign and on your forehead as a circlet; you shall write them on your doorpost of your house and on your gates."
(Deuteronomy 6:5-9)