How can we address secularism and other destructive trends in the world? (answered by Susan Tassone) One of the problems of secularism is the loss of important traditions—a tradition being the handing down of beliefs and customs from one generation to the next. At the heart of the life of the Church is the ability of the younger generations to receive these traditions from older and previous generations. In a May 2004 Vatican meeting with American bishops... [St.] John Paul II recommended U.S. Catholics recover devotions of popular piety as a means of personal and communal sanctification. For centuries the Holy Rosary, Stations of the Cross, prayer before and after meals, and other devotional practices have helped to form a school of prayer in families and parishes, acting as rich and beautiful supplements to the sacramental life of Catholics, he said. A renewal of these devotions will not only help the faithful in your country grow in personal holiness, he continued, but will also act as a source of strength and sanctification for the Catholic Church in the United States. It is up to us to pass on and to keep alive in our families the devotions, customs, and practices of our Catholic faith. The Church has always taught that parents are the primary educators of their children, and it is in the family that the faith is first transmitted and lived. We must make these spiritual investments for all future generations to ensure peace and truth for our own descendants. To form kind and merciful hearts in their children, parents need to plant the seed of God and prayer in those young hearts. Plant the seed of reverence for the dead and in due time this will manifest itself and will assure you of their aid. Without those examples, children depart into godlessness. Teach children about the meaning of All Souls Day. Teach them to go without what they enjoy (video games, for example), offer up what hurts (such as a skinned knee), and to accept what can be difficult for them (homework!). Teach them about the power of prayer and sacrifice. By praying for the souls of their deceased family, they make friends forever!
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 18:40:19 +0000
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