Today's General Audience began at 10:00am in Saint Peter's Square. Pope Francis met there with groups of pilgrims and the faithful who had come from various parts of Italy and from all corners of the world.
During his speech, the Pope continued the cycle of his catecheses on the family, focusing this week on the theme of the education of children.
Following the summaries of His catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered greetings to all the groups of the faithful who were present.
He then invited them to pray for Catholics in China on the occasion of the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, which is observed on May 24, and venerated at the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai. His Holiness also called for prayers for persecuted Christians on the Vigil of Pentecost which is being organized by the Italian Episcopal Conference.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.
Today, dear brothers and sisters, I want to welcome you because I have seen many families among you, good morning to all the families! Let us continue to reflect on the family. Today, we will focus our reflection on an essential characteristic of the family, which is its natural vocation to educate children so that they might grow in their responsibility for themselves and for others. What we have heard from the apostle Paul, at the beginning of this Audience, is so beautiful: You children, be obedient to your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. You fathers, do not provoke your sons, lest they become discouraged (Col 3:20-21). This is a wise rule: a child who is taught to listen to his parents and to obey them will have parents who don't have to command in a violent way, and therefore they won't discourage their child. In fact, children should grow without ever being discouraged, step by step. If parents tell their children: Let's climb that ladder, and then take their hand and step by step, teach them to climb, things will go well. But if you say: Climb! and they respond: But I can't! and you insist: Go on!, this is what it means to exasperate your child, asking the child to do something that they are not capable of doing. For this reason, the relationship between parents and their children should always be based on wisdom, great equilibrium. Children, obey your parents, for that is what pleases God. And you parents, don't provoke your children, asking them things that they cannot do. This must be done so that they can grow in responsibility for themselves and for others.
It would seem to be obvious, but even in our times, there are difficulties. It is difficult to educate if parents only see their children in the evenings, when they return home, tired out from a day's work. Those who have the great fortune of having work! It's even more difficult for separated parents who are weighed down by their conditions: poor them, they've had so much difficulty, they are separated and many times the children are almost taken hostage by a father who speaks badly of the child's mother or a mother who speaks badly of the child's father and this is so hurtful. But I say to separated parents: never, never take your children as hostages! There are many reasons why parents can be separated, life presents so many challenges, but children should never have to carry the weight of separations between their parents, they should never be used as hostages between one spouse and another; rather they should always hear their mothers speak well of their fathers, and their fathers speak well of their mothers, even though they may not be together. This is very difficult at times for parents who are separated, but it is very important and it can be done.
Above all, the question is: how to teach? Which traditions do we have today to transmit to our children?
Intellectual critics of all kinds have silenced parents in many ways, in order to protect younger generations from the damage - real or imagined - of family education. Families have been accused, among other things, of authoritarianism, of favoritism, of conformism, of emotional repression that creates conflicts.
In fact, a rift has opened between the family and society, between the family and the school; today, the educational agreement has been broken; and so, the educational alliance between society and the family has entered into a crisis because mutual trust has been undermined. There are many symptoms. For example, in schools, the relationships between parents and teachers have been affected. Sometimes, there are reciprocal tensions and mistrust, and consequently, any consequences are often visited upon the children. On the other hand, there are increased numbers of those who are considered experts, who have taken on the roles of parents even in the most intimate of education. As far as emotional life is concerned, and concerning the development of personality, rights and obligations, experts know everything: objectives, motivations, even techniques. Parents only have to listen, learn and adapt. Deprived of their roles, they often become overly apprehensive and pensive in situations of conflict with their children, ultimately never correcting them: You can't correct a child. They tend to entrust more and more to the experts, even concerning the most delicate or personal of aspects of their lives, putting themselves into a corner; and therefore parents today are at risk of excluding themselves from the lives of their children. This is a very serious situation! Today, there are homes like this. I am not saying that this always happens, but there are some situations. The teacher at school scolds the child and sends a note home to the parents. I remember a personal story. Once, when I was in elementary school, I said a bad word to the teacher and the teacher, a wonderful woman, called my mother. She came the day afterwards; they talked and then I was called. In front of my teacher, my mother explained that what I had done was a bad thing, that I should not have done it: but my mother did this with such tenderness and she asked me to apologize to my teacher, in front of her. I did, and then I was happy because I said: there is a happy ending, but this was only the first chapter! When I got home, the second chapter began ... Can you imagine, today, if a teacher were to do something like that, the day afterwards, she would find the two parents or one of the two blaming her, because the experts say that children should not be corrected in this way. Things have changed! This is why parents should never exclude themselves from the education of their children.
It is clear that this approach is not good: it is not harmonious, there is no dialogue, instead of contributing to collaboration between the family and other teaching agents: the schools, gymnasiums ... they contradict one another.
How did we get to this point? There is no doubt that parents, or better still, some models of teaching in the past had certain limits, there is no doubt about that. But it is also true that there are some mistakes that only parents are allowed to make, because they can compensate in a way that is impossible for anyone else. On the other hand, we know very well that life has become stingy with time to talk, to reflect, to discuss things. Many parents are preoccupied by work - dad and mom have to work - and by other concerns, at times embarrassed by new demands put upon them by their children and by the complexity of modern life - that's the way it is, we have to accept the way things are - and we find ourselves paralyzed by fear of failure. The problem, however, is not only about talking. Indeed a superficial dialogue will never lead to a true encounter of minds and hearts. Instead, we should ask: seek to understand where our children truly are on their journey? Where are their souls really at, do we know? Above all: do we want to know? Are we convinced that they are not in fact waiting for something else?
Christian communities are called to offer support in the family's mission of teaching, and to do so above all with the light of the Word of God. The apostle Paul recalls the reciprocity of duties on the part of parents and children: Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they be discouraged (Col 3:20-21). At the bottom of everything, there is love, the love that God gives us, a love that does not disrespect, that does not seek its own interests, that does not grow angry, that takes no account of wrongs that have been suffered ... that excuses all things, that believes all things, that hopes all things, that endures all things (1 Cor 13:5-6). Even the best of families need to bear with one another and it takes a lot of patience to bear with one another.That's life. Life is not made in a laboratory, it comes about in reality. Jesus too experienced education in a family setting. Even in this case, the grace of the love of Christ complements that which is inscribed in human nature. How many wonderful examples there are of Christian parents who are full of human wisdom! They demonstrate the fact that good family education is the backbone of humanism. It's radiating presence in society is the resource that makes is possible for us to make up for things that are missing, for wounds, for gaps in parenting that affect the less fortunate among our children. This radiant presence can truly bring about miracles. In the Church, such miracles take place every day!
My hope is that the Lord will grant all Christian families the virtues of faith, freedom and the courage necessary for their mission. If family education is able to rediscover the pride of its leadership, many things will change for the better, for uncertain parents and for disillusioned children. And now, may fathers and mothers return from their exile - for they have been self-excluded from the education of their children - and may they fully resume their roles as educators. Let us hope that the Lord might grant this grace to all parents: the grace of not excluding themselves from the education of their children. This can only come about with love, tenderness and patience.
As is the established custom, the above catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and the Holy Father offered greetings to each of the groups of pilgrims that was present. To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, including those from Great Britain, Finland, Norway, South Africa, China, India, Korea, Canada and the United States of America. In a special way, I greet these young musicians, you played well! Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke an abundance of joy and peace in the Lord Jesus. God bless you all!
The Holy Father also called for prayers for the people of China who venerate Our Lady at the Shrine of Sheshan. The feast day of Our Lady of Sheshan is approaching in the coming days.
On the 24 May, the Catholics in China will implore with devotion Our Lady Help of Christians, venerated in the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai. In the statue, which towers above the Shrine, we see Mary who holds her Son high, presenting him to the world with arms opened wide in a gesture of love and mercy. We too will ask Mary to help Catholics in China to be always credible witnesses of this merciful love among their fellow citizens and to live spiritually united to the rock of Peter upon whom the Church is built.
He then announced a Vigil of prayer in anticipation of the approaching Solemnity of Pentecost:
The Italian Conference of Bishops has proposed in the Dioceses of this country, on the occasion of the Vigil of Pentecost, that we remember our many brothers and sisters who have been exiled or killed simply because they are Christians. They are martyrs. I hope that this moment of prayer will increase the awareness that religious freedom is an inalienable human right, that it will increase our awareness of the drama of Christians who are persecuted in our time and that such unacceptable crimes will be brought to an end.
During his speech, the Pope continued the cycle of his catecheses on the family, focusing this week on the theme of the education of children.
Following the summaries of His catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered greetings to all the groups of the faithful who were present.
He then invited them to pray for Catholics in China on the occasion of the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, which is observed on May 24, and venerated at the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai. His Holiness also called for prayers for persecuted Christians on the Vigil of Pentecost which is being organized by the Italian Episcopal Conference.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.
Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the General Audience
Today, dear brothers and sisters, I want to welcome you because I have seen many families among you, good morning to all the families! Let us continue to reflect on the family. Today, we will focus our reflection on an essential characteristic of the family, which is its natural vocation to educate children so that they might grow in their responsibility for themselves and for others. What we have heard from the apostle Paul, at the beginning of this Audience, is so beautiful: You children, be obedient to your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. You fathers, do not provoke your sons, lest they become discouraged (Col 3:20-21). This is a wise rule: a child who is taught to listen to his parents and to obey them will have parents who don't have to command in a violent way, and therefore they won't discourage their child. In fact, children should grow without ever being discouraged, step by step. If parents tell their children: Let's climb that ladder, and then take their hand and step by step, teach them to climb, things will go well. But if you say: Climb! and they respond: But I can't! and you insist: Go on!, this is what it means to exasperate your child, asking the child to do something that they are not capable of doing. For this reason, the relationship between parents and their children should always be based on wisdom, great equilibrium. Children, obey your parents, for that is what pleases God. And you parents, don't provoke your children, asking them things that they cannot do. This must be done so that they can grow in responsibility for themselves and for others.
It would seem to be obvious, but even in our times, there are difficulties. It is difficult to educate if parents only see their children in the evenings, when they return home, tired out from a day's work. Those who have the great fortune of having work! It's even more difficult for separated parents who are weighed down by their conditions: poor them, they've had so much difficulty, they are separated and many times the children are almost taken hostage by a father who speaks badly of the child's mother or a mother who speaks badly of the child's father and this is so hurtful. But I say to separated parents: never, never take your children as hostages! There are many reasons why parents can be separated, life presents so many challenges, but children should never have to carry the weight of separations between their parents, they should never be used as hostages between one spouse and another; rather they should always hear their mothers speak well of their fathers, and their fathers speak well of their mothers, even though they may not be together. This is very difficult at times for parents who are separated, but it is very important and it can be done.
Above all, the question is: how to teach? Which traditions do we have today to transmit to our children?
Intellectual critics of all kinds have silenced parents in many ways, in order to protect younger generations from the damage - real or imagined - of family education. Families have been accused, among other things, of authoritarianism, of favoritism, of conformism, of emotional repression that creates conflicts.
In fact, a rift has opened between the family and society, between the family and the school; today, the educational agreement has been broken; and so, the educational alliance between society and the family has entered into a crisis because mutual trust has been undermined. There are many symptoms. For example, in schools, the relationships between parents and teachers have been affected. Sometimes, there are reciprocal tensions and mistrust, and consequently, any consequences are often visited upon the children. On the other hand, there are increased numbers of those who are considered experts, who have taken on the roles of parents even in the most intimate of education. As far as emotional life is concerned, and concerning the development of personality, rights and obligations, experts know everything: objectives, motivations, even techniques. Parents only have to listen, learn and adapt. Deprived of their roles, they often become overly apprehensive and pensive in situations of conflict with their children, ultimately never correcting them: You can't correct a child. They tend to entrust more and more to the experts, even concerning the most delicate or personal of aspects of their lives, putting themselves into a corner; and therefore parents today are at risk of excluding themselves from the lives of their children. This is a very serious situation! Today, there are homes like this. I am not saying that this always happens, but there are some situations. The teacher at school scolds the child and sends a note home to the parents. I remember a personal story. Once, when I was in elementary school, I said a bad word to the teacher and the teacher, a wonderful woman, called my mother. She came the day afterwards; they talked and then I was called. In front of my teacher, my mother explained that what I had done was a bad thing, that I should not have done it: but my mother did this with such tenderness and she asked me to apologize to my teacher, in front of her. I did, and then I was happy because I said: there is a happy ending, but this was only the first chapter! When I got home, the second chapter began ... Can you imagine, today, if a teacher were to do something like that, the day afterwards, she would find the two parents or one of the two blaming her, because the experts say that children should not be corrected in this way. Things have changed! This is why parents should never exclude themselves from the education of their children.
It is clear that this approach is not good: it is not harmonious, there is no dialogue, instead of contributing to collaboration between the family and other teaching agents: the schools, gymnasiums ... they contradict one another.
How did we get to this point? There is no doubt that parents, or better still, some models of teaching in the past had certain limits, there is no doubt about that. But it is also true that there are some mistakes that only parents are allowed to make, because they can compensate in a way that is impossible for anyone else. On the other hand, we know very well that life has become stingy with time to talk, to reflect, to discuss things. Many parents are preoccupied by work - dad and mom have to work - and by other concerns, at times embarrassed by new demands put upon them by their children and by the complexity of modern life - that's the way it is, we have to accept the way things are - and we find ourselves paralyzed by fear of failure. The problem, however, is not only about talking. Indeed a superficial dialogue will never lead to a true encounter of minds and hearts. Instead, we should ask: seek to understand where our children truly are on their journey? Where are their souls really at, do we know? Above all: do we want to know? Are we convinced that they are not in fact waiting for something else?
Christian communities are called to offer support in the family's mission of teaching, and to do so above all with the light of the Word of God. The apostle Paul recalls the reciprocity of duties on the part of parents and children: Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they be discouraged (Col 3:20-21). At the bottom of everything, there is love, the love that God gives us, a love that does not disrespect, that does not seek its own interests, that does not grow angry, that takes no account of wrongs that have been suffered ... that excuses all things, that believes all things, that hopes all things, that endures all things (1 Cor 13:5-6). Even the best of families need to bear with one another and it takes a lot of patience to bear with one another.That's life. Life is not made in a laboratory, it comes about in reality. Jesus too experienced education in a family setting. Even in this case, the grace of the love of Christ complements that which is inscribed in human nature. How many wonderful examples there are of Christian parents who are full of human wisdom! They demonstrate the fact that good family education is the backbone of humanism. It's radiating presence in society is the resource that makes is possible for us to make up for things that are missing, for wounds, for gaps in parenting that affect the less fortunate among our children. This radiant presence can truly bring about miracles. In the Church, such miracles take place every day!
My hope is that the Lord will grant all Christian families the virtues of faith, freedom and the courage necessary for their mission. If family education is able to rediscover the pride of its leadership, many things will change for the better, for uncertain parents and for disillusioned children. And now, may fathers and mothers return from their exile - for they have been self-excluded from the education of their children - and may they fully resume their roles as educators. Let us hope that the Lord might grant this grace to all parents: the grace of not excluding themselves from the education of their children. This can only come about with love, tenderness and patience.
As is the established custom, the above catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and the Holy Father offered greetings to each of the groups of pilgrims that was present. To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, including those from Great Britain, Finland, Norway, South Africa, China, India, Korea, Canada and the United States of America. In a special way, I greet these young musicians, you played well! Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke an abundance of joy and peace in the Lord Jesus. God bless you all!
The Holy Father also called for prayers for the people of China who venerate Our Lady at the Shrine of Sheshan. The feast day of Our Lady of Sheshan is approaching in the coming days.
On the 24 May, the Catholics in China will implore with devotion Our Lady Help of Christians, venerated in the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai. In the statue, which towers above the Shrine, we see Mary who holds her Son high, presenting him to the world with arms opened wide in a gesture of love and mercy. We too will ask Mary to help Catholics in China to be always credible witnesses of this merciful love among their fellow citizens and to live spiritually united to the rock of Peter upon whom the Church is built.
He then announced a Vigil of prayer in anticipation of the approaching Solemnity of Pentecost:
The Italian Conference of Bishops has proposed in the Dioceses of this country, on the occasion of the Vigil of Pentecost, that we remember our many brothers and sisters who have been exiled or killed simply because they are Christians. They are martyrs. I hope that this moment of prayer will increase the awareness that religious freedom is an inalienable human right, that it will increase our awareness of the drama of Christians who are persecuted in our time and that such unacceptable crimes will be brought to an end.
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