Friday, September 15, 2006
Appeal to Parents
Zenit provided the whole text of the pope's address to First Communicants and their families. I can probably assume he's preaching to the choir here, but just in case you want to pass it on, the full link is here.
Catholic school advocates occasionally grumble when I remind of this, but parish school enrollment is not the best guarantee of religious knowledge or adult faith involvement. Regular family attendance at Sunday Mass is. Hands down.
Here's what Pope Benedict said to the first and best teachers of the faith:
Dear parents! I ask you to help your children to grow in faith, I ask you to accompany them on their journey toward holy Communion, on their journey toward Jesus and with Jesus. Please, go with your children to Church and take part in the Sunday Eucharistic celebration! You will see that this is not time lost; rather, it is the very thing that can keep your family truly united and centered. Sunday becomes more beautiful, the whole week becomes more beautiful, when you go to Sunday Mass together. And please, pray together at home too: at meals and before going to bed. Prayer does not only bring us nearer to God but also nearer to one another. It is a powerful source of peace and joy. Family life becomes more joyful and expansive whenever God is there and his closeness is experienced in prayer.Our new pastor has been gently urging school parents to attend Mass. At the very least, it seems to have coincided with a fifteen-percent bump in Mass attendance the past three weeks over the main of the summer.
