Faith and the family

Now that we are in the Year of Faith, plus the fact that we just had a synod of bishops focusing on the new evangelization, we need to realize more deeply the indispensable role the family plays in giving teeth to these Church aspirations.

We cannot deny that the world is drifting toward godlessness. Right now, we are witnessing a more aggressive type of secular humanism, that is, a humanism that excludes God and that only depends on some human consensus, however it is derived.

Many of our public officials are now espousing their own theories and ideas, based more on what is practical and popular, rather than on what our faith teaches us. They believe more in these theories than in the doctrine of our faith, and sometimes put them—their theories and the faith—in direct contrast.

Pope Benedict talked recently about practical atheism, the kind that does not profess it formally or publicly, but is lived just the same, because people behave as if God does not exist. It’s actually a more dangerous kind, since it hides its true character and can even go through the motions of normal spiritual and moral life.

This is what we have to tangle and do battle with. We have to learn how to grapple with its many manifestations, like relativism, materialism, commercialism, hedonism, agnosticism, etc.

We have to be familiar with their causes and symptoms, their reasons and other factors that give some life to them. More importantly, we have to know the appropriate weapons to use for the combat.

These are mainly the spiritual and supernatural means: prayer, sacrifice, sacraments, doctrine. But we should never neglect all the human means we can muster for this purpose, especially the power to enter into dialogue with everyone in a friendly and cordial way.

Yes, we can expect some meaty discussions and exchanges, but we need to understand that these should be pursued in the spirit of truth and charity. We have to be careful with what is called as bitter zeal which usually springs more from pride and self-righteousness than from true love for God and care for others.

All of these should be animated by a working piety that definitely starts and is sustained in the context of the family, before it is supported by the schools, the parishes and other similar entities.

We need to strengthen the family, and within the family, the institution of marriage, because it is what keeps the family alive and healthy. Parents and the other elders in the family should realize that more than attending to the material needs of the family members, it is the spiritual and moral needs that should be given priority.

This is the primary duty of the parents, before it becomes a duty of the teachers, priests, nuns, and other officials and personages involved in the continuing education of children and people in general.

Parents therefore have to be properly trained for this grave responsibility. They have to feel more urgently the need for the appropriate formation. They need to know the intricacies of spirituality and morality involved in the different stages of the growth of the family members.

Parents cannot and should not renege from this. They may delegate some aspects and functions of this duty, but they over-all are the first ones responsible. And so, they must try to be experts first of all in the doctrines of the faith, and know how to apply them to the different situations, both within and outside the family.

The Year of Faith is precisely a good occasion to deepen the parents’ grounding on the doctrines of our faith and to put them to practice. We just hope that all the higher entities—parishes, schools, even government units, etc.—can do all to ensure this continuing formation of parents and to strengthen family ties and marriage.

For this purpose, there are now many relevant books and other materials that can help parents in their formation. With the new technologies, these materials can be more easily accessed.

Besides, there are now a good number of groups that aim to assist parents to fulfill their duties well. Parents and elders should try to take advantage of them, organizing their time well so that they can attend to the appropriate activities. Let’s hope that these groups sustain their efforts.

Parents and elders should give time and attention to these possibilities. It’s a worthwhile investment that will certainly bring good dividends in the future in terms of true spiritual development for the individual, family and society in general.