Sacramental Preparation: Passing on the Faith to the Next Generation

Sacramental Preparation:

Passing on the Faith to the Next

Generation

The Family Mirrors the Reality of God:

God the Father

God the Son

God the Holy

Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the fruit of the love of the Father and Son…

Just like the child is the fruit of the love of the father and mother.

• Children are introduced to everything in the world through their parents

• The parents are the first and most important teachers

• This is true about God as well

• At baptism, parents and godparents alike “make it [their] constant care to bring them [the children] up in the practice of the faith” (Catholic Rites Today 56)

• It is a promise made before God in the company of the community

This means that the family is the primary educator of children with regards to faith

Passing down the faith means to image, not only the Trinity, but also the Holy Family

Parents, Primary Educators of their ChildrenThe following quotes come from the General Directory of Catechesis (GDC):• “The witness of Christian life

given by parents in the family comes to children with tenderness and parental respect” (GDC 26)

• “Children thus perceive and joyously live the closeness of God and of Jesus made manifest by their parents in such a way that this first Christian experience frequently leave decisive traces which last throughout life” (GDC 226)

• “This childhood religious awakening which takes place in the family is irreplaceable” (GDC 226)

The following quotes are from On Catechesis in Our Time (CT) by Bl. Pope John Paul II:• “Education in the faith by parents… is

already being given when the members of a family help each other to grow in faith through the witness of their Christian lives…” (CT 68)

• “The fact that these truths about the main questions of faith and Christian living are thus repeated within a family setting impregnated with love and respect will often make it possible to influence the children in a decisive way for life.” (CT 68)

“Family catechesis therefore precedes, accompanies and enriches all other forms of catechesis “ (CT 68)

You’re not in it alone:• Christ does not leave

you in this mission• At Baptisms, parents

receive a special blessing:

• “God the Father, through his Son, the Virgin Mary’s child, has brought joy to all Christian mothers…” (Catholic Rites 70)

• “God is the giver of all life, human and divine. May He bless the fathers of these children…” (Catholic Rites Today 70)

It is never too late to begin this process:• Ask about your child about

religion classes• Pray together at various

times of the day • Ask your child where they

saw Jesus throughout the day – and give an answer for yourself

• Incorporate Bible stories and Saint stories into your daily lives

• Go to Mass together

• When possible, work through the Sacrament books with your child

• If you cannot sit down with your child to do the work, have them sit at the table and talk it out with you as you prepare dinner or talk about it later

Images of our faith are so powerful – which makes them very important to children• Have a crucifix displayed in

an important place• Have a prayer table• Have a Bible open – learn

how to use the Bible• Have rosaries around the

house and show them to your children

• Have pictures of Jesus, Mary, the Saints, the Pope, etc. on display

Take care of your own spiritual needs:• Pray daily – begin small (5

minutes does amazing things)

• Join a small group – See Sarah Daszczuk for more information

• Attend Mass – the Source and Summit of our Faith

• Go to Confession

Consider going to Eucharistic Adoration as a Family

Begin small: • The Church began with

Twelve• Rome wasn’t built in a day• You gotta walk before you

can run• Ask for our Mother Mary’s

intercession

“Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.”

G.K. Chesterton

O dear Jesus,I humbly implore You to grant Your special graces to our family.May our home be a shrine of peace, purity, love, labor and faith.I beg You, dear Jesus, to protect and bless all of us, absent and present, livingand dead.

O Mary,loving Mother of Jesus,and our Mother,pray to Jesus for our family,for all the families of the world,to guard the cradle of the newborn,the schools of the young and their vocations.

Blessed Saint Joseph,holy guardian of Jesus and Mary,assist us by your prayersin all the necessities of life.Ask of Jesus that special gracewhich He granted to you,to watch over our homeat the pillow of the sick and the dying,so that with Mary and with you,heaven may find our family unbrokenin the Sacred Heart of Jesus.Amen.