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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Teaching our children about the Love of God	Lisara	Friday, June 17, 2011
Question: Hello Brother, it's nice to be writing again to you so that I can say, "hey! how are you??" :-) After reading a recent post about head coverings, I was very impressed with the fourteen year old daughter of a woman, Cecilia. I am impressed that her daughter initiated the practice of wearing a head covering to mass. It sounds as if the Holy Spirit is working within that child. My QUESTION is, since I have three girls ages 18, 16, and 4, how to motivate them spiritually. When my older girls were tots, I prayed with them nightly, taught them the rosary, the Mercy Chaplet, discussed our Faith with them, taught them about the different forms of prayer, how our relationship with the Lord depends on what we GIVE Him, and so forth. I taught them about penance, and sacrifice and the practical ways they as children could do that. But they seem to NOT CARE now, or act as if it means nothing ot them. Nobody can be MADE to LOVE GOD. That is between Him and that person, I realize. I just pray for them. I feel a BLOCK with HOW to teach my youngest child about prayer now. I feel a GREAT discouragement. She insists she HATES praying. I pointed out to her that since she LOVES to sing in church (because she likes singing but dislikes going to church) that she is actually praying. I told her that all the "nice things" she does for me or her friends is like a prayer, that her loving ways are prayers too. I know that my life is a FAR CRY from being in union with God, but I try. I can be a REAL CRAB. I feel that if I were a better person, then my kids would be blessed, and experience the Joy of God. I am definitely no spiritual prodigy myself, and consider myself one of God's little stupid children---respectfully, that is, because I know there are some OTHER extraordinarily gifted lovers of Christ, even among us in our time: the unkown saints. I haven't lost all hope, though, and would like to hear your words on this subject.
Question Answered by Dear Lisara: Thanks for asking after my health. My health issues are a constant problem, but they really are not a problem and that God is blessing me and sanctifying me through the sufferings. It is a great privilege to suffer when you have God as your Father whom brings all things to perfection. I agree with you that Cecilia's daughter, only 14 years old, is a great inspiration for all teenagers. We must be sure to pray for her that she may persevere in her devotion as she grows into womanhood. Concerning your questions: The if best way to motivate your children is to live the Catholic life as best you can. Be an example to them, love them, and pray for them without ceasing. If you're older children are resistant to the Catholic Church I would also suggest developing a devotion to Saint Monica who prayed without ceasing for her son. It was only a few months before her death that her son came back to the church. Her son, of course, was Saint Augustine, one of the greatest saints in the history of the church. Pray without ceasing. You have done the right things with your older children. But, as it is with all of us, we have our own minds, our own thoughts, and our own desires. Teenagers particularly suffer under a great pressure from their peers and from our culture, which is hostile to the Christian faith. The bible tells us, "teach a child and away he shall go, and when he grows old he shall not depart." Trust the Holy Spirit to look after your children. With your prayers, and the grace of God, we can hope that our children will come back to God and his Church someday. Continue to be the best Catholic mother you can be to them, continue to be a role model for them, love them without compromise but never approve of sin, or other improper conduct, or ideas contrary to the Faith. This witness to the faith to your children can be done without acrimony. Be a loving witness to them, but never backed down from your faith. The need to know your views even if they will not agree. As for your four year old, I would teach the child how to pray as conversation. Praying the Rosary and other formal prayers can be too much for such a young child. Prayer is talking to God. We can talk to God in a conversational way as we do in talking to each other. Also, places like Ignatius Press has many books and videos for little children that can making learning about God and the Bible fun. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Teaching our children about the Love of God

Lisara

Friday, June 17, 2011

Question:

Hello Brother, it's nice to be writing again to you so that I can say, "hey! how are you??" :-)

After reading a recent post about head coverings, I was very impressed with the fourteen year old daughter of a woman, Cecilia. I am impressed that her daughter initiated the practice of wearing a head covering to mass. It sounds as if the Holy Spirit is working within that child.

My QUESTION is, since I have three girls ages 18, 16, and 4, how to motivate them spiritually. When my older girls were tots, I prayed with them nightly, taught them the rosary, the Mercy Chaplet, discussed our Faith with them, taught them about the different forms of prayer, how our relationship with the Lord depends on what we GIVE Him, and so forth. I taught them about penance, and sacrifice and the practical ways they as children could do that. But they seem to NOT CARE now, or act as if it means nothing ot them. Nobody can be MADE to LOVE GOD. That is between Him and that person, I realize. I just pray for them.

I feel a BLOCK with HOW to teach my youngest child about prayer now. I feel a GREAT discouragement. She insists she HATES praying. I pointed out to her that since she LOVES to sing in church (because she likes singing but dislikes going to church) that she is actually praying. I told her that all the "nice things" she does for me or her friends is like a prayer, that her loving ways are prayers too.

I know that my life is a FAR CRY from being in union with God, but I try. I can be a REAL CRAB. I feel that if I were a better person, then my kids would be blessed, and experience the Joy of God. I am definitely no spiritual prodigy myself, and consider myself one of God's little stupid children---respectfully, that is, because I know there are some OTHER extraordinarily gifted lovers of Christ, even among us in our time: the unkown saints.
I haven't lost all hope, though, and would like to hear your words on this subject.

Question Answered by

Dear Lisara:

Thanks for asking after my health. My health issues are a constant problem, but they really are not a problem and that God is blessing me and sanctifying me through the sufferings. It is a great privilege to suffer when you have God as your Father whom brings all things to perfection.

I agree with you that Cecilia's daughter, only 14 years old, is a great inspiration for all teenagers. We must be sure to pray for her that she may persevere in her devotion as she grows into womanhood.

Concerning your questions: The if best way to motivate your children is to live the Catholic life as best you can. Be an example to them, love them, and pray for them without ceasing. If you're older children are resistant to the Catholic Church I would also suggest developing a devotion to Saint Monica who prayed without ceasing for her son. It was only a few months before her death that her son came back to the church. Her son, of course, was Saint Augustine, one of the greatest saints in the history of the church. Pray without ceasing.

You have done the right things with your older children. But, as it is with all of us, we have our own minds, our own thoughts, and our own desires. Teenagers particularly suffer under a great pressure from their peers and from our culture, which is hostile to the Christian faith. The bible tells us, "teach a child and away he shall go, and when he grows old he shall not depart." Trust the Holy Spirit to look after your children. With your prayers, and the grace of God, we can hope that our children will come back to God and his Church someday. Continue to be the best Catholic mother you can be to them, continue to be a role model for them, love them without compromise but never approve of sin, or other improper conduct, or ideas contrary to the Faith. This witness to the faith to your children can be done without acrimony. Be a loving witness to them, but never backed down from your faith. The need to know your views even if they will not agree.

As for your four year old, I would teach the child how to pray as conversation. Praying the Rosary and other formal prayers can be too much for such a young child. Prayer is talking to God. We can talk to God in a conversational way as we do in talking to each other.

Also, places like Ignatius Press has many books and videos for little children that can making learning about God and the Bible fun.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum