The family’s responsibilities in the summer
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about the responsibility of the family in raising children with sound spiritual upbringing, while emphasizing the importance of using the summer period for spiritual work and Christian education. He explains that summer is not merely a time for outings, vacations, and entertainment, but a precious opportunity for prayer, reading spiritual books, memorizing the Psalms, hymns, and praises, and meditating on the Holy Bible. Every individual and every family should have a spiritual program that helps them grow in faith and make good use of their free time.
Spiritual Message
Pope Shenouda III emphasizes that marriage is not merely a relationship between a man and a woman, but a social and spiritual responsibility before God, the Church, and society. Parents are responsible for raising their children physically and educationally, but their most important responsibility also includes nurturing them spiritually and guiding them toward the Kingdom. He stresses that Sunday School cannot replace the family, because the home is the first place where a child learns faith, prayer, and Christian conduct. He gives examples from the Bible and Church history, showing how righteous mothers contributed to planting faith in their children’s hearts, as happened with Saint Timothy and the Prophet Moses. He explains that true spiritual upbringing is based on love and a good example, rather than threats, harshness, or forcing children to practice spiritual disciplines without understanding or love.
Educational Lesson
The Pope teaches us that parents must be spiritual guides for their children and should pursue continuous learning so that they can teach them and answer their questions and doubts. He also explains the importance of making use of childhood as a time for memorizing Bible verses and becoming familiar with the Christian faith, while presenting the teaching in an appealing way that suits the child’s age. He emphasizes that children’s success should not be measured only by academic achievement or professional success; attention must also be given to their growth in prayer, fasting, holiness, and meditation on the Word of God. He also explains that responsibility for spiritual upbringing does not rest with the mother alone, but is shared by both the father and the mother, with every family member having a role in building a sound spiritual life.
Practical Application
The Pope calls every father and mother to examine themselves continually and ask what spiritual teaching they have given their children during the week. The family should set aside time for praying together, reading the Holy Bible, memorizing verses, learning hymns and praises, and discussing the spiritual questions that concern the children. Parents must also be examples in their words and actions, so that their children see faith practiced in daily life rather than merely expressed through words and commandments. The Pope advises using love, encouragement, and dialogue in upbringing, so that children grow in love for God and the Church and feel that spiritual life is a source of joy and peace. It is also important for family members to use the summer period to develop their spiritual lives and support their children as they move toward a life of holiness and consecration according to God’s calling for each of them.
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