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193.1
First Point
God is so good that, having created us, he wills that all of us
come to the knowledge of the truth.[i]
This truth is God himself and what he has desired to reveal to us through
Jesus Christ, through the holy apostles, and through his Church. This is
why God wills all people to be instructed, so that their minds may be
enlightened by the light of faith.
We cannot be instructed in the mysteries of our holy religion
unless we have the good fortune to hear about them, and we cannot
have this advantage unless someone preaches the word of God. For how
can people believe in someone, the Apostle says, about whom they
have not heard anyone speak, and how can they hear him spoken about, if no
one proclaims him to them?[ii]
This is what God does by diffusing the fragrance of his teaching
throughout the whole world by human ministers.[iii]
Just as he commanded light to shine out of darkness, so he himself
kindles a light in the hearts of those destined to announce his word
to children, so that they may be able to enlighten those children by
unveiling for them the glory of God.[iv]
Since, then, God in his mercy has given you such a ministry, do
not falsify his word but gain glory before him by unveiling his truth[v]
to those whom you are charged to instruct. Let this be your whole effort
in the instructions you give them, looking upon yourselves as the
ministers of God and the dispensers of his mysteries.[vi]
193.2 Second Point
One
of the main duties of fathers and mothers is to bring up their children in
a Christian manner and to teach them their religion. But most parents are
not sufficiently enlightened in these matters; some are taken up with
their daily concerns and the care of their family; others, under the
constant anxiety of earning the necessities of life for themselves and
their children, cannot take the time to teach their children their duties
as Christians.
It is characteristic of the providence of God and of his vigilance
over human conduct to substitute for fathers and mothers persons who have
enough knowledge and zeal to bring children to the knowledge of God and of
his mysteries. According to the grace of Jesus Christ, that God has
given to them, they are like good architects who give all possible
care and attention to lay the foundation [vii]
of religion and Christian piety in the hearts of these children, a great
number of whom would otherwise be abandoned.
You, then, whom God has called to this ministry, work according to
the grace that has been given to you to instruct by teaching and to exhort
by encouraging those who are entrusted to your care, guiding them with
attention and vigilance, in order to fulfill toward them the principal
duty of fathers and mothers toward their children.
193.3 Third Point
God wills not only that all come to the knowledge of truth, but
also that all be saved. He cannot truly desire this without providing the
means for it and, therefore, without giving children the teachers who will
assist them in the fulfillment of his plan. This, says Saint Paul, is the
field that God cultivates, the building that he is raising, and you are
the ones whom he has chosen to help in this work by announcing to these
children the Gospel of his Son and the truths that are contained in it.
This is why you must honor your ministry and keep trying to save
some of these children. Since God according to the expression of the same
Apostle, has made you his ministers in order to reconcile them to him and
he has entrusted to you for this purpose the word of reconciliation for
them, exhort them, then, as if God were exhorting them through you, for
you have been destined to cultivate these young plants by announcing to
them the truths of the Gospel, and to procure for them the means of
salvation appropriate to their development.
Teach them these truths not with learned words, lest the cross of
Christ, source of our sanctification, become void of meaning and all you
say to them would produce no fruit in their minds or hearts. For these
children are simple and for the most part poorly brought up Those who help
them to save themselves must do this in so simple a manner that every word
will be clear and easy for them to understand.
Be faithful to this practice, then, in order to contribute as far
as you are able and as God requires of you to the salvation of those whom
he has entrusted to you.
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