Every November 20, this world day is commemorated to raise awareness about the need to care for and protect minors. Guaranteeing their rights is essential for their individual development and for collective well-being. Today we propose to reflect, discuss, meditate, pray and raise awareness about this.
In 1954, the United Nations General Assembly recommended dedicating a day to fostering brotherhood among the world’s boys and girls, and promoting their well-being with social and cultural activities. This World Day is celebrated in memory of the approval of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989, the most ratified international treaty in history.
Every minor, regardless of their origin, race, gender or belief, deserves to grow up in a safe, loving and stimulating environment, where their needs are met, their rights are respected and their potential is fostered. This is what the United Nations has proclaimed, what the Gospel proposes and, of course, what common sense points out: protecting children is a duty that concerns us all.
On this day we did not want to miss the opportunity to reflect, discuss, meditate, pray and raise awareness about the role of everyone in this cause.
Responsible parenthood: beyond biology
The responsibility of raising a child goes beyond simple biological parenthood. Being a father or mother implies a deep commitment to provide the best for his or her integral development. Responsible parenthood means educating, guiding and supporting children at all stages of their life, especially until they come of age.
This includes offering them a safe emotional environment, meeting their basic needs, encouraging their learning and their integral development as people. By taking this role seriously, parents and guardians can help children become healthy, happy individuals capable of facing the challenges of the world. Their happiness as adults depends largely on their happiness as children.
Reasons to educate children in the faith
Within the duty of giving children the best is education in the faith. The spiritual dimension is an essential and constitutive part of the person. That is why we must develop and nurture this human spirituality in children.
In addition, we offer some reasons to propose this “spiritual care” for children:
- It facilitates integral development. Education in the faith not only addresses spiritual aspects, but also emotional, social and ethical aspects, promoting balanced development. Faith can be a source of strength in the face of all the adversities of life. And there is no human life without difficulties, struggles and frustrations.
- It stimulates the search for meaning. By fostering spiritual curiosity, the exploration of existential questions, the child begins to search for his or her own path. Faith in this case provides meaning, comfort, hope, and helps children feel safe and loved.
- It offers an ethical framework. Faith provides a frame of reference that helps make ethical decisions. Connection with God fills the concepts of truth, goodness, kindness, universal brotherhood, and happiness with meaning.
- It strengthens moral values. Education in the faith instills fundamental values for personal development and coexistence, such as the practice of forgiveness or solidarity, essential skills for a healthy and happy society.
- It promotes a sense of community. Teaching the faith connects with a supportive community, providing a sense of belonging and identity.
- It creates a family legacy. Education in the faith unites generations, transmits valuable traditions and teachings, and is based on stories and tales from the past that help the present.
Saint Augustine spoke of the need for children to be part of the ecclesial community as something beneficial for their lives: “It is better to help and save the souls of children and adults than to know how they have been corrupted,” he will say in one of his works (Reply to Julian 5,4,17). And he completes in one of his sermons: “Children have nothing with them but what they brought from the first man. For this reason, those who died in Adam need the grace of Christ to receive life in Christ” (165,7).
For this reason, he defended the baptism of infants, something that is questioned in many circles today: “The custom of the Mother Church of baptizing children must never be condemned. In no way must it be judged superfluous. And it must be upheld and believed as an apostolic tradition. For this tiny age has in its favor the weight of a great testimony: it was the first to deserve to shed its blood for Christ” (Literal Commentary on Genesis 10,23,39).
By educating children in faith, we provide them with tools to face life, values that will serve them throughout their growth and maturity. On this World Children’s Day, let us renew our commitment to care for, protect and educate future generations with faith, love and responsibility.
