Children

  • Thread starter Thread starter Awake
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Awake

Guest
Should children be taught to be martyrs for their parent’s faith?
 
Parents should teach kids right from wrong and let them know the results of behavior. If the individual child is old enough to understand the meaning of a challenge to their faith from a persecutor, and understand the consequences of standing their ground, then it’s up to the child.
 
Awake said:
Should children be taught to be martyrs for their parent’s faith?
Click to expand...
It seems to me that it would be more important if children were taught to be martyrs for their own faith.

At some point during children’s education in the Catholic faith, they should be introduced to the martyrs and why they died for their faith. Hopefully, education will result in deepening a child’s love for God. If they are ever in a situation with a gun pointed at them, they will hold on to their own faith even if it means death.

Another thought. Besides giving up their life, children should be taught to give up the temptations of society, etc. Learning to make sacrifices is very important. This should be taught from the beginning.

Blessings,
grannymh
 
grannymh said:
It seems to me that it would be more important if children were taught to be martyrs for their own faith.

At some point during children’s education in the Catholic faith, they should be introduced to the martyrs and why they died for their faith. Hopefully, education will result in deepening a child’s love for God. If they are ever in a situation with a gun pointed at them, they will hold on to their own faith even if it means death.

Another thought. Besides giving up their life, children should be taught to give up the temptations of society, etc. Learning to make sacrifices is very important. This should be taught from the beginning.

Blessings,
grannymh
Click to expand...
:yup:
I like this answer, a lot.

If children already understand that God’s ways are not the world’s ways, and they should always follow God no matter what, martyrdom in persecution would be, I don’t know, natural (?) instinctual (?). IOW - it wouldn’t take much thought. It would have been something they were already doing at some level throughout their lives.
 
At what point does the parent’s faith become the child’s faith?
 
Awake said:
Should children be taught to be martyrs for their parent’s faith?
Click to expand...
No.

They should be taught to practice responsibly. Whatever faith it may be, they should be taught to live, appreciate, and learn for their religion, not die for it.

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood
 
Awake said:
At what point does the parent’s faith become the child’s faith?
Click to expand...
There would probably be a series of points as the child matures.

To me, receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion and celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation would be the starting points. Being able to go to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on one’s own would be another step. Asking a parent to drive counts.

Confirmation could be considered the complete acceptance of the faith as one’s own. However, I think that whenever a child regularly makes choices to do something or not do something based on faith or moral teaching–that is when the child has a faith of his own.

Practically speaking, through grade school, the faith would be a shared one between parent and child. This would be the ideal situation as the parent shares the teachings of faith with the child as well as guiding the child in practice.

As we all know, children mature at different rates in different ways. My four-year-old granddaughter had an understanding of prayer that some adults don’t have.

One final thought. There may be a time when the child refuses the faith. Be patient and love greatly.

Blessings,
granny
 
The Question is asked as if “the Parent’s faith” or “your religion” were abstract concepts.

You don’t really die for either of those. You die for God. He is actual. Real. True. Existent. Not an idea, but the author of reality.

I don’t think you can really teach someone to be a martyr anyway. In the end I think the grace to die for God comes from the Holy Spirit.
 
Awake said:
Should children be taught to be martyrs for their parent’s faith?
Click to expand...
yes!
but we must remember that the word martyr is equivalent to “witness”.
and we must all be witnesses to our faith. children must be taught their faith by their parents and they are expected to live it and be a witness of it to those around them. just because you are a witness for your faith doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be asked to die for your faith.
 
From Post 11

“we must remember that the word martyr is equivalent to “witness”.
and we must all be witnesses to our faith. children must be taught their faith by their parents and they are expected to live it and be a witness of it to those around them. just because you are a witness for your faith doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be asked to die for your faith.”

Excellent post, chewchoo,

May I expand?

Right now children need to see us as witnesses to the value of human life.

If faith is to be taught so that children can understand and love God’s truth, then adults need to stand up for God’s absolute truth:

All human life is worthy of profound respect. Human life is sacred.

Blessings,
granny
 
grannymh said:
From Post 11

“we must remember that the word martyr is equivalent to “witness”.
and we must all be witnesses to our faith. children must be taught their faith by their parents and they are expected to live it and be a witness of it to those around them. just because you are a witness for your faith doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be asked to die for your faith.”

Excellent post, chewchoo,

May I expand?

Right now children need to see us as witnesses to the value of human life.

If faith is to be taught so that children can understand and love God’s truth, then adults need to stand up for God’s absolute truth:

All human life is worthy of profound respect. Human life is sacred.

Blessings,
granny
Click to expand...
very true, granny

i’d also like to add to this, this quote from JPII that i read in the magnificat this week…

“the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights - for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture - is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination”
 
Awake said:
Should children be taught to be martyrs for their parent’s faith?
Click to expand...
Really good question… So difficult for anyone to answer. I guess I’m just gonna try and bring my child up in a way that I remain true to my faith, but at the same time allow my child to experience G-d for himself…
 
williamric said:
Really good question… So difficult for anyone to answer. I guess I’m just gonna try and bring my child up in a way that I remain true to my faith, but at the same time allow my child to experience G-d for himself…
Click to expand...
Dear williamric,

You have just offered one of the best ways to teach children – by being an excellent example. Your child will experience God by experiencing you.

Blessings,
granny

P.S. Hope you are doing well.😃 ?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top