The best thing parents can give their children? Wisdom, Pope says

Last updated on: February 4, 2015 at 7:02 pm by CNA Daily News

The best thing parents can give their children? Wisdom, Pope says 2015-02-04T19:02:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Feb 4, 2015 / 12:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In his Wednesday general audience, Pope Francis said the role of parents is to teach their children with patience, gentleness, firmness and encouragement.

“Every family needs a father. A father who doesn't boast of having a child be like him, but is glad to learn righteousness and wisdom, which is the only thing that counts in life,” the Pope told pilgrims gathered in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall for his Feb. 4 general audience.

This willingness to learn wisdom, he said, “is the best inheritance that can be transmitted to children, and you will feel filled with joy when you see that they have received and taken advantage of this inheritance.”

The Pope's audience continued his catechesis on the family. For the past two weeks the Holy Father has particularly focused on the vocation of fatherhood.

During his Wednesday talk, Pope Francis turned to the passage in proverbs which speaks of the pride fathers feel as they watch their children mature in “wisdom and rectitude.” This verse sums up the demanding yet essential role fathers play in both their families and in society as a whole, he said.

“A good father teaches his children by giving a daily example of love and integrity,” the Pope observed. Fathers must constantly strive “to teach what the child does not yet know, correct the errors they don't yet see, guide their heart (and) protect them in discouragement and difficulty.”

Fathers, he said, must discipline their own hearts in order to manage their children with patience throughout their growth and maturity.

It is the responsibility of fathers to guide their children with “closeness, with gentleness and with a firmness that doesn't humiliate,” the Holy Father observed.

In a society where fathers are often absent, the Pope noted, it is essential that they fully participate in every aspect of family life.

“To be a good father, in first place, is to be present in the family, sharing the joys and sorrows with one's wife, accompanying one's children as they grow,” he said, and pointed to the parable of the prodigal son as an example.

In the parable, the father watches and waits for his son every day, the Bishop of Rome noted, saying that this father knows what it means to wait with patience, to forgive and also to correct.

“Also today's children, returning home with their failures, need a father who waits for them, protects them, encourages them and teaches them how to follow the good path.”

While fathers sometimes have to chastise their children, they never do it with “a slap in the face,” he said, noting that while children often don’t want to admit it, they need this gentle chastisement.

Pope Francis concluded by expressing his hope that all fathers strive “to protect their children and to teach them wisdom, faith and integrity” like St. Joseph, and prayed that fathers would “always experience our gratitude, appreciation and support.”

He then offered personal greetings to pilgrims present from various countries around the world, including England, Wales, Finland, Sri Lanka and the United States.

Vatican

Previous Post

February 4, 2015

Political instability, war, and terrorism know no borders – Vatican official

Next Post

February 4, 2015 EWTN to appeals court: religious freedom at stake in HHS mandate case

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the king of Babylon during the exile of the Israelites?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Darius Nebuchadnezzar Belshazzar Cyrus