Professor Antonio Miralles

Santa Croce Pontifical University- Rome

This is an extensive subject; however I shall attempt to present a number of fundamental principles and criteria. The first is that expressed by the Second Vatican Council: "Graced with the dignity and office of fatherhood and motherhood, parents will energetically acquit themselves of a duty which devolves primarily on them, namely education and especially religious education" (GS 48/3). It is they who are the first and main educators of their children, and it is within the heart of education that formation within the faith takes place. Moreover, because, as the Pope echoing the Council teaches us, the Christian family is a "Church in miniature […] a living image and historical representation of the mystery of the Church" (FC 49/2), hence participates in her redeeming mission and therefore "it stands also as a symbol, witness and participant of the Church's motherhood" (FC 49/4). The participation of Christian parents in this motherhood is achieved by educating the children in the faith. This is an excellent form of catechesis. As we read in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith (CCC 2226).

Family catechesis has its own characteristics. More than other catechistic forms it is in fact a testimony of life. "Family members help one another to grow in faith by the witness of a Christian life in keeping with the Gospel" (CCC 2226). The children see a living paradigm in their parents, they feel an attracting and stimulating force and find continuous confirmation of faith expressed in the events of the family’s daily life.

Faith is learnt more in the family catechesis than in catechisms — not to be ignored in other forms of catechesis — through real experiences of faith and among these there is prayer as the most important. It is not only private prayer that should be considered as family prayer, but also the participation in the liturgical prayer that strengthens family communion, and more than all others the participation in the Eucharist. Within this framework the Popes exhortation acquires special catechistic importance: "Likewise, the Christian family will strive to celebrate at home, and in a way suited to the members, the times and feasts of the liturgical year" (FC 61/1). Through the festivities that fill the liturgical year, the children learn in an almost spontaneous manner within the home, the redeeming mysteries of Jesus’ life and each article of the Credo is vitally assimilated