from Fr. Bonaventure of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.

To quote:

The education of children is a very delicate procedure. It is more delicate than the most highly trained neurosurgeon. For he only operates on matter, the brain, or the neurological system, or the spine. The teacher, the educator, operates on the very soul of the child, and so that education must be rooted in the education of Christ. It must be rooted in the Divine Technique; otherwise, we have missed the point. And we are falling for the trap. The most common form of idolatry in our day and age is the idolatry of success. My children must succeed. We have failed to realize that the only criteria for success is to hear these words at the end of our lives: “Come, Child, into the home that my father has prepared for you from the beginning.”

No one is required to be a billionaire…. and everyone is required to educate children in the way of Christ. And anytime we fight against Christ, we destroy the heart of our children. That energy that we become so impatient with that we see in a child is an energy given to them by God, and it is in need of formation, not destruction.

It is not in the personality we have received from God that determines our state. It is in whether that personality is sanctified under the mantle of grace so that the gifts God has given each and every one of us are given back to him through the intercession of His Mother and put at the disposal of mankind.

He also talks about allowing kids to veg out in front of the TV or video games, so that we are not burdened with actual parenting tasks. And asks us what would have happened to us if Christ had this attitude and treated us more as a burden.

Towards the end he talks about Joseph (the forgotten saint) and points to JPII’s Guardian of the Redeemer.

Powerful, timely homily. And so seldom heard from our pulpits.

Hat tip to Brenda at the forum.