Two ways
Education is an art of its own. Children, eternally made in the image of God, need to be formed, crafted into his image.
A human being is a being in process, either the process of formation towards incorporated truth, goodness, and beauty – or the process of deformation towards incorporated inauthenticity, sin, and death.
“Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to destruction is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.“
Matthew 7: 13-14
“There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways.“
Didache (The Lord‘s Teaching through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations), 1st century
In the fourth century, Saint John Chrysostom was convinced that parents tend to set the wrong kind of goals for the education, the formation, of their children. They teach their children to love the world. And that is why the world remains corrupt.
“(…) because no one cares about their children; no one instructs them in virginity, no one in chastity, no one instructs them to spurn riches and glories, no one instructs them in the divine commandments of Sacred Scripture.“
Saint John Chrysostom, my own free English translation from the German version: Johannes Chrysostomus und Dr. Sebastian Haidacher: Des Hl. Johannes Chrysostomus Büchlein über Hoffart und Kindererziehung, Leopold Classic Library, p. 42
“My child, remember the Lord all your days. Do not willingly sin or transgress his laws. Do good works all the days of your life, never follow ways of unrighteousness; for if you act in truthfulness, you will be successful in all your actions.“
Tobit 4: 5-6; 19
“Bless the Lord God in everything; beg him to guide your ways and bring your paths and purposes to their end.“
“The fear of the Lord gladdens the heart, giving happiness, joy and long life. For those who fear the Lord, all will end well: on their dying day they will be blessed.“
Ecclesiasticus (Jesus ben Sira) 1: 12-13
Formation into the image of God
“Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, would give a stone? Or, if your child asks for a fish, would give a snake? If you, then, evil as you are, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!“
Matthew 7: 10-11
“Do not remove your hand from your son or daughter; rather, teach them the fear of God from their youth.“
Didache (The Lord‘s Teaching through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations), 1st century
Saint John Chrysostom charges parents to give their children a “good upbringing“ as a sign of their love for them, to teach them “how to live godly in this world“.
The heart of a child is tender and soft, he says, so that one can still stamp it with a seal like wax not hardened yet. Small children revere their parents, even their faces and voices. The parents enjoy a natural authority which they ought to use for good. Children – “wonderfully made in the image of God“ – need to be formed by their parents into more “wonderful images of God“, with the diligence and carefulness an artist would exhibit to craft a work of art.
“Take away the superfluous and add what is lacking. Day by day pay attention to the natural gifts and dispositions of your children – support what is good, and suppress what is evil.“
Saint John Chrysostom, my own free English translation from the German version: Johannes Chrysostomus und Dr. Sebastian Haidacher: Des Hl. Johannes Chrysostomus Büchlein über Hoffart und Kindererziehung, Leopold Classic Library, p. 44
“Whoever is strict with a son will reap the benefit and be able to boast of him to acquaintances.“
Ecclesiasticus (Jesus ben Sira) 30: 2; 9; 11
“Pamper your child and he will terrorise you; play along with him and he will bring you sorrow.“
“While he is young, do not allow him his freedom and do not wink at his mistakes.“
Sealing the heart of wax with the sign of the cross
“Set me like a seal on your heart (…).“
Song of Songs 8: 6
The right kind of seal for the wax-like heart of a child is the sign of salvation: the sign of the cross of the Messiah. The custom back then was to bless oneself with the sign of the cross, during one’s daily life, by marking the forehead, the mouth, and the chest – the heart. (The very gesture all Roman Rite Catholics still do today when they stand for listening to the Gospel reading during Holy Mass.)
“Habituate them to make the sign of the cross before every word and every deed.“
Saint John Chrysostom, my own free English translation from the German version: Johannes Chrysostomus und Dr. Sebastian Haidacher: Des Hl. Johannes Chrysostomus Büchlein über Hoffart und Kindererziehung, Leopold Classic Library, p. 44
“Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, true child of mine in the faith. Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.“
1 Timothy 1: 1-2; 1: 18-19; 6: 20; 2 Timothy 1: 5
“Timothy, my son, these are the instructions that I lay before you, in accordance with the prophecies once spoken over you, so that in them you may fight the good fight with faith and a good conscience for your weapons.“
“Timothy, take great care of what has been entrusted to you.“
“I also remember your sincere faith, a faith which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure dwells also in you.“
Saint John Chrysostom, pray for us!