October 25, 1994

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name,

receives me . . .” (Mk 9:37).

Words from the Gospel of St. Mark only highlight the importance of children in the life of our Lord Jesus. There are moments in the public ministry of Jesus that our Lord finds joy among children. It is noteworthy that he did not preach to children. Rather, he blessed them and made them models of the in-breaking of the Father’s Kingdom.

It is a blessed event that October has been declared by our government as National Children’s Month joining the worldwide celebration of Universal Children’s Day that was formally established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954. It is a truly welcome event that this pastoral letter is being issued in 1994, the International Year of the Family.

It is opportune that once a year, we set aside some time to heighten our awareness on the life of our children. Filipinos love children. Our devotion to the Sto. Niño is praiseworthy. One of the most awaited event in the life of the Family is the birth of a child.

Nevertheless, we see in today’s Philippine society the existence of abuses, if not, sins against the dignity of children. One can cite the rising phenomenon of street children roaming our metropolis or the unjust practice of child labor in questionable enterprises. Children being sexually abused and even murdered continue to haunt our community. All these merit our attention and grave concern.

In consonance with this celebration, let me share with you the following reflections and challenges:

A CHILD IS A GIFT

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: A child is not something owed to one, but is a gift. The “supreme gift of marriage” is a human person. A child may not be considered a piece of property, an idea to which an alleged “right to a child” would lead. In this area, only the child possesses genuine rights: the right “to be the fruit of the specific act of the conjugal love of his parents,” and the “right to be respected as a person from the moment of his conception” (CCC 2378).

Yes, the unborn child is God’s gift to the couple, the child must be cherished, nurtured and nourished by the family of man and woman. We, therefore, continue to affirm the Church’s condemnation of abortion and exploitation of the human embryo as a direct violation of the fundamental right to life of the human being. It is a crime surely abominable in the eyes of Mother Church.

A CHILD CALLED TO EDUCATION

Luke in his gospel describes the hidden life of Jesus in the following words: “He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his Mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man” (Lk 2:51-52). To advance in wisdom, age and favor before God and man, is to grow into maturity like our Lord. Growth into maturity is made possible through the education given by parents. The model of parental formation is the home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Nazareth. Yes, Nazareth in its simplicity, humility and hiddenness. Nazareth alludes to the family atmosphere of charity and respect. The family, after all is the first school — the right and duty to educate follows the right to give life. The heart of educating the child in the home is catechesis. Parents are the first catechists — they are called to echo the person of Christ. And their close collaborators are the schools and institutions of learning.

A most serious agenda in today’s Church is the formation of a correct conscience among the children. John Paul speaks of this imperative in the following words: Dearly beloved, the Apostle Paul reminds us of the necessity of being adult persons in the faith, mature in our judgments, possessed of a moral conscience capable of guiding our choices in harmony with “the truth in love.” The formation of conscience is a fundamental duty. The reason is very simple: our conscience can err. And when error prevails over it, it becomes a cause of greatest harm for the human person...“ (General Audience, August 24, 1983).

Home and school are bound to take the formation of correct conscience a serious endeavor. It is for this reason that we call parents and teachers to work closely as collaborators in education. We call upon the public school administrators and teachers to continue their support of catechesis in their schools; to open the doors of our schools to our catechists. We call upon Catholic learning institutions to continue strengthening religion as core of the curriculum.

A CHILD CALLED TO FULLNESS OF LIFE

The gift of human life is called to greater LIFE! Every Filipino has one single aspiration: na maging ganap ang buhay dito sa Pilipinas. This aspiration can only be true in and through what John Paul calls an Ecology of Life over and against a Culture of Death. John Paul states: Children are the eloquent symbol and splendid image of these moral and spiritual conditions that are essential for entering the Kingdom of God and for living the logic of total confidence in the Lord. These conditions are simplicity, sincerity and receptive humility.

To reinforce an ecology of life, we need to become like little children — open to the grace of God and witnessing to his power. One can cite the little Therese of Lisieux who exclaimed: “I want to be a saint!” And the boy Dominic Savio and Maria Goretti, model of purity who lived uncompromisingly the words of truth: “Death rather than Sin!”

Children need models of holiness, of greater life: Therese of the Child Jesus, Dominic Savio, Maria Goretti, Tarcisius, Laura Vicuña, Aloysius Gonzaga and Emerentiana. Who are they? Find out who they are — and imitate their lives. In explaining why Pius X lowered the age of first communion, the Pope said: “There will be saints among the children.” And indeed saints there have been. John Paul has a new challenge: “There will be apostles among the children!” May this prediction be true today.

Dear brothers and sisters, may the Holy Family of Nazareth be ever the model of every human family. May Mary, Mother of Life and Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer accompany us as our children grow into the maturity of Christ.

With my sincerest and choicest blessings, I remain,

Sincerely in the Lord Jesus,

(Sgd.) + JAIME L. CARDINAL SIN, D.D.

Archbishop of Manila