Parents, primary educators of their children

(¹⁶⁶)

226. The witness of Christian life given by parents in the family comes to children with tenderness and parental respect. Children thus perceive and joyously live the closeness of God and of Jesus made manifest by their parents in such a way that this first Christian experience frequently leaves decisive traces which last throughout life. This childhood religious awakening which takes place in the family is irreplaceable. (¹⁶⁷) It is consolidated when, on the occasion of certain family events and festivities, "care is taken to explain in the home the Christian or religious content of these events". (¹⁶⁸) It is deepened all the more when parents comment on the more methodical catechesis which their children later receive in the Christian community and help them to appropriate it. Indeed, "family catechesis precedes...accompanies and enriches all forms of catechesis". (¹⁶⁹)

227. Parents receive in the sacrament of Matrimony "the grace and the ministry of the Christian education of their children", (¹⁷⁰) to whom they transmit and bear witness to human and religious values. This educational activity which is both human and religious is "a true ministry", (¹⁷¹) through which the Gospel is transmitted and radiated so that family life is transformed into a journey of faith and the school of Christian life. As the children grow, exchange of faith becomes mutual and "in a catechetical dialogue of this sort, each individual both receives and gives". (¹⁷²) It is for this reason that the Christian community must give very special attention to parents. By means of personal contact, meetings, courses and also adult catechesis directed toward parents, the Christian community must help them assume their responsibility—which is particularly delicate today—of educating their children in the faith. This is especially pressing in those areas where civil legislation does not permit or makes difficult freedom of education in the faith. (¹⁷³) In this case "the domestic Church" (¹⁷⁴) is virtually the only environment in which children and young people can receive authentic catechesis.