FORMATION AND GROWTH 0F THE MORAL CONSCIENCE 0F CHILDREN

2 While the capacity to reason is evolving gradually in a child, his moral conscience too 15 being trained, that is, the faculty of judging his acts in relation to a norm of morality. A number of varying elements and circumstances come together in forming this moral conscience of a child: the character and discipline of his family, which is one of the most important educative factors during the first years of a child's life, his associations with others, and the activities and the witness of the ecclesial community. catechesis, while carrying out ifs task of instructing and forming in the Christian faith, puts order info these various factors of education, promotes them, and works in conjunction with them. Only in this way will catechesis be able to give to the child timely direction toward the heavenly Father and correct any goings astray or incorrect orientations of life that can occur. Without doubt children at this age should be told in the simplest possible way about God as our Lord and Father, about his love for us, about Jesus, the Son of God, who was made man for us, and who died and rose again. By thinking about the love of God, the child will be able gradually to perceive the malice of sin which always offends God the Father and Jesus, and which is opposed to the charity with which we must love our neighbor and ourselves.