Part of my vocation as a parent is to teach my children the right way to live—how to make good choices, how to practice virtue and how to love others well.
When they are young, my wife and I have to enforce these practices from the outside. They haven’t built up habits of living yet, so they need an external influence to guide them. As children get older, they begin to internalize the lessons of their youth. They no longer need that same guidance because they value a life of faith and service on its own terms. The lessons have taken root in their hearts, and they choose to live them, even if imperfectly.
Our heavenly Father desires us to follow his commands not out of fear or a sense of blind duty but because we have come to love his commands and rejoice in his ways. Then his law is truly written on our hearts.
God has blessed me with the love & desire to grow ever closer to Him. I pray for all those who have fallen away from the Church. I have family members who are in that category. "Every fall, even if it be very grave and repeated, serves us always and only as a little step towards a higher perfection." St. Maximilian Kolbe
Jonathan thank you what a great reminder to love from the heart. Something society is losing. A true heart is a good heart. Blessings to all the LFF, especially those with extra needs and cares these days. May we all spread and keep the love of God in our hearts everyday.
I believe much of the problem with children moving away from their faith is the lack of focus by the Catholic church on youth ministry. Youth ministry builds a community of faith-filled kids that reinforces the faith at home. This type of reinforcing faith development in a community of peers sustains and strengthens faith into early adulthood and beyond. Youth ministry is not a priority of our church!
Not to be contrary to your point but my three boys were very involved in the Catholic Life Teen program in our parish. It was a wonderful program and they all participated in the retreats and weekly mass. They fell away from their faith when they went off to college. Most colleges and universities lean to the liberal side and teach things contrary to faith in God. Throw in making new friends, some who are non-believers and you have a perfect storm for where they are today.
AMEN!
Thanks Johnathan For your contributions to to this site,it's always a treat to read your comments. Wisdom of the saints yesterday and today "The fruits of the Earth are not brought to protection immediately, but by time, rain and care; the fruits of men ripen through ascetic practice, study, time, perseverance, self-control and patience" Saint Anthony is a great Today's "Who gives you the day will give you also the things necessary for the day" Saint Gregory of Nyssa Kathy and I raised our four children Catholic two active practice and two have fallen away. My youngest daughter did agree to have her two children baptized. Still works in progress. Ken
Living faith family note the prayer requests inside the " " are mine Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world! You sent Your Son, the Prince of Peace, for the salvation of the world. We pray that the Peace of Christ will reign in Ukraine, the middle east, countries in Africa and for the conversion of Mr Putin. Please protect and send aid to those in Ukraine, Gaza and all who are at-risk. We pray for peace – we who are working towards it and for all who are in danger from this conflict. We pray for an end to violence and war – we pray for wisdom for all leaders who have a hand in this. Lord God please help those in most need of thy mercy. "" We pray for the souls in purgatory We also pray for those who have no one to pray for them, and the families of the tragic shootings, Pray for the first responders, and the essential workers, nurses, doctors and medical professionals, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and their families of all the above, and all those who have suffered from the: floods, heat, fires, earthquakes, tornadoes and mud slides, and, those who have no clean water, victims and survivors of climate changes, and rising of the sea's. Please pray for those recovering from any surgeries or medical procedures. Please pray for Kevin, Debbie and her daughter Anna, Stephanie and her daughter Christine, Carolyn and Marianne,Carolanne , Sal, Amy and her mom Shelly Please pray ESPECIALLY FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR LIVING FAITH FAMILY "" Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us! Saint Joseph, Protector of Mary, Jesus and the Church, pray for us! Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, may your kingdom reign in Ukraine and all the world. Ken
My prayer "Lord Jesus, fill me with gratitude and generosity for all you have done for me. Take my life and all that I have as an offering of love for you, who are my All." I am Offering gratitude and surrendering all to Christ is such a powerful way to align your heart with His. Amen
Amen!
Amen.☮️
Lord, grant me the ability and strength to love and follow your commandments... his way is the only way Prayers to all those who are ill and have upcoming tests and procedures
God is so good! I didn’t do well as a parent when my girls were growing up! Do as I tell you because it is good for you :-( You can do anything you want because you can :-( If I have to do it over again or give advise to new parents, I would show my girls how much I love God, how much I depend on God and teach them about Who God is: to know God and His Word, to love God and His Word, to enjoy God and His Word, and to glorify God in all their choices ✝️ *** When they learn to love God, they will love His commandments for they will seek to please God! John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments!” *** When we love God first, we will obey His commandments! 1 John 5:3, “In fact, here is what it means to love God. We love Him by obeying His commands. And his commands are not hard to obey!” *** This is what God told His children: to love Him first and then obey His Commandments! Deuteronomy 12:1, “Love the Lord your God. Do what He requires. Always obey His rules, laws and commands!” ******* 1 John 4:19, “We love because He loved us first!” *** I obey His commandments to show God I love Him! *** I obey His commandments because I love Him! *** The two statements above show the different sources of love and obedience: myself depending on my own ability and strength or God providing the source of my ability and strength ✝️ ******* I wonder why growing up with faithful parents, so many young people still walk away from their faith when they leave home???
God, "Great question, Salina! Were you a faithful parent?" Salina, "Well, not all the time but I tried and I am still trying...does it count?" Jesus, "Let's change your perspective after your words, 'but I!' to 'But God!'" Salina, "Ok! I need help though!" Holy Spirit, "No worry, I will always be there to remind you what Jesus has said and explain to you what He meant! Mathematically speaking, your children have 25 percent success rate according what Jesus said in His parable of the farmer who planted seeds on the path, rocky soil, among the thorns and good soil! Does that make you feel better?" Salina, "Ok, not really...What do I do now?" God, "Be still and know that I AM God!" Salina, "Ok! But it is so hard to see my children struggle!" God, "You are not kidding, welcome to My reality! I had a perfect garden and am a perfect parent to Adam and Eve, they still sinned against Me in disobedience!" Salina, "I am so sorry!" Jesus, "That is why My Father sent Me to die for your sins and that of your two girls, instead of making y'all obey avoiding all My sufferings!" Holy Spirit, "Not only what Jesus has done, He left Me to help you and your girls to choose freely! You and your girls won't be perfect BUT GOD!!!" Salina, "Reminds me that even my faith is a gift from God and I can contrinbute nothing to any situation BUT GOD in Ephesians 2:8-10, "God’s grace has saved you because of your faith in Christ. Your Salvation doesn’t come from anything you do. It is God’s gift. It is not based on anything you have done. No one can brag about earning it. We are God’s creation. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good works. Long ago God prepared these works for us to do!" I praise You Lord Jesus for Your examples of obedience, I thank You Holy Spirit for Your constant help and reminders and I worship You Lord God for Your patience and long-suffereing in giving us free will providing all that we need to return to You ✝️ *** 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, "We don’t give up. Our bodies are becoming weaker and weaker. But our spirits are being renewed day by day. Our troubles are small. They last only for a short time. But they are earning for us a glory that will last forever. It is greater than all our troubles. So we don’t spend all our time looking at what we can see. Instead, we look at what we can’t see. That’s because what can be seen lasts only a short time. But what can’t be seen will last forever!" *** Romans 8:1-2, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus are no longer under God’s judgment. Because of what Christ Jesus has done, you are free. You are now controlled by the law of the Holy Spirit Who gives you life. The law of the Spirit frees you from the law of sin that brings death!" ***Psalm 33:22, "Lord, may Your faithful love be with us. We put our hope in You (alone)!" ******* Who Am I by Casting Crown https://youtu.be/mBcqria2wmg?si=E6bZ4rDjmzNGMpLP
The devil roams the earth freely. He can influence with worldly things. Our flesh is weak. Pray for those who have seeds planted that they will sprout and produce much fruit.
My three children all walked away from the faith. One married a faithful Catholic and has returned! The other 2 continue to stray and live unhealthy lifestyles. We can emulate St. Monica and pray, pray, pray.
I raised both of my boys to believe in God. It wasn't until they went to college that they both changed their beliefs. I continue to pray and live by example that they will see and understand what God has done in my life and return to their original faith.
In my family, my 2 sons married and followed their wives’ desires. Perhaps one day they will find their way.
Yes, I also wonder. The seeds of belief were planted in all three of mine, but only one of them still actively practices. She was always the deepest thinker, which may have something to do with it. I am prayerful that the other two will find their way back at some future point. God is good, all the time.
Salina, you are not alone as you see your children wander away from their faith. Jonathan states “rooted in their heart”. Well, my take is these children go to Mass because their parents make them. Once away from parental influence, free will takes over. Their faith is not too deeply rooted. And this is where I stop with my understanding.
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Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those who have been hurt, killed and impacted by terrorist attacks. Come to the side of those experiencing violence in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur, and the Sudan. Please hear the pleas of all those suffering around the world - and give them strength, courage and resilience to continue walking in faith. Send them your light. Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world! You sent Your Son, the Prince of Peace, for the salvation of the world. We pray that the Peace of Christ will reign in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur and Sudan. Please protect and send aid to those in need and all who are at-risk. We pray for peace and rebuilding– we who are working towards it and for all those who are suffering or in danger from conflicts. We pray for an end to violence and war – we pray for wisdom for all leaders who have a hand in this. Lord God please help those in most need of thy mercy. Amen