PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PURITY OF THEIR CHILDREN.

Parents must watch over and nurture the purity of their children from a very young age, so that they acquire shame and honesty, and are modest in their speech, manners, and dress. It is the responsibility of parents to prevent their children from acquiring bad habits in this area, even if they do not understand the wrongness of their actions, because later it will be difficult for them to free themselves from vice.

Parents, take care of your children. Let us see what Pius XII says: “Unfortunately,” says the Pope, “it sometimes happens that Christian parents, with such care in the education of a son or daughter, always keeping them away from dangerous pleasures and bad company, suddenly see their children, at 18 or 20 years of age, victims of miserable and scandalous falls: the good seed they sowed has been ruined by the weeds.

Who was the enemy of humankind who caused so much harm?”  “What happened,” the Pope continued, “was that in that same home, in that little paradise, the tempter, the cunning enemy, stealthily entered and found there the corrupting fruit to offer to innocent hands. A book left by chance on the father’s table was what destroyed the faith of his baptism in the son; a novel abandoned on the sofa or in the bedroom by the mother was what obscured the purity of her first communion in the daughter.”

The weeds can enter by leafing through magazines or newspapers found around the house; through television, through a news segment the child happened to see. Parents, guard the souls of your children. Please keep them away from the internet, tablets, and iPads, where they can access practically anything. They already see so much evil outside the home. May they at least find purity and virtue within it, beginning with the example of their parents.

What good is it to gain the whole world if we lose our soul?  What value is there in the instant and fleeting satisfaction that causes us to lose heaven, deserve hell, and crucify Our Lord anew? Trusting in God, distrusting ourselves, with firm resolve, let us be chaste and pure according to our state in life.

CHILDREN: NEITHER PRINCES NOR PRINCESSES, BUT BEINGS THAT GOD RENEWS US TO FORM GOOD MEN AND WOMEN TO LEAD TO HIM

A mother raised her hand and asked:

"What do I do if my son is on the table and won't get down?"

"Tell him to get down," I told her.

"I've already told him, but he doesn't listen and won't get down," the mother replied in a defeated voice.

"How old is the child?" I asked.

"Three years old," she replied.

Situations similar to this frequently arise when I have the opportunity to speak with groups of parents.

Many conflicts arise because parents are fearful or lax in exercising their authority. And those children grow up, and the problem grows with them, since those parents have a hard time making the decision to set limits and exercise their authority correctly.

Why do your children do what they do?

1.- BECAUSE YOU LET THEM.

Don't forget that children are meant to be

brought to God, not just given materially what you didn't have.

May your inactions never cause them to lose faith.

They do what they do because you allow them to. Children become who they are because their parents allow it, it's that simple. If your child is making a mess of their life, you won't like this answer. You'll come to me and give me a million excuses. You'll blame it on the music they listen to, the movies they watch, the books they read (if they read at all), the violence on television, the educational system, or the pressure exerted by society or their friends. So put your indignation aside and consider this truth: your children are a product of your parenting, or, in other words, your way of raising them.

2. THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES FOR BAD BEHAVIOR.

Parents let their children do whatever they want, with very little information about what is acceptable and what is not. If they do something wrong, there are no consequences for the unacceptable behavior.

Sometimes we say, "If you do this, that will happen to you," and "If you don't do that, this will happen to you." Then they don't do what they're supposed to do, and nothing happens; we don't keep the promise of the consequences. Do you know what a parent who doesn't follow through on the consequences becomes? A LIAR; and that's precisely what our children learn: to lie, and to make promises without keeping them, so that nothing happens.

3. YOU TELL YOUR CHILDREN THEY ARE SPECIAL.

You may not agree with me on this. Believe me, it was difficult for me to understand and accept, but it's a reality.  If you're one of those who currently believes your little "angel" is special, I'm sorry to tell you that they aren't. If you constantly tell your children they're special, you're doing more harm than good.

Your child is special to you and only you, not to anyone else. Your child was born with all your love, and watching them grow is a wonder, but when they grow up and walk through your door to go to school, they're just another child on the school roll, and there's nothing special about them.

In the real world, your daughter isn't a "princess," nor is your son a "prince," just another child. Children must understand and learn to grow up knowing that the moment they leave your loving arms and enter the real world, no one will love them for the sole reason that they exist, as you do.

4. YOU MAKE YOUR CHILDREN THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE.

They aren't the only important thing.  I know you think they are, but that's not the case. When you let your children think they're the most important person in your life, they learn to manipulate you, and you'll end up doing what they say.

You shouldn't neglect your children for

your husband, nor your husband for the children (the latter is the most common), because you could end up alone.

Your children are important; don't get me wrong. Your children should be loved unconditionally. But parents who put their children's happiness above all else and sacrifice their own lives, and sometimes their marriage as well, then when their parenting work is over, your children will grow up and leave you, going in search of their own happiness, and you'll be left with only your spouse, at best.

If you spend all your time and energy solely on your children, when they leave, you won't be sure that your spouse will be with you.  That's one of the reasons why separations happen after the children leave, because the only thing you had in common was your children, and you never tried to nurture marital love as a bond. And you end up alone, with no one to grow old with. And you usually end up treating and seeing your 50-year-old as if he or she were 4 years old.

5.- WE FAIL TO TEACH THEM THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES.

Children have, among others, the following rights: to life, to play, to freedom of opinion, to a family, to protection from negligent treatment, to food, to be loved, to receive an education, etc. Privileges are concessions earned through a specific action; we buy things for our children, for example: the latest video games, or designer clothes or shoes, or a pet, and we even take them to the movies or on vacations, we buy them cell phones, etc., etc., and all for free, in exchange for nothing. Today I tell you that even if you have enough money to please your child, you have to teach them how to earn it; they have to know that the things they like cost money and that they have to pay a price.  Even these things will help you negotiate attitudes and behaviors (Editor's note: and through them, help them acquire responsibilities to better navigate their way in life).

6. WORK ON YOUR CHILD'S SELF-ESTEEM.

A child who has not been instilled with religious and moral convictions will easily stray intellectually and/or morally. We will be held accountable to God for putting their eternal salvation at risk.

The word self-esteem is a compound word. Self means oneself, and esteem means love, that is, loving oneself. You cannot provide them with a positive assessment of themselves because we confuse encouraging and supporting them with increasing their self-esteem, and we change the rule of "if they have high self-esteem, they will succeed at everything," but in reality it's the other way around: if they succeed at everything, their self-esteem will increase. So, if you want them to have high self-esteem, teach them to achieve their successes. To fight for them, because everything requires effort, dedication, and perseverance.

I hope these comments help you understand why we sometimes ask for the moon, when in reality we reap what we sow.

Source: Parents to the rescue of values.

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS REGARDING THE PURITY OF THEIR CHILDREN

Parents must watch over and foster the purity of their children from a very early age, so that they acquire modesty and integrity, so that they are modest in speech, manners, and dress. It is up to parents to prevent their children from acquiring bad habits in this area, even if the children do not understand the evil of what they are doing, because later they will not be able to free themselves from the addiction.

Beware, parents, beware of children. Let's see what His Holiness says.  Pius XII: “Unfortunately, it sometimes happens that Christian parents, who are so concerned about raising a son or daughter that they are always away from dangerous pleasures and bad company, suddenly see their children, at 18 or 20 years old, victims of miserable and scandalous falls: the good seed they sowed was ruined by weeds.

Who was the enemy of man who did so much evil? What happened, the Pope continues, was that into the home itself, into that little paradise, the tempter, the cunning enemy, crept in and found there the corrupting fruit to offer it to innocent hands. A book accidentally left on the father's desk is what destroyed the son's baptismal faith; a novel abandoned on the sofa or in the bedroom by the mother is what eclipsed the purity of her first communion in the daughter.”

Weeds can enter by leafing through news magazines or newspapers found in the home;  on television, or from a TV news clip the child happened to see. Be vigilant, parents, watch over your children's souls. Keep them away from the internet, tablets, and iPads, where they can really access anything. They already see so much evil outside the home. Let them at least find purity and virtue there, following the example of their parents.

What good is it to gain the whole world if we lose our soul? What is the value of an instant, fleeting gratification that makes us lose heaven, deserve hell, and offends our Lord? Trusting in God, distrusting ourselves, with a very firm determination, let us be chaste and pure according to our state of life. Let us be an example and watch over the purity and salvation of our children's souls. Example, good advice, and care are essential for them to remain pure.

THE DUTY OF PRAYING DAILY FOR THEM

 

Cell Phones and New Technologies Have Surpassed Television in Terms of Dangers to Salvation

 Google Translation

St. John Bosco, tireless apostle of youth and founder of the Salesian Congregation, dedicated every moment of his life to the education and moral formation of youth in times of profound crises. Today, in an era where cell phones and new technologies have invaded every corner of young people's lives, it is imperative to reflect from his pastoral and apostolic perspective. St. John Bosco would vehemently warn that these tools not only represent a threat for wasting time, but also expose young people to immoral content, dangerously diverting them from the divine plan for their lives. Using his writings and teachings, along with reflections from other great saints of the Catholic tradition, we will analyze these dangers in greater depth and offer a guide to facing these challenges.

The Loss of Time and Its Relation to Salvation

St. John Bosco tirelessly emphasized the importance of the good use of time, aware that every second lost is a missed opportunity for holiness. He firmly stated: "Youth is the time of preparation; the time wasted is never recovered" (Bosco, 1876). In an era where young people can spend endless hours on their cell phones, this warning is more relevant and urgent than ever. The loss of time in purposeless digital activities diverts young people from their academic and family duties, and more seriously, robs them of the precious time they should dedicate to prayer and spiritual formation.

St. Augustine, in his "Confessions," complements this view by stating: "Time is not a friend, but a witness of our life. Make the most of every moment to do good." The constant distraction of social media and video games can prevent young people from developing a deep relationship with God and living according to His will. Likewise, St. Thomas Aquinas underscores in his "Summa Theologica" that "time is a divine gift that must be used for the contemplation of truth and the practice of virtue."

The Corrupting Influence of Immoral Content

One of the greatest dangers of indiscriminate cell phone use is exposure to immoral content. St. John Bosco, with his profound love for the purity of young people, would have been a staunch opponent of pornography and other corrupting content that is easily accessible through digital devices. In one of his letters, he wrote: "Impurity is the ruin of young souls; avoid it at all costs" (Bosco, 1884). This easy and constant access to immoral material represents a serious threat to the purity and innocence that we must protect in our young people.

St. Thomas Aquinas emphasizes that "he who sins mortally separates himself from his ultimate end," reminding us that grave sin separates us from divine grace. The ease with which young people can access these immoral materials through their cell phones is an open door to temptation and sin, eroding their morals and distancing them from God.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux also warns of the dangers of temptation: "The flesh is man's closest enemy, and indulgence in sensual pleasures is the devil's most common trap." Social media and other digital media can become tools of the enemy if not used with discernment and prudence.

The Loss of Reality and Truth

St. John Bosco, known for his dedication to the integral formation of young people, emphasized the importance of living in reality and seeking truth in all things. He said: "Truth is what makes us free; lies and illusions enslave us" (Bosco, 1887). In the digital age, constant immersion in social media and video games can lead young people to live in a virtual reality, distancing them from objective and divine truth.

Truth is not just an abstract concept but a manifestation of the divine plan for the salvation of our souls. Jesus himself reminds us in the Gospel of John: "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). This freedom enables us to live according to God's will and attain eternal beatitude.

St. John of the Cross, in his "Ascent of Mount Carmel," teaches us that "truth suffers but does not perish," reminding us that the search for truth is a hard but essential path for Christian life. Constant exposure to false and superficial content on social media can divert young people from this search, trapping them in a world of illusions and lies.

Moreover, the pursuit of approval and validation through "likes" and followers on social media can inflate their ego and foster pride. St. Augustine warns us: "Pride is not greatness but swelling; what is swollen seems large but is not healthy." Constant comparison with others can generate a misguided self-esteem and distance young people from the humility and simplicity that Christ teaches us.

Laziness and Procrastination

St. Benedict, with his motto "Ora et labora (Pray and work)," teaches us to integrate prayer and work into our daily lives. The abuse of cell phones fosters laziness and procrastination, diverting young people from their responsibilities and from God's call to action. St. John Bosco, in his love for youth, would have exhorted young people to use their time productively and avoid digital distractions that distance them from their spiritual and moral duties.

St. John of the Cross also warns us about the importance of diligence in spiritual life: "The soul that walks in love neither tires nor is tired" (Ascent of Mount Carmel). This active and diligent love is what we must foster in our young people, steering them away from the laziness induced by excessive use of technology.

Impact on Self-Esteem and Promotion of Pride

Social media can generate misguided self-esteem and foster pride. St. John Bosco, who always promoted humility and virtue, would have warned young people about the dangers of seeking validation in the opinions of others instead of in God's truth. He said: "True greatness of man lies in being great before God and not before men" (Bosco, 1885).

St. Francis de Sales also reminds us that "humility is true greatness," urging us to seek God's approval more than that of men. The constant pursuit of validation on social media can divert young people from this path of humility and simplicity.

Deviation from God's Plan

God's plan for our lives is to use our talents and resources to glorify Him and attain salvation. The abuse of cell phones and modern technologies can divert us from this plan, becoming distractions instead of useful means. St. Teresa of Ávila reminds us: "Time is a gift from God; use it wisely to love and serve." We must be vigilant and disciplined in our use of time and technology, ensuring they are oriented towards good and do not become obstacles in our path to God.

St. John Bosco also insisted on the importance of education and moral formation: "Educating young people is a work of love. Only through love can we guide young souls towards God" (Bosco, 1883). In this sense, parents and educators must be attentive and guide young people in the prudent use of technologies, ensuring these tools are used for good and do not become instruments of their perdition.

The addiction to social media and the abuse of cell phones represent significant dangers from the perspective of St. John Bosco and the Catholic tradition. These devices not only represent a loss of time but also expose young people to immoral content, foster laziness, pride, and distance them from reality and their ultimate end. In light of the teachings of saints like St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. John of the Cross, and St. Francis de Sales, we are called to use our time and resources in ways that favor our salvation and the practice of virtue.

The Cross

 Let us teach children to carry the cross, so that as they grow older and face life's trials, they will always cling to the cross of Christ and trust in His grace and mercy.

IF YOU DON'T TEACH YOUR CHILDREN...

 

Show an interest in your child’s welfare

 Show an interest in your child’s welfare. You can do this by devoting time to them, every day if possible. Try to discuss with them their experiences, problems, successes and failures. By giving yourself to them in this intimate way, you give them the feeling that they can always depend upon you to understand and help them in their difficulties.

OUR LADY WARNED US

 The sacrament of Matrimony, which symbolizes the union of Christ with the Church, will be thoroughly attacked and profaned. Masonry, then reigning, will implement iniquitous laws aimed at extinguishing this sacrament. They will make it easy for all to live in sin, thus multiplying the birth of illegitimate children without the Church’s blessing. The Christian spirit will rapidly decay, extinguishing the precious light of Faith until it reaches the point that there will be an almost total and general corruption of customs.”

Our Lady of Good Success to Sister Mariana de Jesús Torres

FOR THOSE WHO NO LONGER TRANSMIT THE VALUES THEY RECEIVED

 

CHILDREN ARE BEGOTTEN TO TAKE THEM TO HEAVEN

A MOTHER SHOULD...

1. TEACH HER CHILDREN ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Like Margherita Occhiena, mother of Saint John Bosco, who took advantage of every opportunity to teach her children about God.

When the sun rose over the snowy Alps, she would say: “What wonders God has made for us, my children!"

Or when the hail had devastated her family's humble vineyard, she would resignedly say: “Let us bow our heads, my children; God had given us those beautiful things. God has taken them away from us. He is the Owner. For us it is a test, for the evil, a punishment.”

On beautiful starry nights, she would go outside the house, point to the sky and say: – “God is the one who created the world and placed the stars up there. If the sky is so beautiful, what will Paradise be like?”

2. TEACH HER CHILDREN TO HATE SIN

Like Blanche of Castile, mother of Saint Louis. 

Queen and mother, she was concerned to make her son, Saint Louis, a Crusader King, a fervent Christian and an irreproachable ruler. Since he was a child, she would say to her son over and over again: 

“I love you, my dear son, as much as a mother can love her child; but I would rather see you dead at my feet than that you should ever commit a mortal sin.”

You have no idea how much the soul of the priest suffers when, in the confessional, he hears certain sins that could have been avoided with a little diligence on the part of the parents of a child!

A mother must explain to her children why certain tv shows or movies are bad, why such music damages the soul, why such "innocent" games or Internet sites destroy not only the imagination of children but their path to sainthood.

It would even seem that some mothers say: "I would rather see you commit a thousand mortal sins than see you dead!”

Father Javier Olivera Ravasi

Note of Catholicity: How necessary are those mothers who above all seek the salvation of their children's souls! Blessed are those mothers. Parents will give account to God of the formation given to their children, because children are begotten to take them to Heaven.

 

THE ROLE OF THE MOTHER

 “Who shall find a valiant woman? far, and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her (…). Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31).

"Beget children for Heaven."

Cows have offspring, dogs and hares too, but while these animals of God raise children for earth, the Christian mother must do so for Heaven. Because before feeding the body, we must think about feeding the soul. Before thinking about what the children will wear, we must think if they are clothed in grace. That is why the role of the mother is fundamental, so much so that Our Lord lived without a father in the flesh, but not without a mother.

"Beget children for Heaven...". Practicing the virtues, above all; that is why Saint John Mary Vianney used to say that "virtue passes smoothly from the heart of a mother to the hearts of her children”.

From the mother the child learns the first prayer or the first insult.

From the mother, the child will first know how to distinguish the good from the bad, which is why the ideological current which states that "you must not set limits", "you must not correct", "you must never raise your hand" is so disastrous.  

"Hast thou children? Instruct them, and bow down their neck from their childhood." (Ecclesiasticus, 7-23) because “a horse not broken becometh stubborn, and a child left to himself will become headstrong". (Ecclesiasticus, 30- 8).

The obligation of the Catholic mother is to take her children to Heaven. And if, despite a good formation, the son or daughter goes astray, there is always the resource of constant prayer for him or her. A bishop told Saint Monica, who insistently prayed for her sinful son: "The child of those tears shall never perish." And that son became a great saint: Saint Augustine.

PARENTS ARE GREATLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SALVATION OF THEIR CHILDREN

 

DECEMBER 12: FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

 Most Holy Virgin, full of grace, you who have pleased the Lord, deign to incline your eyes full of sweetness towards the children of men, in the midst of whom Divine Wisdom has said that it is His delight to dwell. But look more particularly at all the children who are today, more than ever, exposed to the dangers of the world. The dragon of the Apocalypse does not want to leave in the world anything that bears or can bear the name of God and would like to stain the innocence of children’s souls in order to erase forever in them all impulses towards God. 

 You who have always shown a particular predilection for children, do not allow this torrent of iniquity that pours out on the earth to irreparably corrupt the excellent dispositions of their souls. Remember that they are your most beloved inheritance, and that in union with your divine Son, they have cost you a very high price. May your Immaculate Heart deign to take them under your patronage, confirm them in their innocence and above all, may humanity protect them and shelter them. May your Heart obtain divine graces for them, especially that of fidelity to Divine Truth, and may it prevent the fire that He ignites in their hearts to be extinguished or stained. Amen. 

 Our Lady of Guadalupe, protect the children! 

Sanctify the children!

Save the children! 

 

AN ESSENTIAL HABIT: IN THE MORNING, AT MEALTIMES AND BEFORE BED. AND IN THE EVENING, THE ROSARY

HOW IS YOUR FAMILY?...

Hopefully parents will never forget that their authority comes from God! And hopefully family life will be founded on this holy foundation! The whole society creaks and wobbles. Who will save it? The government? Politicians? Political parties? Social policies or reforms? What will save it? Rallies or strikes? Or perhaps speeches? None of this can save it.

The remedy is this: strengthen family life, renew it on Christian grounds.

We need a regeneration, but a spiritual regeneration, a moral regeneration. We need families, fathers, mothers, children, to faithfully observe the Decalogue. Families in whose sanctuary the Kingdom of God is respected. Families in which Christ is the law. Families that in the midst of this frozen world raise the Cross of Christ, and be raised by the Cross of Christ.

Bishop Tihamer Toth

A GOOD PIECE OF ADVICE

If I could give one single advice for my friends who are married it would be this: Be generous in having children. Children make us better human beings. What a child does for you, no other experience will do.

Traveling the world makes you successful and it is very rewarding, independence is nice. Still nothing will change you so permanently as a child does.

Forget about that story that children cost a lot of money. Children turn you into a conscious and economic consumer: you start buying your clothes in outlets instead of buying them in Calvin Klein, because after all it is only clothes. And your tennis shoes from last year are still good and comfortable, they can last 5 more years... you already have other priorities and only two feet.

You work heartily and with more dedication, after all there is a little being totally dependent on you, and that gives you a push that no other situation would give you. Children make us exceed all limits.

You start to worry about doing something for the world. Separate waste, community work, products that use less plastic. You are your child's example of being a good human being and nothing can be greater than that.

Food becomes important, it is no longer a good option to eat between meals chocolates with Coca-Cola, you offer your child a banana and water. You start to take more care of your health, you eat the vegetables that they leave on their plate. You plant vegetables in your garden to have fresh food.

You can stop drinking sodas even for weeks. A child gives you about 25 more years of life.

You believe in God more than ever and even learn how to pray. In your child's first illness, almost as an instinct you kneel down and ask God to take care of him. And so, your child teaches you how to have faith and gratitude as no priest is capable of teaching you. And you also learn that you must raise your children with deep convictions that allow them to be good people to one day come to God.

A child makes you a more prudent person: never again will you drive without your seatbelt on, risky drive, or drink and drive, for the simple fact that you cannot die (not so early) Who would raise and love your children in the same way you do if you die?! A child makes you want to be alive more than ever...

But if you still do not think that these reasons are worth it, let it be because of that indecipherable charm that sons and daughters have...

Have children to feel the smell of their hair always scented, to have the pleasure of feeling their little arms around your neck, to hear your name (now mom or dad) being said with that squeaky little voice.

Have children to see that smile and get that tight hug when you get home and feel that you are the most important person in the whole world for that little being.

Have children to get kissed with that breath that no Listerine can give. Have children to see in them your same smile and the walk of their dad, and understand the importance of having a part of you loose in the world. Have children to re-learn the delight of a bubble bath, of cold water in the heat, of running with your dog, of eating a mango without cleaning.

Fulfill the duty of fertility. Have children, knowing that very few things will teach you so much. Have children because you have a lot to learn from them.

Unknown autor

Image taken from Flores Photography Studio

CHESTERTON DIXIT

HOW PARENTS SIN IN REGARD TO THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN

“Parents sin if they don’t instruct their children in matters of faith. They should not imitate certain fathers and mothers who do not meet this duty moved by the desire to keep their children busy in other things. The consequence is that these poor children grow up without knowing how to make their confession, and are even ignorant of the principal articles of faith; they know not what is meant by the Trinity, by the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, by mortal sin, judgment, hell, heaven, or eternity; and through their ignorance they are damned. But their parents will have to account to God for them.”

Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

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A True Family Regeneración

Hopefully parents will never forget that their authority comes from God! And hopefully family life will be founded on this holy base! The whole society creaks and wobbles. Who will save it? The government? Politicians? Political parties? Social policies or reforms? What will save it? Rallies or strikes? Or perhaps speeches? None of this can save it. The remedy is this: strengthen family life, renew it on a Christian basis.

We need a regeneration, but a spiritual regeneration, a moral regeneration. We need families, fathers, mothers, children, to faithfully observe the Decalogue. Families on whose sanctuary is respected the Kingdom of God. Families in which Christ is the law. Families that in the middle of this icy world raise the Cross of Christ, and are raised by the Cross of Christ.

Bishop Tihamér Tóth

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