In Sorge um ein religiöses Klima in der Familie
Concern for a religious climate in a family

Summary/Abstract: Pope Benedict XVI in the Encyclical Caritas in veritate says that „there are certain religious cultures in the world today that do not oblige men and women to live in communion but rather cut them off from one other in a search for individual well-being” (No. 55). This well-being leads people to rejection of God and a religious life. „Without God – in the pope’s opinion – man neither knows which way to go, nor even understands who he is” (No. 78). For human creation, having a spiritual nature, accomplishes itself in the fullest way most of all in relations with God and interpersonal relations. This relates in a special way – as we read in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen gentium – to a family community in which every child through the sacrament of baptism enters the living relation with God and the Church. It is at home where parents are to be witnesses of the faith and love of Christ to one another and to their children (see No. 35). A family has got special capacities to fulfil its didactic functions. They result from the fact of responsibility of a family for a young person. The Declaration on Christian Education Gravissimum educationis underlines the fact that „since parents have given children their life, they are bound by the most serious obligation to educate their offspring and therefore must be recognised as the primary and principal educators” (No. 3). Therefore from the earliest years Christian parents should teach their children respect and reverence to God and neighbours. As the first educators and catechists of their children they should be aware of their religious knowledge, educational skills, responsibility for their child and its religious upbringing. They should also understand the need of creating a Christian climate in their families. Pope Benedict XVI calls Christian parents to help their children to believe, to accompany them on a road to Jesus and with Jesus, because life in a family – according to the pope – becomes more open and joyful if God is present in it and if one experiences His closeness, especially in a prayer.

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