Pope: Young people should be educated based on intellect, affection and action
Francis opened the ecclesial conference of the diocese of Rome on youth education. In a society devastated and dominated by consumerism, try to offer the possibility of harmonious growth not only on a personal level but also a social and spiritual level.
Rome (AsiaNews) - In a "rootless society", that is made up of people, families who gradually "lose their bonds, that vital fabric so important to share with each other, to share a common project with others", young people should be offered" integrated education "based on intellect, affections and actions. This will offer our children the opportunity for harmonious growth not only at a personal level, but also a social and spiritual, capable of overcoming that race to the consumerism that characterizes our society. This is the reflection offered by Pope Francis at the opening of the ecclesial conference of the diocese of Rome, which this year has the theme "Let's not leave them alone! Accompanying parents in the education of teenage children. "
Prior to the opening speech at the Lateran Palace, the Pope wanted to meet some families of immigrants from the parish churches and religious institutes of the diocese of Rome.
In the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Pope's long reflection opened with the invitation to look at reality not "in general", "in abstract", but thinking of "problems, situations, adolescents ...". And in a "rootless" society, "one of the first things we have to think of as parents, as families, as shepherds are the scenarios where to plant roots, where to create ties, find roots, where to grow that vital network that allows us to feel at home". In this picture Francis recommended young people learn their shared roots. "I know," he added, "that may be repetitive, but I feel it as something that the Holy Spirit presses in my heart, so that our young people may have visions, dreams, and face the future, the prophetic dreams of their fathers, with boldness and courage. "
"Our young people - he then observed - try to be and want to feel - logically - protagonists. They do not like to feel commanded or to have to respond to 'orders' coming from the adult world (they follow the rules of their 'accomplices'). They are looking for the complicity that makes them feel they have "self-control". In this we find a good opportunity, especially for schools, parishes and ecclesial movements. " This calls for educators "driven by the love and passion of bringing to them the life of the Spirit of Jesus, to show that being a Christian requires courage and is a beautiful thing. To educate teenagers today we can not continue to use a purely school education model, just ideas. One must follow the pace of their growth. It is important to help them gain self-esteem, to believe that they can really succeed in what they propose. "
In one society, finally, marked by a very strong consumerism - "it seems that we are driven to consume, consumption, in the sense that the important thing is to always consume " - the Pope said it was "urgent" to retrieve the principle of austerity, "the spiritual principle which is so important and devalued ". "We have fallen into a habit of consumption and are driven to believe that we are valued as far as we are able to produce and consume, as far as we are capable of. Educating austerity is an incomparable richness. It awakens ingenuity and creativity, creates opportunities for imagination and especially opens up to teamwork, in solidarity. Open to others. There is a kind of 'spiritual genius'. The attitude of greedy people who, instead of nourishing themselves, eat everything around them. I think it is good for us to educate us better, as a family, in this 'kindness' and give room for austerity as a way to meet, build bridges, open spaces, grow with others. This can only be done by those who can be austere; Otherwise it is a simple 'greed ".
The story of a family, he concluded, "is plagued by crises of all kinds, which are also part of his dramatic beauty. It is necessary to help find that a crisis overcome does not lead to a less intense relationship, but to an improved one, to sediment and to mature the wine of the union. " "It seems to me important to live the education of the children from this perspective, as a calling of the Lord to us, as a family, to make this passage a step of growth, to learn to savor the life that He bestows upon us" .
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