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 As
I meet our teachers in Catholic schools, our catechists
in our programs
of religious education, and our parents,
I learned about some of the
challenges facing them these
days.
Archbishop, we really need to teach our children to
pray .
. .
Our kids do not even know the life, events, and
teaching of Jesus . . .
Do you know of any new methods, or books, or programs
to help us . . . ?
Well, no . . . I don't know of any new methods. I do know of one
thousands
of years old that might help . . .
The Rosary.
Yep, the rosary. Think about it: if our children learn the rosary, they
would know by heart the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory
Be, the basic prayers of our faith. They would learn that prayer is simple,
scriptural, in union with Mary, leading to an absorption into the mysteries
of our salvation. So, we could teach them to pray.
If our children knew the rosary, they would know the basics of the life,
teaching, death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus as they learn the
twenty mysteries of the rosary.
I know it's not the answer to all our catechetical challenges; I realize it
has difficulties of its own; I admit it does not appeal to everybody.
But I still propose to you that the rosary is not only an effective,
beautiful prayer, but a remarkably effective catechetical tool.
After all, St. Dominic utilized it in successfully preaching against a
popular belief of his day, called Albigensianism, that denied the reality of
the Incarnation.
So, let's give it a try again today . . .
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