Anne Lastman
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, recently announced that he has established the Pontifical Committee to oversee the preparation for the World day of the Child. This committee will promote the World day of Child, the church’s role and charism to always do all it can to protect the child. He has called for recognition of the rights, dignity, respect, of children. Care for the children and this as an expression of love and care for the welfare of the children and adolescents of the world.
It has always been known that children are important and need protection but this has not been the case. Societal understandings regarding children have always been mixed with those who would use children and adolescents to be slaves to those who would overindulge. However, as I have always said and written, the child is the future of every nation. Without children there cannot be a future.
In our violent times, the children, beginning from in utero are the greatest sufferers. Their safety is not assured. Their wantedness is rejected, love for their arrival into the world most often not welcomed. Beginning from conception, progressing to adolescents much of the world’s children experience abandonment, slavery, pain and the life of the child in our times is threatened and endangered. It has been said that the most dangerous place for an infant today is in the womb of its mother and indeed with over 50,000,000 abortions annually it seems to be so. Adolescents abandoned not necessarily in physical things but moral and spiritual teaching which only parents can do. There is a forgetting that each individual is God’s own idea of His love and has a place in creation and history. Has a role to play, a task to complete and an influence on a time or space, or era. Every breath we breathe is different from the others this makes the difference.
The Holy Father in his infinite wisdom and guidance by the holy Spirit, has seen clearly the state or situation and sadness in the face of the child, and has acted upon this. Creating a Special Day where children are the complete focus. A day of listening to them. hearing their pains and joys, having them understand that they matter very much. The work to achieve this will not be something which will be resolved in one meeting but will take generations to change the false teachings of the past several very sinful generations where the lie was conceived and grown the belief that children are disposable. Not valued. Useful for all matter of abuse. The work of this commission will be long and hard work. Sin, from the beginning of all time once imprinted is difficult to remove. Time through generations will be needed to change the hearts and minds of societies leading to one of renewed desire humanity and future.
The mission of this commission began when first whisperings of the Holy Spirit made itself known to “Peter.” The future, with wars, starvation, abuse and slaughter of children at this moment looks bleak and the Holy Spirit, The Lord and Giver of life, whispered to “Peter” protect the children. Find ways to renew their faith, confidence and a knowledge of love.
The work of welcoming, loving, protecting the child is a profound work. Perhaps even the most important work in our day because without children and their rights, respect and dignity recognised and acknowledged then there won’t be a “tomorrow” and even if there is a tomorrow it will be a tomorrow for only the privileged and that will not be able to carry life to its fullness. The model for the life of the future child will not know intimacy, family, and what we now call normality. It will be a life of an automaton.
Every child who is denied the life intended for him or her cannot continue passing on to future generations the story of humanity, from the beginning, to give birth and to form inhabitants for this earth and for the Kingdom of God. A child is born so that it might fulfil its own destiny, which is inscribed within him or her. Abortion, slavery, starvation, ill treatment, sexual, physical, spiritual abuse thwarts God’s intention and plunges humanity into a new state of de-civilisation, tyranny and primitiveness. The society or generation which turns its back on God and God’s earthly institution, the family and its children is the humanity which experiences dissonance, discouragement, delinquency, despotic behaviour and finally destruction. God’s design of family was designed in the image of the Trinity and enfleshed in the holy family of Nazareth.
What is the hope for this new charism of protection, the children and thus protecting life is that those appointed to this commission will be those who understand family, children, future. It is hoped that those appointed work tirelessly to rescue children of all ages from the grasp of the evil one who acts through the permission of those willing. It is hoped that those appointed to this commission and its delegates will not stay within comfortable offices but will go out to the streets of nations where it is known that children are devalued and rescue them so that other children will see and have hope. As Proverbs 24:11-12 says “Rescue those who are being taken away to death and those who stagger to the slaughter. OH, hold them back”
The family and church represent the most important human systems which fulfil the psychological, social, physical and spiritual needs of the child, then adolescent, and exerts considerable influence on individual adjustment. Where there has been negative exposure to traumatic events in the psychological and spiritual foundations, then the child is less capable of moving into unfettered selfhood and so we work for the rescuing and healing from that exposure
Rebuilding family where there is a knowledge of positive family life endows children to continue this into next generation and so slowly a renewed laughter will be experienced and enjoyed by both children and family they will build. Family is important to all young ones even those who through experiences have not known family home, but the knowledge of deep communion is written their being. This cohort of young has a desire or longing for protective and loving fellowship with same needs as other young people.
A child usually begins life in the social, economic and spiritual milieu in which the family finds itself. The physical care, guidance, spiritual care, and interaction with significant others and opportunities for development vary according to the climate in which the family finds itself in. Before the adolescent has reached this stage of development their psychological and spiritual development has been influenced by the values found within that family and societal structures. Even before the external world has had time to influence the young person with the beliefs of the wider society, the familial world where care, respect love for the child, has served to mould certain beliefs and expectations.
The influence of parents assists in the formation of the self-concept beginning from childhood to adolescence and ultimately maturity which assists in the formation of a society where children are valued and are a “quiver full” (Ps 127:3-5), Where a “quiver full” cannot be found because neither family nor parents nor others are in the life of a child, then the Church must find itself as the family and build an environment of love. Where a “normal” may be lived.
The Holy Father in his announcement of the need for this special commission has recognised and begun the work of renewing humanity, from the very beginning, through the child. Ensuring that the future is safe. Our Holy mother, in Fatima, said that the devil’s final battle will be waged against marriage and the family, This because marriage and children will continue humanity until Jesus (Her own Son) returns. From the rearing and providing the necessities for physical, spiritual and psychological development in childhood to providing stable background as the adolescent tentatively emerges from the family cocoon to the model of moral development of the individual. Clearly the role of the family is of great importance and where family missing then holy mother Church stands in her place does all for the child.
Having acknowledged dignity, stability, love, respect, and freedom to slowly move into adulthood, children who are supported become the adults who were meant to be from the beginning.
When the church, in communion with the Holy Father, sets out a task to rescue the child, the intention is to rescue both, the child and the future, and in this not only the Catholic Church but honourable humanity should be called to help. It’s the future of all created beings.
