Catholic Education: Sacred Scripture, Tradition and Those Who Give Witness

This has been an interesting week to say the least. For the first time in my life, I was put in a position where I had to defend Catholic schools teaching Sacred Scripture, Tradition, especially liturgical and sacramental tradition, and the people who have given witness to the Word. Yet, it was not the defense of these elements which struck me, but it was against whom I had to defend them against, a fellow Catholic.

As I travel the world, I see more and more that the elements which define Catholicism have continually been watered down by secularism or by well intentioned people who have misunderstood the call of Vatican II. There is a mistaken notion that we as Catholics must not offend, or that we will be guided by the Holy Spirit alone in our institutions; therefore, religious doctrine, catechesis, or Catholic stances on positions need not be focused upon, and that religion is entirely separate entity from other subjects which are taught in school, but this is a serious misunderstanding of how Catholic education is supposed to work. Now don't misunderstand my words, as I do believe the Holy Spirit to be alive in Catholic schools, but there is much more that must take place under the guidance of the Spirit to complete that education in a Catholic school.

The Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education wrote in their document The Catholic School:

The Catholic school as the centre of the educative Christian community

53. For all these reasons, Catholic schools must be seen as "meeting places for those who wish to express Christian values in education"(19). The Catholic school, far more than any other, must be a community whose aim is the transmission of values for living. Its work is seen as promoting a faith-relationship with Christ in Whom all values find fulfilment. But faith is principally assimilated through contact with people whose daily life bears witness to it. Christian faith, in fact, is born and grows inside a community.

54. The community aspect of the Catholic school is necessary because of the nature of the faith and not simply because of the nature of man and the nature of the educational process which is common to every school. No Catholic school can adequately fulfil its educational role on its own. It must continually be fed and stimulated by its Source of life, the Saving Word of Christ as it is expressed in Sacred Scripture, in Tradition, especially liturgical and sacramental tradition, and in the lives of people, past and present, who bear witness to that Word.

55. The Catholic school loses its purpose without constant reference to the Gospel and a frequent encounter with Christ. It derives all the energy necessary for its educational work from Him and thus "creates in the school community an atmosphere permeated with the Gospel spirit of freedom and love"(20). In this setting the pupil experiences his dignity as a person before he knows its definition. Faithful, therefore, to the claims of man and of God, the Catholic school makes its own contribution towards man's liberation, making him, in other words, what his destiny implies, one who talks consciously with God, one who is there for God to love.

56. "This simple religious doctrine is the cornerstone of the existential, Christian metaphysic"(21). This is the basis of a Catholic school's educational work. Education is not given for the purpose of gaining power but as an aid towards a fuller understanding of, and communion with man, events and things. Knowledge is not to be considered as a means of material prosperity and success, but as a call to serve and to be responsible for others. [Underline is my emphasis]

Faith may be transmitted by daily contact by those who bear witness, but the in order to fulfil its role the Catholic school must teach the Saving word of Christ as it is expressed in Scripture, in Tradition, especially liturgical and sacramental tradition, and in the lives of people who bear witness to the Lord. Therefore, it is necessary to have Mass, to have prayer, to teach Catholic history and social doctrine. To teach religious doctrine without the light of Christ is to read a book in a darkened room. You may occasionally see a word or two, but you never get the full understanding. Consequently, if you cannot get the full understanding, you can never rise to defend your faith as is required nor can you serve responsibly, for you will not comprehend the full depth of what has been before your eyes and can be deceived and led away from the truth.

It has been the belief of the Church that parents also have the responsibility to ensure that their children receive a sound Catholic education:

195. It is of the utmost importance that parents exercise their right and obligation toward the younger generation by securing for their children a sound cultural and religious formation. They must also educate them to a deep sense of responsibility in life, especially in such matters as concern the foundation of a family and the procreation and education of children. They must instill in them an unshakable confidence in Divine Providence and a determination to accept the inescapable sacrifices and hardships involved in so noble and important a task as the co-operation with God in the transmitting of human life and the bringing up of children.

To the attainment of this end nothing can be more effective than those principles and that supernatural aid which the Church supplies. On this score alone the right of the Church to full liberty in the exercise of her mission must be recognized (Mater et Magistra, Pope John XXIII)

Parents must ensure that their children are receiving an education that provides sound cultural and religious formation, which would of course be acquired through Catholic schooling in conjunction with the Church. Parent are to exercise their rights as parents to ensure this happens and that doctrine contrary to teachings of Christ are not put before their children; also, they must ensure that the teaching of subjects are not mutually exclusive to Christ’s teachings. Further, they are the one's who must ensure that if they child is in a secular institution that he/she is not corrupted, or led astray by false ideologies; rather, that they always adhere to teachings and truth of Christ.

The Relations of Faith and Culture

9. These details from the life of this great saint indicate clearly enough to all good people the way which they must follow. We know that your nation is particularly famous for the wise and fruitful way in which you dedicate your talent and activity to promoting the greatness of your country and ensuring both public and individual prosperity. But, above all, the wise and virtuous among you should make vigorous efforts for the faith, and they should dedicate all their insight and expressive energy to its glory and defense. For the same purpose they should understand and utilize at once every advance made in the arts and sciences.

10. If there ever existed a period which demanded abundant science and knowledge to defend the Catholic faith, it is assuredly ours in which the rapid progress in all branches of study often furnishes the enemies of the Christian faith with an occasion for attacking it. We must therefore commit the same forces to repel their attack. We must occupy the position first and snatch from their hands the weapons with which they are trying to destroy all links between God and man.

11. Catholics, thus fortified and fittingly instructed, will clearly be able to show that the faith, far from being hostile to human culture, constitutes in fact its apex and summit; that even on points where there is seeming opposition or contradiction, it can be so closely harmonized with philosophy that each enlightens the other; that nature is not the enemy but the companion and helper of religion; finally that the inspiration of religion not only enriches all types of knowledge but also gives literature and the other arts new strength and new life. The splendor and dignity which the sacred sciences draw from the profane sciences derive from the fact that human nature is more affected by teaching which is pleasingly presented. For this reason among nations with a more refined civilization, hardly any confidence is placed in a coarse wisdom, and learned men especially leave aside all that is not imprinted with a certain beauty and charm. "We are indebted to the wise men" no less than "the ignorant," so we should stand in the battle line with the wise and if the ignorant falter, we should lift them up and strengthen them. (Militantis Ecclesiae, Pope Leo XIII)

Religion must be incorporated into all aspect of education so that a Catholic may provide an adequate defense of the faith. With subjects being exclusive to one another, the light of Christ will not shine clearly, and the full connection between God’s creations and the explanations of science may not connect. Thus, the student will be left in shadow of darkness, unable to follow the command of St. Peter: “But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy everyone that asks you a reason of that hope which is in you” (1 Pt. 3:15).

Parents' Obligation for Educating Their Children

5. Increase your diligence concerning domestic society, the education of youths and of priests, and the best manner of teaching Christian love. The soundness and honor of domestic life, from which health flows into the veins of civil society, must be sought first in the sanctity of marriage, which is indivisible when entered into according to the precepts of God and of the Church. In the next place it is necessary that the rights and duties between the spouses be inviolate and, as far as possible, supported by the greatest possible love and harmony. Parents must provide protection and advantages for their children, especially education. The best and most efficacious example for the children is the lives of their parents. Parents must realize that they can provide for their education properly and well only by exercising great vigilance. In choosing schools and colleges, they must avoid not only those where errors concerning religion are deliberately interspersed with the teaching, or where impiety reigns, but also those that consider Christian culture and morals inappropriate for instruction and offer no courses in them. For those, surely, whose talents are developed by letters and the arts also need to be taught the knowledge of and reverence for divine things. Nature itself admonishes that they must serve God even more than the state; in serving the state, they must direct their steps toward their permanent homeland in heaven. They must keep this goal in mind as they grow older and advance in civil culture both because youths today are urged to a greater desire for knowledge, and because they are exposed daily to great dangers to their faith. The great losses we have suffered prove this. Now concerning the manner of teaching sacred doctrine, concerning the worthiness and knowledge of professors, and concerning the selection of books, the Church reserves her right to prescribe certain things. Nor can she fail to do so since she is bound by a most serious duty to see to it that nothing harmful to the well-being of the faith creeps in and injures the Christian people. The lessons which are taught in churches and meeting places advocating that the seeds of faith and love be nourished and grow should complement and strengthen the sacred instruction which is given in the schools. (Caritas, Pope Leo XIII)

A Catholic must be a well rounded person, instructed that he/she may be able to serve the world in the light of Christ. In order to accomplish this, sacred truth must be taught and assimilated into all aspects of Catholic education, without this the understanding of Catholic doctrine and social teaching is dull and it is near impossible to fully go and serve our neighbour as commanded by Christ; further, without foundations being reinforced with Sacred Tradition, the liturgy and sacraments, the teachings of the saints, a student will be left void and susceptible to modernist influences. It is the responsibility of the Catholic school, in conjunction with the parents and the Church to make well rounded citizens to serve the world in the name of Christ.

Now, there may be issue as to non-Catholics attending a Catholic school, and it must be realized that first and foremost a Catholic school is a Catholic institution. A person entering that environment must realize that they entering a religious environment. That being said, Catholic school will not force a person to convert, nor act against their conscience; however, a Catholic school should also not compromise their sacred teachings to appease non-believers. Rather, they are invited “In the certainty that the Spirit is at work in every person, the Catholic school offers itself to all, non-Christians included, with all its distinctive aims and means, acknowledging, preserving and promoting the spiritual and moral qualities, the social and cultural values, which characterise different civilisations” (The Catholic School, 85). Nevertheless, the Catholic school must always adhere to its main objective of teaching in the light of Christ and that is done by teaching student “the Saving Word of Christ as it is expressed in Sacred Scripture, in Tradition, especially liturgical and sacramental tradition, and in the lives of people, past and present, who bear witness to that Word”, Catholic doctrine and all subject related in some respect to previous, and with that they will be able to serve the world and proclaim the Gospel, without it their education will be incomplete and the goal of the Catholic school will have failed.

It is imperative that as our societies continue to advance that we do not self-secularize ourselves or our institutions to be politically correct; rather, we must continue to show that Sacred Truth is in all things and can be integrated into all aspects of life. It is necessary for our Catholic schools and institutions to rise to this challenge and be pillars of light and truth to our future generations, lest we develop moral relativists and the world sink into the darkness. We must never be afraid to proclaim the truth, but must be ever present examples of the truth so that we may bring it out into the world.

Pax tecum.