Studia Pastoralne
Rocznik Wydziału Teologicznego UŚ

CONCERN FOR A RELIGIOUS CLIMATE IN A FAMILY
Summary
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.

CATECHESIS INTRODUCING THE CHILD TO THE SACRAMENTS OF PENANCE AND OF THE EUCHARIST IN THE LIGHT OF THE POST-VATICAN II DOCUMENTS OF THE CHURCH
The reflection taken up in this article shows that the documents of the Church which have been published after the II Vatican Council are a rich source of information concerning the preparation of children to the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and to the Sacrament of the Eucharist. In Church teaching after the Council we find not only indicated the content, which should be present in the preparation of children to Penance and the Eucharist, but also its forms and method. The documents of the Church generally outline a certain program or direction of sacramental formation, so the demands given need to be supplemented by a catechetical and pastoral reflection, which would lead to more detailed and practical suggetstions, possible to use in pastoral and catechetical ministry. Although each elaboration must take into consideration elements that are characteristic for the introdution formation of the child to the reality of Penance and the Eucharist, which - in accordance with requirements given in the Church documents after the Council - regard above all the following issues:
- the preparation of children to the Sacraments of Penance and of the Eucharist takes place through a number of stages, which can be called: far, close and direct;
- the formation of penance and eucharistic attitudes begins already in the first months and years of the children's lives, thus the important role of parents and family;
- in the process of introducing children to the reality of Penance and the Eucharist initiation catechesis has a principal role;
- on each of the stages of preparation one has to take into consideration the situation of the catechized, the level of personal development and family environment.