5. ...For its part, physical procreation also fully responds to its meaning only if it is completed by paternity and maternity in the spirit, whose expression and fruit is all the educative work of the parents in regard to the children born of their conjugal corporeal union.
14 April 1982 - Marriage and Continence Complement Each Other
The initiation of children into the sacramental life is ordinarily the responsibility and concern of Christian parents. They are to form and gradually increase a spirit of faith in the children and, at times with the help of catechism classes, prepare them for the fruitful reception of the sacraments of confirmation and eucharist. The role of the parents is also expressed by their active participation in the celebration of the sacraments.
~ Rite of Confirmation #3
The sacrament of marriage gives to the educational role the dignity and vocation of being really and truly a "ministry" of the Church at the service of the building up of her members. So great and splendid is the educational ministry of Christian parents that Saint Thomas has no hesitation in comparing it with the ministry of priests: "Some only propagate and guard spiritual life by a spiritual ministry: this is the role of the sacrament of Orders; others do this for both corporal and spiritual life, and this is brought about by the sacrament of marriage, by which a man and a woman join in order to beget offspring and bring them up to worship God."(101)
~ ~ John Paul II, The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World, #38
“The right and duty of parents to give education is essential, since it is connected with the transmission of human life... it is irreplaceable and inalienable, and therefore incapable of being entirely delegated to others or usurped by others.”
~ John Paul II, The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World, #36 (emphasis in the original)
“Parents are the first and most important educators of their own children, and they also possess a fundamental competence in this area: they are educators because they are parents... In the sphere of education the Church has a specific role to play... The Church wishes to carry out her educational mission above all through families who are made capable of undertaking this task by the sacrament of matrimony...”
~ John Paul II, Letter to Families, #16 (emphasis in the original)
“By reason of their dignity and mission, Christian parents have the specific responsibility of educating their children in prayer, introducing them to gradual discovery of the mystery of God and to personal dialogue with Him.”
~ The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World, #60
Through the grace of the sacrament of marriage, parents receive the responsibility and privilege of evangelizing their children. Parents should initiate their children at an early age into the mysteries of the faith of which they are the "first heralds" for their children. They should associate them from their tenderest years with the life of the Church.
~ Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2225
What are "the mysteries of Faith?"
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) has four parts:
"The mysteries of Faith" are the sacraments. Parents are supposed to initiate their children into the sacraments.
What is "the life of the Church"?
The Eucharist is the heart and the summit of the Church's life.
~Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1407
“I cannot fail to emphasize now one of the most constant concerns of the synod fathers, a concern imposed with vigor and urgency… I am referring to the central problem of the catechesis of adults. This is the principal form of catechesis, because it is addressed to persons who have the greatest responsibilities and the capacity to live the Christian message in its fully developed form.”
- Pope John Paul II, Catechesis in our Time, #43
“Continuing or ongoing education in the faith follows upon basic education and presupposes it.”
~General Directory for Catechesis (GDC), 1997, #69
“Catechesis of adults, since it deals with persons who are capable of an adherence that is fully responsible, must be considered the chief form of catechesis. All other forms, which are indeed always necessary, are in some way oriented to it. This implies that the catechesis of other age groups should have it for a point of reference and should be expressed in conjunction with it, in a coherent catechetical program suitable to meet the pastoral needs of dioceses.”
~ GDC, #59. cf. Catechesi Tradendae, #43, General Catechetical Directory, (1971) #20.
“The organizing principle which gives coherence to the various catechetical programs offered by a particular Church, is attention to adult catechesis. This is the axis around which revolves the catechesis of childhood and adolescence as well as that of old age.”
~ GDC, #275. (emphasis in the original).