Letters

Teaching the faith

Rosanna Sherman

Contents - Apr 2005 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Pope's suffering a potent Easter witness - Michael Gilchrist Australia prepares for World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne - AD2000 Report News: The Church Around the World 'Flying bishops' consecrated for orthodox Anglicans - Fr Nigel Zimmerman Exploding myths about the 'pre-Vatican II' Church - John Young Vocations: Why some new religious orders are attracting recruits - Fr John Hogan Events: Carnivale Christi returning to Sydney with an Easter theme - Liz Arblaster and Anthony McCarthy Cardinal Ratzinger: Liturgy should be God-centred - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Letters: Dissent - Fr John Speekman Scripture: So, what else did Jesus say? - Gavan O'Farrell Adore 05: Sydney's successful Eucharistic Youth Congress - Nicole Osmak Letters: ACU - Sabina Sannen Letters: Chavagnes International College - Raymond De Souza Letters: Teaching the faith - Rosanna Sherman Letters: Stations of the Cross - D.T.S. Moorhouse Letters: Religious habit - Fr G.H. Duggan SM Letters: Practice of faith - Br Con Moloney CFC Letters: Confession - J.G. Wilson Letters: Talking in Church - Judith McRae Letters: Christ the Creator - Gerard J. Keane Letters: Good news - Geoff Storey Letters: Pregnancy Assistance - Brian A. Peachey Books: The Path to Rome: Modern Journeys to the Catholic Church - Michael Casanova (reviewer) Books: Love Alone Is Credible, by Hans urs von Balthasar - Kerrie Allen (reviewer) Books: Mass Without a Congregation: A Sign of Unity or Division? - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Poetry: A Centurion Reflects - Bruce Dawe Books: Religious resources for 2005 Reflection: Pope John Paul II: 'In the risen Christ all creation rises to new life' - Pope John Paul II Marian Valley Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians, Canungra

To quote Sr Mary Augustine: "So we can often find serious-minded Catholics today trying to recreate the '50s - reacting to aberrations and deficiencies they see all about them by teaching their children merely formula-type doctrines using simple catechisms from the early half of the 20th century, reverting to prayers and practices of a sentimental type, multiplying pious devotions, applying the Gospel morality with a kind of fundamentalist rigour."

So what is wrong with that? Since doctrine cannot change, that is exactly what we felt we had to do 20 years ago (nothing to do with recreating the '50s ). It was simply to pass on the faith to our children.

Now, in their 20s all four are still practising Catholics, and yes, they all have Rosary beads they know how to use. Less talk and more prayer, more faith less reason, keep it simple, and above all, practise what you preach - it sure worked for us.

ROSANNA SHERMAN
New Zealand

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 18 No 3 (April 2005), p. 14