Psychological Healing
in the Roman Catholic Mystic Tradition

Educating Children

 
During the post-WWII years, when Communism was spreading through Latin America, the dictator of a Caribbean island made an astute decision. He realized that to ensure his success in imposing a Communist government on a predominantly Catholic culture, he had to undermine the authority of the Church. Yes, he could—and did—persecute the Church, but he devised a cunning, long-term plan as well: he attacked the minds of the children.

His henchmen went into the schools and, with feigned concern for the children, said to them, “Wouldn’t you like some ice cream right now? Well, why don’t you pray to your God for ice cream?”

The children, like innocent lambs, closed their eyes and obediently prayed.

The henchmen told the children to open their eyes. “Did your God give you ice cream?”

“No,” the children sadly replied.

“Well, then, children,” the dictator’s henchmen said with a sly smile, “pray now to Mr. [dictator]. Ask him for ice cream.”

Again, the children closed their eyes and prayed—not to God, but to Mr. [dictator].

Meanwhile, the dictator’s henchmen wheeled ice cream carts into the classroom. They told the children to open their eyes, and they gave out the ice cream, telling the children, “You see? Your God can do nothing for you, but Mr. [dictator] knows how to take care of you!”

THE ABOVE STORY is a perfect illustration of how the devil gets his way. The procedure is simple. To undermine resistance to his nefarious desires, he attacks the very root of the resistance: the children. By bypassing the adults and brainwashing their children, he creates a host of new, pliant converts.

The same thing is happening throughout the world today. In order to propagate their liberal, atheistic hedonism, and to undermine Christian beliefs, activists are brainwashing children through television, movies, music, sports, video games, and—even more brazenly—through advocacy programs in public schools.

But do not be surprised. This is all happening for a reason. Under the pernicious influence of Protestantism, Christians have become accustomed to take the Faith for granted. They have come to believe that they can coast into Heaven. They have grown morally lax, and they have grown lax in teaching their children. They have become lukewarm. And Christ knew it would happen. Now we are paying the price.

	I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. For you say, “I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,” and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.
	—Revelation 3:15-19

Will we repent? The devil is brainwashing our children right under our noses because, in our laziness, we have opened the door to him. Will we close the door?

Yes, will we close the door? That’s a good question, because to close the door requires a huge spiritual battle and tremendous work. To close the door means that Christian parents must be involved in the education of their children. The parents must either begin home schooling or they must send their children to trusted private schools or they must spend hours every night at home with their children teaching the truth and correcting the lies that were planted in the children’s minds during the day in public schools.

But note this well: children will not listen to their parents unless their parents live the faith devoutly from their hearts, as a true holy lifestyle. If the parents spend their evenings passively entertaining themselves with the insidious influence of television, movies, music, sports, and video games, the children will smell the stench of this hypocrisy and will say to themselves, “Why listen to these losers? Mr. [dictator] can do more for me than they can!”

Such is the chastisement inflicted on the lukewarm. “I will spit you out of My mouth.”

For more detailed information about Catholic family issues, see the Family Life section of the Questions and Answers part of this website