The question came from the parent of a religious education student during a family catechesis program. He was asking about the Sacrament of Anointing the Sick and was speaking from a heart of grief. It would mean little to him if I explained what the Church teaches about sacraments and anointing, so, instead, I shared a very personal story about my father’s death. The religious education parent for whom I shared the story came to me later, with tears in his eyes, and said he was touched that I had heard his grief and not judged his question. That’s the power of an encounter with Christ. We all have our stories of how it has happened in our lives, but it’s very often a story of experience of a profound love or powerful transformation through another person. In those moments we begin to understand the difference the teachings and traditions of our faith make in our lives, and in the lives of others. If our students are to value, and ultimately love their Catholic faith, it will be because of their encounters of Christ. These happen regularly in schools and religious education programs when students experience the love and compassion of their teachers; when they hear how God has worked in the lives of others; when they have an opportunity to be Jesus’ love for someone else, and when they are given frequent and varied opportunities to talk to God in prayer, particularly before the Blessed Sacrament. When the lessons learned in their religion classes help students unfold their encounters of Christ, they may never have to ask, “What difference does it make.” Find out more about RCL Benziger’s Catholic Prayers and Practices for Young Disciples which is designed as a resource to help children grow in their prayer life
Mary Regina Morrell, mother of six and grandmother to nine, is a Catholic journalist, author, and syndicated columnist who has served the dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey, and RENEW International in the areas of catechesis and communication.