The memories of children are sacred domain

By Mary Regina Morrell
Catholic Online

"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little one who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matthew 18:5-6 NIV

While sitting at dinner with friends recently the conversation turned to what God does in heaven - an anthropomorphic reflection to be sure, but fun to consider none-the-less.

"I wonder if God watches American Idol?" someone queried, followed by another musing, "Do you think Simon has a chance at heaven?"

Silliness reigns with a few glasses of wine, so we found ourselves laughing at the endless variations on this theme. But on the way home I found myself thinking of that TV show in a different vein.

Sadly, for our children, this is what it's all about - American idols of fame, money, power, perfection, having the competitive edge.

Later that night, while rummaging through some book shelves, I found an old children's hymnal that I had purchased in a second hand bookstore a few years ago. I have a fondness for old books and the copyright date on this one is 1895. Flipping it open I came upon the Editors' Preface. It read, in part: "In a Hymnal intended especially for the use of young people, the brightness and happiness of youth should find full expression; hence . . . the Editors have been selected only those hymns and tunes which they know, from personal experience, to be thoroughly singable, enjoyable, inspiring, and worthy to be cherished in the hearts and memories of children."

The last phrase stuck out: "worthy to be cherished in the hearts and memories of children." Thinking back to the media and the proliferation of baseness to which our children are subjected, I reflected on how wonderful it would be if our culture and our adults had as much concern for the welfare of our children.

Later, in the hymnal, was the sentence: "...the bulk of the book is addressed to arouse and express the best aims of the elder youth: reverence, worship, love of the divine, go hand in hand with the spring of youth, joy and happiness."

How things have changed in 110 years! No longer do we recognize that one of the best aims of youth should be reverence, worship or love of God, nor do we seem to understand that each of those aims have an impact on the joy and happiness of our children.

I recently completed a training course on the phenomena of self-injury which is proliferating in our country and, most sadly, in our schools. I learned that the newest group of self-injurers, or cutters as they are often called, are no longer just those suffering from mental illness or trauma of the past, but from the stress of the present.

The workshop presenter highlighted a variety of cultural stressors that affect our children, emphasizing also that families and schools rarely teach the healthy self-soothing skills that would reduce the need for emotional bloodletting.

Yet, within the pages of this 110 year old hymnal was a wisdom we have long ago forgotten. In hymn after hymn the children who were encouraged to raise their voices in song experienced the power of Christ to provide comfort and alleviate fear. One of my favorite hymns, "When Morning Gilds the Skies," included these soothing words: Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find, May Jesus Christ be praised: Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this, May Jesus Christ be praised. The night becomes as day, When from the heart we say, May Jesus Christ be praised: The powers of darkness fear, When this sweet chant they hear, may Jesus Christ be praised."

When, as adults, we regain the wisdom of replacing our American idols with prayer and praise of the One who loves us most, then perhaps we can begin the healing process for our children by leading them to Christ.

What could be more worthy of being cherished in the hearts and memories of children than to know they are loved by God?

Contact

Diocese of Metuchen
http://www.diometuchen.org NJ, US
Mary Regina Morrell - Associate Director, Office of Religious Educationp, 732 562.1990

Email

mmorrell@diometuchen.org

Keywords

memories, children, domain, idol, hymns

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