"It is time that fathers and mothers return from their exile – because they have exiled themselves from the education of their children --, and reassume fully their educational role."

This morning, Pope Francis had poignant and provocative words about families and education!

"Today we pause to reflect on an essential characteristic of the family, namely, its natural vocation to educate the children so that they grow in responsibility for themselves and for others...

“'Critical' intellectuals of all kinds have silenced parents in a thousand ways, to defend the young generations from harm -- real or imagined -- of family education. Among other things, the family has been accused of authoritarianism, favoritism, conformism, and of emotional repression that generates conflicts....

"a rupture has been opened between the family and society, between the family and school; today the educational pact has been broken. And thus, the educational alliance of society with the family has entered into crisis because reciprocal trust has been undermined..

"The  so-called 'experts' have multiplied, who have taken the role of parents even in the most intimate aspects of education. On emotional life, on personality and on development, on rights and duties the 'experts' know everything....

"How have we arrived at this point? There is no doubt that parents, or better, certain educational models of the past had some limitations, there’s no doubt. However, it is also true that there are mistakes that only parents are allowed to make, because they can compensate for them in a way that is impossible for anyone else. On the other hand, we know it well, life has become stingy of time to talk, to reflect, to deal with one another. Many parents are 'kidnapped' by work – father and mother must work – and by other preoccupations, hampered by the new needs of the children and the complexity of present-day life....

"The Christian communities are called to offer support to the educational mission of families, and they do so first of all with the light of the Word of God....How many wonderful examples we have of Christian parents full of human wisdom! They show that a good family education is the spinal cord of humanism. Their social radiation is the resource that makes it possible to compensate for the lacunae, the wounds, the voids of paternity and maternity that touch less fortunate children. This radiation can do genuine miracles. And these miracles happen every day in the Church....

 "It is time that fathers and mothers return from their exile – because they have exiled themselves from the education of their children --, and reassume fully their educational role. We hope that the Lord will give parents this grace: not to exile themselves from the education of their children. And only love, tenderness and patience can do this...

"A particular thought goes to young people, the sick and newlyweds. Today we celebrate the liturgical Memoria of Saint Bernardine of Siena. May his love for the Eucharist indicate to you, dear young people, the centrality of God in your life; may it encourage you sick to face with serenity your moments of suffering and stimulate you, dear newlyweds, to found your family on the love of God" (Pope Francis, 5/20/15).