Sunday of Fathers and Children - common prayer
and co-operation for communion and salvation[1]
Approved by decision no. 629/12 March 2009 of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Sunday of Fathers and Children, the first Sunday after June 1st - International Children's Day, is an opportunity to reaffirm the main role of the family in the spiritual growth of children and their formation for life.
In the family, the child begins to understand the mystery of God's paternal love for all people. Therefore, the education of the child means not only knowledge and preparation for material life, but also spiritual growth or the cultivation of the goodness of the soul, as its beauty in its relationship with God and with fellow human beings. In this regard, the parents are called to cultivate the practice of common prayer as a source of joy and steadfast love in the family. Prayer is the foundation of man's life and spiritual growth, which helps us to face the hardships of life, to taste from this world the light and joy of the resurrection and eternal life. Prayer is not only the work of man who addresses God, but also the mysterious work of God's grace in the soul of the person who is in communion with Him. Nothing can replace prayer, and no activity is more precious than prayer, for prayer gives us the inspiration and strength to speak the good word and to do good.
This year, the Sunday of Fathers and Children coincides with the 7th Sunday after Easter, when the Gospel about the sacerdotal prayer of our Savior Jesus Christ, pronounced shortly before His Passion (John 17: 1-3) is read. This prayer reveals to us God as the Father of the eternal Son, Who came into the world to give eternal life to men. The great mystery or ultimate goal of the prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ is the unity of the Church. He prayed that all who believe in Him “may be one,” that is, live in communion, as the Father and the Son are one, that is, live in communion, in mutual dedication of love and holiness: “Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are” (John 17:11). The sacerdotal prayer also shows us that the joy of Christ is complete when His disciples keep the right faith and unity of the Church (cf. John 17:13).
In an increasingly divided and secularized society, to meet the deep spiritual needs of generations of children and young people, the Church calls on parents, educators and teachers to work together in a spirit of fraternal communion and practical solidarity so the education of children may become a major common preoccupation. In recent decades, in the context of many challenges to the Christian family, the Church has intensified its activities to educate children and youth. The year 2022 is especially dedicated to highlighting the importance and role of prayer in the life of the Church and of the Christian. In this context, between November 15, 2021 and May 21, 2022, the Romanian Patriarchate organized the National Catechetical Contest Prayer in My Life, which aimed to cultivate man's relationship of communion with God and with his neighbor through prayer. The contest was attended by parish catechetical groups, including children and young people from Romania and the diaspora, the winners being awarded on May 21, 2022, on the occasion of the historic patron saint of the Patriarchal Cathedral, the Holy Great Emperors equals to the Apostles, Constantine and his mother, Helen.
We address to the Romanian parents and children a precious fatherly message, as well as the exhortation to keep and live the true faith, to practice family prayer, to cultivate paternal, filial, and fraternal love, for the glory of the Holy Trinity and for the joy of all children and parents!
With much appreciation and blessing,
† DANIEL
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
[1] The message of His Beatitude DANIEL, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, on the occasion of the Sunday of Fathers and Children (June 5, 2022).
