With a new academic year about to start, education is on people’s minds. Even if a return to school is not part of your fall, it can be a good time of year to reflect on the spiritual work of mercy of instructing the ignorant. “The spiritual works of mercy remind us to consider the person behind the ‘work,’ a person who needs our love, care, and compassion no matter who they are or how our paths cross.”[1] Instructing the ignorant comes from Jesus’ direction to the Apostles to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 19-20)[2] When it comes to growing in the spiritual works of mercy, how can you and your spouse instruct the ignorant in your lives?
You may start by instructing yourselves in the truth of the faith. Instruction in your faith is a lifelong endeavour and there are likely ways that you do this already. Whether it is by listening to the homily at Mass, reading a book, attending an event, taking a course, watching a video, or listening to a podcast or other audio relating to your faith. This is also an opportunity to live out the Archdiocese of Edmonton’s pastoral priority of Service to Marriage and Family, one of the Archdiocese’s three pastoral priorities.
Furthermore, taking time to connect intellectually and spiritually can bring you closer as a couple, especially if it is part of a ritual you have. A ritual is different from a routine. “A marriage routine is something that you do over and over in a coordinated way, but that does not have much emotional meaning.”[3] Whereas, “rituals are not only repeated and coordinated, they are significant. A ritual must have positive emotional meaning for both parties.”[4]
Given this distinction, what rituals can you and your spouse continue, or start, to allow you to connect on a regular basis in a way that is meaningful for both of you? What faith-related subject would you and your spouse like to learn or deepen your knowledge about? What topic have you been struggling with that would be helpful to grow in? What resource could help you gain a greater understanding of each other or your marriage? It may be useful for you to discuss what would be most important to instruct yourselves in and how to go about doing so to be able to implement this into the new academic year. These rituals may particularly be helpful when stress arises if you already have established moments set aside to connect as a couple.
Here are few examples to consider: If your spouse has a favourite saint that you know little about, perhaps you could take some time to learn about them. You could also both learn about a Church teaching if you struggling with a specific topic or question. If there is a topic you and your spouse frequently argue about, you could find a resource that addresses it to gain a new understanding or perspective on it. If you feel isolated or are looking to connect with others, you could attend a conference, or join a book study or group at your parish that you both want to attend. Then after you go to the event, you could go for a walk, have coffee, or a meal together to talk about the insights you gained.
Beyond yourselves, how could you instruct others together? When it comes to your children, parents are considered the primary educators of their children and can educate their children in various ways.[5] This can include education in virtues[6], evangelizing your children[7], providing education in their faith[8], and choosing how to school them[9]. With the new academic year starting, it can be a good time to discuss ways that you already educate your children, and how you would like to work together to help your children, or other children in your lives, to grow in these areas. Some ideas for how to do this can be to provide your children with opportunities for learning their faith, providing them with good role models, or reading a good book together.[10] Education can be done in a fun way too, such as going for a hike or a drive to experience the beauty of God’s creation around you with good snacks on hand, and taking time to talk after listening to a teaching of the faith or a story of a saint who lived a specific virtue you are trying to instil in your children.
There are many other ideas on how to instruct the ignorant. The USCCB suggests going on a service trip or short term mission trip (or even World Youth Day), donating to support someone on their service trip if you can’t attend one, volunteering at your parish with religious education programs (such as Catechism classes, RCIA, youth ministry, or events at a child’s school or homeschool co-op), inviting someone to come to Mass with you, and knowing your faith by learning your Catechism.[11] One way to do this is to follow Fr. Mike Schmitz’s The Catechism in the Year program. You can also give or donate good Catholic books to those close to you, your parish, or in your community.[12]
An inspiring example of someone who instructed the ignorant is St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (also known as St. Edith Stein), who’s feast is celebrated on August 9th. St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross converted to Catholicism. She had a particularly profound experience from reading a book: “One evening Edith picked up an autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila and read this book all night. ‘When I had finished the book, I said to myself: This is the truth.’ Later, looking back on her life, she wrote: ‘My longing for truth was a single prayer.’”[13] St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was a woman who valued education and received her Ph.D. in Philosophy. However, she was denied a professorship in 1918 as she was a woman, and then later because of her Jewishness.[14] Before she became a Carmelite nun in 1934, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross taught German and history at the Dominican Sisters’ school and a teacher training college, and lectured at the University of Munster in the Roman Catholic division of the German Institute for Educational Studies.[15]
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was also no stranger to hardships and suffering. On New Year’s Eve, 1938, she was smuggled from Cologne to Echt, in the Netherlands, given the atrocities of the Nazis.[16] During her time in Echt, she continued her writing, with her final book called “The Science of the Cross” about St. John of the Cross.[17] Then in 1942, the Dutch Roman Catholic Bishops wrote a letter of protest against the massacre and deportations of Jews, resulting in St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross being arrested by the Gestapo and taken to a camp in Amersfoort, then to Westerbork, and finally to Auschwitz, along with her sister. St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross’ sister, Rosa, also a convert and a Carmelite, likely experienced instruction in her faith from her sister through their letter writing and their time together.[18] Even in the concentration camp, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross helped nourish children who weren’t being cared for, and was noticed for her great calmness, composure, comfort, and loving presence.[19] St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross is an amazing example of instructing the ignorant through how she studied the faith and philosophy, taught, wrote, shared, and lived out the truths of her faith. Ultimately, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross is a witness of her faith to the point of uniting her life with Jesus on the Cross as she was murdered in the gas chambers.[20]
As you and your spouse discuss and reflect upon instructing the ignorant in your lives, may you identify ways that you are currently living out and want to grow in this spiritual work of mercy. Furthermore, as the academic year begins, may this be a time to establish or increase the intellectual and spiritual rituals of connection within your marriage, with the example of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross to inspire you in living out this work of mercy. You and your spouse can also pray this prayer that was written by St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross to place this upcoming academic year in God’s hands:
O Prince of Peace, to all who receive You, You bright light and peace. Help me to live in daily contact with You, listening to the words You have spoken and obeying them. O Divine Child, I place my hands in Yours; I shall follow You. Oh, let Your divine life flow into me.
I will go unto the altar of God. It is not myself and my tiny little affairs that matter here, but the great sacrifice of atonement. I surrender myself entirely to Your divine will, O Lord. Make my heart grow greater and wider, out of itself into the Divine Life.
O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall met with peace.
How wondrous are the marvels of your love. We are amazed, we stammer and grow dumb, for word and spirit fail us.[21]
– Melissa Guzik is a registered psychologist who works in private practice in the Edmonton area. She is the co-author of the Catholic marriage preparation and enrichment book and workbook that were recently re-released: To Know, Love, and Serve: A Path to Marital Fulfilment: 2nd Edition. Melissa lectures at St. Joseph Seminary and presents in dioceses across Canada. Information about Melissa’s private practice can be found at www.melissaguzik.com
