Catholic parenting focuses on passing down traditions of faith and morality, teaching children through classes, Mass, and prayer. It also values serving others through volunteer work and charitable actions in the community. Ultimately, Catholic parenting is inspired by Jesus’s teachings of compassion, forgiveness, and charity, modeling these values to raise children who make a positive impact in the world.

Family prayer

I strongly encourage praying the family rosary. It may be a challenge at times to gather the whole family together, but the spiritual benefits of praying the rosary as a family are enormous, especially if each child is allowed to take part in reciting this beautiful prayer.

Other acts of piety such as prayer before and after meals (every meal), night prayers with devotions like the act of contrition, the prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel, etc., can strengthen young people in their faith.

Lead by example

Faith must inform the daily routine and decisions in your home. Children must see their parents as truly prayerful. Not in a showy way, but in a way they can see. Look to almighty God trustingly throughout the day and don’t be too proud to ask for help from above.

Beyond the externals of prayer and piety in the home, children need to see that Mom and Dad are imbued with the results. They need to see you live out the gifts of faith, mercy, and forgiveness.

Prepare them to face challenges

I believe very much in the practice of “inoculation.” Prepare your kids now for what they will face later. I explain to my kids what atheists believe, what skepticism and relativism are, and I seek to give them the answers to these and similar challenges. I also tell them about the errors of Protestants and how to answer their challenges right from the Bible.

– Patrick Madrid

Raising Children ~ Fr Ripperger

Common Pitfalls for Catholic Parents ~ Fr Ripperger

How to “Raise Your Kids Catholic” in Today’s World w/ Fr. Gregory Pine, OP