19th century — by Lembach — Image by © Archivo Iconografico, S.A./CORBIS

“It is necessary not only that religious instructions be given to the young at fixed times, but also that every other subject taught be permeated with Christian piety. If this is wanting, if this sacred atmosphere does not pervade and warm the hearts of masters and scholars alike, little good can be expected from any kind of learning, and considerable harm will often by the consequence.”

Pope Leo XIII, Militantis Ecclesia

Things popes don’t say…

“Christian education is not only teaching catechism and proselytizing. Never proselytize in schools. Christian education is bringing up the young in complete reality with human values and one of these [values] is transcendence. Today there is a tendency to neo-positivism, which is education in immanent things, in countries of Christian tradition as well as those of pagan tradition. We are closed to transcendence but closure is of no use in education.”

Pope Francis to participants at the World Congress on Catholic Education.

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