WHATEVER IS TRUE: A Reflection on the Education Dimension

WHATEVER IS TRUE: A Reflection on the Education Dimension

by Toni Hare, Agape Garden Community, Lafayette, Louisiana

As a forty-two-year veteran in the field of education, I have always been a proponent of life-long learning. As a Catholic, I believe also in the importance of living a life which is reflective, discovering the lessons presented to us each day, the decisions made and perhaps, the consequences of our wrong choices. St. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” I propose to you that to confidently know the truth, the purity, the graciousness of the life which has been given to us by our Creator, we must be exposed to quality Christian writings, Scripture, and the deposit of faith. The Theresian experience offers opportunities to develop an informed conscience and allows women to live out their fullest potential. On the Theresian International website the definition of the Education dimension is a “continual formation leading to spiritual maturity.”

“An upright and true moral conscience is formed by education and by assimilating the Word of God and the teaching of the Church. It is supported by the gifts of the Holy Spirit and helped by the advice of wise people.” (CCC 1799-1800) When I was a Religion Administrator of a Catholic elementary school, I would tell my students that each of them had a puzzle piece in their heart which showed God’s love in a special way, given only to them. As a child of God, it was their responsibility to show others their puzzle piece by the way they acted and treated others. Only then, when their puzzle piece was joined to those of others, could the world see the entire beauty and love of God.

“When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child.” (1 Corinthians 13:11) In the chaos and challenges of life today, a childhood vision of faith would not serve women well. My mother Flossie taught me that it is the woman in the home who teaches love. Women carry the responsibility of teaching their children and loved ones the love and mercy of God. To do this properly, faith formation must continue into adulthood. The Theresian community is a perfect avenue for women to continue to develop a mature and informed knowledge of faith and to share their life lessons, their puzzle piece, in an intimate and profound way. Theresian communities that avail themselves of the wealth of good Christian and Catholic literature, prolific authors such as Scott Hahn, Richard Rohr, Bishop Robert Barron or the numerous Scripture studies available in text or video, allow their members to grow in their faith and knowledge, sharing experiences and lessons of life. Whatever is true to one is valuable to another. In this way, Theresians can live their motto, “Women in support of women, reaching out with Christian values.”

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