The following comes from a story in the Feb. 13 Denver Catholic Register.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, people young and old turn their attention to matters of the heart, eager to share their advice on the “do’s” and “don’ts” of dating.
This year, Archbishop Samuel Aquila entered into the fray, encouraging young people to communicate face-to-face or over the phone when asking someone out on a date, and to not announce break-ups publicly on Facebook.
“At times I am astounded when I talk to parents today and they share with me how their children—when they are courting each other—at times are invited to dates simply by a text message,” he said in a homily given Jan. 26 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
He then gave some specific instructions to young people. He told the boys to “have enough respect for girls to call them, not text them, to ask them out.”
And to the girls, the archbishop told them that they “have the right for someone to call you and speak to you.”
“Too often communication removes the encounter with the other person and separates that encounter,” the archbishop lamented.
When it comes time to break-up, the archbishop added, do it privately: “It’s important that boyfriends and girlfriends not simply be dropped by a text message or on Facebook, letting everyone else know that they are dropped.”
Listen to the audio here.
Why isn’t this sound advise written in the CCC?
This is good and charitable advice.
More and more our youth are bombarded with so much pressure. I’m glad to read that our bishops and priests are actively bringing up these topics and giving our youth some good guidance that needs to be said as often as possible. God bless Bishop Aquilas.
Too bad most parents haven’t the smarts or courage to teach their children these courtesies. Parents don’t seem to care about their children’s behavior just so long as they don’t commit criminal acts.
“With all the strength of my soul I urge you young people to approach the Communion table as often as you can. Feed on this bread of angels whence you will draw all the energy you need to fight inner battles. Because true happiness, dear friends, does not consist in the pleasures of the world or in earthly things, but in peace of conscience, which we have only if we are pure in heart and mind.”
– Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
“We must understand that in order ‘to do’, we must first learn ‘to be’, that is to say, in the sweet company of Jesus in adoration.”
– Pope John Paul II