St Peter was an imperfect man, bestowed with a holy mission to be a shepherd of God’s people. How can educators be shepherds to those under their charge?

In Jewish oral tradition, as Jesus noted in the gospel of Matthew (23:2-3), the Chair of Moses is the symbol of the authority which the scribes and Pharisees have by virtue of their office. The Catholic Church, which Jesus built on the Rock that was Peter (Mt 16:18), the ‘Chair of Peter’ represents the supreme authority vested in the Pope by God, through the line of visible apostolic succession that traces all the way back to Peter. Therefore, when a pope teaches “ex cathedra” or “from the chair”, his pronouncements on matters of faith and morals are infallible, since they are given with the authority of God and the assistance of the Holy Spirit (cf Jn 14:16). The word ‘cathedral’ refers to the church of the bishop’s seat.

The office of St Peter is the highest position in the Church. St Peter was tasked to spearhead the first steps of Christian evangelisation, during a tumultuous period of anti-Christian sentiments in Rome. Yet, like most of us, he was far from perfect, and had fallen short of God’s grace at several points in his life. We can take comfort in lessons we can learn from St Peter’s journey as head of God’s people.

St Peter’s journey
St Peter, originally named Simon, was a fisherman who lived in Bethsaida with his brother Andrew. Shortly after Christ began His ministry, He came to Lake Gennesaret, where Simon and other fishermen were fishing. Jesus told him to put out his net. Despite not having caught any fish the night before, Simon obeyed. His obedience to Christ earned him not just the largest catch of fish he ever had, but an invitation from the Lord to be a “fisher of men” (Lk 5: 1-11). Peter left everything to follow Him.

During the course of Jesus’ ministry, Simon was the first Apostle to recognise Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God (Matt 16: 16-19). Christ gave Simon the name Peter, declaring him as the rock of His Church, and the holder of the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Peter became chief spokesman amongst the Apostles, representing the cause of the Christian faith when speaking to authorities. For 30 years, he led the efforts in spreading the message of Christ and establishing the Christian Church, until he was martyred by Roman authorities.

Lesson for educators
Like St Peter and his successors after him, educators are called to be shepherds to God’s children – specifically students. The mission of educators is primarily to tutor the young people under their charge in academic knowledge. Equally important is the formation of students as mature and responsible people.

As mentors and figures of authority whom students come into contact with every day, teachers are in a position to guide students in their maturation process. Apart from teaching course material, teachers are called to mentor students in a way which encourages the formation of upright character and values in them.

Being at a highly malleable phase of their personal formation, it is through education where students will learn what it means to be good people, and the importance of contributing to their communities. Just as Christ beckoned St Peter to shepherd His people, teachers are shepherds to students, caring for their spiritual and emotional growth.

Principals are also shepherds in the education mission. They are shepherds not just to students, but to teachers and school staff under their care. In their work to impart knowledge and right values to students, teachers can come under immense physical and intellectual strain. They also need shepherds to guide them – their peers, heads of department and fellow principals. Being the head of the school, principals need to recognise the difficulties that each person is going through and be able to empathise with them, in order to help every member fulfill their role in the mission.

Growing from mistakes
Throughout his life and mission, St Peter had moments of weaknesses. He had been reprimanded by Jesus for prioritising his will over God’s (Matt 16: 21-22) and for falling asleep while keeping watch (Mt 26: 40-41). Most significantly, he denounced Christ after His arrest, for fear of his own life (Mt 26: 69-75).

Like St Peter, we may face moments of temptations and make mistakes. But when educators support each other, it makes learning from mistakes much easier and more efficient. Teachers should share their knowledge and experiences with their colleagues, and allow everyone to learn from each other.

A school can only function at its best when it becomes a community where everyone is supporting each other, just like the Church. No one is perfect within a group, but when educators work together to guide students towards values of truth and justice, the work of God can be done more easily.

Why is the birthday of our Lady so special, and what can educators learn from this special event?

In a single liturgical year in the Catholic Church, there are feasts for nearly every aspect of Mary’s life; her Queenship, her Immaculate Heart, her Assumption, the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Immaculate Conception. And on 8 September, the Church once again commemorates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

But what makes the earthly birthday of the Blessed Virgin so special? In fact, there are only three persons whose birthdays are commemorated in the Catholic Church; St John the Baptist, Mother Mary, and Jesus Christ.

While there are many reasons to commemorate Mary’s birthday, each stemming from Sacred Scripture and Tradition, there may perhaps be one simple, yet endearing significance which educators might find helpful.

Temple of the Lord
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin was the day that God had constructed His temple; the day on which a creature became the preferred dwelling place of God. In remembering her, we remember that God, in His grace, mystery, and love, has chosen to concern Himself with mankind so intimately as to “come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23).

A reflection on the birth of Mary pulls the mystery and wonder of God’s love into focus. How is it that this indescribable God of all creation, has not only chosen a little girl to be His temple, but also chose to become incarnate through her, “so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16). It is such an understanding of God—a God who is so intimately concerned with mankind—that forms the distinguishing mark of the Christian faith.

Commemorating the Nativity of Mary leads us to ponder on the divine nature of Jesus Christ, and in pondering His divinity, we come to acknowledge the immensity and humility of God’s love that is offered to every person.

While Blessed Mary had the special privilege to be the temple of the Lord both physically and spiritually, we are reminded that God also calls everyone to the same grace of being the dwelling place of God.

St John affirms in his letters to the early Church, “By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because he has given us of his Spirit” (1 John 4:13). On another occasion, St Paul tells the Corinthians, “we are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people’.” (2 Cor 6:16).

Beloved children
For educators, reflecting on this special importance of the Nativity of our Mother helps to put into perspective that truly, every student is a precious child of God, a temple of the Holy Spirit. There is a holy and immense love that exists between every child and their Creator, and educators share in the sacred duty of helping them discover this.

When birthdays are celebrated, we celebrate the gift of a person, the life that he or she has, and the joy that they have brought to their loved ones. But as we celebrate the birthday of Mary, we discover that there is also a bigger reason we can rejoice—God’s dwells in this person.

In the Catholic devotion to Mary, we see that it is because of God that she is remembered, it is the grace of God that she was made holy. Her nativity is remembered because it is the dawn that points to the coming light of Christ. In a similar way, we see that every child is called to holiness in Christ, to be the light and salt of the earth. As we celebrate the earthly birthday of Blessed Mary, let us also celebrate the joy of our identity as the dwelling place of God, His chosen people.

How is it that the reflections and prayers of a man in a cave hundreds of years ago, continues to offer important and relevant lessons for educators today?

On 31 July each year, the Catholic Church commemorates the memorial of St Ignatius of Loyola, one of the most famous Saints of the Church. He is remembered most notably for writing his Spiritual Exercises, a set of meditation and prayers that continue to change the lives of many, and for establishing the Society of Jesus, which has today become the largest male religious order in the Catholic Church.

Amidst various ministries in social justice, parishes, and retreat centres around the world, the Society of Jesus are also particularly regarded for their work in education. St Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises, composed between 1522 and 1524, had become the inspiration for a Jesuit teaching pedagogy that was not only immensely popular in the 15^th century, but had also proved an incredible effectiveness throughout its 500 year history.

It is most interesting to note that Spiritual Exercises was developed during a time of personal solitude St Ignatius spent in a cave, before he was even a priest. As we commemorate the life of this great Saint, let us reflect, what can educators learn from the reflections of a man in a cave hundreds of years ago?

Spiritual Exercises
While there are indeed many lessons that can be drawn, one notable characteristic of an Ignatian-inspired education stands out—the view that education is not meant to simply “amass a store of information or preparation for a profession, though these are important. The ultimate aim is, rather, that full growth of the person which leads to action, action that is suffused with the spirit and presence of Jesus Christ,” explains the immediate past Father General of the Jesuits, Fr Peter Hans Kolvenbach SJ.

Observing the structure St Ignatius had written his Spiritual Exercises, coupled with the fact that it is intended to be a guide for spiritual directors, the book becomes a helpful portrayal of the ideal teaching-learning process, and the ideal teacher-student relationship.

The Exercises were carefully put together based on St Ignatius’ own prayer experiences in the cave, where he practiced not merely cognitive activities or devotional practices. They are, instead, rigorous exercises of the spirit wholly engaging the body, mind, heart and soul of the human person.

These exercises, such as contemplating the gospels, or examining one’s own conscience, are practices which St Ignatius believed helps a human person to reflect on the experiences of his or her life, and thus be able to direct future actions toward God instead of sin.

St Ignatius urges reflection on human experience, seeing it as an “essential means of validating authenticity, because without prudent reflection, delusion readily becomes possible and without careful reflection, the significance of one’s experience may be neglected or trivialized,” describes a document published by the International Centre for Jesuit Education in Rome, Ignatian Pedagogy: A Practical Approach.

Experience, reflection, action
This emphasis placed on experience, reflection, and action, is thus translated into Ignatian education, where the teaching-learning process is encouraged to move beyond simply acquiring knowledge, but to also involve a reflection of new things learned, and an active application of them.

The International Centre for Jesuit Education in Rome argues, “If learning were to stop there, it would not be Ignatian. For it would lack the component of reflection wherein students are impelled to consider the human meaning and significance of what they study and to integrate that meaning as responsible learners who grow as persons of competence, conscience and compassion.”

Because reflection is such a pivotal instrument in the movement from experience to action, St Ignatius also makes it the primary responsibility of the spiritual director to facilitate the progress on reflection.

In turn, an Ignatian educational pedagogy also views the teacher’s primary responsibility as that of helping students reflect on the knowledge they receive, one whose job is not merely to inform but to help the student progress in the truth.

Jesuit schools
This unique style of education inspired by the prayers of St Ignatius has certainly proven itself to be effective and relevant. Despite a constantly changing society through the years, Jesuit educational institutes continue to spread and grow in numbers.

Within just 22 years of establishing the Society of Jesus in the 15th century, the Jesuits had numbered up to a thousand, with a good majority of them involved in 35 schools spread throughout Europe. For the next 25 years the number of schools swelled to 144, and in another short 35 years, this number approached 400. According to a 2014 report by the International Commission on the Apostolate of Jesuit Education, there are 2,129 Jesuit educational institutes around the world today.

On top of a rapid growth and expansion around the globe, Ignatian inspired education has also led to countless alumni who have each made a positive influence for mankind and society. Alumni of Jesuit schools include notable priests, religious, politicians, scientists, businessmen, engineers, and of course, even Saints, such as St Francis de Sales and St Robert Bellarmine, both of whom are regarded as Doctors of the Church.

As we remember St Ignatius and his inspiring pedagogy, let us also take some time to reflect on our own experiences, to allow the Spirit to enlighten and enrich our human lives, and thus be guided closer to Christ.

Amidst the important, amazing, and inspiring acts of faith that Sts Peter and Paul have done in their lives, two simple aspects of these saints are in fact more than enough for educators to draw inspiration from.

Sts Peter and Paul are arguably two of the most important and well-known saints of the Catholic Church. Their names are known around the world, respected by all denominations of Christianity, even some non-Christians, and remembered throughout history. Since the second century, there has been historical evidence of the early Church’s commemoration of these two saints on the same day, due to their complementary role in leading and establishing early Christianity.

As we continue the tradition of commemorating the two saints, let us take some time to look again at the examples of these saints, from whom two simple, yet special lessons for educators can be drawn. Amidst the incredible testimony of the lives of Sts Peter and Paul, amazing acts of faith, and other seemingly impossible achievements, it is in fact their simple characteristics that make them all the more inspiring.

Perfection
It is sometimes common for feelings of inadequacy to seep into the hearts of educators, who are placed in charge of so many young lives and who hold such influence over the development of a human person. After all, if one is already cautious when putting ink to paper, then how much more does it entail when a teacher inscribes on the very hearts of children?

A reflection on the person St Peter was during his life however, would show that in fact, the more unworthy we may think we are, the stronger God can be in our human weakness. St Peter, who was called Simon previously, was a humble fisherman who did not have any skills or knowledge one would expect in a preacher or a great leader. And yet, this was the man Jesus chose to lead the Catholic Church, and St Peter had not only done so with tremendous faith, but with amazing courage as well.

St Peter had not been the most perfect preacher, the most perfect leader, or even the most perfect believer. There were many times in the gospels where we see St Peter’s human weakness. Such as when he was willing to accept Jesus’ doctrine of forgiveness, but suggests a limit of seven times. He walks on the water in faith, but sinks in doubt. He swears at the Last Supper that he will never deny Jesus, and then swears to a servant maid that he has never known the man.

But despite all these events that would have made any human person deem St Peter as an inadequate leader, St Peter was still perfect for the job in the eyes of Jesus, as He affirms, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18).

Courage in Christ
When the Holy Spirit washed over the apostles on Pentecost and a large crowd was attracted by the commotion, it was St Peter who stood up, preached, and explained that this was the work of the Holy Spirit. Right there on that very day, St Peter converted thousands.

In the Acts of the Apostles subsequently, St Peter boldly led the apostles to foreign lands to preach and heal the sick in the name of Jesus. Even after being captured, beaten, and threatened by the Pharisees to stop their ministry, St Peter and the apostles “went on ceaselessly teaching and proclaiming the good news of Christ Jesus” (Acts 5:42).

The secret to St Peter’s courage can be traced back to when Jesus questions him three times, “Do you love me?” And St Peter, exasperated and at his wit’s end, simply affirms, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

For educators, it is tempting sometimes to judge ourselves by our human standards as inadequate for our role, or to think that we may be too imperfect. But God surely judges us by better standards, and He has considered us worthy to be called as teachers. If we only love God the same simple way St Peter did, then we can have courage in the faith that God can work miracles with us, no matter how inadequate we may think we are.

The science of Jesus
As we reflect on how St Peter’s simple love for Jesus enabled God to work such miracles through him, another question comes to mind; how then can I come to love Jesus in the same way? This is where the life of St Paul sheds more light for us, especially as educators.

“Why is Jesus, the adorable, eternal and incarnate Wisdom loved so little if not because he is either too little known or not known at all? Hardly anyone studies the supreme science of Jesus, as did St. Paul,” St Louis de Montfort describes in his book, The Love of Eternal Wisdom.

St Paul was truly a scientist when it came to studying the teachings and revelations of Jesus. A majority of the New Testament has been attributed to the authorship of St Paul, many of which are fundamental teachings of the Church and continue to provide direction for us today.

Coupling the fact that St Paul had such divine understanding of Jesus, with the amount of zealous love he displayed during his service to God, one can easily draw a relation between a love for Jesus, and a knowledge for Him. This can be clearly seen in the many letters St Paul writes, when he tries to explain what is right or wrong according to Jesus’ teachings, and in the many occasions he suffers for proclaiming Jesus as the son of God.

Knowledge as a tool
St Paul not only studied the science of Jesus to increase his love for God, but also used this knowledge to better evangelise. St Paul, who had been one of the most zealous persecutors of Christianity before his conversion, was certainly learned in the Jewish customs and teachings. He had even described himself as a Pharisee in his letter to the Philippians, “Circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee” (Phi 3:5).

With this knowledge, St Paul had a particular style of spreading the Good News by appealing to the intellect of those listening. In chapter 13 of the Acts of the Apostles for example, St Paul was preaching to a crowd of Gentiles and explained the Old Testament, everything from Israel in the desert, to King David, the prophet Samuel, up to John the Baptist. St Peter used all these examples and explained how each of them were in fact referring to Jesus, who was crucified and raised from the dead.

As educators then, let us never stop learning and studying the most noble and useful of all sciences, just as St Paul had done. This not only helps us to better respond to our call to evangelise, but it also certainly brings us to a deeper love for God.

As we end the month Mary, let us reflect and remind ourselves again of the important lessons Our Lady teaches us by her example.

The special dedication of the month of May to the Blessed Virgin Mary has long been a tradition of the Catholic Church, where the faithful engage in more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration. In the midst of prayer and deeper reflection, Mary’s May is the opportune time to look once again on Mary’s “yes”, and what her example teaches us.

From the accounts of several saints and from the various approved Marian apparitions throughout history, we see that the Blessed Virgin is in fact, not only a loving mother and intercessor, but also a great educator for all Christians.

There are many great lessons that Mary teaches us, but there are two aspects in which we, as educators, can draw special reflection – Mary’s role as teacher during her time on earth, and the “school” of her Immaculate Heart.

The teacher’s teacher

Learning about Mary from the accounts of the Gospels, it is natural and beneficial for us to view her as our dear mother and guide. However, the Gospels also certainly tell of Mary’s role as our teacher, such as when she instructed the servants at the wedding at Cana, “do whatever He tells you” (John 1:5).

Education was in fact one of the major responsibilities of Mary, albeit lesser known. This is seen most clearly in her duty of teaching Jesus and bringing Him up in this world according to God’s plans.

Though we do not have more detailed accounts of Jesus’ early life, His nature as both fully God and fully man, who went through normal human growth, certainly makes the case of Mary’s role as teacher of Jesus undeniable.

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the duty of parents and educators is in fact described as inseparable, as “parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule” (CCC 2223).

Mary has been blessed with the authority to be a worthy enough educator to Jesus because she was filled with graces from the Holy Spirit. When the angel visited her, the greeting started with the famous, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28).

At the same time, it is important to also note that the graces which Mary has been blessed with certainly required her obedience, as she would not have been a teacher at all if she had not responded to God with her perfect “yes”.

From the accounts of the first visitation, all the way to the foot of the cross, and up to her own assumption, Mary had always declared with her voice or by her actions, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

Similarly as educators, do we strive to teach with the authority of the Holy Spirit? Do we allow ourselves to receive the gifts God wants to give us? It is through obedience to God and an openness to the Holy Spirit, that we can be sure we have what it takes to be an educator worthy of the students God brings into our lives.

When we encounter challenging students, broken students, and are put in charge of so many at once that we feel overwhelmed, Mary teaches us that obedience to God’s will and an openness to His Spirit will surely empower us with the gifts and strength we often yearn for.

School of Mary

Besides Jesus, our greatest teacher and the only way through whom we can approach the knowledge of God, and the Holy Spirit, whom brings us toward Jesus, God has truly blessed mankind with the gift of another avenue where we can seek and learn about Him – our Mother Mary.

In an apostolic letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Pope John Paul II described, ““From the divine standpoint, the Spirit is the interior teacher who leads us to the full truth of Christ. But among creatures, no one knows Christ better than Mary; no one can introduce us to a profound knowledge of His mystery better than His mother.”

Right from the beginning when the shepherds visited Jesus in the manger, it was described that Mary “kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19). A little later on, the Holy Spirit reveals through the prophet Simeon, “and a sword will pierce your soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare” (Luke 2:35).

The school of Mary certainly lies within her Immaculate Heart, where Mary kept and pondered on all the mysteries and miracles of Jesus. When she went through her own emotional crucifixion as she watched Jesus being condemned, her own strength and trust in God truly testified to the value of these lessons she holds in the school of her heart.

When we face difficulty and suffering in our lives, we commonly ask God, “why?” But even though Mary faced the most appropriate situation for such a question at the foot of the cross, where senseless violence was slowly killing her son, she did not ask why. Instead, she simply offered Jesus her loving motherly presence, and continued to trust that this is God’s will.

Mary, as human as we are in every way, shows us that a heart filled with God truly makes any suffering bearable, and she lovingly opens this heart for us to reflect and learn from.

“This school of Mary is all the more effective if we consider that she teaches by obtaining for us in abundance the gifts of the Holy Spirit, even as she offers us the incomparable example of her own ‘pilgrimage of faith’,” Pope John Paul II wrote in Rosarium Virginis Mariae.

Mary continues to be our mother and teacher today, whose immaculate heart, so full of invaluable knowledge of Jesus, remains open to us to reach out to. Let us take some time, especially within this month, to ponder again on the lessons we can learn from her.