The gospel of love is the inexhaustible source of all that nourishes the human family as a "communion of persons." In love the whole educational process finds its support and definitive meaning as the mature fruit of the parents' mutual gift. Through the efforts, sufferings and disappointments which are part of every person's education, love is constantly being put to the test. To pass the test, a source of spiritual strength is necessary. This is only found in the One who "loved to the end". Thus education is fully a part of the "civilization of love." It depends on the civilization of love and, in great measure, contributes to its upbuilding. The Church's constant prayer... is for the education of man, so that families will persevere in their task of education with courage, trust and hope, in spite of difficulties occasionally so serious as to appear insuperable. (Pope John Paul II)

Life is a unity: it would be very surprising if we could give fullest play to one of its functions while neglecting the other, or if to live our ideas should not help us to perceive them. What is the source of this unity of life? Love. "Tell me what you love, I will tell you what you are." Love is the beginning of everything in us; and that starting point which is common knowledge and practice cannot fail to make the right paths of both in a certain measure interdependent. Truth visits those who love her, who surrender to her, and this love cannot be without virtue. (Sertillanges, On the Intellectual Life, pg. 19)

Related Links: Love2Learn Moments: Cultivating a Love of the Good (#24) "Knowledge of the faith is an essential part of a child's education, but knowledge alone does not guarantee virtue or good behavior." Love2Learn Moments: Love of Learning (#33) "One thing I've discovered in homeschooling my own children is that there are many things that children love to learn about when they are introduced to it in a gentle way, without pressure or expectations and at a surprisingly young age."