This past weekend, as previously noted, I spent my time in Virginia and while I was there I met with a Catholic homeschooling family whom I'd known from years past. This family was the paradigm of an authentic Catholic family. The father was a true father; he was the head of his household and his children respected and obeyed him. He led the schedule of events and knew how to tell a good story. The wife was the sweet epitome of a married Martha. She graciously welcomed me into her home, carefully prepared a delicious breakfast and had all the children wait to be served so I could have the first choice of helpings. I felt so honored to be among her presence and I might also mention she refuses to wear pants. Their jolly eight children (yes, I said eight) were so pleasant. They played games with me, they hugged me as if I were one of their own, why, they even wanted me to spend the night and tell them a bedtime stories which I actually ended up doing. What a joy it was for me to be with this family! How few and far between it is to find such an ordered home in this tragically divorced world. But how can a family like this exist when all we see or hear about is family adultery, fighting, abuse, hatred, etc. If your asking yourself what it was about this family that made them so good I can tell you in one easy word- Faith. This family stands strong by the fact that the parents' one and only desire both for themselves and for their children is to do the will of God and thus to get to Heaven. This family upholds the Faith and Traditions laid down by Christ in His Holy Catholic Church so despised by our self-aggrandized, enlightened world. Yet this "enlightened" world which claims it has the answer to everything can't give an answer as to how to correct the rise of divorce, depression, drugs abuse or crime. But I can tell you that it all stems from the fact that they (those hidden powers that control the media) have corrupted the minds of people by having them believe that a family is whatever you want it to be, that there is no moral law, that hedonism is the only true religion and last but not least that anything your child does is acceptable. So don't you dare think about touching your screaming child because don't you know that's abuse and they'll never forget the pain they experienced in your hitting them for behaving like an animal just because they couldn't have another piece of cake after they have just eaten one. Because let's not forget that they will never be happy so long as you tell them what to do. After thousands of years mankind finally learned that it's "child knows best" because after all, they know everything don't they? It drives me to insanity the way people think a family should be run. There is so much reform to be done it's frightening.
Anyhow, seeing this family last weekend reminded me of the great dignity and honor found in a family which is ordered according to God's will. The reason why this family was so beautiful was because they reflected what Christ desires of all holy families- true loving obedience to God, first, from the parents and second, from the children through the parents. Children should see the example of holy Christian living from their parents because if they don't see it there they'll never practice it save by a miracle of grace. Children are so close to being what their parents are which is why it is imperative that they (the parents) be good in order that their children be good. I abhor this double standard parents take with their children. Children are not stupid, they watch and they imitate. They know what you believe by the way you behave not by what you speak.
This refreshing image of holy living was what made my visit so memorable. The children saw good from evil, truth from error, white from black, female from male (no this is not saying men are evil), but again, they could see this only because the parents were doing what all families are ordained to do; training their children in the faith and forming them into moral and God-fearing people.
Working together the father and mother created a little "church" in their home where Christ could grow and be known to their children. It is no wonder to me that there was such joy in this home. How can there be anything but when Christ is so present among them? From this reality of the presence of Christ, the children will learn to live good and holy lives and eventually spread Christ's love to wherever in life they go. And in the end, this is what every family should want to procure- a society (or family) which seeks to know, love, serve and obey God. How blessed our world would be if only people desired to achieve this.
A few last notes. This past Sunday was the feast of the Holy Family. To those who are not Catholic, the Holy Family consists of St. Joseph, the Blessed Mother and the child Jesus. The Holy Family was the family God gave not only to His Son, but to everyone who is in need of a family. Thus, the Holy Family is not limited to the three person's of Jesus, Mary and St. Joseph; we are all called to become members of this family through the spiritual union of our hearts and minds with theirs. We all can become a son or daughter to them if we seek to. They welcome us with open arms. It is important to remember that a family is not limited by blood. There are spiritual families more real by the fact that God unites them, God brings them together. What did Christ say... "He who does the will of My Father is mother brother, sister to me." Do these words not involve family relationships? Of course they do, so we must believe that this family too can be ours if we strive to do the will of God.
Lastly, because the family I visited last week was an exception (though it shouldn't be), I understand that it is not easy for everyone to relate to it. Tragically most people have never seen anything of the sort, yet nevertheless, it is something we should all want to aspire towards if we feel called to the marriage vocation. We must not feel we have no hope to achieve this goal because the Holy Family will help us if we ask them to. They know the times in which we live; they are not indifferent to our needs and our tears. They will help us transform ourselves into the people, the family and thus the nation and world God wishes we become if we let them. In vain will we hope for a better world unless we seek the graces from Heaven through the intercession of the Holy Family. Let them work with us and for us in cleaning up the mess we've made in corrupting the family for indeed they will, in fact they want to. Lets invite them back into our world to flush the misery and sin we've bathed our souls in. Come Holy Family! Restore to us the "domestic church" so now in want. Bring back the family, now rightly called the world's greatest necessity.
(Thank you Stein's for the inspiration you have been to me.)
