CatholicFamilyToday

As a Marriage and Family Therapist I celebrate the chance to help married couples come to a better understanding of the Sacrament of Marriage. Sadly we have lost a sense of marriage as it was intended by God in the beginning. This blog is about marriage as it applies to scripture and the lives of the saints. As a Marriage Counselor I invite you to walk with me on a journey within the rich anthropology of our faith. The sacredness of Marriage is what this blog, and my work is all about.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Feast of Saint Simon and Saint Jude

Good morning. Today in the Gospel we read of the choosing of the twelve Apostles. The spreading of the Good News began with those first twelve. As parents it continues with us. As parents we are challenged to continue spreading the Good News with the daily instruction of our children. As parents we have the primary task of helping our children understand the difference of living a life of self-fulfillment versus a life of self-giving. Probably our greatest challenge is to raise our children in a way that they do not limit their faith to being a matter that is only lived out at a private level, but rather for them to live their lives in a way that it is clearly evident to all, that like the initial twelve they too are disciples of Christ. It is within the daily living as family our children come to know and appreciate what it is to love, to give of oneself for the common good, and it is within the family where they learn to spread this Good News in their lives outside their immediate family. If our job as parents is complete, and if society is to survive, our children will continue the task handed down to the twelve in today’s Gospel. As Blessed Pope John Paul II indicated in his Apostolic Exhortation, Familiaris Consortio, “the future of the world and of the Church passes by way of the family.” Make a great day!

Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of Saint Simon and Saint Jude.

1 comment:

Amanda BorenstadtOctober 28, 2011 at 4:10 PM
Amen! Beautiful post! :)
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BOOK OF THE MONTH

Awhile back I was out splitting wood when someone in passing introduced himself. Knowing me to be the parent of three of our four children whom the passerby knows he took the time to compliment me on what nice children Linda and I have. I suggested that most of the credit truly belongs to their mother and he responded that I likely had a play in it in some way and that whatever we did it should perhaps be put into a book. I thanked him and he went on his way and I resumed splitting wood with increased energy as a result of his kind words. This kind man is possibly correct about putting into a book whatever wisdom I might have to offer, but short of my ever getting any such wisdom published I might suggest reading the work of Peter Kreeft Before I Go: Letters to Our Children About What Really Matters. This delightful collection of instructional and at times humorous reflections by the author would likely reflect the type of things I would be inclined to put into words myself for my own children. Among many enlightening points the author makes, one which really needs to influence all that we as parents do is his point that the greatest gift which we give to our children is the gift of faith—their awareness of God. He likewise makes another critical point that when we are gone, “when the parent is dead, it’s too late to share the most precious things he knows.” This book should be part of every Christian family’s collection.