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.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Feast of Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe

Good morning. Stop Being Such A Child! Who hasn’t at some point in their life heard such an admonishment? Yet, in the Gospel for this morning we hear from Jesus about the need to be more childlike. He says: “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Today we recall the heroic life of Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe. His life of self-emptying, self-giving love reminds us of the need for humility in our lives if we too are to follow the path of our Savior. Children too teach us humility.

As parents there is a lesson to be learned. Yes, our children have a lesson to offer us, a lesson of humility. Children are wonderful examples to us adults of humility. The thoughts and intentions of children are free of pretensions; their prayers are pure and simple, their outlook on the world hopeful and full of optimism. Children are playful and creative. There is much we can learn from our children. Imagine if married couples interacted with one another as children tend to do. Imagine, if you will, looking at one another with a child’s eye, and asking questions of one another without reservation, and exploring each other with a sense of not knowing. Go ahead, dare to be childlike. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe.

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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.