Ode to fathers

Of the three occasions mentioned above, Father's Day gets the shortest shrift. Fathers themselves, traditionally inclined to demur to anyone making a fuss over them, contribute to the low key celebrations. And, unfortunately, the very notion of fatherhood has been debased by modern society.

Fatherhood, like motherhood, is defined by relationship. One can only be a father in relation to someone else, that is a son or daughter. Fatherhood is about being both present at and a part of the creation of another human being. For men, it is about as close to playing God as they are going to get in their brief lives. Anyone who has ever been through the birthing room experience as their wives brought forth their child knows the exhilaration, exaltation and sheer joy that arises, even in circumstances that, for the mother in particular, are painful and exhausting.

Fatherhood, too, is about becoming an adult. As St. Paul says, "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up my childish ways" (1 Cor. 13:11). Responsibility is thrust upon a man abruptly, sometimes ruthlessly, and the man must grow up very quickly if he is to be a true father to the child.

Modern society, for the most part, teaches a very different lesson to young men. It offers the siren song of perpetual childhood, of playing Peter Pan forever, without responsibility, without the need to be gift for someone else. Our entertainment industries idolize men who treat women as sex objects or babysitters (countless Wendies patiently taking care of their bratty Peters). And it teaches women that they don't need a life-long partner to share in family life; modern technology has shoved the father aside, allowing women to "manufacture" a child through science.

Our biblical tradition offers another vision of male adulthood: of men strong and true, though not plaster saints by any means. There's Joseph, the silent caretaker of the child Jesus and His mother Mary; Peter, the sometimes bumbling but courageous servant; Paul, the articulate and cerebral interpreter of Jesus' mission of salvation to the world; and many others. Our communion of saints presents hundreds of other men - full of flaws and rough edges - who nevertheless responded to God's call to holiness and became models of true manhood.

On June 17, let's give fathers their due, even if it is a just a hug. They don't ask for much, but they are needed more than ever.

- - -

Joseph Sinasac is the publisher and editor of The Catholic Register.

Contact

The Catholic Register
http://www.catholicregister.org ,
Joseph Sinasac - ,

Email

Keywords

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »

A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain

Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul

A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell

My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz

Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell

Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online

Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online

Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online

State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online

Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online

2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online

Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online

Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online

Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online

Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online

Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online

Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online

Full Circle
Robert Gieb

Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite

Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony

Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell

World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online

Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA

Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online

A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe

Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly

Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard

The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely

Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow

A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow

Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea

Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard

Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol

Edging God Out
Paul Sposite

Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow

George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online

Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell

Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey

Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite

Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol

Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol

Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online

Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online

Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online

Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online

Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online

Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online

Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »