Happy Father’s Day to all our Dads!!!

In all our Masses this weekend, we will pray for our fathers living and deceased. In a time when society both seem to be side-lining the role of “fatherhood” more and more, and where it seems more and more men seem willing to give up their role as “the priest” in the domestic church of the family, it is doubly necessary to remember the importance of fatherhood. It is important to celebrate the many wonderful and truly saintly fathers who influence our lives! 

Dads are the spiritual leaders of their families. More and more studies today show that the person who has the greatest influence on the spiritual lives of their children are fathers! We expect our moms to pray, but it is another impact altogether when we see our Dads leading us to Jesus through the practice of their faith, their religious counsel and their daily prayer.

Not long ago, a Dad shared with me an email he wrote to his two young adult sons as Lent began. I want to share it with you because I think it shows the spiritual leadership Dads do, can and should offer their children:

Hey, today is Ash Wednesday and marks the 40 days Jesus went into the desert and was tested and doubted. It means to me that we all go through patches of a desert in life questioning and doubting oneself. It’s only until we hit rock bottom and are forced to come to terms who we are and understanding our shortcomings and truly come to love ourselves and realize we are totally dependent on Jesus so that outwardly we are able to love in a charitable and open spirit those we encounter in life; in so doing we experience a rebirth and joy in our lives. In Dante’s inferno, Satan is pictured not in the traditional fires of hell but in a frozen empty state weeping. It symbolizes that sin is an emptiness— a void in our life— self-consumed with ourselves and in total disregard for those around us and for Jesus who loves us beyond all imagination. I am telling you these things not that I think you are a victim of any of this— but because these things I have encountered and experienced in my life. Regardless of what you believe or choose to accept I feel it is my duty as your father to share with you something very special to me. I LOVE YOU. Also no meat today!!!

It is no wonder that these two young men are fine Catholic men themselves! Dad makes a big difference. I once read: Dad is a son’s first hero and a daughter’s first love!

Today, we pray for our Dads and we thank them for all they mean to us and do for us!
Thank you, Dad and Happy Father’s Day!

Fr. Pat Angelucci