I once read a quote "Catholics do families well."I can honestly say that in my experience,this holds true.Today our parochial vicar gave a great homily on the importance of marriage as the backbone of a happy and healthy family.He said that the Will to love and the self sacrifice for the good of the other involved in marriage provides the stability necessary for the family members to develop as human beings. He described family life as a great "rock tumbler."As we bump up against one another, our rough edges become softer and smoother. This requires an ever present dose of love, forgiveness, patience and tolerance for our own and each other's weaknesses.That is how we grow in holiness which, of course, takes a lifetime! He quoted Pope Benedict XVI 's writing on the Holiness of the Family (which is in today's Magnificat) where he says that it is in our families that we receive the gift of life and then are taught how to live it.I also like the quote from Pope JPII "Families- become what you are- a civilization of love serving life."
It was our great priviledge to celebrate Christmas with my whole extended family (my Parent's family)as we always do on Dec. 26 ,the Feast of Stephen ,the first Christian martyr.We spent the day with my parents who have celebrated more than fifty Christmas' together.We had more good food and goodies and exchanged modest gifts with each other's families. Mom and Dad had the eight children they raised there, most with their spouses,many grand-children(I counted 30) and three great-grandchildren.I get a kick out of how many of these grand-children who are now teen-agers and young adults in their twenties choose to spend their day with their grand- parents and aunts and uncles and cousins.It is so hard to pick a gift for my parents who really need nor want anything because they have each other and that is enough for them.So, our gift is our"presence".This year, as a large family, we had three Brides, three new babies(not the brides'!)many college graduations, new houses,a very exciting engagement with the most beautiful ring seen in years and by God's mercy, no deaths.We had a lot to celebrate! But even in the very sad years of death and dissappointments, we have continued to gather to be together and to share the great gift of Family.Thank you, Mom and Dad for a lifetime of Merry Christmases!
