St. Joseph and OLA

Since 2001, visitors to Sylvan Springs who have inquired about Our Lady of America have been given as much information as has been available. There has always been a special message for the fathers who have visited...a special challenge for them to emulate the obedient faith of St. Joseph in their own daily lives as part of an overall calling for their entire family to pattern their lives after the Holy Family.

Many times, the fathers seem hesitant to take on this role. For so many years, the emphasis of Father's Day has been on celebrating the role of "fatherhood" as being that of the "great provider" in the family. Nowadays, our culture has valued cell phones, computers, cars, clothes, and social connections as being the litmus test of being a good father. Our Lady of America and St. Joseph have a different litmus test they would prefer the fathers of America to pass.

The fathers of America need to courageously take back the spiritual leadership of their families that our culture has encouraged them to abdicate over the past 50 years. Fathers need to become the spiritual lions of their families and their communities...not by boisterously promoting their beliefs, but by their habits of daily living.

Fathers need to love their wives in the way God intended. Fathers need to lead their family in prayer. Fathers need to respect their children as the gifts from God that they are. Fathers need to understand that the most valuable thing they can give their wives and children is a strong faith and trust in Our Lord. Thirty years from now, when their children are grown and, hopefully, on their own, they WILL NOT remember the cell phone their daddy gave them or the faster computers and new clothes they wanted as teenagers. They WILL remember, and always have, the strength and comfort of their relationship with God that was instilled in them by the example set for them by their fathers. This is what will sustain them when life gets tough.

Focus on the Holy Family as your model for life. There is someone there for every member of your family to emulate. Who knows? If we all follow their lead, the underlying celebration of Father's Day may change back to what it was intended.

Please click on the link to the St. Joseph Novena and pray between now and Easter Sunday.