Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Thoughts for the Week - Fr. R. Taouk 
9th February 2014
 

Dear Friends,

As you have been well aware, in this period after Christmas I have been focusing on the family, the family which is the extension of Christ in this world. With time, many seem to have forgotten the focus we Catholic must have in raising holy families. In 1852, a priest who was well prepared for his vocation by his family upbringing wrote an article for a German Magazine (Missionsblatt) explaining the solid formation he received at the hands of his own father. I think his words are apt for our families. I will publish it in the next few bulletins as it is somewhat more than will fit in one printing.

"He (my father) was a good educator, although he followed only his own good common-sense, and had never in his life read a book on education. I was of a quick excitable nature, and easily carried away by impulse. But my father knew how to curb my impulses and render me tractable by various humiliations. When I quarrelled with a servant or with any of my three brothers I would have to be the first to offer the hand of reconciliation if I would not fall under his displeasure, which I feared above all things. If I was angry about something and would neither eat nor speak, a strict order was given that no one should pay any attention to me. None should ask me what was the matter, none should ask me to eat; they were to leave me entirely alone, and not trouble themselves about me. This was an intolerable punishment, and I soon began to repent of my anger and stubbornness.

He scarcely ever had recourse to corporal punishment. He punished me as often as possible through myself by opposing me with the opposite of the fault by which I had offended. I was once sitting at the fire when he came home from the field; a young colt had been harnessed to be taught to work. My father thought I would be delighted to see them taming the spirited animal, and therefore invited me to go with him. But I was in an ill-humour because my mother gave me only a very small piece of bread and butter, and I replied that I did not want to go out. My father noticed my obstinacy and replied: 'Well, then, if you do not want to accompany me you can stay where you are.' I was soon after punished for not complying with his wish, as some hot water from the kettle spilled on my foot. But this was not all; in the afternoon I was anxious to go into the garden and get some pears. I asked my father, who was cleaning seed corn in the kitchen, if he would go with me and knock the pears from the tall pear tree in the garden. He answered: 'I could easily spare the time, but at present I care as little to go out with you as you did this morning when I asked you to go out with me.' Thus he showed me how petty and contemptible my stubbornness was.

'O Lord grant us many holy Families'

Continued ...