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April 13, 2004
Spiritual Leadership within the Home
Since we have an RoL page for Catholic Mamas, we didn't want to leave the guys out so Brian started a page for Catholic Dads. Here is the first article of his series Spiritual Leadership within the Home.
Every husband and father by virtue of his vocation is called by God to be the spiritual head of the home. Being a spiritual leader does not mean being a tyrant but a servant. To be a servant is to imitate Jesus who said, "I have come to serve, not to be served". Every father who loves his family deeply must truly desire to serve them. How can a father serve his family? There are numerous ways, which I will write about in future updates of RoL. I hope they will help you in your role as spiritual head of the home. God bless! -Brian
Spiritual Leadership within the Home Part I:
It's All in the Attitude
Whenever someone mentions the word "attitude" the first thought that comes to mind is someone who walks around with a chip on their shoulder. This is not what I mean by attitude. By "attitude" I mean, as a husband and father, how do we reflect our love for the Church, the faith and God in the midst of our families? Does our attitude concerning the spiritual life lead our wives and children to live their faith more fervently, more deeply? Or does our attitude convey a message that is indifferent or even lukewarm?
In the spiritual life a positive attitude goes a long way. This is especially true when one is in a position of leadership. As a saint once said, you can attract more flies with honey than with vinegar. I have noticed in the business world when owners or managers are excited about the work they do, their excitement normally trickles down to their employees who become excited as well. I believe this same principle holds true for the family. If the father, as head of the family, is excited and enthused about the faith, that enthusiasm, most likely, will trickle down to the other members of his family. (Continue reading...)
I know that it is sometimes difficult to get excited about practicing the faith. Whether it's having to go to confession in the middle of a Saturday afternoon, calling the family together to pray or just attending Mass - it's not always easy. Nevertheless, it is what each and every Catholic husband and father is called to do as a servant of the family. Therefore, we have two alternatives before us. Either we can walk around our homes with disagreeable faces grumbling under our breath or we can smile and rejoice over being called to live and love our Catholic faith and all that it entails.
St. Teresa of Avila once prayed that the Lord deliver her from "sour faced saints". I think St. Teresa had a profound insight concerning how individuals with bad or negative attitudes and outlooks can potentially infect an entire community. The home is no different. A father's positive or negative attitude will go a long way. Either he will witness to his family about the joy and beauty of the faith or he will show how the faith is a heavy cross to bear and even at times an inconvenience. Whatever his attitude, it will not go unnoticed.
If you find that your attitude toward the faith and spiritual life is lukewarm at best, I would highly recommend that you spend some quiet time before the Blessed Sacrament. In faith, ask Our Lord and the Holy Spirit to help change your attitude. Without a doubt they will! As your attitude changes your family may wonder out loud, "What happened to dad?" Or you may get some strange looks, but it will all be worth it. Your new attitude will not only strengthen your family and get them excited about the faith, but will ultimately help them reach Heaven.
God bless!
Brian
Posted by bobbi at April 13, 2004 5:20 PM
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