Mothers & Grandmothers
It was customary for St. Paul to preach and for his preaching to be written down by a scribe.
The ‘letter’ was then taken by an emissary to the person or community so addressed. The letter was then proclaimed by a believer to the gathered community.
Paul wrote to Timothy, a bishop in the early Christian community.
Paul was called by the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus. ‘The Twelve’ were called directly by the earthly Jesus
Timothy had a different path to his calling:
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well (2 Timothy 1:5).
Those ‘mothers and grandmothers’ were highly influential in the early Christian community.
A family where faith flourishes received the accolade domestic church:
In our time, in a world often alien and even hostile to faith, believing families are of primary importance as centers of living, radiant faith.
For this reason we use an ancient expression, calling the family the domestic church (CCC 1656).
Might we renew Christian images in our homes?
Might we pray as a family?
Amen.
There is a huge push by governments to get women into the workforce. Unfortunately in recent times this has led to devaluing “Motherhood”. Mothers are the best people to care for their young children. There are occasions where the mother returns to work after a baby is weaned and the father may step in to be the parent at home. This is not common but can work. In general the family where Mum stays at home with her children until the kids are older will be rewarded with many blessings – both Spiritual and temporal.
Amen sister Bev…..I read somewhere that fathers attending regular worship have a great influence on their childen’s worship practices.
I agree with Fr Percy (long time no see!). Although I have lived a “checkered” career the basics were provided by family so many years ago. Unfortunately the Priesthood was never mentioned by family nor school. If it had I would have much more to look back onto the 1950’s when I was and Alter Server. May God bless all Priests and Religious and abound the Church with many, many holy, holy volunteers.