FAMILIA - CATCH THEM YOUNG | KAIROS GLOBAL | 2019

Author: Elsa Vijay

 “Catch them Young” is a famous saying, having great relevance in the current world. It has been the motto of the Catholic Church to catch young ones and to hold them tight to Jesus. Family is the perfect setting, where parents are entrusted with this Divine responsibility of introducing Jesus into the lives of little ones as early as possible.

Family is the paradise on the earth where God declares His unending mercy and providence. Jesus Himself entered this world through the Holy Family of Nazareth, making Himself more connected and indispensable to all families. Through families each parent is privileged to take part in the Divine work of creation. Each baby is a ‘master piece’ of God designed for heaven. We have to raise them up for eternity. This is a great blessing! a blessing with responsibility. Responding faithfully to this call can be made possible only through the Grace of God. As Our Lord Himself says in Mathew 19:11 that this can be “possible only with those who have received Grace.” The present world and its events are posing great challenges and are trying to intrude into this paradise. Hence setting our desire on the Word is the only option before us. Yes the Word of God is the sure foundation of all families.

Deep desire for the Word, Reading and meditating the Word, Receiving the Word in Sacraments, Acts of Charity are some of the ways through which we could invest in the Word of God. It will be a prudent investment as we will join the company of the Wise man who built his house on the Rock.

St Augustine in his Expositions on the Psalms exhorts us to work hard, for storing up Word of God, by illustrating the story of a ‘prudent ant’. And what is it that the ant does? She stores up food in summer, which will be useful to her in winter. The simple ant is giving us a great lesson. In summer, in times of prosperity, while everything is well with us, while we are comfortable and in tranquility, hear the word of God and store up the Word as we do with food. So that when winter comes ie, in times of difficulties, trials and tribulations of the world, God will rescue us and comfort us with Divine Consolation.

“Each in his or her own way”

Parenthood requires a strong commitment to carry out this responsibility, which has assumed various characteristics in the contemporary world. As each family is a unique creation “Each in his or her own way” has to respond to one’s call. Pope Francis, in his apostolic exhortation (Gaudete et exsultate, paragraph 11-13) warns us on the danger of copying and blindly imitating others in our journey. The important thing is that each believer discern his or her own path, in order to bring out the very best of themselves .The testimonies of saints are meant for encouraging us to give our best and to embrace that unique plan that God willed for each of us from eternity .It is in the family we find abundant opportunities for growing in holiness, by accomplishing ordinary actions in an extraordinary way. 

St Zelie Martin and St Louis Martin 

In this 21^st century we are gifted with a wonderful family to encourage and inspire us –the couple saints St Louis Martin and Zelie Martin, parents of St Theresa. They belonged to 19th century in France, in an atmosphere where the religious, political and social background were poisoned and not that favourable for a pious life. They give us a picture of parenthood that expresses the fear and worries of every ordinary parent. But amidst of all those trials they kept an oasis of faith at home rooted on the Word. Various dimensions of their spirituality are worth mentioning.

Responding to the Word in faith

Louis and Zelie welcomed all children as a gift from God and responded in great faith to the Word of God. Raising up 9 children (lost 4 of them at an early age) was not an easy task. The daily struggles and the loss of 4 children was unbearable for them. Yet their faith sustained them in these ordeals through the power of the Word. Zelie always wanted the best for her children and was often found disappointed. In her letters, Zelie discloses how she was worried about Therese and Leonie (third oldest) and their future. But Zelie did not give up. She maintained a spirit of faith and hope, daily working for the salvation of her children. Finally, she succeeded in winning the souls of her children. Surprisingly the two children Zelie worried about the most, are now recognized most for their heroic love. Therese canonized as a saint and Leonie declared as a servant of God.

Taking Delight in “Him”.

In their married life Zelie and Louis could set their hearts’ first desire on God. Their time, resources and everything were organized around “Him” and for “Him”. Their tastes and interests were same and complemented each other well, as their focus and delight were same. The truth is that nothing in this world will ever satisfy a human heart other than God. Many families now a days suffer because they are unaware of this amazing truth.

Response in suffering.

Zelie and Louis were ordinary couple but their genius lay on how they accepted their powerlessness and weaknesses and trusted fully on Grace. What made them different was their attitude to suffering, looked everything through the eyes of faith; and never wasted suffering, instead offered everything for the salvation of souls. 

Life of Gratitude.

Instead of doing one or two outstanding things or mighty works they did many “little things” very well with gratitude. St Therese herself reveals that it was her mother who taught her the “little way” of performing small and insignificant duties with great love and obedience.

Let the testimony of this zealot family be a source of great inspiration to all families. May the ever living Word be our Rock and Mountain: Refuge and Help. “I lift up my eyes to the mountain, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord”. (Psalm 121:1)

Elsa Vijay, a teacher by profession is currently a homemaker. She lives with her husband and three children in Muscat, Oman.