1. A startling experience was awaiting Zachary when he went into the temple. An angel stood before him and promised him a son whose birth and life would bring immense joy and gladness to the world, for he would be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb and would convert many of the children of Israel to God. After the child's birth friends and neighbors gathered at the house to congratulate the parents and their obvious interest indicates clearly that they suspected the child to be remarkable in some outstanding way. Indeed, he proved to be the man of whom the Savior would declare that there was none born of woman greater than he, and, after a life of intense prayer and penance and zeal, he was privileged to give his greatest proof of love by dying for his defense of God's law.
Catholic parents do not ordinarily expect an angel to come and make them such promises concerning the future of their children. But they do experience an anxiety that the sons and daughters God gives them should turn out well, and in this prayer today Our Lord is going to tell them how to secure this happy result. For He introduces me to His own home and family, and bids me model my family life on His. If I do, and in the measure I do, I may confidently hope that children coming from such a home and such a family will be abundantly blessed.
For it must always be remembered that Our Lord came into this world not only to save us from hell but also to show us the way to heaven. Now He knows that the vast bulk of His followers will be called upon to save their souls by living in the midst of their own family. That is why there is deep significance in the fact that, with only thirtythree years to live, He determined in His divine wisdom to devote thirty to living in His own home and family.
It is also to be noted that Communism, which avowedly and professedly is the enemy of God and of Christianity, vents its hatred in a special way on the home and family, directing every attack to breaking up this unit of society and turning the members into mere serfs of the state.
You will not be long in the family at Nazareth before it becomes evident that a very deep bond of love links the members, together. "There is beauty all around when there's love at home; there is joy on every side when there's love at home." Much tact and patience are necessary to preserve this love and union in our Catholic families. Father comes home in the evening with his mind filled with all sorts of business worries. Discussion of them with his wife and children may often be an immense help. But it is also true that there will be many an occasion when he must say nothing. Mother is having trouble with the oven and is frustrated. If she is tactless, this will be the first news she blurts out when her husband arrives home. In a thousand such ways union and love in the home call for thoughtfulness and mutual consideration of one member for the other.
St. Paul calls charity "the bond of perfection." Immense carefulness is called for in order to avoid uncharitable conversation in the home, criticism of the sayings and doings of the neighbor even when the neighbor is at fault. It is not at all bad advice to mind our own business, and the children who have been trained, by word and example, to be very chary of sitting in judgment on others begin life with an enormous advantage.
It is not possible here to elaborate further the ways and means to be employed in order to preserve mutual love. But as I continue to pray I may certainly hope that divine grace will enlighten me on my own specific problems above all, that it will convince me of the imperative need of doing what lies in my power to develop this beautiful trait in my own home and family.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, unite and bless our home and the members of our family. Teach us to bear each other's burdens gladly, to abhor and shun all dissension, all nursing of grievances. Give us the spirit of unselfishness so that we yield to each other the better part, each of us concerned to forego our personal tastes in order to consult the wishes of the other.