p. 74The Father at Prayer

We cannot close our remarks on “The Christian Father” without adding a few words about prayer. Prayer is one of those necessary requisites which belong to the vocation of a father; to be a truly Christian father he must be a man of prayer.

If we could suppose that our little book “The Christian Mother” (which we have spoken of above) would be read by Christian fathers we might simply refer them to page 145 of that book, where we treat of this subject, and it is as applicable to fathers as to mothers. But as we cannot depend on this chance, and as it is a matter of great importance which fathers should seriously take to heart, it will not be amiss to treat briefly of the subject here.

Those who have even a slight knowledge of the vocation of a father will admit that it is a difficult one, and that its duties cannot be faithfully performed without special assistance from above. The father needs this assistance to know how to bring up his children properly, and the children are in need of it that the father’s efforts in their behalf may bear fruit. But to obtain this assistance the father must pray.

He must pray for himself that the Lord may assist him to be a good father to his children. He must pray for the grace to lead a good Christian life, to avoid this or that sin, to fulfil his obligations, for all this is necessary to a successful bringing up of children. He must also, like the mother, pray to God for good and sound judgment and discernment, that in difficult cases he may determine the true course to be taken; that he may know how to treat his children, each according to his or her disposition, ability, good or bad qualities. He must pray for the real supernatural love for his children, and for the grace of perseverance under the many difficulties he may meet with and the sacrifices he has to make in the education of his children. Can a father be found who, understanding the great importance of a good education and realizing the difficulties connected with it, will not feel inclined to ask assistance and help of God?

He must pray for his children. The more he loves them and wishes to lead them to their true welfare the more fervently will he pray for them. For no matter how much he may have done for them he must remember that his efforts will not bear fruit unless the Lord mercifully grants his grace and assistance. He will therefore always pray for them. Can we suppose that a good father could say his morning and evening prayers, receive holy communion, etc., without remembering his children?

He recommends to God in prayer whatever he does for his children. He prays that the Lord may preserve them in his divine grace and enable them to overcome their evil inclinations; he prays that God may assist them to advance in the Christian virtues, and lead them to eternal happiness.

A Christian father will pray for his child when it goes to confession and holy communion; in a special manner will he pray for it when it leaves home to live among strangers. The greater the dangers to son or daughter the more fervent will be the father’s prayers. Or it may be a question as to a choice of a state of life; how important then that he should pray that their choice may be according to the most holy will of God. Again, the children may be addicted to certain vicious habits; the son or daughter has been led astray; they heed not his advice, care not for his admonitions, and even punishment is of no avail. The father’s heart bleeds, but he cannot remedy the evil. One thing alone remains to him, he has recourse to prayer. He prays for his unhappy child, and quits not till his prayer is granted.

There are innumerable occasions on which a father is called upon to pray, and a Christian father obeys the call. In all his prayers he remembers his children, and the greater the necessity the more fervently will he pray. In his prayers he will address Jesus, the true friend of children. He will invoke in their behalf the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, of the angels, patron saints, and all the saints in heaven.

The child of such a father is indeed happy; by his prayers he calls down upon the child the gifts and graces of God. And however great the blessings may be which the child has derived from a Christian education the father’s prayers are still a greater blessing, for all else that he does for his child receives from his prayers its power and efficacy.

Happy is the child who has a father (and mother) who pray for their children! A father and mother praying for their children—that is a spectacle on which the eyes of God love to dwell, and their united prayer is an appeal which he must answer. We therefore repeat here: “Oh, fathers, pray; pray without ceasing; pray with fervor and from your heart for your children!”