This Sunday we celebrate Father’s Day. I cannot think of "Father’s" Day
without thinking of our Heavenly Father. I don’t think of Him enough. I mean, I DO think of Him and
pray to God, the Father, but I am more often praying to Jesus, to Our Lady, and most especially of late
to Jesus’s Grandmother, St. Ann. I have a recently acquired great devotion to St. Ann, but that story
is for another article for another time.
Several years ago, it came to my attention that I did not know of any
Catholic Church or Chapel that is dedicated to the Eternal Father. Do you? I do not know of any
Catholic Church that is named something like: THE CHURCH OF THE ETERNAL FATHER...
or THE CHURCH OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER... or THE CHURCH OF GOD, THE FATHER... for example.
In a parish where I was working once, the Pastor was in the process of
developing part of what was the sacristy into a side chapel. I mentioned to Him that I did not know
of any Church or Chapel (at that time) that was dedicated to the "Glory of the Eternal Father." It was
worth mentioning, because when the Pastor had the chapel dedicated, he also had a plaque placed on the
Chapel door which read:
"This chapel is dedicated to the Glory of the Eternal Father."
Everytime I see that plaque now, I think to myself: "Well, if I’ve done any
good in my life, perhaps that dedication will go "before" me as an eternal blessing.
If I am ever in a position as a Religious Superior of a newly established
convent and chapel, guess what? The Chapel will be dedicated
TO THE GLORY OF THE ETERNAL FATHER. And a plaque
will be placed on the Chapel door so indicating.
God, our Father, the first Person of the Blessed Trinity, is deserving of
Churches, Chapels, and Shrines being named after Him and being dedicated to Him.
Perhaps too many Catholics think of God, the Father, as God Who exacts
justice. It is true that God is All-Just, but He is also a most loving and tender Father Who has
literally loved us into existence. Without Him, we would not even BE.
Frankly, I want to be in the “arms” of my Heavenly Father always. I want to
be a child in His arms. I want Him to take care of me, to hold me tight and make me feel safe.
I want Him to know that I acknowledge that I am completely dependent on Him for EVERYTHING.
This Sunday I am going to give SPECIAL attention to God, my Heavenly Father.
I am going to wish Him a "Happy Father’s Day!" and thank Him all day long for being my
Father. I shall also beg Him for the salvation of all of His children. (What good Father wouldn’t want ALL
of His children close to Him?)
Join me? And for all of the earthly Fathers out there, who wouldn’t be
"Dads" unless God, the Father brought them into existence, I wish you a Happy Day, as well!
God bless!