The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-02-18
A DAUGHTERS DUTY.

Let your mother feel that she can
lean upon you. Alas, too often the
devotedness is on the part of the
mothers, who slave for their children,
while the latter take this as matter
of coursei Sometimes girls excuse
themselves for their negligence and
laZiness on the plea that the mothers
will not accept their services. They
would do so willingly if they saw that
their children helped joyfully-that it
was pleasure to wait on them and
help in the house.
But a time comes in the lives of
most girls when they leave the par
entail roof and take partner for life.
Or they are obliged to seek some oc-
cupation which necessitates their going
away from home. How are they to
practice filial piety now that they are
no longer under the same roof? BY
writing frequently and affectionately
to their parents, by going home at
fixed intervals and showing their in
terest in all that passes at home.
Also they should remember the birth
days and anniversaries of deaths, for
these little attentions help to strength
en- the links that bind them to home.
AS time rolls On, the relation be-
tween parents and children are in
verted Then it is the daughters duty
to tend the aged mother, to provide
as far as possible all the necessary
bodily and spiritual comforts. The
aged are often irritable, and difficult
to please Still it is the children's
duty to bear with them. If the par
ents are invalids or delicate and thus
can not leave their house or room,
then the children must not leave them
throughout long lonely hours. A
daughter should in this case be her
mothers companion. Can there be
true love when mother is left for
hours alone? When a daughter has
nothing to say to her? Are there no
books, no newspapers? Will not
these furnish matter for conversation
IL we go out to visit friend we find
something to talk about; can not we
do as much at home? We read in the
life of Charles Lamb that night after
night, he devoted himself to playing
cribbage with his aged father, queru
1ous old man. who seldom had a good
word to say for any one. Moreover
Charles Lamb hated cribbage; yet he
devoted himself thus for years. AL
the love of the family should center
round the couch of an aged mother OF
father There should be found the
brightest outlook, the cheeriest fire
the prettiest flowers.
And when God has called our aged
parents home to Himself, have the
children still duty toward themi
Yes, they can and should pray fol
them, even though they did not belong
to "the household of the Faith" or
earth. In the next world there are ne
sects; there is the one Catholic
Church, and devout Professionals OF
earth, if in a state of grace, form par
of the soul of the Church. When sucl
pass from this world they are gath
cred with the Church suffering or tn,
Church triumphant. We can not have
Masses publicly offered for deceased
Professionals, but we can have Mass
said for "a special intention" Coz
knows what that means-the entrance
of our dear ones into eternal rest.
We have seen that loving obedience
respect, and sympathy are parts o
filial piety; so we will pray earnestl.
that our Children of Mary in the be
som of their family may live up t.
their title by practicing this virtue
as perfectly as possible.