The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-02-12
PARENTS AND vocATIoNs.

Why do not parents help to fos-
ter the Vocations of their children
toward the Church? The priest, the
confessor, the nuns endeavor to guide
a boy who shows a special love for
the sanctuary, or girl whose az
fections appear centered in the life
of the convent. In the meantime,
what are the parents doing about
it? Very often they discourage it.
Their motives may be wise, to allow
the child to think for himself and to
decide only after mature delibera-
ton. Again, frequently these motives
are selfish. The parents cherish am
billions for their children. They wish
to see them enter business or the
professions, and bring luster on the
family name. The girl must marry
and be credit to society, and Incl
dentally shed honor on the family,
and perhaps, raise her family a step
higher on the social ladder.
All this may be laudable in itself
and based on the best of motives.
But what if the child prefers a life
dedicated to God in the Church or
the convent. Too often, alas! the
parents begin to place obstacles in
the way of that favored child. Is
this the gratitude for all the par
entail care and solicitude? Is it proper
to bury oneself in a life of sacrifice,
when one could so easily rise in the
world? If there were no future
world it might SAVIOR somewhat OF
eccentricity to thus voluntarily os
tracise oneself from home and fam.
lily. But faith says there is a future
and mighty serious one. Moreover
faith tells us that there are countless
souls to be saved, and that their sal,
walton, under God, must be effected
through the work of priests and
nuns. Hence, the world and the
Church have need of these two
classes of persons consecrated to
| God. Heaven itself needs them, fol-
they are the instruments of Divine
Providence in leading men to an
eternity of happiness.
Now, if parents really have strong
faith, and if they have the essential
happiness of their children at heart
should they not rather seek to en-
courage a vocation when it begins
to manifest itself? Should they not
| look early for the signs that point tC
divine calling; nay, should they not
even pray that God may favor. thei1
/. family with the call of one of its
members to serve Him in the exalted
state of the priesthood or the relig
ious life of the nun. In those states
grace is more abundant, the practice
of exalting virtue is rendered more
| feasible, the perils and temptations
of life are manifested, or easily over
come.
If you are seeking dignity anG
honor for your child where else will
you find it more copious than in the
state which makes the child a mem
| Der of the very household of Goo
Himself? Can you imagine a battle
| field of slaughter, or terrible disas
| ter like that of the Eastland hor
1
the dying? Can you conceive the
pictures of untold millions dyins
without the ministrations of the sac
raments or the consoling hands o.
charity? Does not your Catholic
heart beat high with pride in YOU
religion when you read the accounts
of men and women-priests ant
nuns-who go to pagan lands ant
there lay down their lives for the
conversion and the welfare of souls
Can you even imagine yourself or
your dying bed of pain without {
priest to whisper to you the con
solutions of religion, or to impart tt
you the sacraments which Christ in
tended for you at that very hour
| Well, then, if all parents prevented
their children from becoming priest!
or nuns such pictures would soon be
come realities.
Parents, now is the time for yot
to study the inclinations of YOU
child. If you discover the faintes
sign of divine vocation do not try
to throttle it, or dissipate it; fos
ter and cherish it; encourage it with
out forcing it's growth; pray to Coo
to strengthen that call, to confirm
it with His grace, and then like Alb
raham of old, lay that precious of
fering on the altar of the Almighty
You may often have desired to make
some heroic sacrifice to show YOU
deep love of God; there is your OPP
portunity.