|
Note the date and celebrate! That's Pope John Paul II's advice for your family.
The pope has been celebrating in this manner for the last quarter century. His visits, speeches, homilies and encyclicals frequently have coincided with an anniversary, such as the death of a saint, the bringing of Christianity to a country, or a feast day on the liturgical calendar.
In an era when it's easy to get caught up in the present and to fret about the future, the pope has reminded us to stop and remember the men and women who have gone before us — who they were, what they faced, what they did. And he invites us to recall and mark significant events in our own lives.
Certainly, the greatest example of his "party planning" were the years leading up to 2000, when the pope published a variety of documents and made many statements to prepare the Church for the Great Jubilee.
But how do you apply this type of planning to your family? What — and how — can you celebrate? Why should you celebrate?
Every family has a heritage. Individuals have gone before us who have made our lives possible. Remembering them and the good things they did helps us in our lives today. Children need to hear the stories to learn of their roots. We all do.
As Catholics, we believe in the communion of saints, including the souls in heaven and in purgatory who continue to love us and pray for us. Those who have passed away are not truly gone. A family anniversary is an opportunity to teach this lesson, and to recall this comforting truth ourselves.
There are other family events worth celebrating: baptisms, first Communions, confirmations, the feasts of saints for whom family members are named.
And the parish family should certainly come together to celebrate anniversaries of ordination or religious profession.
Some family events, however, aren't so much celebrated as commemorated. There are times to remember and reflect. A death, a catastrophe, a car accident, a home fire, a flood, an earthquake — marking these events appropriately may afford opportunities to grieve, pray and heal.
Every family has a history. Every family has triumphs and tragedies, deep joys and crushing sorrows. There's no better way to begin a family celebration or commemoration than by joining in prayer, and especially by attending Mass together. Pope John Paul has taught us that, too.
Monica and Bill Dodds are the editors of My Daily Visitor magazine. Their Web site is www.BillDodds.com.
|
