But an even more Blessed* Father's Day for all fathers of souls, who have laid down their lives every day for the concern of the salvation of their children's souls.
The two types of fathers are not mutually exclusive but rather than solely praise the physical fathers, I wish to point out the calling that all men are to be Fathers.
To all Men:
- God called you in a tangible way to mirror His Love, His Fatherly Love, on earth.
- All men are called to be fathers.
- Some men (priests, religious brothers, and married men) have willfully responded to the call and taken the responsibility of bringing souls to God. THANK YOU!
To my brothers in Christ (seminarians and dear male friends):
Even if you haven't committed yet to bearing the responsibility of fathering children's souls, you men have a great impact on their journey. Be men, be Fathers, lay down your life as Christ for the Church (Ephesians 5:25). Your lives illuminate to women how to live in God's blessedness. Thank you!
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*In Matthew 5, Jesus uses Blessed to begin his Sermon on the Mount (aka the Beatitudes) because He preaches true happiness or true blessedness comes from being poor, meek, merciful, persecuted, etc., that is to lay down ones' life. At the end of the chapter, He encourages them to live the Beatitudes (the Blessedness) so that they "may be the children of your Father in heaven" and to "be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." I encourage you to read Matthew 5 today and/or Ephesians 5 to nourish and inspire you as fathers.
