Book Review: "The Rosary: Your Weapon for Spiritual Warfare" by Johnnette Benkovic and Thomas Sullivan
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To be frank and direct, if you have not already, you should take the time to methodically read through Pope Francis’ recently-released post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia (“The Joy of Love”): On Love in the Family, which is available on the Vatican’s website here. It may take you a few days or even a few weeks (the latter for me, because I tend to be a slow reader, but am somehow a fast writer), but your experience will be well worth it.
There are numerous considerations within Amoris Laetitia upon which the faithful can reflect. However, for purposes of underscoring the point of this reflection in honor of the dads in our lives on Father’s Day, take a few minutes to read through paragraphs 172-177 in particular. This section, titled “The Love of a Mother and a Father,” has not received as much attention as other areas of focus within Amoris Laetitia, but it is crucial to understanding this dynamic aspect of conjugal love within the marital union of the couple. Thus, both husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, will be spiritually enriched by Pope Francis’ supportive words in this section. The following are some key excerpts for your inspiration:
- “Every child has a right to receive love from a mother and a father; both are necessary for a child’s integral and harmonious development. As the Australian Bishops have observed, each of the spouses ‘contributes in a distinct way to the upbringing of a child. Respecting a child’s dignity means affirming his or her need and natural right to have a mother and a father.’ We are speaking not simply of the love of father and mother as individuals, but also of their mutual love, perceived as the source of one’s life and the solid foundation of the family. Without this, a child could become a plaything. Husband and wife, father and mother, both ‘cooperate with the love of God the Creator, and are, in a certain sense, his interpreters.’ They show their children the maternal and paternal face of the Lord. Together they teach the value of reciprocity, of respect for differences, and of being able to give and take. If for some inevitable reason one parent should be lacking, it is important to compensate for this loss, for the sake of the child’s healthy growth to maturity.” (from Amoris Laetitia, 172)
- “A father, for his part, helps the child to perceive the limits of life, to be open to the challenges of the wider world, and to see the need for hard work and strenuous effort. A father possessed of a clear and serene masculine identity who demonstrates affection and concern for the wife is just as necessary as a caring mother. There can be a certain flexibility of roles and responsibilities, depending on the concrete circumstances of each particular family. But the clear and well-defined presence of both figures, female and male, creates the environment best suited to the growth of the child.” (from Amoris Laetitia, 175)
- “In our day, the problem no longer seems to be the overbearing presence of the father so much as his absence, his not being there.” (from Amoris Laetitia, 176)
- “God sets the father in the family so that by the gifts of his masculinity he can be ‘close to his wife and share everything, joy and sorrow, hope and hardship. And to be close to his children as they grow – when they play and when they work, when they are carefree and when they are distressed, when they are talkative and when they are silent, when they are daring and when they are afraid, when they stray and when they get back on the right path. To be a father who is always present. When I say ‘present,’ I do not mean ‘controlling.’ Fathers who are too controlling overshadow their children, they don’t let them develop.’ Some fathers feel they are useless or unnecessary, but the fact is that ‘children need to find a father waiting for them when they return home with their problems. They may try hard not to admit it, not to show it, but they need it.’ It is not good for children to lack a father and to grow up before they are ready.” (from Amoris Laetitia, 177)
These, of course, are merely some of the key excerpts from paragraphs 172-177 of Amoris Laetitia. You will immediately note the emphasis that Pope Francis places on the complementary nature of husbands and wives within families. This has actually been a hallmark of Pope Francis’ pontificate, as we readily see in such pieces as Vatican Radio’s November 2014 article Pope Francis: Marriage and the family are in crisis, written in the midst of the first of two Synods of Bishops on the Family (October 2014 – October 2015).
Of course, and necessarily, the Holy Father underscores the role of mothers in Amoris Laetitia as well (see paragraphs 173 and 174 in particular). Thus, of course, the section titled “The Love of a Mother and a Father” is not the only section of Amoris Laetitia in which Pope Francis mentions the vital nature of fathers and mothers – far from it. Hence, ultimately, Pope Francis highlights throughout the text the particular gifts that parents contribute in their children’s lives. On Father’s Day and beyond, spend some time with Amoris Laetitia. At the very least, as a starting point, read through the summary that the Vatican has compiled here. Amoris Laetitia promises to have a legacy as an important text to draw married couples closer to the Lord Jesus Christ, who was protected throughout his youth by his own earthly foster-father, Saint Joseph. Let us continue to look to the example that the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph has provided for us. On Father’s Day and beyond, let us recall that fathers deserve due acknowledgment for their significant contributions in accordance with their unique role within the family, as well as within society by extension, not the least of which is their responsible and joyful service to their wives and children, with the Lord’s love at the core of enduring family unity.
God bless all fathers on Father’s Day! Saint Joseph, foster-father to the Lord, pray for us!
A lifelong resident of the Archdiocese of Washington, Justin has taught theology and Spanish at his alma mater, Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Maryland, since 2006.
Justin has written widely on various aspects of the Catholic faith. His books include Called to Teach: Daily Inspiration for Catholic Educators, Called to Pray: Daily Prayers for Catholic Schools, The History of the Catholic Church (a textbook), and Alleluia to Amen: The Prayer Book for Catholic Parishes. Justin is active in pro-life ministries, and serves on the volunteer board of directors for the Forestville Pregnancy Center.
Justin holds an M.A. in Spanish Language and Culture from the Universidad de Salamanca (Spain), an M.A. in International History from Staffordshire University (England), and an M.A. in Theology and Christian Ministry from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Justin has studied philosophy and theology at Seton Hall University, and Church history from the University of Notre Dame’s Satellite Theological Education Program, for whom he has likewise taught various online courses.
Justin, his wife Bernadette, and their children live in Bowie, Maryland, where they attend Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Justin is a lay member of the Order of Saint Dominic. You can follow him on Twitter (@JustinMcClainOP).
