While watching the canonization of Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, I was overwhelmed by a feeling of thanksgiving and gratitude for being Catholic. I even briefly wrote about it in my column last month. The canonization was a special occasion for the Church to welcome two new saints. So I threw a little party for our family. I put a special tablecloth on the table, set up a TV on the island in the kitchen and hooked my laptop up to the TV. I made a delicious antipasto plate and created a homemade Italian flag banner, as both saints were from Italy. Then we ate lunch while watching Mass on YouTube since the Mass and canonization occurred earlier in the day.
It was while we were watching the congregation chant the “Litany of the Saints” that I had that feeling of gratitude that I am Catholic. While I am always thankful for being born and raised Catholic, although I did fall away from the church and, thankfully, reverted as an adult, I was so overcome with joy and gratitude that tears nearly fell from my eyes. I shared the feeling with my husband and children and they, too, said that they are so thankful to be Catholic.
The most important part of my life is my Catholic faith. That is why my first prayer is always that I, my husband, our children and our future generations will die in a state of grace and with the Sacraments. Some may say it is morbid to think of your children and grandchildren dying, however to me, going to heaven is the most important thing that I can pray for, as it is not a guarantee.
My husband and I also want to continue to inspire our children to feel thankful about being Catholic and that they were born into a Catholic family where both parents are practicing, especially that their father is devout. In fact, a 1994 Swiss study found it is the father’s role that has the biggest influence in determining if children continue going to church as adults. If a father does not attend Mass regularly, the odds are frightening, with only a 1 in 50 chance that the children will remain in the church. The study also found that while a church-going mother does influence the children, the father had the greatest impact of all. That is a powerful message to Catholic fathers everywhere and I encourage everyone to read more about the study.
If our children are thankful to be Catholic, they will be less likely to leave the Church, more likely to remain steadfast amidst trials, more equipped to defend the faith when necessary, inspire conversions and are more likely to pass on the faith to future generations. We want our children to put their faith above all else and to know that in doing so, their reward will be great in heaven.
To keep them thankful to be Catholic, we pray with our children for those who are not Catholic and ask God for their conversion. We also adhere to church teachings and try to shield our children as best as we can from unholy influences. We put our faith above all else.
Another great way to show our thanks is by inviting priests over for dinner and always speaking charitably about them.
However, the best way that we ensure our children remain thankful is to go to Mass, unless there is a grave reason. We even make it a point to split up and go to different Mass times if some children are sick.
We also do not grumble or complain about going to Mass regardless of circumstances. We talk about how excited we are to go to Mass. The Mass is truly the best place on earth, as it is when heaven and earth meet. Saint Pio of Pietrelcina said, “it would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass.”
We remind our children that at the Consecration, angels and saints are present to worship the Sacrificial Lamb hidden under the appearances of bread and wine. We also watched the short film “The Veil Removed.” It shows how each Holy Mass is an unbloody renewal of the sacrifice offered by Jesus to God on our behalf at Calvary and how our presence at Mass makes us spiritually present at the foot of the Cross. I also tell our children to always go to Mass because it is there that you are given the chance to be present at the foot of the Cross with the Blessed Virgin Mary.
After we discuss the Gospel, the sermon, feast days and liturgical times of the year with our children, explaining the significance to them in age-appropriate ways while never forcing the conversation and always trying to listen more than we talk.
There are many more ways to be thankful about being Catholic. Another way is to simply say: “Thanks be to God for the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Faith!”
Christina Frye is a lifelong Rhode Islander, wife, mother and founder of Catholic Mom Rhode Island, www.CatholicMomRI.com.
