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Show ' r- THE CHRISTIAN MOTHER. , Life and Strength of the Family Rests in Woman. Though man is the head of" the family, fam-ily, its life and strength rests in woman. wo-man. She is the power that counsels man in his doublings, restrains him In nis impulses, and urges hinj in his Elotn. It. has been said that a man is what his wife makes him; for her influence in-fluence for sood or evil is unquestionably unquestion-ably great. It is thus the Scriptures s-peak: "Who shall find a valiant woman? wo-man? Far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her." This is preeminently pre-eminently the case with the Christian mother. Such a woman stands out irom among her sex. She is filled with a sense of her dignity and her responsibility, responsi-bility, her mind is upon her duty and she is ever faithful in fulfilling. She is the glory of her husband and the honor, of her children. ' As the family is the corner-stone of society, the Christian mother, -who is the bone and sinew of the Christian family.- is certainly one of the largest contributors to society's well-being, for the Christian family is the strongest force in keeping society together. It is the great conservative -power, for it is the office of Christianity to build up and hold together all things that will conduce to the social well-being and betterment of the people. Wherein lies the strength of the Christian mother? It is in her virtues. Her modesty captivates and commands the respect of all. Her devotion and self-sacrificing spirit teaches a lesson worthy of imitation, and her wisdom and self-poise are enlightening and reassuring re-assuring to those around her. Such a one is the pillar of strength to the home and a guide and counsellor to the so ciety in which she lives. Her power for good is only limited by her environment, environ-ment, and the fruit of her good example ex-ample is visibly marked in those who make up the circle of her friends. I Whence comes this extraordinary-power extraordinary-power and what is it that contributes to make up a character so exceptional? It comes from her Christian faith'. That blessed gift of God is hers and Us -influence is the power enlivening and strengthening her soul. It is J Faith that supernaturalizes her life 1 and makes her thoughts and actions good and noble to give homage to God, whence she has received life and to whom she hopes to go after her mortal years have come to an end. Thus the Christian mother realizes the dignity and obligations of her state, how she is to;be. the handmaid of God and carry out the divine will in faiUv-fully faiUv-fully performing the duties of her state. To be a faithful and obedient wife and a good and self-sacrificing mother to her children is her aim, and to fulfil it her happiness. Her every endeavor is along the line of duty and her constant con-stant thought and prayer is to ever be pleasing to God and to have the divine help with which to pass successfully her days and years. Like all who wish to reach perfection perfec-tion in any career, she, too, has her models and copies them. Thus she imitates im-itates Our Blessed Lady in her humility humil-ity -and prompt obedience. Thus she copies " St. Elizabeth in' her reverence for things holy and her regard for the divine presence. A St. Monica is her model for resignation and hope. A Sti Bridget for contemplation, even if it be necessarily only but for a few moments. mo-ments. A St. Teresa for fidelity to' the divine will. A Queen Blanche in her readiness to see her child lying dead at her feet rather than to know that he had committed one mortal pin. This is the Christian mother as she has been in the case of thousands 'of women, and. this is what .every mother who rejoices in thehame of. a Christian Chris-tian ought to strive to be, and for this God's grace is sufficient. It was grace made these glorious Christian mothers what they were, and grace can do the tame and will do the same for others if they ask for it and co-operate with Pit. Grace gives to each state , the help it needs to perfect itself. And thus the grace of patient suffering, the grace or fortitude and resignation; the grace of trustful prayer are for every woman who ask them of Our good and merciful merci-ful God. With grace. working in the soul what wonderful lives can be produced, and what an influence for the founding and-preservation and-preservation of the home and home virtues? Then we behold saintliness of life, for the Individual is animated with the spirit of perfection: everything every-thing in such a soul is of God, from God and to God; ail its thoughts and deeds are the promptings of His Grace, and all tend to His honor and glory. What virtues are visible in the home oT a soul like that, and how happy ar the members of the household where a true Christian mother reigns and keeps all its members in peace and vir-I vir-I tue. The home of the Holy Family at Nazareth is the pattern jof what every Christian home should be, and the bumble, obedient and perfect spirit of our Blessed Lady should be the ideal which every Christian mother should strive to imitate. There all was loved for God, and such a spirit should mark every Christian home. All good and great men have had good mothers. "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." This is purely the case, for what the mother is the child is apt to be. ' ; ' Hence the aim that every mother should have, namely, to be a model of virtue, so that her children may. inherit in-herit the same and be the preservers of society to succeeding ages. In our I true Faith this is possible to the high7 est degree as exemplified in the countless count-less -mothers who are numbered among its saints and heroines. , Let every Christian, every Catholic mother, strive by grace to have this grand and noble spirit that they may perpetuate, the virtues and fruits of Christian' motherhood. Bishop Colton in-Catholic Union and Times. |