The observance of Father’s day as a national celebration began on the third Sunday in June, 1922. A Spokane, Washington, woman had heard a sermon in church on mother’s day in 1919 praising the virtues of motherhood. Her thoughts naturally wandered to the Father who singlehandedly raised her and her five brothers after the death of her mother. She quickly approached the minister with the idea of a special day to honor fathers and with the zealous support of the mayor, the third Sunday in June was set aside as Father’s Day.

There are fathers and fathers. We attribute the term: Founding Fathers to those great men who sacrificed everything to make a country where we could live freely without the crushing burden of tyranny. We also give the title to spiritual leaders who are like father-figures to us through their guidance and love for the good and our best interest. Then, there is God, Our Father, whose children we all are irrespective of race, creed, or the color of one’s skin. All these uses of the word, Father, shows how important it is for us to cherish the fathers in our lives who gave us life, biologically, emotionally, and spirituality. In today’s message, I’d like to address some of the important attributes of Fatherhood.

A. I think it is fair to say that what a father is spiritually, and morally, is more important to a wife and children than what he does because what a father is determines what he does. Attitudes determine actions, and a good father will have to resolve many tensions and trials in the home in order to pave the way for good relationships. His spiritual and moral character goes a long way in supporting his family in good times, and in bad.

B. The greatest contribution a father can make to his family is, perhaps, his time. He must be willing to communicate his love by caring for his wife and his children. A recent study conducted by Cornell University found that the average American father spends only 37.7 seconds a day with his children. Spending time with the wife and children tells them that you feel they are more important than your job or anything else in your life.

C. Finally, the effectiveness of a father, like that of a mother, depends ultimately on his spiritual life. God gives the power to be a successful father because the qualities a good father passes on to a child are primarily spiritual and moral. To affirm a child and build up his or her self-esteem; to overlook the inexperience of childhood; to forgive; to respect freedom; to keep on living without giving in to anger or retaliation; to guide and discipline by example; these are the spiritual qualities of a strong, effective father who is fashioned in the image of God.

Let us pray for all fathers today.

Fr. Hugh Duffy