Lawrence George Lovasik - The Catholic Family Handbook: Time-Tested Techniques to Help You Strengthen Your Marriage and Raise Good Kids

The Basic Book of Catholic Prayer

The Hidden Power of Kindness

Time-tested Techniques to Help You

Strengthen Your Marriage and Raise Good Kids

by the Reverend

Lawrence G. Lovasik

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Part One

How to Strengthen Your Marriage

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Part Two

How to Raise Good Kids

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Dear husband and wife,

The purpose of these chapters on Catholic marriage and child care is to help restore marriage in renew it according to the spirit of offering Catholic couples simple but fundamental instruction on Catholic family life. Only if they live according to the principles given to us by Jesus Christ and His Church will they find true peace, love, and happiness in their family life.

The Catholic Church has constantly pointed out the way to success in marriage and happiness in family life. Her teachings have been tried and tested by time and eternity. I offer you here unfailing principles and sound advice, with the hope that they will help you to form your marriage according to the Christian ideal and your family according to the example of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

The life of the Holy Family at Nazareth was a hidden life of prayer and work. Their whole day's work was done for God alone, because prayer, simple and sublime, filled it completely. A charming simplicity dominated each of their domestic duties. Their disposition was always serene, because the thought of God absorbed them. Their hearts were in their home, and hence they could not be carried away on the stream of the world. They lived in retirement and poverty, being satisfied with only the necessities of life. Sanctity was so carefully concealed beneath the quiet simplicity of their daily life that people did not realize the Son of God and His Virgin Mother dwelt among them.

How reverently did Mary and Joseph admire the beautiful example of Jesus! What food for thought was His obedience! His practice of this difficult virtue gave to the hidden life of Nazareth its sweetness, peace, and majesty. Although He was the Son of God, He was subject to His creatures - for thirty years.

The example of His loving obedience should be an inspiration to children. They can expect the blessing of - if they respect and honor their parents.

We cannot measure the growth of Mary and Joseph in holiness. Grace poured constantly from Christ - its source - into their souls. While their hands were busy, Jesus absorbed their thoughts and affections and thrilled their hearts with the purest love for Him. Divine love united them all in a holy, happy family.

She was absorbed in acquiring His spirit. She spent herself and was spent in learning the practical knowledge of Jesus Christ, and in so doing, she became the holiest creature who ever walked this earth.

Try to imitate this perfect dedication to God, and, like Mary, you will be most pleasing to Him and a source of inspiration and help to your family. Endeavor to burn with the same desire to imitate your Savior. The practical imitation of Christ is your highest duty. Mary can best teach you to imitate Him, because she is the Mirror of justice, who reflects the spirit of Jesus most powerfully and most faithfully. Thus you will gain the knowledge that will aid you in bringing your family to eternal life.

gentle, kind, and chaste, is a model for every Catholic husband.

When God blesses your home with human life, the fruit of love, your family becomes like the Holy Family. In the family life of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are exemplified the proper relations that should exist between husband and wife, parents and children. By practicing the domestic virtues of charity, obedience, and mutual help, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph sanctified family life.

Model your home life on the holy house of Nazareth

The Holy Family lived in a plain cottage among other working people, in a village perched on a hillside. Although they did not enjoy modern conveniences, the three persons who lived there made it the happiest home that ever was. You cannot imagine any of them at any time thinking first of himself. This is the kind of home a husband likes to return to and to remain in. Mary saw to it that such was their home. She took it as her career to be a successful homemaker and mother.

And there was never a voice raised in that home. You cannot imagine Joseph shouting at his spouse and Mary screaming back at him, or the child Jesus answering impudently. You cannot imagine any of the three sulking or being moody and uncooperative.

In establishing your home, adopt the characteristics of the holy house of Nazareth. In proportion as you do so, you will have fashioned for yourselves a replica of the happiest home that ever was on earth.

The thought of the Holy Family suggests the love of simplicity. Domestic and marital happiness are closely bound up with the simple but good things of your state of life. Seek your happiness within the range of your income and your social, domestic, and family circles, and you will spare yourself many heartaches. Husband, be fair to your wife and family in trying to provide the necessities and ordinary comforts of life. Wife, strive to live within the income that is provided.