Category: Fatherhood

February 10, 2024

As I committed myself to embrace the summons to “Go home and be like St. Joseph,” I was assailed by the continual temptation to believe that being married, having sexual intercourse, having children, working for lucre, hindered, if not disqualified me from achieving great sanctity. Sainthood, holiness appeared to be an impossible ideal.... READ MORE

February 9, 2024

I did not want the hidden life of a husband and father. I confessed to a Dominican Friar my ardent desire to do more, to be more, to have a noble purpose—to do and be something great. After a lengthy pause, he uttered a phrase that like lightning and sword struck and pierced my soul: “You will become a saint by means of your vocation—not outside of it.” The prophetic utterance shook me.... READ MORE

February 9, 2024

After marrying my wife and raising children, I realized the tremendous responsibility incumbent upon me to protect their souls. I sought divine guidance. As I began to follow Jesus more intentionally, I discovered that He summoned His followers to be “all-in.” Inspired to be His disciple, I sought examples of saints who were laymen, fathers, husbands—like me. I realized that though the Church beatified men who were fathers, there existed very few men who were lauded precisely for how they embraced their fatherly vocation. Consequently, I surrendered to the false notion that the saint’s path is reserved for priests and religious but not for the common father. ... READ MORE